With the Bulldogs’ AFLW S7 campaign coming to a close, we’re looking back at some of the team’s top performers in 2022.
Three-time Club Champion Ellie Blackburn was as consistent as ever in season seven.
This was highlighted no better than her seventh inclusion in the All Australian squad – becoming just one of three players to have been listed in the squad every year of the AFLW competition.
Her numbers speak for themselves – leading the Club for total disposals (215), metres gained (4215m), clearances (52) and tackles (58), while finishing third across the league for average inside 50s (4.3).
Blackburn’s ability to change games is something not many can do, as is the way she can take things to another level while inspiring her teammates and willing them towards the end.
She became the Club’s first AFLW 50-gamer in round three – the team also celebrated it’s 50th match at the same time – and at just 27 years old, still has plenty of football to come in the red, white and blue.
By the numbers
Average disposals: 20
Average marks: 3
Average clearances: 5
Average inside 50s: 4
Average tackles: 5
Season highlight
The scene was set. The final round of the home-and-away season, with a finals berth on the line, and three points down against Carlton with under two minutes to play.
Enter Ellie Blackburn.
As the Blues tried to exit defensive 50, Blackburn intercepted, weaved through opposition players and threw the ball onto her right boot.
It sailed back over everyone’s heads, bounced once in the goal square – missing Sarah Hartwig who thankfully decided not to mark it – and added another six points to the Dogs’ score.
It would ultimately be the final score of the game, handing the Bulldogs a three-point win and securing a spot in the season seven finals series.
That match-winner was one of two goals for the skipper, to go with 23 disposals, nine clearances and seven tackles in a performance that will no doubt go down as one of her best.
What they said
“I honestly didn’t think she was going to play (against Carlton). From not being able to play today, not training throughout the whole week and then to come out and do that – it’s special. She delivered like she always does. She’s a leader in every sense of the word. We often talk about the spiritual leader as much as the physical leader – she just wasn’t going to be beaten. What she did was amazing.” – coach Nathan Burke (after the round 10 match).
