With four days to go until the Western Bulldogs’ round one clash against Geelong, we take a look at some stats involving number four – with help from AFL Media’s Gemma Bastiani.

4 – Club Best and Fairests won by Ellie Blackburn

Star skipper Ellie Blackburn continues to write her name into red, white and blue history after claiming her fourth Club Champion award last season.

The 28-year-old is one of just seven Bulldogs to have won four or more Bulldogs’ best and fairests, joining the likes of Marcus Bontempelli (four), Ted Whitten Snr (five) and Scott West (seven).

Remarkably across the seven seasons of AFLW, Blackburn has never finished lower than second in the Club’s Best and Fairest counts.

01:09

Hungry for 2023

The Pups are ready for Round 1 of the 2023 AFLW season.

4 – Number of home games at VU Whitten Oval this season

After over 580 days between games at VU Whitten Oval, and a makeshift home ground in IKON Park last season, the Bulldogs will host four games in Footscray this season.

Round five against the Saints will mark the return, with another Friday night blockbuster against Carlton (R6), Saturday afternoon meeting with the Swans (R8) and floating R10 fixture against North Melbourne to follow.

Due to the ongoing redevelopment, capacity at VU Whitten Oval will be limited this season - so the best way to guarantee access to all Western Bulldogs AFLW home-and-away games is with an AFLW membership.

4 – Quarters that Gabby Newton kicked a goal in season 7.

Former number one draft pick Gabby Newton was the only Bulldog to kick goals in all four quarters last season.

Finishing with eight majors to claim the Leading Goalkicker award – and sticking with the number four theme - Newton kicked the Dogs’ match-winning goal in the round three win over Fremantle 404 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Not bad for a midfielder-turned-forward who’d never kicked an AFLW goal until season seven. 

07:28

Fitzy's Carpool Karaoke | Gabby Newton

Inspired by James Corden's Carpool Karaoke, join Jess Fitzgerald & Gabby Newton on a ride to training

4 – Number of 50-gamers celebrated in season seven

The Bulldogs celebrated four 50-gamers last season – Ellie Blackburn, Kirsty Lamb, Rocky Cranston and Naomi Ferres.

Three of this quartet have played all 50 games in the red, white and blue hoops, including the famous 2018 flag.

Cranston notched up game 50 against her former side, Geelong, following 21 matches for the Cats and 13 for the Dees.

This year, four more could be added to that club – with Elle Bennetts eyeing her 50-game milestone this weekend, Bailey Hunt in round six, and Daisy Bateman and De Berry in round eight.