The Western Bulldogs have started their 2023 NAB AFLW season with a disappointing loss to Geelong.

The Bulldogs travelled down the highway to GMHBA Stadium full of anticipation, but were outclassed by the Cats, falling by 48 points.

The Dogs failed to score a major in the first half, and by the main break Geelong had piled on five, including two to Jacqueline Parry.

The Bulldogs started the second half brightly, with Sarah Hartwig kicking two goals in quick succession to reduce the margin to 17 points.

But the Cats hit back through Kate Surman to take a 22-point lead into the final quarter, and they went on with it in the last, booting the only four goals of the term.

Elle Bennetts, celebrating her 50^th game, left the field just before half time clutching her left knee and played no further part in the contest.

Ellie Blackburn finished a team-high 27 disposals and five clearances, while Alice Edmonds started her 2023 campaign brightly, winning 16 possessions and 31 hitouts, taking five marks and laying eight tackles.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs took the opportunity to blood three new players – Dom Carruthers, Bree McFarlane and Maggie Gorham.

Gorham, initially named as an emergency, received a late call-up after midfielder Rylie Wilcox was a late withdrawal through illness.

GEELONG                         3.1       5.3       6.3       10.5 (65)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     0.0       0.4       2.5       2.5 (17)

GOALS
Geelong: Parry 3, Surman 2, Morrison, Scheer, A.Moloney, A.McDonald, D.Moloney
Western Bulldogs: Hartwig 2

BEST 
Geelong: Prespakis, A.McDonald, Parry, Morrison, D.Moloney, Crocket-Grills
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Edmonds, Fitzgerald, Lynch, Hartwig

INJURIES 
Geelong: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Bennetts (knee)