The Western Bulldogs have broken through for their first win of the 2023 AFLW season, defeating West Coast on the road by eight points on Saturday afternoon.

In a season riddled with injuries and disappointing results, the Bulldogs finally got their reward for effort in the penultimate round of the campaign.

The Dogs led from start to finish at Mineral Resources Park, surviving a second half comeback from the Eagles to win 6.8.44 to 5.6.36.

The Bulldogs led by 26 points at the five-minute mark of the third quarter, before West Coast booted the final three goals of the contest.

00:37

AFLW R9 Team Song: Western Bulldogs

Watch the Pups celebrate their round nine win against the West Coast Eagles.

A Charlotte Thomas set shot with 6.21 on the clock in the final stanza got the home side to within eight points, but the Dogs halted the momentum and saw out the game impressively.

Skipper Ellie Blackburn was again the lynchpin for the Bulldogs in the victory, putting in a superb performance which included 32 disposals (a career-high), nine marks, five tackles and a game-high 665 metres gained.

In the final quarter alone, she amassed 12 possessions and took three marks, in the face of the opposition’s fierce pressure.

The Bulldogs’ defence stood up admirably.  Gabby Newton led the charge, registering an equal career-high 19 disposals and taking five marks.

05:11

AFLW Match Highlights | RD9 v West Coast

The Eagles and Bulldogs clash in round nine of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season

Issy Grant took six marks, while Liz Georgostathis continued her fine season with 16 possessions.

Alice Edmonds made a triumphant return from injury, winning 27 hitouts, kicking a goal and finishing with 15 touches.

Daisy Bateman and Rylie Wilcox were impressive on the wings, while Jess Fitzgerald registered a game-high eight tackles.

Kirsty Lamb became just the second Bulldogs player (behind Blackburn) to register 1000 AFLW disposals, to go with a goal and seven score involvements.

06:23

Nathan Burke | Post Match (RD9)

Watch Western Bulldogs' press conference after round nine's match against West Coast

WEST COAST                            1.1   2.2   4.4   5.6 (36)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             2.1   4.3   6.7   6.8 (44)

GOALS
West Coast: Gibson 2, Bartlett, Lewis, Thomas
Western Bulldogs: Edmonds, Hartwig, Hunt, Lamb, Pritchard, Woodley

BEST
West Coast: Swanson, Thomas, Roberts, Smith, Lewis, Gooch
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Edmonds, Newton, Bateman, Carruthers

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Pritchard (knee), Woodley (ankle)

Crowd: 1,147 at Mineral Resources Park