It was a historic day for women’s football on Tuesday night as Western Bulldogs marquee player Ellie Blackburn and her teammates kicked off their first pre-season at Maribyrnong College in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The side will travel to Ballarat this weekend for an open training session but will use the College until the facilities at Victoria University Whitten Oval are ready for use.
Women's team heads to Ballarat
Blackburn was well aware of the feats of the club's AFL and VFL sides in recent months – both won their respective flags – and the inside midfielder said she hoping to replicate that success.
"We want to win the title at the end of it," she said.
"We're in a good spot with the club winning both the men's AFL and VFL."
The Dogs will have seven rival clubs in the competition set to run from early February through the end of March.
Blackburn, 21, will be one of the Dogs' keys in their attempt at a flag. The long-kicking onballer is expected to be one of the stars of the team after being named as a marquee player, along with forward Katie Brennan.
Not that Blackburn's feeling the pressure though.
"Not at all. I think I'm taking it as it comes. Everyone brings their strengths and weaknesses to the team and we're going to build on that as a group," she said.
"I'm not going to go out there and be the bigger player. I want everyone to be a part of it."
The 170cm tough nut was a St Kilda supporter growing up and was a Saints member for about 13 years. She spent her youth in Berwick in Melbourne's outer south-east.
Playing under the hot sun in the summer months poses a test for the players.
"The conditions for us will be a lot different compared to what we're used to, playing in the winter months. Our conditioning over the next two months will have to help us get used to it," she said.
However, the short build-up means they can't afford to spend too much time building fitness at the expense of skill work.
"It's a bit tough to adjust (training) too much, knowing we're only two months away from the competition starting. We've got to get the balls in our hands as much as we can," she said.
Although the group has never played a match together, Blackburn said she was already familiar with her teammates.
"We've done a couple of things together as a group, so I know the girls quite well. We've played against each other and with each other at a local level so I know everyone pretty well," she said.
Working full-time at Aldi is a challenge made easier by her employers. A couple of weeks' notice with her rosters allows her time off for training and anything else that comes up is accommodated.
"Work's been amazing. I work full-time and they've been very lenient towards football and catered to me quite well," she said.
"I'm one of the girls who's in a really lucky position with work and football both being very supportive."
