Ellie Blackburn has produced a perfect start to the season.
Not only did the Bulldogs’ skipper help deliver a win against St Kilda on Sunday afternoon with 17 disposals, but she was also adjudged best afield by the coaches and has been named in AFL Media’s Team of the Week.
Blackburn polled a perfect 10 votes in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award – one of four players across the competition to do so in round one.
Remarkably, she is the first AFLW player to poll 10 votes on four separate occasions.
Polling the perfect 10 @AFLCoaches votes in #AFLW games
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) February 10, 2020
1x: 16 players
2x: 7 players
3x: Kiara Bowers, Erin Phillips, Madison Prespakis
4x: ELLIE BLACKBURN
@BulldogsW @westernbulldogs @aflwomens
Blackburn was named in the midfield in the AFL Media Team of the Week for round one, with fellow leader Izzy Huntington also earning a call-up for her efforts in a new role across half back.
Five Bulldogs polled votes from the coaches in Sunday’s win.
Kirsty Lamb (seven), Naomi Ferres (three), Lauren Spark (two) and Huntington (two) were also recognised.
AFLCA 2020 AFLW Champion Player of the Year
Round 1 Votes
10 -Ellie Blackburn (WB)
7 - Kirsty Lamb (WB)
5 - Georgia Patrikios (STK)
3 - Naomi Ferres (WB)
2 - Lauren Spark (WB)
2 - Isabel Huntington (WB)
1 - Molly McDonald (STK)
LEADERBOARD
VOTES |
PLAYER |
CLUB |
10 |
Ellie Blackburn |
WB |
10 |
Kate Hore |
MELB |
10 |
Jaimee Lambert |
COLL |
10 |
Madison Prespakis |
CARL |
9 |
Sabreena Duffy |
FRE |
AFL Media Team of the Week
Defenders: Libby Birch (Melbourne), Isabel Huntington (Western Bulldogs), Stacey Livingstone (Collingwood), Kate Lutkins (Brisbane), Phoebe Monahan (Richmond)
Midfielders: Breann Moody (Carlton, ruck), Ellie Blackburn (Western Bulldogs), Kiara Bowers (Fremantle), Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Anne Hatchard (Adelaide), Jaimee Lambert (Collingwood), Maddy Prespakis (Carlton)
Forwards: Sabreena Duffy (Fremantle), Tayla Harris (Carlton), Kate Hore (Melbourne), Dana Hooker (West Coast), Gemma Houghton (Fremantle)
Interchange: Lauren Ahrens (Gold Coast), Sophie Conway (Brisbane), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne), Alyce Parker (GWS), Olivia Purcell (Geelong)