It was a high scoring affair at VU Whitten Oval on Sunday, with a young Western Bulldogs outfit recording a 36-point victory over Hawthorn in round one of the VFLW season.

An electric start to the game saw AFLW-listed player Isabelle Pritchard neatly set up Britney Gutknecht for the first goal of the game, with the Bulldogs going on to finish 10.6 (66) to 4.6 (30) winners.

Both Pritchard and Gutknecht led from the front all day, with Gutknecht (two goals) displaying a dominant midfield performance.

Issy Grant continuously put her body on the line with a ferocious attack on the ball, while Nell Morris-Dalton and Mary Sandral provided strong targets inside-50.

Despite the early scoreboard impact from the Dogs, it was a hard-fought contest in the first half, with Hawthorn rebounding late to score a goal and keep themselves in touch going into the main break.

The game was in the balance early in the third quarter, but goals from Gemma Lagioia, Sandral and Morris-Dalton saw the Bulldogs pull away, stretching the lead out to 25 points at three-quarter-time.

AFLW Bulldog Annabel Strahan looked dangerous in defence, showcasing her speed and poise with some impressive rebounding off the half-back line.

Led by newly-named captain Riley Christgoergl, a determined Bulldogs outfit piled on the defensive pressure in the final term to keep Hawthorn goalless for the quarter.

Pritchard and Brooke Hards sealed the win with a quick succession of goals.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.2 5.3 8.4 10.6 (66)

HAWTHORN: 1.2 3.3 4.3 4.6 (30)

Goals: Gutknecht 2, Morris-Dalton, Pritchard, Scott, Murphy, Lagioia, Hards, Sandral, Van Oosterwijck

Best: Gutknecht, Betts, McMahon, Christgoergl, Pritchard, Sandral