Western Bulldogs AFLW captain Ellie Blackburn has praised the culture the Bulldogs have built after a strong off-season saw them retain key names of their season six playing group.
With Essendon, Hawthorn, Sydney and Port Adelaide joining the fold this season, clubs around the competition were forced to contend with the lure of expansion teams, with the Bulldogs managing to re-sign 24 players from last season.
Speaking to Zero Hanger ahead of the Bulldogs' first game of the season, the skipper said that the re-signings spoke highly of the culture around the club and the success on the horizon.
"We were able to re-sign 24 players as part of our list and I think that in itself says a lot about the culture and what we are trying to build," Blackburn said.
"Especially in an expansion year as well. I'm really proud of the playing group we've got at the moment and the coaches as well that have really brought the group together."
The Bulldogs finished seventh in season six, winning four of their ten matches. The club has failed to make finals since their premiership win in 2018, the season before Blackburn ascended to the captaincy.
When asked if she considered the lure of heading elsewhere amid the expansion coup, Blackburn revealed that she wanted to be a part of the success the Dogs were building.
"Personally in that moment you wanted to make the best decision for yourself moving forward and for me it was being at the Dogs," Blackburn said.
"I absolutely love the football club and really happy to be a part of it and really happy that we were able to sign on 24 players as part of that as well.
"We've started to build something really special and I'm really excited to see that through and I want to be a part of the next steps forward for the team."
The Bulldogs didn't escape completely unharmed during the trade period though, with Isabel Huntington and Bonnie Toogood leaving to join GWS and Essendon, respectively.
With their draft hand, the Dogs picked up three young players to compliment their exisiting list, with Rylie Wilcox (pick 21), Keely Coyne (pick 29) and Heidi Woodley (pick 37) joining the club.
Brooke Vernon, a former Blue, also made her way to the Kennel in the draft.
The Western Bulldogs are set to get their season underway on Sunday, August 28 against the GWS Giants. The match, to be held at Ikon Park, will get underway at 12:10pm AEST.
