Ahead of Ellie Blackburn’s milestone match this Saturday, we take a closer look at the defining moments of her career to date.
By Western Bulldogs Media
Drafted: Marquee signing, 2016
After spending the four years prior representing Melbourne in the AFL Women’s Exhibition Games, Blackburn was drafted by the Bulldogs as a marquee signing in 2016. “I I had to try and keep it a secret for a while, and I don’t think I was able to keep it quiet for long” she recalled earlier this year.
“It was a nice period of time, because the boys were in the process of winning the flag, so to be part of that the whole way through was really nice.
“The club felt really comfortable from the get-go. It just felt like home, the way AFLW was embraced by people at the club at the time.”
First game: Round 1, 2017
Blackburn made her debut in the Club’s inaugural match against Fremantle at Mission Whitten Oval. She was named among the best on ground, registering 12 touches and kicking her first league goal. She went onto play a remarkable 71 games straight in the red, white and blue, before injury early last season broke the streak.
First goal: Round 1, 2017
Blackburn’s debut goal came in her debut match, helping her side to a 32-point win over Fremantle in the Club’s inaugural match. Since then, the now 30-year-old has booted 29 goals over 10 seasons, requiring only one more to become the Club’s leading goal-kicker of all time.
Awards: 3x All Australian, 5x Club Best and Fairest, 2018 Premiership player, AFLPA Best Captain, W Medal runner up, 25 Greatest Bulldogs of last 100 years
Blackburn’s accolades speak for themselves. A three-time All Australian and five-time Club Best and Fairest, her consistency over the past 10 seasons cannot be denied. She reached the ultimate glory when she captained the side to its maiden AFLW Premiership in 2018, collecting 17 disposals and five clearances in the win. She was voted the league’s Best Captain in 2021 and claimed a career-high runner-up finish in the W Medal that same campaign. Just this year, she was recognised as one of the Club’s 25 Greatest Players of the last 100 years, and having fully recovered from the injury that sidelined her last year, will be ready to have an impact in 2025.