External noise is helping the Western Bulldogs in their pursuit of back-to-back AFLW premierships, according to coach Paul Groves and co-captain Ellie Blackburn.

Having snuck home for a one-point win on the road against the Adelaide Crows in their season-opener, the Bulldogs have relished not being tipped as one of this season’s flag favourites.

Being ‘underrated’ in pre-season predictions is being used as added motivation.

“The external noise is that no one was really rating us,” Groves said.

“We haven’t been included in any predictions, which I actually loved, I thought that was great.

“Coming off winning it (in 2018) and to be able to go, ‘we are the hunters again’, I think really worked in our favour.”

AFLW | DOGS WIN OPENING ROUND THRILLER

Blackburn, who was one of the side’s best players on Saturday night, said she was surprised her side had been underrated – but was expecting the evenness of the competition to mean the premiership race was wide open.

“It was quite interesting when it came out that nobody had picked us to go back-to-back,” Blackburn said.

“Like Paul said, we’ve used it to add a bit of fuel to the fire for us.

“It’s interesting the way the competition works and that it’s so unpredictable, you never know who’s going to win each game and it’s really who turns up on the day – and who gets lucky at the end of it.”

AFLW | LAUREN SPARK’S PERFECT DAY

The win against the Crows – the Dogs’ first in three attempts in the AFLW – sees the side sit in third spot on the ladder in Conference A, ahead of an important clash against newcomers Geelong at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday night.

The Cats also started their season with a one-point win, against Collingwood.

“We hadn’t beaten Adelaide, we were really good against them last year and couldn’t get over the line… probably the reverse (on Saturday night) happened,” Groves said.

“To pinch one against a team in our conference, with the new set-up, is really, really important as well.”