When Amelia Van Oosterwijck runs out in the red, white and blue tonight, she will not only mark a significant moment in her sporting life, she will also notch up a Western Bulldogs club milestone.

In the fourth AFL Women’s season, debutante Van Oosterwijck will become the 50th Western Bulldog woman to play for premiership points.

The 18-year-old recruit from the Oakleigh Chargers will also become the first female Bulldog to have a surname beginning with the letter V.

George Valentine was the first male 'V' to play V/AFL footy for the Dogs, back in 1927, and he has since been followed by Jack Vosti, Geoff Van Der Feen, Algy Vosilaitis, Carl Vesty, Brenton Vilcins and Patrick Veszpremi, while 2018 draftee Laitham Vandermeer will be looking to join Van Oosterwijck as a new Bulldog 'V' in 2020.

Van Oosterwijck will become the 50th female Bulldog 94 years after the 50th male Footscray VFL player made his debut.

Bill Freyer, an ex-South Melbourne player, marked the milestone when he pulled on the hooped jumper for the first time in June 1926, on the same hallowed Whitten Oval turf that Van Oosterwijck will grace tonight.

For Bill, that game ended in a disappointing loss. Amelia Van Oosterwijck and her Bulldog teammates will be doing all they can to ensure the opposite result tonight.

The Western Bulldogs have fallen to a 20-point defeat against Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval on Friday night. 

In wet conditions, the Demons were too strong, leading from start to finish on their way to a 4.8 (32) to 2.0 (12) win.

The result leaves the Bulldogs with a 1-1 record after their opening two matches in 2020.

More than 3,000 fans braved the rain to watch the Bulldogs’ first home match for the year, but it was the Demons who started the better.

Melbourne held a nine-point quarter time lead, despite an early major to Deanna Berry after a 50-metre penalty.

The Bulldogs were competitive throughout around the ball, but struggled to find avenues to goal.

But the scoring dried up from there for the Bulldogs through the middle of the game, as the Demons narrowly extended their lead to 12 points at the major break and 26 points at three quarter time.

Bonnie Toogood snared the only goal of the final term to cut the final margin to 20 points.

The Bulldogs’ leading ball-winner was Aisling McCarthy, who impressed with 15 disposals and six tackles.

Skipper Ellie Blackburn (14 disposals, five tackles), Naomi Ferres (12 disposals), Kirsty Lamb (11 disposals, five tackles) and Gabby Newton (11 disposals, six disposals) all played important roles around the ball, while Angelica Gogos combined 11 disposals and four tackles in defence.

The Bulldogs will look to rebound next Saturday, when they host Carlton at VU Whitten Oval in the two clubs’ annual Pride Game.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     1.0     1.0     1.0     2.0     (12)
MELBOURNE     2.3     2.6     4.8     4.8    (32)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Berry, Toogood
Melbourne: Emonson, Paxman, Sherriff, Gay

BEST
Western Bulldogs: McCarthy, Blackburn, Lamb, Spark, Ferres
Melbourne: Paxman, Scott, Pearce, Hore, Gay, Heath 

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: McLeod (head knock)
Melbourne: Kemp (knee) 

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 3133 at VU Whitten Oval