THE WESTERN Bulldogs have bounced back to win their first game since Round 2, smashing Collingwood by 57 points on the men's Grand Final Eve public holiday in Melbourne.

Ellie Blackburn dominated through the middle after spending more time forward this season as she worked her way back from a long-term injury.

Her game on Friday night was a reminder of why she was this year selected as one of the greatest Bulldogs players in history as she lifted her side to a 10.5 (65) to 1.2 (8) win.

Blackburn started in the middle and won the first clearance and then snapped a goal minutes later. She went on to kick a career-best four goals to go with 25 disposals, four tackles and two clearances.

Teammate Issy Pritchard was also outstanding with a massive 11 clearances, 33 disposals and 482 metres gained.

Sarah Hartwig also had one of the best games of her career to date, kicking two goals, setting up a number of her teammates and getting reward for effort.

The Pies haven't won an opening quarter since Round 1, and that continued on Friday night with a scoreless start. In fact, the Bulldogs had two goals on the board before the Pies had even entered their forward 50.

It took just two minutes for the Bulldogs to pounce, with Hartwig capitalising on a spill from about 15 metres out for her first goal of the season, and then setting up Blackburn's moments later.

Collingwood's defence held up early in the second quarter, but it was only a matter of time before they were overrun, Blackburn setting up an opportunity for Jess Fitzgerald who took an outstretched mark, ran into the forward pocket and finished with class from a difficult angle.

Teammate Rylie Wilcox then put her body on the line as usual, taking a strong mark to capitalise on some fast play and setting up Blackburn to convert at the top of the goalsquare.

The third quarter was more even, with the ball spending more time in Collingwood's attacking 50, but with little reward for the Pies.

A bright spark in the final quarter was a goal from Wilcox, bending it from an almost impossible angle after receiving a free kick for insufficient intent.

More than one winner

There was a little bit extra going on off the field between quarters on Friday night. Each game so far this weekend has seen a double pass to the AFL men's Grand Final given away to a lucky attendee at three-quarter time, and it was no different at Mission Whitten Oval. But there was something extra special at half-time – a marriage proposal from ardent Pies fan Andy to his partner, just as passionate Bulldogs supporter Connor. And for the record, they said yes!

Up next

Both sides are hopping on the plane next week, with the Western Bulldogs heading to Adelaide to take on Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday night, while Collingwood comes up against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park in Perth in a Sunday twilight game.

WESTERN BULLDOGS          2.2     5.4     7.4     10.5 (65)
COLLINGWOOD                     0.0     1.0     1.2        1.2 (8)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn 4, Hartwig 2, Wilcox, McDonald, Fitzgerald, Edmonds
Collingwood: Centra

BEST 
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Pritchard, Hartwig, Edmonds, Wilcox
Collingwood: Schleicher, Cronin, Allen, Remmos

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Collingwood: Centra (right hand), Schleicher (TBC)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 2,016 at Mission Whitten Oval