Western Bulldogs co-captain Isabelle Pritchard is always looking to lead by example and improve her game, even after setting new benchmarks.

Despite setting a new AFLW Bulldogs' disposal record (36 touches) in Round 2 against Richmond, she is still looking at ways to get better.

“I feel like after Round 1, I wasn't super happy with my performance, so to be able to step up this week was really nice," Pritchard said. 

“I think disposals are great, but it's really about the impact - what you do with them that counts. 

"That's probably the next thing for me to look at, having the impact with the ball in hand that I want to, and helping out my teammates.

“It’s a bit of hullabaloo, but it is really nice to get that recognition (the Club record). I just try not to live in the glory of it all too much."

Pritchard was a clear standout in the win over Richmond, working hard at the contest with nine tackles and nine clearances.

She had a game-high eight score involvements, and even managed to hit the scoreboard. She later polled maximum coaches’ votes for the performance. 

Named co-captain of the Bulldogs AFLW side this year, alongside De Berry, Pritchard said while she was surprised to be given the honour, she was keen to take on the challenge.

“It was pretty exciting,” she said. “It was kind of shocking. I was like, am I ready for this? I've got to be.”

“It's been awesome (being co-captain). I feel like I've still got so much to learn, but having De with me, she's such a good resource to bounce off and such good support.”

Before Pritchard became a player, she was already embedded in western suburbs culture, coming from a family of deep-rooted Bulldogs faithfuls.

“Growing up we all supported the Bulldogs - my parents' parents supported the Bulldogs,” she said.

“2016 was the first year I started playing. My family and I went to the AFL Grand Final. When the siren blew, I remember seeing my dad crying. It was really funny.

“I even remember at my grandparents' funeral(s) they played the Western Bulldogs song as they got wheeled out. Honestly, they're (my family) all nutters. They absolutely love it, it's really cute.

“Growing up in my family, I've seen how much a Club - especially the Western Bulldogs which has such an impact on the local community - can actually impact an individual and their family.”

Despite growing up embedded in the red, white and blue, she says her passion for the team did not come as naturally as the rest of her family.

“I actually didn't care that much about footy until I started playing, but my parents would drag me to all the AFL games,” she said.

“I remember I would take my (Nintendo) DS with me and I would just be interested in the hot chips at half time. 

“My brother would have his (AFL Record) out and he'd be taking down all the stats and stuff. I was not really interested, then when I was 14 I started playing.”

Once Pritchard started playing football, the establishment of AFLW gave her a tangible goal and her passion for football only grew.

“I remember coming to the women's exhibition matches here. I actually got a photo with Pat Lipinski and Issy Grant … I was totally fangirling,” she said. 

“I feel like then I actually started getting really interested in the game. Once you start seeing a future for yourself, it's possible.”

Pritchard says she has seen the increase in young girls, like herself, becoming passionate about football since the AFLW’s inception.

“My cousin came to her first game on the weekend and my mum was telling me that my dad was teaching her how to bounce the footy,” she said.

“That night, my cousin sent me a video of her practicing bouncing the ball. She's like four or five. 

“It’s crazy the interest that can get sparked by coming to these games. I feel like as a kid, I didn't care because I was like, 'it's not for me, it's for the boys' but it's changed. It's good.”

With a netball background, Pritchard says she was able to lean on her athleticism early on in her football career. 

Understanding she had a lot to learn having started later, she was determined to make a place for herself within the sport. 

“I started playing in the western suburbs at a good time - the competition was in its inception, the Western Jets were just getting established," she said. 

“I think in a lot of ways I've been pretty lucky with the opportunities that I've been given, but also, I'm pretty proud of myself. My footy has developed a fair amount in 10 years.”

The midfielder says her first season as co-captain has been smooth sailing so far, praising her leadership group and the side's early success. 

“It's been pretty easy so far because we've just had pre-season and two wins,” Pritchard said.

“Having a new leadership team this year, there's five of us and we all have a really good relationship, so working with them has been awesome. We’re continuing to develop each week and are open to growth and trying new things.”

The Pups are set to take on AFLW heavyweights North Melbourne in Tasmania on Saturday to kick off the first week of the league’s Indigenous Round.

The Roos haven’t lost a game in two seasons, but Pritchard says the Dogs shouldn’t be written off easily.

“There's a lot of zest about the team because we are young and hungry,” she said. “So, in a lot of ways we're really excited for the challenge.

“I think that we're perfectly capable of winning - why can't we shock the footy world? I don't think we deserve a write-off. I think we're better than that now. 

“It's an exciting opportunity, especially having (built) confidence in the past couple of weeks.

“There's an opportunity for us to keep working on our gameplan, keep playing the way we want to, and challenge what has been the best team in the competition for the past couple of years."

The Bulldogs will wear the 2026 First Nations clash guernsey against North, with the traditional blue version to be worn against Sydney at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday 5 September.