IT'S BEEN a long time since the Western Bulldogs have made such a positive start to a NAB AFLW campaign.

You'd have to go all the way back to season seven in 2022, when the Dogs won their first three matches, to find the team from the Melbourne's west in the top half of the ladder after three rounds.

That's why this season feels different to Bulldogs leader Jess Fitzgerald.

"I was saying to some of the other girls today that I'm not sure if I've ever been a part of some solid wins at the start of a season," Fitzgerald said.

"We've always kind of had to claw our way back at the back end of the season in previous years." 

"So it's nice to get off to a good start, I think that's given us a little bit of confidence. We also know that we haven't quite got to the point where we want to be with our game method, so we're still a little bit off."

Despite losing to back-to-back premier North Melbourne in Launceston last Saturday, the Western Bulldogs currently sit ninth, and equal with four other teams above them on the ladder.

On a personal level, Fitzgerald is putting up career-best numbers.

In her seventh season at the Kennel, Fitzgerald is averaging 10 more disposals a game than her previous best output, with 27 touches a match.

The 24-year-old credits a large part of her growth to midfield coach Peter Mercoulia, who was elevated to the role this season.

"He (Mercoulia) kind of just made it really clear what kind of role I'd be playing," Fitzgerald said.

"So I think just having that clarity has made it really easy to focus on what you want to achieve each training session to get better at your role.

"And I think what's really good about the roles that he's given us is they're all based on our strengths. So he's made it really easy for us to thrive because he's not asking us to do anything that we're not great at. 

"He's just asking us to go out there and do what we do best, which I think for me, what he saw for me was my ability to use my skills and my decision-making."

This weekend the Bulldogs will wear their Indigenous jumper designed by Joey Chatfield-Berg.

The jumper created headlines last weekend for the similarity to the guernsey worn by the Dogs' opponent North Melbourne, given that it was predominantly white and royal blue, and that both sides were wearing royal blue shorts.

Fitzgerald acknowledged the jumper clash but was pragmatic about the situation.

"Obviously it was a challenge," Fitzgerald said.

"I think the spectators saw that, but both teams were having to deal with it. So there was no disadvantage really to either team."

The Dogs have recognised the AFLW's Indigenous Rounds with a number of activities across the fortnight.

One activity was a visit from former Carlton and Adelaide champion Eddie Betts, who ran an education session with the players this week.

"It was phenomenal," Fitzgerald said.

"I've never had an education session where it's been spoken about amongst the group in the change rooms for longer than this one with Eddie has, and it might be because everyone knows him, his profile is pretty large, but he just connected with everyone. It was so powerful. 

"What I found most powerful about him coming to speak was that along his journey, he was quite reserved and shy and, you know, didn't really speak up.

"And then when he was at Adelaide, he kind of felt like he found his voice and now he feels really empowered to educate the people around him, and he definitely did that with our group."

The Bulldogs play an undefeated Sydney at Whitten Oval this Saturday, with the Swans heading into the game as favourites.

"I think most people enjoy being the underdog," Fitzgerald said.

"I think our group, we try not to listen to the outside noise and we just try and get to work on what we want to go out and do. 

"But yeah, it's always nice when you prove people wrong. So hopefully we can definitely go out there and give it a crack."