A trio of new Bulldogs will make their AFLW debuts for the Club in this week’s 2021 season-opener against St Kilda.

Katie Lynch, Jess Fitzgerald and Sarah Hartwig will wear the red, white and blue for the first time in the AFLW competition, under the Friday night lights against the Saints at RSEA Park.

The players were delivered the news in front of team-mates and staff at Wednesday evening’s training session at VU Whitten Oval.

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AFLW | Two days to go

The Western Bulldogs AFLW team are hard at work in the final days leading into the Round 1 clash with St Kilda.

It will be the eighth game at the elite level for Lynch, who played for two seasons at Collingwood before being traded to the Dogs during the last off-season.

Fitzgerald was drafted with the Club’s first selection (pick two overall) in the most recent NAB AFL Women’s Draft, and is expected to become a mainstay in the midfield.

Hartwig, an athletic running defender, was recruited from the Sandringham Dragons at pick 11 in the same Draft.

All three played in the Bulldogs’ recent pre-season practice match win against Richmond, which cemented their spot in the team.

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AFLW | Two days to go

The Western Bulldogs AFLW team are hard at work in the final days leading into the Round 1 clash with St Kilda.

The final Western Bulldogs AFLW team for Round 1 will be announced at 5.30pm on Thursday, January 28.  Tickets for the match can be purchased here.

The Dogs’ first home game of the season will come the following week, when they host Carlton in the annual Pride Game at VU Whitten Oval on Friday, February 5.

Tickets for that match will go on sale next week.  Bulldogs AFLW members will gain free access.  To become a member for as little as $50 per adult, click here.