AFLW training is well and truly underway, as pre-season kicks up a notch ahead of the season start of August 14.
Here's the latest from the track at Mission Whitten Oval.
Ellie Blackburn didn't miss a beat, while Issy Grant looks set for a big year as the Western Bulldogs completed a two-hour session on Thursday.
Former skipper Blackburn suffered a season-ending foot injury in September last year, and has undergone two operations since then, but was moving well through the midfield at training.
Key back Grant – who turns 24 this year – appears to be a more powerful prospect in 2025, while the addition of draftee key forward Emma McDonald looks likely to pay immediate dividends, straightening up the attack and kicking a few long goals.
Versatile former Hawk Lou Stephenson was also training up forward, while ex-VFLW Dog Keeley Hardingham will provide some much-needed ruck support for Alice Edmonds, who was moving cleanly.
Key back Lauren Ahrens (foot stress reaction) trained strongly, while Mua Laloifi (ACL) also took to the track sans strapping on her knee, but was restricted in a small handful of drills.
Best and fairest Isabelle Pritchard received treatment on her ankles, as did Heidi Woodley on her shoulder, while Rylie Wilcox donned a singular long sleeve in the Footscray chill.
Brit Gutknecht provided some bounce out of defence, while Jess Fitzgerald ran through the midfield in match simulation drills.
The Dogs showed off a short, neat-kicking ball movement down the ground, in contrast to some of their games last year which involved long kicks to contested marks.
