“You’re really proud that we’ve been able to produce a lot of good players and good leaders in amongst the competition,” said Blackburn.

“But the fact that we’re still competitive as a team and as a football club, and we’re back playing finals footy, I’m really proud of that. I’m excited for what this current group has at hand.”

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Blackburn attributes the Bulldogs’ ability to remain competitive and reach their second finals berth to the talent they’ve brought in to replace those core players lost, such as Alice Edmonds, Jessica Fitzgerald, Isabelle Pritchard, Gabby Newton and Elisabeth Georgostathis, among others.

“These players have really stepped up and made the most of their opportunity that’s come as a result of the expansion, and then we kept some older players in the likes of Kirsty Lamb and Bailey Hunt, who have been there right from the start, and Naomi Ferres,” she said.

The Bulldogs were also one of the hardest hit by COVID disruptions last season, including being the first team to have the virus to run through it.

The team’s round two and three games were postponed after they were unable to field a team with a significant number of players entering health and safety protocols, and then dealt with a condensed fixture and varying recovery level for players.

Toogood told The W Show that fatigue was a big issue for the group, including in returning to training, and she herself was quite sick, including experiencing hallucinations. “I did get quite sick. The fever was the thing that got me.”

However, Blackburn said the experience helped the players learn how to recover quickly from games and build resilience “as a result of everything that’s happened to us”.

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When the Western Bulldogs take on Collingwood in an elimination final on Sunday at Victoria Park, it will have been 1688 days since the premiership win which marked their previous finals appearance. Along with Blackburn, Deanna Berry, Ferres, Hunt, Kirsten McLeod and Lamb are the remaining Bulldogs who played that day.

“I’m excited to be back playing finals since … We’ve missed out just over the last couple of years and to finally have made it, I’m really proud. And I think it’s that sign of maturity for our group moving forward,” Blackburn said.

“It’s always a good battle against Collingwood,” she added, “to have the game against players who we know are such a competitive team and a football club. We’re expecting a huge turnout on Sunday, so I can’t wait for the game.”

AFLW finals kick off on Friday night with a grand final rematch between Melbourne and Adelaide at Ikon Park.

Demons star forward Tayla Harris avoided a suspension for the final after being charged with forceful front-on contact against West Coast’s Sophie McDonald, which was assessed as careless conduct, low impact, and high contact, resulting in a $400 fine. Melbourne are challenging the charge as they didn’t believe it was a reportable offence.

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