Ellie Blackburn
Blackburn playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2018
Personal information
Full name Ellie Blackburn
Date of birth (1995-03-25) 25 March 1995
Original team(s) Melbourne University (VFLW)
Draft 2016 marquee signing
Debut Round 1, 2017, Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle, at VU Whitten Oval
Height 169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder / forward
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017– Western Bulldogs 68 (28)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2017 Victoria 1 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2017.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Ellie Blackburn (born 25 March 1995) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She served as Western Bulldogs co-captain in 2019, and has served as the sole captain since the 2020 season. Blackburn is the Western Bulldogs games record holder with 68 games.

Blackburn was drafted by the Bulldogs in 2016 as a marquee signing prior to the inaugural AFL Women's season, and is a three-time AFL Women's All-Australian and dual Western Bulldogs best and fairest. In 2017, she was the inaugural Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker, and in 2018, she captained the Bulldogs to their first AFL Women's premiership in the absence of suspended captain Katie Brennan. Blackburn was also voted as the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) AFLW best captain in 2021.

Early life

Blackburn began playing competitive football in the under-9s division for the Beaconsfield Junior Football Club.[1][2] 2011 saw her named player of the carnival at the national under-18 championships. In 2013, she was the captain of the Victorian side at the under 18 championships, where she was named the competition's best-and-fairest player.[2][3] She was awarded under 18 All-Australian selection in 2011, 2012, and her final year of eligibility in 2013.[1]

She attended high school at Hallam Senior College in Melbourne's outer east.[1] Blackburn played state football for Melbourne University in the VFL Women's (VFLW). She was drafted by Melbourne with the thirteenth pick in the inaugural women's draft in 2013 and represented the club in the women's exhibition games between 2013 and 2016.[2] Over this time she averaged 20 disposals per match for the club.[2] In July 2016, Blackburn was signed by the Western Bulldogs – the team that she played against in all of the exhibition matches – as one of two marquee players ahead of the inaugural AFL Women's season.[4]

AFL Women's career

Blackburn playing for the Western Bulldogs in 2017

Blackburn was announced as a member of the Bulldogs' inaugural four-woman leadership group in late January 2017.[5] Blackburn made her debut in round 1, 2017, against Fremantle at Whitten Oval.[6] She was named among the Bulldogs' best, recording twelve disposals and kicking her first league goal in the match. In round 3, Blackburn was named the Bulldogs' best, recording a team high twenty-six disposals and six tackles for the match.[7] Blackburn was highlighted as "Player of the Week" by the AFL Players Association for her round 5 performance in the 2017 AFL Women's season.[8] At the end of the season, Blackburn was second in the competition for kicks, one behind Melbourne's Karen Paxman.[9] Teammates also spoke highly of her leadership after she captained the team for majority of the season, with captain Katie Brennan injured.[8] At the end of the 2017 season, Blackburn was nominated by her teammates for the AFL Players' Most Valuable Player Award[10] and was listed in the 2017 AFL Women's All-Australian team.[11] In May 2017, she was announced as the co-winner of the inaugural Western Bulldogs best and fairest award alongside Emma Kearney.[12] The Western Bulldogs signed Blackburn for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.[13] On 2 September, Blackburn played for Victoria in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match, where she was named among Victoria's best players with three goals.[14]

In round 4 of the 2019 season, Blackburn was knocked out in a collision and stretchered off the ground in a neck brace.[15]

Leading into the 2020 season, womens.afl journalist Sarah Black named Blackburn at no. 10 on her list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[16] Despite suffering a hand injury in a practice match,[17][18] she was able to play in round 1, and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[19] Blackburn was selected in the initial 40-woman squad for the 2020 AFL Women's All-Australian team,[20][21][22] and was also selected in the AFL Players Association's 2017–2019 retrospective AFL Women's 22under22 team.[23]

Leading into the 2021 season, Sarah Black again named Blackburn at no. 10 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[24] Blackburn was best afield in each of the Bulldogs' first three matches[25][26][27] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week in each of the first three rounds,[28][29][30] making her one of only two players (along with Greater Western Sydney's Alyce Parker) to do so.[30] She also received a Goal of the Year nomination for her goal in the final quarter of the round 1 match.[31] At the end of the home-and-away season, Blackburn was voted as the AFLW Players' best captain for 2021 ahead of Melbourne captain and three-time winner Daisy Pearce, and also finished third in voting for the AFLW Players' most valuable player award behind Collingwood co-captain Brianna Davey and Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers.[32][33][34] She also finished equal-third with Parker in the 2021 AFL Women's best and fairest count with 14 votes, one behind joint winners Davey and Bowers,[35] and won her third AFL Women's All-Australian selection[36][37] and second Western Bulldogs best and fairest award.[38] Blackburn signed a contract extension with the club in June 2021.[39]

Blackburn was named at no. 4 in Sarah Black's 2022 list of the top 30 players in the AFLW, which was Blackburn's first appearance in the top five.[40] She was named the Bulldogs' best player in their opening round loss to Melbourne,[41] before being ruled out of the following round due to the AFL's health and safety protocols, which would have been the first time she missed a match for the club.[42][43] However, the Bulldogs' next two matches were postponed as a result of the protocols,[44][45] and Blackburn played in the Bulldogs' next match, a loss to Greater Western Sydney in round 4; she was named among their best players with twelve disposals, eight tackles and a goal, with coach Nathan Burke saying that she only spent two minutes in the midfield in the second half of the match after "[running] herself ragged", as one of several players who had played underdone after having COVID-19.[46] Blackburn was again named among the Bulldogs' best players in their loss to Fremantle a few days later[47] and was best afield in the Bulldogs' first win of the season against Richmond in round 5,[48] polling eight coaches' votes.[49] She was also best afield in the Bulldogs' one-point win over Adelaide in round 6 with 23 disposals and a goal,[50] polling nine coaches' votes,[51] and was selected in womens.afl's Team of the Week for that round.[52] Blackburn was among the Bulldogs' best players in their win over Geelong[53] and draw against Gold Coast in round 7,[54] and was the Bulldogs' best player in their loss to Collingwood in round 8.[55] She was among the Bulldogs' best players in their win over West Coast in round 9[56] and loss to Brisbane in round 10,[57] polling nine coaches' votes in round 9[58] and five in round 10.[59]

Leading into the 2023 season, Sarah Black named Blackburn at no. 18 on her annual list of the top 30 players in the AFLW.[60]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2023 season.[61]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
  †  
 Led the league for 
the season
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017Western Bulldogs2 7612†1013513617260.91.7†14.45.019.42.43.710
2018#Western Bulldogs2 8361023313523260.40.912.84.116.92.93.36
2019Western Bulldogs2 723863512119270.30.412.35.017.32.73.96
2020Western Bulldogs2 622723210413250.30.312.05.317.32.24.26
2021Western Bulldogs2 9541245217635480.60.413.85.819.63.95.314
2022 (S6)Western Bulldogs2 10681356620123430.60.813.56.620.12.34.312
2022 (S7)Western Bulldogs2 11471526321528580.40.613.85.719.52.55.314
2023Western Bulldogs2 100415711126845430.00.415.711.126.84.54.310
Career 68284692942713562032960.40.713.76.319.93.04.478

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "#26 Ellie Blackburn". VWFL. Sports TG. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Player Profile: Ellie Blackburn". Western Bulldogs. Bigpond. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "AFL Women's Draft". Hallam Senior College. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Women's AFL: Who are the marquee players?". ABC. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (2 February 2017). "Captains and leadership group members for every AFLW club for 2017 season". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. ↑ Navaratnam, Dinny (4 February 2017). "Dogs dominate wayward Freo women's side". afl.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Matthews, Bruce (18 February 2017). "AFLW: Demons far too good for Bulldogs". afl.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 "AFLW Player Of The Week: Round 5". AFL Players Association. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  9. ↑ @championdata (5 March 2017). "AFLW Player Stat Leaders after Round 5 matches.(Ties ordered by games played, player name)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "AFLW MVP Nominations Revealed". AFL Players Association. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Navaratnam, Dinny (28 March 2017). "Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team". afl.com.au. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  12. ↑ @bulldogsw (18 May 2017). "Your winners of the 2017 Western Bulldogs AFLW Best and Fairest!! #RealStrength" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period". afl.com.au. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  14. ↑ Black, Sarah (2 September 2017). "AFLW: Daisy stands tall as Big V dominates". afl.com.au. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "AFLW: Dogs Suffer Second Straight Loss". Western Bulldogs. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. ↑ Black, Sarah (28 January 2020). "Sarah Black's top 30: Just can't stop this X-factor Dog". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Black, Sarah; Canil, Jourdan (27 January 2020). "AFLW practice match wrap: Dees take down Pies, Roos, Saints, Tigers flex muscle". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Peter (25 January 2020). "Daisy Pearce shows class in comeback, Bulldogs captain injured". The Age. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  19. ↑ Black, Sarah (11 February 2020). "AFLW Team of the Week, round one". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Black, Sarah (3 April 2020). "REVEALED: Magpies lead the way in All-Australian squad". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "AFLW statement: 2020 AFLW All-Australian Squad". womens.afl. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  22. ↑ Negrepontis, Nic (3 April 2020). "Official 2020 AFLW All-Australian squad revealed". SEN. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  23. ↑ Black, Sarah (26 March 2020). "Crows dominate inaugural 22under22 squad". womens.afl. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  24. ↑ Black, Sarah (27 January 2021). "Sarah Black's top 30 AFLW players: Blues dynamo rockets up to No.1". womens.afl. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  25. ↑ Twomey, Callum (29 January 2021). "Saints hold off fast-finishing Dogs in Friday night cracker". womens.afl. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  26. ↑ Cleary, Mitch (7 February 2021). "Kangas overwhelm young Saints to remain unbeaten". womens.afl. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  27. ↑ Cleary, Mitch (12 February 2021). "Dogs see off gallant Cats with late burst". AFL Women's Media. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  28. ↑ Black, Sarah (2 February 2021). "AFLW Team of the Week, round one". womens.afl. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  29. ↑ Black, Sarah (9 February 2021). "AFLW Team of the Week, round two". womens.afl. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  30. 1 2 Black, Sarah (16 February 2021). "AFLW Team of the Week, round three". womens.afl. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "Round one: AFLW Goal of the Year". womens.afl. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  32. ↑ Black, Sarah (14 April 2021). "MVP Awards: Pie pips Docker for top gong, best captain revealed". womens.afl. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  33. ↑ Balmer, Matt (14 April 2021). "Magpies star claims AFLW MVP award in tight vote count". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  34. ↑ Walsh, Liz (14 April 2021). "AFLW 2021: Brianna Davey claims MVP award in thriller". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  35. ↑ Black, Sarah (20 April 2021). "History makers: Magpies co-captain, Dockers superstar share AFLW B&F". womens.afl. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  36. ↑ "REVEALED: The 2021 AFLW All-Australian team". womens.afl. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  37. ↑ Zita, David (20 April 2021). "Two AFLW greats reach footy immortality as All-Australian squad revealed". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  38. ↑ "Your club's B&F: Star Bulldog claims second club champion award". womens.afl. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  39. ↑ "25 Bulldogs locked in for AFLW 6.0". 16 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  40. ↑ Black, Sarah (6 January 2022). "Sarah Black's Top 30 AFLW players". womens.afl. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  41. ↑ Black, Sarah (8 January 2022). "Flag fancy Demons prove too hot for Dogs". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  42. ↑ Black, Sarah (11 January 2022). "Dogs scratching for numbers as skipper ruled out". womens.afl. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  43. ↑ Vaughan, Roger (11 January 2022). "North's Anderson yet to have second jab". Seven News. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  44. ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (13 January 2022). "R2 FIXTURE SHAKE-UP: Two games cancelled, new match-up revealed". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  45. ↑ "R3 FIXTURE UPDATE: Two matches cancelled, Tuesday night clash confirmed". womens.afl. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  46. ↑ Australian Associated Press (28 January 2022). "Raising the Barr: Giant response muzzles misfiring Dogs". womens.afl. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  47. ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (1 February 2022). "Undefeated Dockers dodge Dogs after late Antonio heroics". womens.afl. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  48. ↑ Gabelich, Josh (6 February 2022). "Happy birthday, coach: Dogs deliver for Burkey, injury woe for Tigers". womens.afl. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  49. ↑ "AFLCA votes, R5: FIVE players nab perfect votes, tie at the top". womens.afl. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  50. ↑ Whiting, Michael (13 February 2022). "Upset of the season: Dogs shock Crows in an instant classic". womens.afl. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  51. ↑ "AFLCA votes, R6: Welcome back Tyla, new clubhouse leader". womens.afl. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  52. ↑ Black, Sarah (15 February 2022). "AFLW Team of the Week, round six". womens.afl. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  53. ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (18 February 2022). "Dogs make it three straight after holding off Cats". womens.afl. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  54. ↑ Australian Associated Press (22 February 2022). "Shock and DRAW: Suns-Dogs ends all square after thrilling finish". womens.afl. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  55. ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (27 February 2022). "Not just pie in the sky: Finals dream still alive as Collingwood defeats Dogs". womens.afl. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  56. ↑ Australian Associated Press (5 March 2022). "Dogs destroy Eagles to keep finals hopes alive". womens.afl. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  57. ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (13 March 2022). "Lions warm up for finals with pulsating win over Dogs". womens.afl. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  58. ↑ "AFL Coaches Association - AFLW Champion Player of the Year (round 9, 2022)". AFL Coaches Association. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  59. ↑ "AFL Coaches Association - AFLW Champion Player of the Year (round 10, 2022)". AFL Coaches Association. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  60. ↑ Black, Sarah (14 August 2023). "Sarah Black's Top 30 AFLW players: 20-11". womens.afl. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  61. ↑ "Ellie Blackburn – player stats by season". Australian Football. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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