Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn is confident the reigning premiers can go back-to-back without two of its most important forwards.

While Izzy Huntington avoided a ruptured ACL, the former No. 1 draft pick has been ruled out for the majority of the season, with a Round Five return the most likely outcome.

Brooke Lochland — the league’s leading goal kicker in 2018 — underwent surgery on her fractured right fibula earlier this month. At best, she could be available in Round Six, the second last round of the truncated AFLW season.

“Obviously loosing Brooke and Izzy for the early part of the season will make things a bit more difficult for us at times,” Blackburn told foxsports.com.au.

“But the beauty of it is that we’ve got so many girls on the list who can step up and play those roles.

“I have full faith in the girls that will jump up and take the opportunity with both hands, which is really exciting for them and our team to see what other players can do within the game.”

Brooke Lochland is recovering from ankle surgery. Photo: Mark Stewart

Despite the significant losses of Huntington and Lochland, Blackburn was quick to assert the Bulldogs won the 2018 premiership without Katie Brennan, who was suspended.

Brennan, along with Blackburn, was named as the Bulldogs’ best in the club’s seven-point win over Collingwood in the practice match earlier this month.

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“We didn’t have Katie in the Grand Final last year and we’ve got her for Round One so I think we’re going to be OK in that area,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn was nominated as the player most likely to take out the 2019 AFLW best and fairest by the captains on Thursday.

And in the absence of Emma Kearney (Western Bulldogs), the 23-year-old will have a massive role to play in the club’s midfield.

But Blackburn also isn’t ruling out a move forward, having spent a large portion of her time there in the first season of AFLW.

The team is looking really well. We’ve come back from the break feeling fit and strong and are ready for Round 1.

“I reckon I’ll play a bit of everywhere, similar to what I’ve done in the first couple of seasons,” she said.

“Hopefully I can spend a bit more time in the midfield, as long as the body holds up and I’m fit and ready to go.

“I’d love to get forward though, especially because we do have really good midfield depth. It enables me to get out of there and bring some other players in.”.

Tune into Fox Footy’s The W-Files for a special Facebook Live with Sarah Olle and former GWS Giant Alex Saundry at 12pm on Friday.