One of the most influential women in the AFL, Susan Alberti, is stepping down as vice-president of reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs, but has promised she will continue to help break ground for the women's competition.

Ms Alberti said she was "retiring" from the board after coming to the end of her "fourth term in office", the maximum allowed at the club.

"It's time to hand the baton on and I'm going to get involved in other things, particularly women's football," she said.

"We won the premiership, we won the VFL premiership, we couldn't be in a better position and I'm going out on a high."

In one of the best moments in sport this year, the Bulldogs ended their 62-year premiership drought with a win over Sydney, and their successful run to the flag captured the hearts of neutral fans across the country.

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Ms Alberti has supported the Bulldogs for 60 years. As a philanthropist, she has donated millions of dollars to medical research.

She has also given significant amounts to help prop up the women's football competition over the past decade and was a powerful driver behind the AFL's new national women's league.

Ms Alberti said there was "no doubt" her involvement in football had cleared a path for women who wanted to be involved in the game.

"I've been very vocal about women in football and I believe it is reverberating around the other clubs," she said.

"I want to see a women's team at every club. Playing football is not a privilege, it's a right."

Ms Alberti was also a key player in keeping the Bulldogs afloat, along with president Peter Gordon, when they were in financial dire straits during the 1990s.

"Things were drastic," she said.

She said she was not stepping away from football altogether and would still be involved with the Western Bulldogs.

"I'm interested in following women in football, I know a lot of young women who are playing in the competition and they confide in me, and I'll support them in anyway I can," she said.