The Western Bulldogs have today unveiled Katie Brennan and Ellie Blackburn as the Club’s marquee players for its inaugural National Women’s League team.



Opting for high talent and youth, the Club is thrilled to have secured the services of both Brennan and Blackburn as the first officially contracted Western Bulldogs Women’s team players.



Brennan, who is well-known to Bulldogs fans after five exhibition matches for the Club, is an elite, athletic key forward and has been touted as one of the game’s most exciting young players.



Originally drafted to the Club in 2013, Brennan has spent the past four years in the Club’s women’s side.



The 23-year-old was awarded the inaugural Susan Alberti Award in 2015, as the Club’s best and fairest player from the 2015 Exhibition Series.



Brennan announced herself as a force in women’s football after a breakout game in the Club’s second exhibition game of 2014, where she kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance. Brennan has kicked over 150 goals in her past three seasons at VFL level for her local club Darebin.



Blackburn, also a rising star of women’s football will don the red, white and blue in 2017 after four exhibition games for the Melbourne Football Club since 2013.



Blackburn has established a reputation as one of the premier young midfielders in the Victorian Women’s Football League, playing locally at Melbourne University.



Possessing a raft of elite attributes including speed, poise and ferocious defensive pressure, the midfielder has averaged 20 possessions for Melbourne across her four exhibition matches.



Bulldogs Director of Football Chris Grant, who officially presented both players with their guernseys, said the Club was delighted to welcome the pair.



“We believe we have secured two of the most talented and exciting young players in the game in Katie and Ellie.



“After an extensive recruitment process, we are confident that not only have we obtained elite footballers, but players of strong character.



“We are confident both Katie and Ellie will help us to develop long-term success for our women’s side and we look forward to having them as Western Bulldogs players for a long time.”



The Club will complete their playing list in October’s National Women’s League draft.



Katie Brennan

Born: Brisbane, Queensland

Age: 23 Height: 174cm

Position: Key forward

Junior Club: Logan Cobras JAFC (QLD)

VFL Women’s Club: Darebin Falcons



Ellie Blackburn

Born: Berwick, Victoria

Age: 21

Height: 170cm

Position: Inside midfielder

Junior Club: Beaconsfield Youth Girls

VFL Women’s Club: Melbourne University



