EXPECT to see a different Western Bulldogs outfit in Sunday afternoon's NAB AFL Women’s match against Fremantle.

Both coach Paul Groves and general manager of women's football Debbie Lee spoke of the need for a new approach at the team's season launch late last week. 

Groves told players, family and supporters the team had "transformed everything". 

"You're going to see a very different game plan," Groves said.

"We're hoping to kick the ball a lot more. Last year we over-handballed, probably to the frustration of people, but [we're] going to kick it a lot more [and] try to maintain possession.

"We think we've got the best forward line in the competition, so if we can get it down there pretty quick, we're going to have some girls who can kick a good score." 

Lee believes the club's strong drafting, which saw it add significant strength in the midfield (Jenna Bruton, Naomi Ferres and Daria Bannister) and a new game plan would see the team rise up the ladder from last year's sixth-place finish. 

"Our game plan last year [focused] a lot of use of the handpass," Lee told AFL.com.au. 

"Sixteen-a-side is quick, but you also need to keep possession of the footy. We've been concentrating on the fundamentals …we've got to catch it and kick it. 

"We've put a fair bit of energy into that, and I think if you compared our practice match on [January 20, a loss to Carlton in Ballarat] to round five of last season, I'd expect you'd see a fair bit of difference in the way we're using the footy. 

Lee founded the VU Western Spurs in 1993 at just 19 years old. The club's senior team has been renamed and this year will play as Footscray, effectively the Western Bulldogs' VFLW side. 

"It's quite surreal. I never thought I'd get paid for coaching the Spurs," she said. 

"People always say, 'Things work out', and I'm an example of that. I have a great association with the Spurs ... it's been my community I've grown up in as a young person, then to be part of it and now transfer it to the Bulldogs makes it a dream job."

Lee spent the last nine years working for Melbourne, firstly as community manager, then as AFLW football operations manager. 

"They're both footy clubs. You have different personalities, there are different people in terms of team composition, but certainly, I'm learning from the Bulldogs and I can also bring my learnings. 

"I'm really embracing meeting a whole new bunch of people and athletes and off-field staff, and the way the club approaches things. We're still competitive beasts though, so I'm really interested to see the way we roll out in round one." 

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Business as usual 

The final group of AFLW captains were announced in the past week, and it's safe to say neither appointment raised any eyebrows. 

Daisy Pearce will once again lead Melbourne, with Melissa Hickey and Elise O'Dea her deputies.

Katie Brennan is hoping to put a horror injury-struck season behind her and will skipper the Western Bulldogs for a second year.

She will be supported by Ellie Blackburn as vice-captain, while defender Hannah Scott and midfielder Nicole Callinan round out the leadership group, which is unchanged from last season.

The Suze Bot and AFLW app 

Questions about AFLW can now be answered through a new AFLW Facebook Messenger bot. 

Named the 'Suze Bot' after women's football ambassador Susan Alberti, the bot is an intelligent messaging platform that answers questions in a live chat format. 

Questions can be on anything, from the fixture to the rules of the game. 

The bot is available via the AFLW Facebook page. 

An AFLW app was also launched last week with news, stats, fixture and live-streaming of matches included. 

The AFLW Official App is available for download through the App Store and Google Play store. 

AFLW: Stream all games live on the new AFLW Official App

Jumper presentation with a twist

The Western Bulldogs held their season launch on Thursday night in Albert Park.

There were a few hiccups getting everyone to the venue, as the roads were closed in the area due to the Cadel Evans Road Race. President Peter Gordon joked he had pulled a hamstring after having to walk around Albert Park Lake.

But that didn't deter the excitement of the players, who were presented with their jumpers to personalised entrance music, chosen by the girls. 

Highlights included:

  • Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Jenna Bruton
  • Can't Touch This – Bonnie Toogood
  • Mr Brightside – both Kimberley Rennie and Hayley Wildes (closet Richmond fans at heart?)
  • We Will Rock You – Tiarna Ernst
  • Let's Get Loud – Lauren Spark
  • Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Nicole Callinan
  • Electric Feel – Isabel Huntington
  • Echo Beach – Emma Kearney
  • Valerie – Katie Brennan
  • (The now-obligatory) Horses – Aasta O'Connor
  • Big Red Car (yes, the Wiggles' hit song) – Ellie Blackburn