27 Facts About Ellie Blackburn

Ellie Blackburn was born on 25 March 1995 and is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL Women's.

Ellie Blackburn served as Western Bulldogs co-captain in 2019, and as their sole captain from 2020 to 2023.

Ellie 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 five-time Western Bulldogs best and fairest.

Ellie Blackburn was voted as the AFL Players Association AFLW best captain in 2021.

Ellie Blackburn began playing competitive football in the under-9s division for the Beaconsfield Junior Football Club.

Ellie Blackburn was awarded under 18 All-Australian selection in 2011,2012, and her final year of eligibility in 2013.

Ellie Blackburn attended high school at Hallam Senior College in Melbourne's outer east.

Ellie Blackburn played state football for Melbourne University in the VFL Women's.

Ellie Blackburn 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.

Ellie Blackburn was announced as a member of the Bulldogs' inaugural four-woman leadership group in late January 2017.

Ellie Blackburn made her debut in round 1,2017, against Fremantle at Whitten Oval.

Ellie Blackburn was named among the Bulldogs' best, recording twelve disposals and kicking her first league goal in the match.

In round 3, Ellie Blackburn was named the Bulldogs' best, recording a team high twenty-six disposals and six tackles for the match.

Ellie 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.

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

Ellie Blackburn was best afield in each of the Bulldogs' first three matches and was selected in womens.

Ellie Blackburn received a Goal of the Year nomination for her goal in the final quarter of the round 1 match.

Ellie Blackburn 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, and won her third AFL Women's All-Australian selection and second Western Bulldogs best and fairest award.

Ellie Blackburn signed a contract extension with the club in June 2021.

Ellie Blackburn was named the Bulldogs' best player in their opening round loss to Melbourne, 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.

However, the Bulldogs' next two matches were postponed as a result of the protocols, and Ellie 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.

Ellie Blackburn was again named among the Bulldogs' best players in their loss to Fremantle a few days later and was best afield in the Bulldogs' first win of the season against Richmond in round 5, polling eight coaches' votes.

Ellie Blackburn was best afield in the Bulldogs' one-point win over Adelaide in round 6 with 23 disposals and a goal, polling nine coaches' votes, and was selected in womens.

Ellie Blackburn was among the Bulldogs' best players in their win over Geelong and draw against Gold Coast in round 7, and was the Bulldogs' best player in their loss to Collingwood in round 8.

Ellie Blackburn was among the Bulldogs' best players in their win over West Coast in round 9 and loss to Brisbane in round 10, polling nine coaches' votes in round 9 and five in round 10.

In 2024, Ellie Blackburn was named the Bulldogs' best player in losses to Greater Western Sydney in round 1 and Port Adelaide in round 2.

Ellie Blackburn was among the Bulldogs' best players in their round 3 loss to West Coast with 21 disposals and a goal, but suffered a mid-foot ligament injury late in the match which required surgery, ruling her out for the rest of the season and marking the first time Blackburn missed an AFLW match in her career.