Mary Sandral will lead the Western Bulldogs on field this season in the Victorian Football League Women’s competition.
The Bulldogs announced a new-look leadership group last week.
Sandral has played 38 games for the red, white and blue since 2019, averaging eight disposals and three marks while slotting 17 goals.
She was first elevated to the leadership group in 2021, before being elevated to vice-captaincy last year.
She replaces Riley Christgoergl, who captained the side the past two seasons.
This season Sandral will be supported by co-vice captains Mikayla Barnes and Melanie Freeman.
Barnes joined the Bulldogs last season after a stint with Carlton VFLW, combining for a total of 16 games. She plays her local football with Oak Park in the Essendon District Football League.
Freeman managed 13 games in her debut VFLW season last year, but will miss the opening month of this season after suffering an MCL tear in her elbow.
An exact return-to-play timeline will be established in due course. Freeman’s local club the last two seasons has been Spotswood in the Western Region Football League.
Trinity Skenderis and Freya Taylor make up the remainder of the five-player leadership group.
The 2023 playing list will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The Bulldogs are set to meet Geelong in a practice match next Saturday morning at Deakin University Waurn Ponds, as they continue to ramp up preparations for an opening round home clash against Casey on March 26.
