MELBOURNE captain Daisy Pearce says while it was disappointing for the women’s team to register its first loss against the Western Bulldogs, there was plenty of room for improvement going forward.

The Bulldogs registered a 20-point win, with three first-quarter goals to spearhead Moana Hope proving the different between the two sides.

“It’s a little bit disappointing – it was our first hitout for the year so it was always going to be a matter of just getting out there and trying a few new structures that we’re working on,” Pearce told Dee TV.

“It’s always disappointing when you don’t win but it was good to have a run around, nonetheless.”

The match was an all-Victorian affair, with players from the AFL Victoria Women’s Academy added to both teams’ squads, while the coaches were also supplied by AFL Victoria.

Pearce credited the Bulldogs’ experience and ability to make the most of the conditions on the day.

“I guess we were a bit undermanned going in, because of the influence and knowledge of Michelle Cowan and the strength of our WA-based players, when we have played the national-type game,” she said.

“We came in with a lot less retained players than the Doggies did but we felt like we replaced them with really talented girls who have worked hard over summer through the Victorian Academy.

“So we thought we could win, there was no doubting that, but in the end it was probably the Bulldogs’ experience that at this level that just made them stand up a little bit better at that high pace.”

The game, which took place at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn, was played as a curtain-closer to the men’s team’s NAB Challenge match against the Bulldogs.

While there was a “two or three goal breeze” on the day, Pearce said the big ground was an excellent surface to play on.

“It’s a huge deck and sometimes you feel like you’re running uphill, especially when you’re trying to push back,” she said.

“It’s a beautiful surface with lots of space so it’s just a shame that we didn’t really capitalise on it.

“As our first hitout as a group, it’s always hard to run for each other and create space for each other, so it’s unfortunate that we didn’t really utilise it to the best we could have but it was good to have a run around.”

Pearce was clearly Melbourne’s best player on the day, racking up 33 disposals and taking 11 marks, largely across half back.

But the skipper said she still saw plenty of room for improvement in her own game after hamstring troubles interrupted her pre-season.

“Something I’m working on is getting a few more of those kicks in dangerous areas,” Pearce said.

“This is the first time we’re getting a heat map out of the game – so I’m looking forward to having a look at that and I daresay [a lot of those possessions] would have been in the back half.

“As a midfielder I need to add that next element to my game of being able to push forward and hit the scoreboard.

“So a bit to take away from that but I’m glad I got through pretty unscathed and I can put in a really good block of training now before our VWFL season starts.”

When looking at the performances of her teammates, Pearce highlighted the efforts of Danielle Hardiman down back, along with Ellie Blackburn’s intensity around the stoppages but reserved particular praise for versatile tall Tiarna Ernst.

“She rucked for the Dees last year and had that horror injury where she got a bad knock to her kidney and was really unwell for quite a while,” Pearce said.

“So this is her first game back from a pretty serious injury and she also played out of position across half back and I thought she really held her own.

“She didn’t get beaten in one-on-ones and then when the ball hit the ground, because she’s so athletic, she was able to clear it for us.”

Looking towards future AFL Women’s Exhibition Games, Pearce said she expected Melbourne’s performances to improve as a result of spending more time together as a group down the track.

“Whenever you run out and play footy you want to win and we have a lot of pride for our red and blue jumper so we certainly wanted to get the result today,” Pearce said.

“There’s lots to work on and a lot to go on with, we don’t walk off the ground dejected or anything like that because we know what we need to improve and they’re easy things to fix.

“It’s just a matter of getting more time under our belt.”