Western Bulldogs captain Deanna Berry has made history, becoming the first current AFLW captain to coach a senior men’s team in Australia.

After 88 games as an assistant with the Redbacks, Berry has taken the reins from Simon Amore, who last week stepped down as coach.

The AFLW star, who has played in every season of the competition’s history after being taken with pick No.9 in the inaugural 2016 draft, is serving as Panton Hill’s interim coach for the remaining three games of the season.

Her first game in charge last weekend was a baptism of fire as the Redbacks were thumped by Northern Football Netball division two ladder leaders Diamond Creek.

Berry is leading the side with support from assistants Chris Jewitt, Scott Conte, and Brent Ryan.

The 27-year-old will miss the start of the AFLW season after sustaining a hamstring injury at training.

She took over as Bulldogs captain before the start of last year, when club great Ellie Blackburn stepped down from the role to focus on playing only.

Blackburn is preparing to make a long-awaited return from her own injury, just as her successor Berry, and Isabelle Pritchard, go down.

Pritchard, the club’s reigning best and fairest winner, won’t feature until Round 2 after injuring the patella in her left knee.

“During training, Pritch entered a contest and her left knee was forced into an awkward position,” club physiotherapist Olivia Dawson said in a statement last month.

“De sustained a hamstring injury during a high-speed effort at training, with scans confirming the diagnosis and informing her recovery timeline.”

The Bulldogs will be out to make their first finals appearance since 2022 after winning only four of 11 games last year.

Blackburn, named as one of the club’s 25 greatest players of the last century, shapes as an essential figure for their chances this season after missing most of last season with a foot injury.

Second-year coach Tamara Hyett’s side will shake off the rust when they take on reigning premiers North Melbourne on Friday in a pre-season simulation, with the AFLW season to get underway on August 14.

- With AAP