ROUND 4 AFLW action saw the Blues outclassed by an exhilarating Western Bulldogs outfit to the tune of 73 points at Whitten Oval on Friday night.

Vice-captain Lauren Arnell was one of the shining lights on a substandard night for the Blues, with two goals in her return to the side.

We dissect the top-five player stats from the Blues’ loss:

SARAH HOSKING
GAME-HIGH 11 CONTESTED POSSESSIONS

When the game isn’t going to plan, more importance is placed on the leaders to step up and lift the team.

Against a fierce and destructive Dogs engine room, stand-in captain Sarah Hosking scrapped all night - her work-rate proving supreme with a game-high 11 contested possessions in a losing effort highlighting her persistence around the stoppages.

BREANN MOODY
EQUAL TEAM-HIGH 6 INTERCEPTS

Backing up an incredible defensive display against Brisbane last week, the 20-year-old stood tall in a rough night down back with an equal team-high six intercepts - including two intercept marks - against a rampant Bulldogs attack.

LAUREN ARNELL
TEAM-HIGH 3 SCORE INVOLVEMENTS

The former skipper returned to the Blues' line-up reinvigorated and hungrier than ever.

In a quiet night around goal, her team-high three score involvements - including two third-term goals - gave the Blues some spark in their forward half.

SHAE AUDLEY
TEAM-HIGH 20 PRESSURE ACTS

For the fourth consecutive week, pressure queen Shae Audley 'fought tooth and nail' until the final siren.

In a lopsided affair, 20 pressure acts along with a team-high seven tackles displayed the ruthless intent the Blues required in the pressure stakes.

MADELINE KERYK
TEAM-HIGH 8 UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS

With several Blues sidelined, Keryk was afforded her first opportunity in AFLW 2.0 and delivered.

Against quality opposition, the 2017 Blue Bloods winner accumulated eight uncontested possessions and displayed the hard running she's become known for.

The 22-year-old will be eager to inject some aggression into Carlton’s engine room in the coming weeks.