The Western Bulldogs ignored the controversy of captain Katie Brennan's suspension to claim the AFLW premiership with a tight one-goal victory over Brisbane in the grand final at Princes Park in Melbourne.

The Bulldogs, who topped the ladder with a 5-2 record at the conclusion of the minor premiership, tamed the wet conditions to beat the Lions 4.3 (27) to 3.3 (21).

The Lions also went down in the inaugural AFLW grand final last year.

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The Bulldogs acting skipper Ellie Blackburn, who stood in for Brennan as skipper, said the grand final triumph meant so much to the club following the events of the build-up to the season decider.

"We got knocked down, we've had an interesting week but the girls, we're a family — we bloody love each other and thismeans the world to us," Blackburn told Channel Seven.

The Bulldogs' preparation was disrupted when their Brennan was banned following her sling tackle in the final week of the minor premiership, a decision which has seen her file proceedings with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

But the main concern of the Bulldogs on grand final day was the wet weather, as the constant rain did not allow for free-flowing play in the opening term.

The Bulldogs' Ellie Blackburn (L) contests for the ball alongside the Lions' Jamie Stanton. ( AAP: Hamish Blair )

It was little surprise only one goal was scored via the boot of the Lions' Sophie Conway.

Conway's goal helped give the Lions a 1.1 (7) to 0.1 (1) lead at the first break before both teams were kept scoreless