WOOF welcomes Josh Dolan to the Whitten Oval

[bulldogtragic]

Welcome young fella.

[GVGjr]

SNAPSHOT: “A hard-running and creative midfielder-forward who has flown under the radar, but is highly rated internally.” – Michael Alvaro

Behind the fanfare of Sandringham Dragons’ stacked list of top-end talent emerges Josh Dolan, one of the draft crop’s most underrated prospects. The small midfielder-forward missed out on this year’s Coates Talent League flag due to a torn meniscus, but such was his value to the side that he had already picked up a premiership last year, as a bottom-ager.

Dolan, among the perennial winners at the Dragons, also helped Brighton Grammar School take out the APS title this year and played three of four games as Vic Metro took out the Under 18 National Championships. Both sides went undefeated. He was integral in the thrilling championships decider, booting two goals from 10 touches and five marks.

While his star has risen in 2024, Dolan has been made to work hard to be recognised with representative honours. He was not part of Vic Metro’s Under 16 or 17 squads, and only played six Coates Talent League games as a bottom-ager – albeit with one being the 2023 Grand Final. He was set to build on that tally this year before being struck down by injury.

Some of Dolan’s best form came in his final two games for Sandringham. He entered the National Championships on the back of a season-best 28 disposals, six inside 50s and one goal against the Giants Academy in Round 5, before bowing out with 26 touches, six inside 50s and a goal against Northern Knights in Round 14. He kicked a major in every CTL game this year, including a high of three in Round 1.

[Eastdog]

Hard running!

Certainly need some of that.

Welcome Josh.

[GVGjr]

Dolan didn't test at the combine

[hujsh]

Does Brett Daniels work as a comparison with Josh? Sounds like there are a few strings to his bow as a small forward if he can work hard defensively.

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/josh-dolan/

STRENGTHS:
+ Endurance
+ Energy
+ Short kicking
+ Speed
+ Vision
+ Work rate

IMPROVEMENTS:
- Defensive acts
- Size
As all smalls should, Dolan plays with plenty of vigour and brings life to every passage he is involved in. He seems to be in constant motion, particularly as a high forward, as he charges up and down the ground to help connect attacking transitions into attacking 50. Blending a strong endurance base with good speed, Dolan works opponents over and is not only a role player who can feed teammates, but also one who can work into positions to score.

Dolan's creative flair presents itself when operating in the front half of the ground. The evasive talent is capable of turning on a dime, quickly identifying a leading target inside 50, and hitting them lace-out with a short kick. That kind of ruthless decision making and execution makes opposition defenders sweat, and rewards his teammates for good craft. There are few better link players as far as smalls go, than Dolan.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of Dolan's game is that he is quite a handy goalkicker himself. He hit the scoreboard in all five of his Coates Talent League appearances this year, and booted two majors against Western Australia and Vic Country in the Under 18 National Championships. With quality players around him, his hard and smart running usually bears fruitful results.

Dolan is a capable midfielder at junior level but size is perhaps what would hold him back from translating that to the big leagues. He has a red-hot crack nonetheless, and boasts the motor to last on-ball. Given he is likely to make it as a forward, boosting his pressure acts - especially tackling - will be a handy next step. He averaged under two tackles per game in the CTL and National Championships.

While injury placed him outside the spotlight towards the back-end of the year, Dolan cannot be overlooked as a genuine draft prospect. His ability to execute one of the toughest roles in modern football is admirable, and his running power is a desirable trait. Add sound skills and the ability to score to his effort values, and Dolan projects as an effective forward at the next level. Given the vast array of talent available, expect Dolan to feature late in the second round or beyond, as he could suit a very specific need for many clubs at bargain price.

[kruder]

His coach was saying on YouTube speed/endurance and a really good kick. Yes please.

[Testekill]

Does Brett Daniels work as a comparison with Josh? Sounds like there are a few strings to his bow as a small forward if he can work hard defensively.

At the very least, Brent Daniels is what we'd want Josh to develop into.

[jazzadogs]

At the very least, Brent Daniels is what we'd want Josh to develop into.

I love Brent Daniels. He's an amazing point of difference type player. If that's who Dolan becomes we've done extremely well.

[dog town]

One of the SA journos was saying on Twitter prior to the start of day 2 that he had mail Port would take him at 33.

[hujsh]

Has some wheels.

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/v...=1732180797001

[Testekill]

Has some wheels.

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/v...=1732180797001

Yeah, he's pretty quick and evasive which is what we'd really like. Couple that with his tank and he'll run all day.

[Go_Dogs]

So? is he the small forward we?re chasing?

Speed and goal sense tick. Concern over defensive efforts - perhaps a complementary player to those we have in the role currently.

[hujsh]

So? is he the small forward we?re chasing?

Speed and goal sense tick. Concern over defensive efforts - perhaps a complementary player to those we have in the role currently.

It sounds like he's less the crumbing small forward in the archetype of a Milne and more a high and creative half forward that can still impact the scoreboard.

In our system maybe it's less the West role and more Vanders he might be trying to push out? Or maybe he could do either.

[soupman]

Sounds like Gryan Miers.

[Uninformed]

That would be good. Gryan killed us.