Western Bulldogs current list, its future and everything in between

[GVGjr]

Western Bulldogs? current list, its future and everything in between



The Bulldogs were playing catch-up in 2023 after a 3-5 start. That can't happen again next year. JON RALPH examines the Dogs list and argues why Luke Beveridge should be made to wait for a new deal.

Seven and three.

That win-loss record is an absolute must next year from a Western Bulldogs list overflowing with A grade talent and generational stars.

It is the launching pad it must secure for a premiership tilt after so many seasons of sneaking into the eight, mostly for its September finals to falter in the first week.

When Luke Beveridge retires it will be as a history-making premiership coach who also has another deep finals run that could so easily have turned into a 2021 flag.

And yet for all the finals appearances there have also been a string of bitterly disappointing elimination finals disappointments.

Last year it was a smacking at the hands of youthful Hawthorn, in 2022 it was a 13-point loss after squandering a 41-point lead to Fremantle.

In 2020 it was a heartbreaking three-point loss to St Kilda in the midst of covid, in 2019 it was a 58-point smackdown against GWS.

There have been times when this Dogs list was simply not good enough to progress further.

And yet the 2024 campaign feels like an opportunity squandered.

One where there were multiple distractions over Jackson Macrae and Caleb Daniel?s roles and Luke Beveridge?s selection policies amid a spluttering 3-5 start to the year.

Beveridge would argue it was a vital period of exploration before the Dogs finally hit their straps as he turned Ed Richards into an elite mid and Rory Lobb into an intercept marking star.

And yet a team that won 14 games, won six of its last seven, won eight of its last ten, was still smacked around by the youthful Hawks on the MCG in an elimination final.

The Dogs finished only a single game behind fourth-placed GWS (and had a better percentage).

They had the No.1 rated player in football and four of the top 26 rated players.

Yet they were one and done.

Twice Beveridge-coached teams have won 15 games in a home-and-away season but the fact remains this side has never finished top four under his stewardship.

Consider the platform Geelong has set for itself in recent years 7-0, 5-3, 5-4 (then 16 in a row to win the 2022 flag), 10-3, 11-5, 11-1.

So regardless of your take on the 2024 season what chief executive Ameet Bains and president Kylie Watson-Wheeler must do is hone Beveridge?s focus on early gains in the 2025 season.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson argued extremely well that taking away the distraction of Beveridge's contract might help club solidarity.

I favour the latter tell Beveridge the first contract discussions come at the split round.

That hitting the ground running with an embedded and effective game plan, with a settled and balanced team is part of the criteria for a new deal.

It might install a sense of urgency over summer that drives greater performances.

At times simply making finals was a success for the Dogs. This is not that year.

Having assembled an exquisite collection of football talent every effort must be made to finish top four and maximise the flag chances.

TRADE REVIEW GRADE: 7/10
The Bulldogs lost a trio of 2016 premiership players but eventually did the right thing in pulling the trigger on the late deal that meant Bailey Smith didn't depart through the national draft for nothing.

The Dogs got unders for Smith given his potential but overs for Caleb Daniel (pick 25) so in the end will believe the trade period was a net win.

They were unlucky it was obvious so early on Smith was Geelong-bound given it lost them leverage but Collingwood just never had the draft picks and the Hawks zeroed in on Tom Barrass by mid-year.

So they took pick 17 and then as Jackson Macrae was also included in a multi-club trade secured Carlton's Matt Kennedy to bolster their midfield depth.

He's no list clogger, even if overall losing three senior players for Kennedy and picks 17 and 25 does put a premium on keeping a fit list given the downgrade in depth players.

He is a tough inside mid who can play half forward and even as a third tall at a pinch, he is an excellent clubman and he's only 28 in April.

And having given up a future first to acquire Ryley Sanders last year, they get back into an elite draft with picks 17, 25, 35 and 48.

LIST HOLES
None.

The forward line has three brilliant forwards Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Sam Darcy who in theory should compliment each other as well as high-flying Cody Weightman and the underrated Ryley West.

The midfield is stacked Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar, James Harmes, now Kennedy and emerging kids Rhylee West and Harvey Gallagher.

The defence is underpinned by Liam Jones, while Lobb stiffens the spine in a team that has options like James O'Donnell, 2024 improver Joel Freijiah and Buku Khamis.

Bailey Dale, Nick Coffield, Jason Johannisen and the newly re-signed Lachie Bramble provide the run, while Taylor Duryea locks down on the small forwards.

And 2023 All-Australian Tim English leads the ruck, with Darcy equally capable of playing in that position to prove exceptional depth.

Beveridge still backs in his men last year Lachie McNeil played 12 games, Laitham Vandermeer kicked only 10 goals in 24 games but provides a point of difference with his electric pace.

How do you quantify the potential greatness of Darcy?

One stat stands out. He was elite for F50 groundball gets this year and elite for disposals.

This from a 208cm 21-year-old who also kicked 38 goals and took 46 contested marks.

It?s an absolutely crazy mix of talent for a player who has just 28 games under his belt.

DRAFT STRATEGY
The four quality picks in an elite draft give the Dogs a chance to consider some succession planning and positional needs if they want or just stock up on more quality talent.

Sam Darcy is such a unicorn you could imagine him playing centre half back when Liam Jones retires, or ruck, or as THE key forward alongside Ugle-Hagan if Naughton ever was trialled down back.

But full back Jones is 34 in February and despite his remarkable resilience he will not go on forever.

The club has 200cm key tall Jordan Croft and and key back Jedd Busslinger but if a Whitlock twin was available at pick 17 it would make sense as a long-term play.

Tom Liberatore's knees and concussion history mean a retirement decision cannot be forever away, but the Dogs gave up 10, 17 and a future first for Ryley Sanders last year.

A buzzy fall-of-the-ball crumbing forward to play alongside Weightman and West might not be the priority but would help given Artie Jones only played a single game last year after 13 (for 4.8) in 2023.

AFL PLAYER RATINGS
In 2024 Marcus Bontempelli was the No.1 rated player in football, with Adam Treloar 14th, Tom Liberatore 25th, Ed Richards 26th, Bailey Dale 41st, Tim English 60th. That is too much talent to have lost an elimination final.

PREMIERSHIP WINDOW
Marcus Bontempelli turns 29 on November 24 ? next Sunday.

He probably has five elite seasons left and as a premiership player his legacy is secure.

But this club must do everything in its power to give him a chance to win a second flag in every one of those next five seasons.

There are only six players currently 30 or over Jones, Duryea, Johannisen, Lobb, Liberatore and Treloar.

The bi-fold doors are open on that gaping premiership window.

In 2025, the Dogs are in the logjam between 5th and 15th. Do your ladder predictor and see how tough it is. But until they have a settled summer I have them ranked 10th in a pack that has Collingwood, Carlton and Melbourne just above them. That could change by round 1.


SALARY CAP ROOM
The Dogs will surely sign up their 2025 free agents in Bontempelli, Richards and young star Sam Darcy.

But they will also hope to secure Ugle-Hagan on a mega-deal even though he is out of contract only in 2026.

So all the money saved over the departures of Smith, Daniel and Macrae (well over $2 million in commitments going forward) will undoubtedly help.

It puts them in retention mode rather than an aggressive frame of mind, even if list boss Sam Power is exceptional at saving pennies to keep the list together.

TRADE TARGETS 2025
In theory the Dogs should be a destination club by the end of 2025 given they should be firmly in the premiership window.

Just imagine what this forward line would be capable of had they landed Kai Lohmann at the end of last season.

The retention challenge will likely take up the bulk of their cap space.

Wouldn't they love to pinch a Sam De Koning type from Geelong after the Cats took Bailey Smith

He finished 2024 out of the side and is out of contract although it would take something to go seriously amiss with his development for the Cats not to re-sign him.

TRADE BAIT
Riley Garcia signed a three-year deal after strong trade interest from rival clubs, so while he is in contract, they will assess whether he gets chances in 2025.

The likes of Nick Coffield, Caleb Poulter, Vandermeer and Anthony Scott are out of contract.

But they will likely have to wait on deals as the Dogs secure their priority targets, which include Adam Treloar and Liam Jones.

Jones will likely get another one-year extension early in the year, while Treloar wants to stay and sign a deal past 2025, when Collingwood?s contribution to his salary ends.

[jeemak]

Staaaaaaacked......staaaaaaaacked! Our midfield, staaaaaaaacked!

[jazzadogs]

Midfield is stacked, then the fourth player listed is James ****ing Harmes.

[GVGjr]

Midfield is stacked, then the fourth player listed is James ****ing Harmes.

Bont, Libba, Treloar, Richards, Sanders, Kennedy, Garcia and Harmes is pretty decent.
It's not written correctly but we do have quality and depth.

[Sedat]

Staaaaaaacked......staaaaaaaacked! Our midfield, staaaaaaaacked!

What about our plethora of small forwards literally bursting at the seams? Hawks, Lions and Giants have nothing on us in this area - sure we delisted Charlie Clarke and Artie Jones played 1 game all season, but we are stacked in this area I tells ya.

[Grantysghost]

Bont, Libba, Treloar, Richards, Sanders, Kennedy, Garcia and Harmes is pretty decent.
It's not written correctly but we do have quality and depth.

Bont, Treloar, Richards to me is it now in terms of reliable AFL mids.

I think we are super skinny in young quality.

[Grantysghost]

Midfield is stacked, then the fourth player listed is James ****ing Harmes.

The bigger travesty is not mentioning McNeil!

[jeemak]

What about our plethora of small forwards literally bursting at the seams? Hawks, Lions and Giants have nothing on us in this area - sure we delisted Charlie Clarke and Artie Jones played 1 game all season, but we are stacked in this area I tells ya.

Yeah, Brisbane only have Cameron, Berry, Raynor, Ah Chee, Bailey and McGluggage. What we have instead puts shivers into the competition.

[Grantysghost]

Yeah, Brisbane only have Cameron, Berry, Raynor, Ah Chee, Bailey and McGluggage. What we have instead puts shivers into the competition.

Lohmann!

[jazzadogs]

Bont, Libba, Treloar, Richards, Sanders, Kennedy, Garcia and Harmes is pretty decent.
It's not written correctly but we do have quality and depth.

My issue was with the word 'stacked'. I would have gone with 'ageing', possibly with a side of 'promising but inexperienced youth'.

You can't say a midfield is stacked then have one of the names listed as a guy who has played more VFL than AFL in the past few seasons.

Also list holes - NONE. C'mon....

[Grantysghost]

My issue was with the word 'stacked'. I would have gone with 'ageing', possibly with a side of 'promising but inexperienced youth'.

You can't say a midfield is stacked then have one of the names listed as a guy who has played more VFL than AFL in the past few seasons.

Also list holes - NONE. C'mon....

There's a template when writing about teams like us.
The pitch is, hey other teams, come see what is "out west". They're crazy fail bad chumpz no?

It's akin to suburb snobs.

You can look over the bridge and always make yourself feel a little better about your own miserable life, because hey, at least you aren't one of them!

We are constantly put forth as fail bait for this very reason.

Talking us up : well that just elevates us for the fall.

Become a meme in modern AFL "journalism".

[Grantysghost]

Here it is in its natural habitat.

Dogs horror....
Blues... Great!

[Happy Days]

I actually thought our draw was okay but I’m happy to pivot to it being an excuse if needed.

[Rocket Science]

LIST HOLES
None.

[macca]

Yeah our fwd line is stacked , with fwd who cant kick straight.

McNeil and VDM dont kick enough goals. That is where we hurt oppositions.

There are a few pieces still missing on the player list.

I have a good feeling on Kennedy of he can takes his chances.

All the players need to step and play with 110% intensity if they want to be in the GF next year.