AFLX live coverage Group 3: Richmond, Western Bulldogs, GWS Giants, Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, Gold Coast

BRISBANE has won the third AFLX title after overcoming Sydney in today’s Grand Final, but the Bulldogs have been forced to explain how they lost their two matches by a combined 117 points. RECAP

THE Western Bulldogs have launched a strong defence of their AFLX selection strategy after its inexperienced team of youngsters suffered a collective 117-point whitewash from their two matches in Sydney.

Rohan Smith, the club’s head of development, dismissed suggestions the Dogs were not taking the AFLX concept seriously by leaving out most of their recognised stars for the games against Sydney and Gold Coast. The Bulldogs lost to the Swans by 52 points in the opening match before going down to the Suns by 65 points to bow out of the competition with barely a whimper. RESEARCH: SUPERCOACH EYE-CATCHERS FROM AFLX But Smith said the club had been eager to give their next generation of stars a chance to travel as a group and learn from the experience. “We took it seriously,” Smith said. “We had nine first or second year players playing in these games and they learnt a lot out of it. “I know we didn’t get the results we wanted to, but we are looking at the positives, not the negatives. “I know there has been a negativity about there not being too many stars playing the game, but we wanted to showcase our future stars. “You look at Roarke Smith coming back (from a knee reconstruction) and kicking a goal in that game, you look at (Fergus) Greene with two terrific defensive efforts to get two goals, you look at Aaron Naughton in the first game. “It is good for me as a development manager to take those guys away.” FOLLOW ALL TODAY’S ACTION LIVE BELOW Jack Redpath, the Bulldogs’ AFLX skipper, led the team of “Baby Bullies” that included Smith, Greene, Naughton, Lukas Webb, Tim English, Lewis Young, Ed Richards and Billy Gowers. Rohan Smith said the club wanted to use the AFLX competition as a “development” experience, saying: “we wanted the guys to get the experience of travelling ... some of these guys had never been on a plane to play a game.” “If they can have that experience and take that into the AFL season ... they will know what to do.” Roarke Smith, who missed the entire 2017 season, said he came through the experience well and thrived on the new concept, though he preferred the traditional version of the game. “I haven’t played in 12 months, so I am here to play footy (again),” he said. “The knee pulled up really well.” Sydney defender Dane Rampe emerged as an unlikely goalkicking hero in the Swans’ thrashing of the inexperienced Bulldogs’ side. Rampe, who has kicked just six goals in 115 senior games, notched three 10-pointers in the first half. The Swans’ scoring slowed after halftime, but their final total was the highest of the fledgling competition.

Originally published as AFLX live coverage Group 3: Richmond, Western Bulldogs, GWS Giants, Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, Gold Coast

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