Gary Buckenara analyses the Western Bulldogs’ list after the 2019 season
The Western Bulldogs are building something special, and are making smart moves this trade period. Expert recruiter and list guru Gary Buckenara on why the Dogs are top-four certainties in 2020.
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The Bulldogs are building something special and we could see another piece of silverware heading to Whitten Oval as soon as next year.
I rate the list so highly. We saw glimpses of what this group of players — led by stars Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Jason Johannisen and Easton Wood — is capable of in the second half of the season, despite bowing out in the first week of the finals.
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The Bulldogs have been able to overcome adversity in the years since its 2016 premiership and again endured disruptions this season with the retirements of Liam Picken and Tom Boyd and injuries to key players, including Tom Liberatore and Caleb Daniel.
After missing the finals in 2017, the club has been able to rejuvenate its list in the space of two years and I expect Luke Beveridge’s team to be a serious premiership threat in 2020.
The emergence of Aaron Naughton, who is going to be a superstar, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith, Ed Richards, Bailey Dale and Tim English has the Bulldogs in the enviable position of having one of the most exciting young lists in the AFL.
The signs for Josh Schache are also positive after struggling at Brisbane and despite being in and out of the senior side this year. He kicked 24 goals in 14 matches, including hauls of four and three goals in four games and was held goalless just three times. His last quarter against Hawthorn in Round 2, where he kicked three goals in the final term to finish with four for the game, showed exactly what he’s capable of. I’m really excited to see what he can produce over the next 6-7 years.
I see eight potential stars of the future on this current Bulldogs list, players who have the talent to develop into A or B-grade players, and if they can realise their potential then they will form the nucleus of a seriously good side as they play alongside already established stars Bontempelli (23 years old), Macrae (24), Johannisen (26) and Liberatore (27).
The Bulldogs went into this year’s trade period with a plan and had a clear understanding of what their list needs and addressed two needs — key-position players forward and back through the additions of Josh Bruce from St Kilda and Alex Keath from Adelaide.
Bruce is a flexible player who is athletic for his size and has been a good goal kicker for the Saints. He’ll form a nice partnership with Naughton and Schache and will likely get the second or third defender. This forward line is going to create some serious headaches for opposition coaches in the coming years.
Keath is an interesting one. He’s shown good signs as a key defender who can intercept mark but he’s only really played one good season, and that was this year. He will shore up the Dogs’ defence and be the man who can play on the bigger forwards.
LIST NEEDS
The Bulldogs’ list is well balanced and has a great spread of top-end, mid-range and developing talent and its two needs — a key forward and key defender — will be met during the trade period.
For depth of talent, I’d love to see another quick and classy goal kicking small forward added, as well as an experienced ruckman to help Tim English.
Overall though, this list is in excellent shape not only for the present but for the future. A big pat on the back goes to the club’s list management and recruiting team.
LIST BREAKDOWN
A: Marcus Bontempelli
B+: Jack Macrae, Jason Johannisen
B: Easton Wood, Tom Liberatore
B-: Matt Suckling, Josh Dunkley, Tory Dickson, Josh Bruce
C+: Mitch Wallis, Lachie Hunter, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier, Toby McLean, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Lin Jong, Ben Cavarra, Sam Lloyd, Taylor Duryea, Will Hayes, Billy Gowers, Alex Keath
C: Zaine Cordy, Roarke Smith
C-: Nil
Developing*: Josh Schache, Ed Richards, Patrick Lipinski, Aaron Naughton, Bailey Williams, Tim English, Bailey Smith, Rhylee West
Developing: Lewis Young, Callum Porter, Fergus Greene, Brad Lynch, Laitham Vandermeer, Lachie Young, Buku Khamis, Jordon Sweet
Please note: Developing* refers to players aged 21 or under with the talent and potential to become A or B-grade players.
DRAFT STRATEGY
The Bulldogs came out of the trade period still holding onto their first-round pick, currently No.13, which is massive given they are addressing their need for a key defender and key forward. I would go best available with that selection, then draft for needs with their later picks, which likely won’t be until the back end of the draft.
CRYSTAL BALL
I’m very confident the Bulldogs will not only be a finals team in 2020 but they will definitely finish top four and challenge for the premiership.
Obviously I can’t predict what sort of luck they’ll have with injuries to key players but if they have a good run then there’s no doubt the Bulldogs will be one of the teams to beat next year.
Get ready for a fun ride, Bulldogs fans.
Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses the Western Bulldogs’ list after the 2019 season