Where does your AFL club sit: Where it went wrong for Western Bulldogs and why they can quickly recover

Once again the Dogs’ season ended in heartbreak over in WA, so what do they need to do to climb back up the ladder in 2023? All your Dogs’ questions answered.

The Bulldogs are under a big spotlight next year after underachieving in 2022.

They scraped into the finals and shot to a big lead before capitulating after half time in the elimination final loss to Fremantle. But the Dogs have enjoyed a proactive post-season, bolstering their spine with Rory Lobb and Liam Jones and the coaching staff adding Brendon Lade from St Kilda.

The Dogs have one of the best engine rooms in the game but defensive flaws have cost the club badly.

Stay tuned for more AFL deep dives to come.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Coach: Luke Beveridge

Captain: Marcus Bontempelli

Luke Beveridge will be at the Bulldogs until 2025 after a two-year contract extension.

What happened in 2022?

Things went awry from the start when Luke Beveridge went bananas at a reporter for reporting some correct team information. As it happened, Lachie Hunter sought a trade to Melbourne after falling out of favour and taking some personal leave throughout the year. But the bigger issues were exposed on the defensive front as rivals continued to score heavily against the Dogs. It is why Luke Beveridge must completely program the team’s defensive systems, including the way the midfield operates. Clearly, there will be a big adjustment after losing the team’s best defensive midfielder and best-and-fairest winner Josh Dunkley. Adam Treloar may come in to help replace him but accountability is a concern and Treloar will start pre-season slow after ankle surgery. Marcus Bontempelli was hobbled more than he let on last year with an ankle issue and has a big role to play recapturing his best form in 2023. But perhaps the most exciting part of the disappointing season came late in the year when Jamarra Ugle-Hagan produced the best footy of his career in attack and then Sam Darcy looked completely at home plucking intercept marks in defence. The two pillars look ready to take more steps up in 2023.

Where do they finish in 2023?

Last year was a head-scratcher, but it’s hard to see the club having two terrible seasons in a row. Considering the star-studded list and the two big additions at either end in Rory Lobb and Liam Jones, the Dogs should be aiming for a top-four berth. But the draw is extremely difficult and with a heap of 50-50s in the first six weeks, the pressure will be on early. Mostly, the team needs better balance in the way that it plays as the ball-hunters in the midfield can leave its back line exposed when they don’t have the footy. The Cats showed in 2022 significant style changes can be made quickly, and for that reason it will be a big summer at the kennel bedding down those tweaks. But there is still so much quality in the midfield and Darcy and Ugle-Hagan can be anything. The first month will be interesting as a couple of upset losses will quickly turn up the blowtorch on a team which should be in flat-out premiership mode after making the grand final in 2021.

It’s a big call but Sam Darcy could be on is on a similar trajectory to Sam De Koning.

Biggest improver in 2022

Sam Darcy is the one. The No. 2 draft pick made a careful recovery from a foot problem and showed his class as soon as he broke through for his AFL debut late in the season. The Dogs seem content to keep him down back but the truth is Darcy has shown throughout his junior career that he could offer even more as a key forward-ruck. That’s an enormous amount of quality key forward depth when you add Aaron Naughton, Lobb, Ugle-Hagan, Tim English, plus Josh Bruce as back-up. There was lots of recognition for Sam De Koning’s breakthrough year at Geelong last season and Darcy looks like he is on a similar trajectory. Will be one of the best talls in the game when he physically matures.

Bailey Smith’s star is still on the rise.

X-factor

Bailey Smith set the 2021 finals series alight kicking eight goals in three games heading into the grand final. But last season didn’t quite go according to plan as he missed some of the pre-season for personal leave, apologised for an illicit drugs video, was suspended for headbutting and missed the top 10 of the best-and-fairest. After signing a new contract extension, Smith can become one of the best midfielders in the competition and add an electrifying avenue forward. When he’s on, the Dogs look dangerous. But it won’t be all on his terms in 2023 as the Dogs have made it clear their midfielders need to run two ways next season to help put the clamps on opposition scoring. Can he become a complete midfielder? He has all the weapons. Lookout for first-year Charlie Clarke too. Bet he slots in quickly and becomes a fan favourite with his hardworking and clever forward craft.

Coach status

Luke Beveridge secured a contract extension until the end of the 2025 season. The club was keen to find ways to support him more and Brendon Lade clearly adds some expertise and experience to an assistantcoaching staff which felt the losses of Ash Hansen to Carlton and Steven King to Gold Coast. The Dogs have been known to makesome left-field team selections and there is no reason to think that won’t continue in 2023.

Who is in last year of contract?

Alex Keath, Anthony Scott, Arthur Jones, Bailey Williams, Buku Khamis, Cody Raak, Dominic Bedendo, Ed Richards, Hayden Crozier, Jordon Sweet, Josh Bruce, Lachlan McNeil, Latham Vandermeer, Luke Cleary, Mitch Hannan, Roarke Smith, Robbie McComb, Ryan Gardner, Sam Darcy, Taylor Duryea, Tom Liberatore, Tim O’Brien, Toby McLean

Outs from 2022

Josh Dunkley (traded to Brisbane), Lachie Hunter (traded to Melbourne), Josh Schache (traded to Melbourne), Zaine Cordy (Free agency move to St Kilda), Louis Butler (delisted), Charlie Parker (delisted), Mitch Wallis (delisted), Stef Martin (retired)

With the two big additions at either end in Rory Lobb (above) and Liam Jones, the Dogs should be aiming for a top-four berth.

Ins for 2023

Rory Lobb (Fremantle), Liam Jones (Carlton), Oskar Baker (Melbourne), Jedd Busslinger (pick no. 13), Charlie Clarke (pick no. 24), Harvey Gallagher (pick no. 39)

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Originally published as Where does your AFL club sit: Where it went wrong for Western Bulldogs and why they can quickly recover