Western Bulldogs’ AFLW list concerns and trade targets as rebuild nears completion
Western Bulldogs' three-year rebuild has created an AFLW powerhouse-in-waiting – but there are still a few missing pieces. Here’s how coach Tamara Hyett completes the puzzle.
The sky is the limit for the Bulldogs who have done an outstanding job rebuilding their list over the past three years.
As one of my favourite teams to watch this season, I loved the vibrant, high-pressure and energetic brand of footy coach Tamara Hyett had her side playing. Although it was inconsistent, which is to be expected from a young group, their wins over Gold Coast (66 points), Essendon (57), Collingwood (57) and St Kilda (45), showed how ruthless they can be when everything clicks. You can see how much the players have bought into Hyett and the coaches’ game plan.
The Bulldogs have invested heavily in the draft and for the most part have nailed their selections by picking players suited to where AFLW is headed. They’ve drafted with speed, elite agility and athleticism at the forefront, and while foot skills and decision-making is an area of improvement, players like Elaine Grigg and Cleo Buttifant bring the speed and chaos in the forward and back halves respectively that you need to be a contender.
They also nailed the selection of Emma McDonald in last year’s draft. Her athleticism and aerial ability are weapons and she’s already shown she’s going to be 10-year player for this club.
Riley Wilcox had a breakout season on the wing and is an elite ball user who I loved in her draft year, Heidi Woodley has enormous potential as a bigger-bodied forward/midfielder and former No.4 draft pick Brooke Barwick has upside but has had a slow start to her career, after missing her draft year with a torn ACL. I liked what I saw from her in the midfield playing on the likes of Tyanna Smith and Georgia Patrikios at stoppages in the last game against St Kilda.
They’re in addition to the core group of youngsters they’ve already invested a lot of games into and are starting to produce good footy more consistently, including Issie Pritchard, who’s a star, Jess Fitzgerald, Sarah Hartwig and Issie Grant, while Jasmyn Smith and Elisabeth Georgostathis’ development on the wing and half back respectively was impressive this season. Their form has created a number of selection headaches for the coaches, which saw skipper De Berry out of the team at stages, and will drive standards over the pre-season.
The Bulldogs have also nailed bargain-basement selections, including former Sun Kaylee Kimber as an injury replacement last year. The 22-year-old had a breakout season this year with her speed and athleticism in defence and I loved the selection of 21-year-old ruck/forward Keeley Hardingham out of their VFLW program. She looked a class above as she dominated the state league last year and I’d love to see her get more consistent games in 2026.
That’s already a group of 12-13 players in the 19-24 age bracket who will keep developing and growing together year on year. The team is in a really exciting spot, the nucleus of what can be a very dangerous team capable of winning finals in the next year or two is there.
In addition, they’ve found a great balance between youth and experience with Ellie Blackburn transitioning from full-time midfielder to a forward/midfield role and adding Lou Stephenson as a key forward and Lauren Ahrens and Mua Laloifi as defenders to shore up the key lines and help show their emerging youngsters the way.
Elaine Grigg #22u22 season for your viewing ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/pRMsq6AYio
— WesternBulldogs AFLW (@BulldogsW) November 12, 2025
LIST NEEDS
While Grant (24 years old) and Kimber (22) had great seasons, they relied heavily on Ahrens (34) as a lockdown defender and Laloifi (32) late, who are at the back end of their careers. Adding another key or hybrid defender in the 22-25 age bracket in the trade period or drafting a developing one would future-proof the key stocks in the backline.
They also need more class and elite ball use close to goal. Adding another elite ball user across half forward who can deliver to McDonald, Hartwig and Stephenson, and hit the scoreboard themselves would be ideal.
Adding another top-line midfielder is also on the shopping list. After stockpiling elite young talent, trading this year’s first-round pick for a gun midfielder who has good skills and decision-making would be my play. Aside from Brit Gutknecht, the Bulldogs didn’t have anyone ranked in the top 70 for effective kicks this season, so it’s an area that needs addressing.
TRADE TARGETS
Carlton’s Keeley Skepper would be an ideal fit. She’s one of the best kicks in AFLW, possessing a lethal left foot that’s capable of kicking goals from anywhere and setting up teammates. She’s struggled for form this season, found herself out of the team for finals, and grew up a huge Bulldogs supporter.
After finishing second-last, could Ellie McKenzie be enticed away from Richmond? Her skills and decision-making would be perfect to add alongside Pritchard and Fitzgerald in the midfield and add a layer of class they don’t have.
Lauren Butler (Collingwood) and Laura McClelland (Richmond) are two defenders I’d look at. Butler has been played out of position the last few seasons, including this year as a key defender. She’s more suited to a hybrid role where she can use her footy IQ and skills to intercept and is about to turn 25, so fits the age profile. McClelland, 24, has never been settled in a position at Richmond, playing forward and back and at 174cm, can come in as a defender to take over from Ahrens.
TRADE BAIT
Former No.1 draft pick Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner is looking at trade options, but her potential departure wouldn’t be disastrous for the Dogs and I’d actually look at cashing in now. They’ve trialled her in a few roles, forward, wing and defence in scrimmages at the back end of this season but she hasn’t found her footing. While she possesses x-factor, she’s still very raw and needs a lot of development in her strength and footy IQ. Her trade value is intriguing, she has upside and would still command a first-round pick for a club desperate for a tall. Could packaging Weston-Turner and pick No.7 be a starting point for McKenzie or another gun mid?
I’m a fan of Maggie Gorham as a half back with good ball use and creativity and am not sure why she didn’t get a game until injuries struck late this season. For a club looking for a player with good skills to help generate their ball movement from the back half, especially St Kilda, she’d hold value and could net a second-round pick.
UNTOUCHABLES
Pritchard, Grant, McDonald, Grigg, Wilcox, Fitzgerald, Woodley, Kimber
CRYSTAL BALL
The Bulldogs are on the rise and arriving at a rapid rate. While they were inconsistent this season, their best footy was exciting as they played with high-pressure defensively and took the game on with offence. Finals is definitely a possibility next year, and if they can add another gun midfielder and forward in this off-season to go with another year of development into their young guns, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make the jump and win one.
Originally published as Western Bulldogs’ AFLW list concerns and trade targets as rebuild nears completion
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