Sam Darcy won’t be sole forward focus for Western Bulldogs as new pup prepares to be unleashed

The AFL world can’t stop talking about how good Sam Darcy is, but his coach has demanded something different from his Bulldogs teammates when it comes to the 205cm giant.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge remains adamant his team can’t rely on “matchwinning type” Sam Darcy to kick a winning score each week as he declared captain Marcus Bontempelli could be back next Sunday to help his team’s cause.

The Bulldogs will also unleash draftee Cooper Hynes, taken at pick 20 in last November’s draft, against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, adding more youth to an already young line-up including 21-year-old Darcy.

He has kicked 12 goals through the opening four rounds, including five in last weekend’s loss to Fremantle after which the coach lamented how his players became too focused on getting the ball to the boom 205cm forward.

Sam Darcy kicked five of his team’s 12 goals against Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

As Lions coach Chris Fagan declared his team’s intent to get “dirty” to nullify Darcy at Norwood Oval, Beveridge said his players had to start looking elsewhere, as needed, given the focus on his giant star.

“What happens with any player in the competition who becomes a matchwinning type, or can be quite prolific in their roles, it’s making sure you keep them involved in the game,” Beveridge said on Thursday.“

“You can’t just sit him at full-forward anymore, the game has changed.

“So what that means is, quite often, there are other teammates who were bigger threats … or they’ve freed themselves up.

“Why wouldn’t you kick it to him in a one-on-one, absolutely, and we will.

Kick the game winner in the VFL one Saturday... play AFL the next 😍

Congrats, Cooper Hynes! pic.twitter.com/bgPfcvVWaQ

— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) April 10, 2025

“But we need to give him a chance, as tall as he is, he still needs the ball kicked to his advantage to give him a chance.

“In totality we’ve always been a team that relies on multiple goalkickers.

“We can’t just rely on Sam to kick our winning score.”

Hynes, 19, was the Bulldogs’ first pick in 2024 having finished runner-up in the Morrish Medal and will join fellow draftee Josh Dolan in making his AFL debut.

With skipper Bontempelli on a lengthy injury list that also includes star midfielder Adam Treloar and small forward Cody Weightman, the Bulldogs have eked out a 2-2 record through the opening four weeks.

Marcus Bontempelli could be back for round 6. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

While the challenge of taking down the reigning premiers looms large, Beveridge looked to the following round’s clash with St Kilda and suggested Bontempelli, who has been rehabbing a “complex” calf injury, could return.

“We’re hoping he’ll play next week,” Beveridge said.

“He’ll have a pretty decent session on Saturday with the boys who don’t come to Adelaide.

“We’re hoping he’s able to play on Easter Sunday next week.”

Treloar remains up to five weeks away have suffered multiple setbacks with his calf injury, Weightman’s return from knee surgery remains unclear, while Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen could make a return from hamstring issues through the VFL.

Originally published as Sam Darcy won’t be sole forward focus for Western Bulldogs as new pup prepares to be unleashed