Western Bulldogs list analysis: Gary Buckenara says Dogs could be a premiership contender in 2016
THE Bulldogs are set up for success — and it might be sooner than you think. Remember Hawthorn 2008? But a lot depends on one man, writes Gary Buckenara.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Western Bulldogs have one of the most exciting lists in the competition.
It’s not an earth shattering statement after the season the Dogs just had I know, but the reality is they are very well set up for success — and it might be sooner than you think.
I know Bulldogs fans don’t want to get their hopes up and I don’t blame them, but don’t be surprised if the Dogs are right there at the end of September next year.
Next year they could do what Hawthorn did in 2008. I see a lot of similarities between the two.
Overall, the Bulldogs’ list is well balanced. They have a good mix of some experience and some exciting young talent they’ve added in the last few years. They’re well set up for some sustained success.
Marcus Bontempelli is easily one of the most exciting young players in the AFL, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore are guns and so is Jake Stringer. Luke Dahlhaus is exciting, Easton Wood is now an All-Australian defender, Tory Dickson never misses a shot on goal, Jason Johannisen loves to run and Liam Picken has turned himself into a damaging ball-winner.
Add the classy ball use and finishing of Matthew Suckling to the experience of Bob Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris and Picken and those are great role models and on-field leaders and contributors who can show these young kids how to become masters of their craft.
Actually, I’ll go as far as saying that the Dogs have the best young list out of the Melbourne-based clubs.
The big one for the Bulldogs is Tom Boyd.
They’ve made a huge investment in the former No. 1 draft pick, and from next year on, they need to start seeing some dividends.
The forward line was dangerous in 2015 with Stringer, Dickson, Dahlhaus, Stewart Crameri and Jack Redpath playing that big forward role, but from now on it needs to be Boyd.
He needs to come to grips with the pressure that came with that big deal because he’s a better player than one that just runs around in the VFL, even in this early stage of his career.
To be successful, the Dogs need Boyd to become Tom Hawkins. He doesn’t need to take every mark, but he has to bring the ball to ground for those dangerous players like Stringer, Dahlhaus and Dickson.
JON RALPH, MICK WARNER AND SAM LANDSBERGER DISCUSS A HECTIC DAY 8 IN THE LATEST TRADE HQ PODCAST. LISTEN BELOW OR ON ITUNES
A dangerous Boyd takes the pressure off Stringer because he can be play as a second forward who is athletic and take marks on the lead and kick goals from ground level, but doesn’t have to shoulder the whole load.
When I was at the Hawks, we had a breakout season in 2007 when we won a final and lost the following week, but it gave the guys experience and belief for the following year. It’s no secret that premiership came earlier than we expected.
The same could happen at the Dogs, despite the fact they did get beaten by Adelaide in the elimination final.
But the challenges will come — more scrutiny on how they play, more analysis on the players, a tougher draw — and some players can find that hard to deal with. But Luke Beveridge and his coaches will prepare them well for that over the pre-season.
WHAT THEY NEED
Key-position defenders, a ruckman and some more players with outside speed and endurance with good ball use is needed going forward, but overall the list is in good shape. They need Jordan Roughead to get his body right and slot into a key defensive post more regularly, even though they do have a back six that works well together.
There are five players who are 30 years or older — Murphy, Morris, Boyd, Picken and Minson — so there needs to be an eye on replacing those.
I think that will happen through trading or free agency because the Dogs have gone to the draft in the past few season and have really nailed those picks, so managing the list will be about filling the holes with experienced players.
Having said that, they can’t ignore the draft because you do still need to keep injecting young talent at the same time.
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP
The biggest guy under the pump next season is Boyd but outside of him, Shane Biggs and Josh Prudden need to take another couple of steps if they’re to keep their place in this very talented young team.
Also, he’s not necessarily under the pump but I wanted to make mention of young Clay Smith, who has been so unlucky with his serious knee injuries. He’s a good in-and-under type and a good young player. It’s a real shame what’s happened to him.
Unfortunately for him, he’s the type of player they can actually cover so when he does get back, hopefully he can show why he is rated highly.
WHO SHOULD GO
Ayce Cordy, Sam Darley, Matthew Fuller, Brett Goodes, Daniel Pearce and Jordan Kelly are already gone and I think they made the right calls on those guys. But I’ve also got question marks on Shane Biggs, Declan Hamilton and Josh Prudden.
Prudden finally made his debut this season but he’s been around since the end of 2012 and I’m not sure what he adds, given the talent they’ve got.
CRYSTAL BALL
It’s all about Tom Boyd. If he becomes the player were all think he will, that’s a huge boost to the Bulldogs’ structure and its ability to achieve the sustained success I can see in the future.
There is that argument that the rich clubs get richer with free agency, but I believe that the Bulldogs could be big beneficiaries of free agency because of what they’re building.
In two or three years, they can get experienced players to fill areas that need to be bolstered, which will keep them in the window and keep them very competitive.
Originally published as Western Bulldogs list analysis: Gary Buckenara says Dogs could be a premiership contender in 2016
Hall’s long-distance Gallen plan
Barry Hall has revealed how he plans to beat his shorter but more experienced opponent in their much-anticipated bout.
Hall gets kick from little masters
Andrew Moloney is the hot favourite to become Australia’s only current world boxing champion when he battles Brooklyn’s Elton Dharry on the same night that his mate Barry Hall fights Paul Gallen.