Western Bulldogs preview: Dogs still have talent to contend for finals but how badly do they want it?

WESTERN Bulldogs went from hero to zero in 12 months and there’s no shortage of speculation about what went on at the club last year. Is that behind them? The Dogs have the talent to play finals, the question is how much do they want it?

THE Western Bulldogs rejected all assertions that 2017 was the hangover that had to happen, but all evidence pointed to the contrary. They coughed and spluttered all season on the back of talent alone and without the genuine passion that’s familiar with the Barkly St boys.

“Youth is wasted on the young” is an apt George Bernard Shaw quote the Bulldogs of 2017 will attest to in years to come.

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So many Dogs were 20 to 30 per cent down on their output from the previous season, when only five per cent renders teams also-rans in an unforgiving competition.

But the saving grace is the 2016 premiership was won ahead of time, so Luke Beveridge still has the tools to work with.

This season will either dispel or confirm rumours that all isn’t well at the Kennel. Pick a player and name your rumour, but the united group we all saw in 2016 has faded somewhat and the coach and the leadership core need to recreate that bond.

Can Luke Beveridge get his team back to their premiership-winning form of 2016? Picture: Michael Klein

Ultimately, the distraction that was Jake Stringer paid a price as Beveridge sent a clear message to those who swim outside the flags at Whitten Oval.

This young midfield is stacked with talent and can reignite another finals campaign. Mitch Wallis, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli, Jason Johannisen and Lachie Hunter all have 80-100 games experience and they hold the fortunes of this club in their hands.

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Their contested possession average in 2016 was +16 on their opposition — clearly the AFL’s best — but last year they ranked mid-table, averaging +2 on their rivals.

Wildcard talents such as Toby McLean, Bailey Dale and Bailey Williams will provide the spark and line-breaking goalscoring power.

The Dogs desperately need a greater offensive influence, as they didn’t have any individual player kick 25-plus goals for the season. Stringer, Tory Dickson and Bontempelli did that in their premiership season.

Marcus Bontempelli is a crucial player for the Dogs. Picture: Michael Klein

The backline missed Joel Hamling possibly more than expected as the Dogs won the fewest one-on-one contests in their defensive end.

What will Josh Schache bring to the Dogs? After 27 games, there’s so much potential for this elite junior footballer who has the best goalkicking technique in the game.

Schache lost confidence up north and looked a shadow of the player we all knew in the under-18s.

I need to see the Bulldogs’ level of desire in the home-and-away season before I can trust them again. Between 10 and 13 wins is my tip.

MARK ROBINSON SAYS

WHAT I LIKE

Where do you start with the Dogs? Try youngish talent — Bontempelli, Macrae, Liberatore, Dahlhaus, McLean, Dale, Hunter, Johannisen, Lin Jong, Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Tom Boyd, Josh Dunkley, Mitch Wallis, Bailey Williams and Lewis Young, all 25 and younger.

They are a good team who seem to have drunk their own bathwater after winning the flag and then suffered too many injuries. The game plan works, we’ve seen that, and surely there was a major review at season’s end to address the issues, one of which was Jake Stringer, who is out of there. Reckon Luke Beveridge can get them back on track.

Tom Liberatore needs a big season. Picture: George Salpigtidis

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

Lost their mojo last year. Was it work ethic? Satisfaction? Too many had bad years, led by Liberatore, Dahlhaus and Johannisen. Averaged 84 points, which is not good enough. Moving it forward at all costs worked for them in 2016 but not last year, and a fit Tory Dickson (pictured) will certainly help this year. The drop off last season has many fans wondering about the Dogs. I’m not one of them.

VERDICT

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