AFL 2024: The numbers behind the Western Bulldogs forward group set to take September by storm
Thought Carlton had a good forward line? The Western Bulldogs’ group is the one that is set to take September by storm, writes CHRIS CAVANAGH. These are the numbers that should make rivals nervous.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s the forward line which is set to have opposition coaches sweating in September.
We’re talking about Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy, Cody Weightman, Rhylee West, Laitham Vandermeer and Lachlan McNeil.
Add in cameos from Marcus Bontempelli and the Western Bulldogs might have the most diverse and dangerous attack in the league.
Bontempelli aside, the core seven forwards for the Bulldogs are all 25 and under and only one of them – Naughton – has played more than 100 AFL games.
This group looks increasingly capable of taking September by storm – both this year and for many more to come.
Think Carlton has a good forward line?
The Blues had only three players with 20 or more goals to their name this season heading into round 21.
Comparatively, the Bulldogs had six players above that mark – second only to ladder-leader Sydney with seven.
Winning territory has never been a problem for the Bulldogs under coach Luke Beveridge and nothing much has changed there this year.
The side has ranked top-four for inside-50 differential in each of the past four seasons, courtesy of a magnificent midfield which wins more than its fair share of footy at the coalface.
But the difference across the past 12 games – from which the Bulldogs have won nine – has been an improved ability to convert those entries into scores.
The seven forwards who sliced apart Melbourne’s much-heralded backline on Friday night have only played three games together this season, but those outings have come in the past three weeks as the Bulldogs have found their bark.
In games against Melbourne, Sydney and Geelong, Beveridge’s side has generated a shot at goal from 57.5 per cent of their inside-50 entries – including going at 63.1 per cent against the Demons.
The AFL average this year is just 47.9 per cent.
Beveridge held back the exciting Ugle-Hagan in his first two seasons in 2021 and 2022, but there’s no holding him back now.
Over the past month the 2020 No.1 draft pick has made the Bulldogs’ forward line his own, marking everything that comes his way inside the scoring arc. He’s booted 14 goals in the past four weeks .... and 11 behinds.
When Darcy sticks up his arms on what is already a 208cm frame, good luck to any opponent trying to spoil the ball.
Naughton hasn’t been at his best in the second half of the year since some injury issues, but he remains an ever-present aerial threat who can crash a pack and kick multiple goals.
Then there’s the smalls.
Weightman doesn’t need many touches to trouble the scorers and ranks elite for forward-50 pressure, West is incredibly dangerous at ground level and Vandermeer and McNeil work hard up the ground before setting up scores on the way back.
Bontempelli – who had kicked the second-most goals of any midfielder in the AFL before the weekend – is then the cream on the cake when he floats forward.
Goalkicking accuracy is the only thing holding the Bulldogs back.
They had an expected score of 130 points against the Demons on Friday night, but finished with an actual score of just 15.20 (110) from 41 shots.
Tidy that up and they’ll be hard to stop this September.
Max’s Metrics: Numbers behind stars Saint’s staggering contract
Max King has signed an eye-boggling new contract after the Saints lined his numbers up against past greats. They liked what they saw and here is how the spearhead compares to 12 others.
Inside AFL’s draft combine: See the standouts, surprise packet
Draft hopefuls for both the AFL and AFLW were put to the test at this year’s combine, with one Victorian key forward producing a stunning 20m sprint. See the results and more here.