Western Bulldogs report card: every player who has arrived or departed since 2012
THE Western Bulldogs’ breakthrough premiership was built on some shrewd trade and free agency moves. But not everything went to plan. We look at the successes and failures since 2012.
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LUKE Beveridge has been a driving force since arriving at the Western Bulldogs.
He orchestrated a breakthrough premiership last year, but the fairytale journey extends back to the end of 2012 with a string of shrewd trades and free agency acquisitions.
The 2012 season saw the arrival of Brendon McCartney, who would ultimately oversee a tumultuous three-year rebuild before exiting as the club imploded at the end of 2014.
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However, that period also saw the arrival of some key premiership pieces, most notably former No.1 draft pick and power forward Tom Boyd.
McCartney and Beveridge have overseen a huge list turnover, farewelling club greats while bringing in young blood.
While not every deal went to plan, most moves have been successes and integral to that famous premiership.
ARRIVALS
KOBY STEVENS
Games: 63
The former Eagle had his moments. After struggling for game time in a stacked West Coast midfield, the Bulldogs picked him up for pick No.43 in 2012. The tough midfielder started brightly under McCartney but struggling to hold his spot once Luke Beveridge arrived, going from 39 games in 2013-14 to 24 in 2015-16.
NICK LOWER
Games: 13
The former Docker was one of the first players in AFL history to make use of free agency when he moved to Whitten Oval as a delisted free agent. However, he would only last one season, playing 13 games, becoming VFL affiliate Footscray’s inaugural captain.
TOM YOUNG
Games: 17
Much like Lower, Young arrived in 2012 as a depth player. The Dogs used pick No.69 to secure the New South Welshman from Collingwood and he played 17 games in two years before being delisted.
STEWART CRAMERI
Games: 42 (as of Round 15, 2017)
We’ll say Crameri’s acquisition was a win for the Bulldogs but a bigger win for Essendon. Crameri kicked 69 goals in 40 games in his first two years at Whitten Oval before the Bombers’ supplements saga saw him banned for 2016 and miss a premiership. He returned in 2017 but form and a hip injury saw him play just two games before he was ruled out for the year. The Dogs parted with pick No.26 in 2013, a selection the Bombers used on young gun Zach Merrett.
SAM DARLEY
Games: 7
The former Giants defender was picked up on the cheap - pick No.78 during the 2013 trade period - but lasted just two seasons at Whitten Oval, featuring in seven games before being delisted at the end of 2015.
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JOEL HAMLING
Games: 23
Stuck behind the likes of Matthew Scarlett, Tom Lonergan and Harry Taylor, Hamling didn’t play a game in three years at Geelong. He arrived at Whitten Oval as a free agent, played 23 games in two seasons including a premiership. Not a bad return for the Dogs and Hamling.
TOM BOYD
Games: 40 (as of Round 15, 2017)
The Bulldogs paid a hefty price for the power forward - captain Ryan Griffen, pick No.6 and a multi-million-dollar contract - but the argument could be made that Boyd has more than delivered after his starring role in the club’s breakthrough premiership. It has been revealed Boyd will take time away from the game to deal with depression but there is still plenty of time for the 21-year-old.
SHANE BIGGS
Games: 51 (as of Round 15, 2017)
The Bulldogs got a bargain here. Biggs had played just six games for a high-powered Sydney team and was traded for pick No.37, acquired from Essendon in the Adam Cooney trade. The dashing defender has his defensive frailties but has became a feature under Luke Beveridge, playing every game in 2016 on the way to the premiership.
MATTHEW SUCKLING
Games: 31 (as of Round 15, 2017)
Injury robbed Suckling of a third consecutive premiership. After crossing from Hawthorn as a free agent, Suckling became a key part of the Bulldogs set-up in 2016 but an Achilles issue after the semi-final win over the Hawks saw him miss out on the Dogs’ flag. The superboot defender will be crucial as the likes of Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd near the end of their careers.
TRAVIS CLOKE
Games: 5 (as of Round 15, 2017)
The Bulldogs didn’t lose anything to secure Cloke from Collingwood (pick No.76) and yet the deal still looks like a bust. The ageing forward had a couple of early highlights but injury and form saw him demoted to the VFL before he stepped away from the game to deal with depression.
DEPARTURES
BRIAN LAKE
Games: 197
The Bulldogs and Hawthorn would both be happy with how this trade played out. The Dogs got picks that they turned into Nathan Hrovat and Koby Stevens while Lake became a triple-premiership defender and Norm Smith medallist at the Hawks.
DANIEL CROSS
Games: 210
Cross was a victim of the Bulldogs regeneration as he was delisted at the end of 2013. Melbourne picked him up as a delisted free agent and the ultra-professional Cross provided crucial leadership under Paul Roos. He remains at the Demons as a coach.
DYLAN ADDISON
Games: 88
Addison was a fringe player during his eight years at Whitten Oval, compiling 88 games. The NSW native returned to Sydney as a delisted free agent in 2015 but managed just five games at GWS before retiring in 2015.
SHAUN HIGGINS
Games: 129
Often forgotten in the 2014 Whitten Oval exodus, Higgins has played some of his best football at North Melbourne after his free agency move. Higgins played all but one game in his first year at Arden St before a knee injury in 2016. However, he’s back to full fitness, missing just one game so far this year. The Dogs received pick No.27 as compensation, which they used on Lukas Webb.
RYAN GRIFFEN
Games: 202
A catastrophe at the time but arguably the Bulldogs have come out on top after then captain Griffen demanded a trade and sparked the axing of coach Brendon McCartney. Griffen and pick No.6 (Caleb Marchbank) went to GWS in return for Tom Boyd. Boyd starred in a fairytale premiership while Griffen has played 37 games for the Giants.
ADAM COONEY
Games: 219
A key part of the 2014 upheaval was the trading of favourite son Adam Cooney, the former No.1 draft pick and Brownlow medallist. Despite a degenerative knee injury, Cooney played 18 games in his final season and was traded to Essendon for pick No.37, which the Dogs sent to Sydney for Shane Biggs. Cooney played 31 games in two years at the Bombers before retiring in 2016 while Biggs played every game in 2016 on the way to a premiership.
LIAM JONES
Games: 66
It’s ironic that the Bulldogs could now use a shutdown key defender. After five mediocre years at Whitten Oval, Jones was traded to Carlton for pick No.46, which became premiership player Caleb Daniel. After two more years in the wilderness at the Blues, Jones has been transformed into arguably the AFL’s form key defender. An amazing turnaround that now looks a win-win for both clubs.
JARRAD GRANT
Games: 81
The former No.5 draft pick who then recruiter Scott Clayton labelled the best talent behind Matthew Kreuzer and Trent Cotchin in the 2009 draft never lived up to expectations. After playing 19 games - including the elimination final - he was delisted at the end of 2015 and picked up by Gold Coast as a free agent. Grant has failed to play a game in 2017.
MICHAEL TALIA
Games: 30
It was an ugly exit for the grandson of 1954 hero Harvey Stevens. Accused of leaking sensitive match information to brother Daniel at Adelaide, Talia was swiftly traded out for a future fourth-round pick. That pick turned into young forward Fergus Greene. Turmoil has sadly followed Talia to Sydney with a drug possession arrest last year.
JOEL HAMLING
Games: 23
Two years, 23 games, one premiership. Not a bad return for Hamling and the Bulldogs. The key defender arrived for nothing, played a key role in the 2016 flag and then netted the club three draft picks from Fremantle, which were used to improve the club’s draft position in a deal with Gold Coast that ultimately saw Patrick Lipinski drafted.
NATHAN HROVAT
Games: 30
Hrovat arrived with pick No.21 as part of the 2012 Brian Lake trade but injuries and lack of opportunity saw him move to North Melbourne after 30 games in four years. The trade is yet to see a return with the Dogs and Kangaroos swapping future picks, but the midfielder’s departure could be a blow to the premiers’ midfield depth.
KOBY STEVENS
Games: 63
Stevens started 2016 as a key member of the Bulldogs’ midfield rotation but injury halted his momentum and despite playing Round 23, lost his place for the finals and after 63 games sought greener pastures at St Kilda. The trade netted the Dogs young forward Lewis Young at pick No.50 and a future fifth-round pick.
ALSO ...
2015 pick swap.
Bulldogs trade pick No.11 & 2016 third-round pick (Charlie Curnow & on traded to GWS) to Carlton for picks No.20 & 21 (Josh Dunkley & Kieran Collins)
2016 pick swap.
Bulldogs trade picks No.35 & 43 (Jack Bowes & on traded to Adelaide) to Gold Coast for picks No.26 & 80 (Patrick Lipinski & unused)
Further shrewd trading saw the Dogs move backwards in 2015 to secure premiership player Josh Dunkley and heir apparent to Dale Morris, Kieran Collins, before moving up in the 2016 draft to pick up midfielder Patrick Lipinski.
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