Jack Macrae’s Western Bulldogs future up in the air after round 4 loss to Geelong

After starting as the sub on Saturday, Jack Macrae’s future at the Bulldogs is clearly up in the air – but he’s not the only star rival clubs are making a move on.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. April 6, 2024. AFL Gather Round. Round 4. Western Bulldogs vs. Geelong at the Adelaide Oval. Bulldog Jack Macrae. Pic: Michael Klein

Jack Macrae’s future at Western Bulldogs is up in the air as the club looks to reward its up-and-coming playmakers with more game time.

Macrae, 29, missed the first two matches of the season following a hamstring issue and came on as the substitute in the loss to Geelong on Saturday night in Adelaide.

It has put his place in the team at the crossroads despite having a lucrative contract tying him to the club for three more seasons.

The ball magnet said in 2022 “I obviously want to retire as a Western Bulldogs’ player” after signing a five-year contract extension, but the squeeze is on at the Dogs.

Macrae, 29, remains one of the highest paid players at the Bulldogs amid a decorated career at the club which has included three All-Australian guernseys and five top-three finishes in the best and fairest.

Macrae was the sub in the Dogs’ loss to the Cats. Pic: Michael Klein

But rival list managers have already circled his name as a trade target at season’s end considering his lack of match time and job security at the kennel.

Bailey Smith’s future could also be elsewhere as Geelong and Collingwood circle the star line breaker who is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Caleb Daniel was another premiership favourite son who was squeezed out of the best 22 to start the season and came off for Macrae on Saturday night as Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore starred.

Coach Luke Beveridge made no apologies for the approach to selection, saying the club had to make adjustments and would consider the overall “blend” after failing to win a final over the past two seasons.

“We have been punched out in an elimination final a couple of years ago and we missed finals last year, so we have to evolve,” Beveridge said.

“We have to make sure we get experience into the likes of Ryley Sanders and Harvey Gallagher and make sure the small forwards who are playing really well for us in Laitham (Vandermeer), Cody (Weightman) and Westy (Rhylee West) aren’t, I suppose, substituted for a mid who can spend some time there (forward).

“We need balance in our team.

“And I suppose there isn’t an indefinite amount of midfield time we can throw around and we have probably done that in the past where we didn’t have the resources – the players who can play the forward roles and wing roles accordingly.

“So it’s meant that there is this pressure through the team for spots and that is what has transpired.”

Macrae’s future is up in the air. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

But Beveridge was adamant a line had not been put through Macrae’s name at the club.

He had 20 disposals in the win over West Coast in Round 3 and gathered six touches including five handballs and three intercept possessions in the loss to the Cats as the sub.

The Dogs take on Essendon on Friday night at Marvel Stadium, eager to notch their third win of the season against a Bombers’ outfit which was pommeled by Port Adelaide.

“He (Macrae) will obviously play important roles throughout the course of the year,” Beveridge said.

“But it will definitely depend on the availability of our core midfield group, which Jack is a part of, and the consensus at match committee.”

Originally published as Jack Macrae’s Western Bulldogs future up in the air after round 4 loss to Geelong