Player Contract Status

[Eastdog]

Great news. He is having great year once again.

[jeemak]

It's awesome news. Libba is going from strength to strength, and I'm loving that he's having an impact forward of the centre and snagging a few goals, impacting the game with his kicking which is excellent when he wants it to be.

[KT31]

Great news, Libba is Doggies through and through.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Huge news and extremely pleased with it. The club just looks so well organised and in control.

[Dry Rot]

So - when do we officially become uncomfortable about our new potential superstar small forward being unsigned for 2022?

Give Weightman a fair deal for 5 years and throw in a cow each year, and he is ours.

[bornadog]

[Ghost Dog]

Screen Shot 2021-07-07 at 9.29.38 PM.jpg

[1eyedog]

Deserved the two.

[Ghost Dog]

Why Tom Liberatore is the AFL's most underrated player

Not sure if this was posted.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Great news.

Libba has to be one of the most loved players we've had.

[Bulldog4life]

Fantastic news. Seems to love a goal now too which is great as he is a reliable kick for goal.

[bornadog]

DOGS LOOK TO BUMPER 2022 CONTRACTS


HAVING re-signed priority players Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore to new deals, the Western Bulldogs will start to focus their attention on locking in their group of key players coming out of contract at the end of next year.


The premiership contenders have a group of vital players whose deals expire at the end of 2022, including ruckman Tim English, midfielder Josh Dunkley and Therabody AFL All-Australian pair Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel, who will hit free agency next year.


Bulldogs list boss Sam Power said with Bontempelli and Liberatore signed up the club could shift its mind to locking away some of its key pillars.


"We'll really start to turn our attention to those guys for 2022 now," Power told the Road to the Draft podcast.


"For different reasons some just take longer. Some have different focuses, some players are more willing to go a lot earlier, others turn their attention to it at the end of the season.


"For all of those guys and some others coming out [of contract], everyone is in a really good headspace at the moment. Everyone can see where we're going and the environment that the players and coaches are setting up is fantastic and it's a really good club to be around. We're really confident with all of those guys over time we'll be able to work through those contracts."


Dunkley's trade bid to head to Essendon last year failed but the Bulldogs expect the 24-year-old to be at Whitten Oval next year.


"All the conversations with Josh and with his management have been really positive with how he's going so there's nothing to suggest there that he would look and we've got confidence and definitely want him to be a Bulldogs player for a long time," Power said.


The club is in talks to extend first-round draftee Cody Weightman's deal after his impressive run of form in the forward line, while Power said the Dogs were keen to retain out-of-contract trio Patrick Lipinski, Lewis Young and Mitch Wallis, with all being in and out of the senior side throughout the year.


"They're three players that we want to retain and we see as having really bright futures at the football club. Hopefully over the course of the back end of the year we work towards that," he said. – Callum Twomey

[DOG GOD]

Interesting to see what he says about Wallis, Lippa and Young. Maybe he’s trying to talk them up as wanted players when other clubs come calling.

[bulldogtragic]

Interesting to see what he says about Wallis, Lippa and Young. Maybe he’s trying to talk them up as wanted players when other clubs come calling.

That’s exactly what he’s doing.

[Axe Man]

Garcia, Butler re-sign

Emerging duo Riley Garcia and Louis Butler have signed one-year contract extensions with the Western Bulldogs.

The 2019 draftees have each had a taste at senior level across their first two years and have recommitted until the end of 2022.

“We’ve been pleased with what we’ve seen from Riley and Louis in the early stages of their careers as Bulldogs,” General Manager of List Management and Football Projects, Sam Power, said.

“They handled the challenges of a different first year in the system – in the Gold Coast hub – really well and have continued to develop nicely this season.”

Garcia, 20, made his AFL debut in round 11 against Melbourne and has played four AFL games.

The tough, inside midfielder was recruited by the Bulldogs with pick 62 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft.

“Riley has overcome some challenges with injury and it’s been great to see him get a run of games under his belt,” Power said.

“He is competitive, clean below his knees and has played some strong VFL football to force his way into the AFL side.”

Butler has played one senior game in 2021 – as the medical sub – after playing two games in 2020, including his debut in round four.

The 19-year-old was drafted as a defender with pick 53 in the 2019 NAB AFL Draft and has developed on a wing this season.

“Louis has displayed some consistent VFL form in 2021,” Power said.

“He’s only had the one senior opportunity so far this year but has spent more time on a wing and impressed with his ability to cover the ground, win a lot of the ball and hit the scoreboard.”