Greetings from the 2023 Wish-Come-True-Magical-Genie!!!

[mjp]

IF you ran into the 2023 Wish-Come-True-Magical-Genie and he told you that:

1/. You can have ONLY one wish.
2/. The wish CANNOT be anything other than a positional move relating to the 2023 Western Bulldogs

THEN:

- What would you wish for???
- Why do you think it would make 'so much' difference??

Examples of wishes might be:

- Bont as a permanent mid, JJ back to half-back, Caleb to the wing, Darcy to key back, Bruce to key back, Garcia as a small forward, West as a midfielder...

I'm sure you get the idea.

Please stick to the rules...only ONE wish - and it MUST be positional. And explain why you want it.

[Mantis]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

[F'scary]

My wish is for Toby McLean to get serious time in the midfield as part of the strategy to replace Dunkley's output.

[mjp]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

Better suited than McLean??

[mjp]

My wish is for Toby McLean to get serious time in the midfield as part of the strategy to replace Dunkley's output.

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??

[weltschmerz]

Caleb Daniel to become an effective half-forward flanker. His delivery by foot is second to none, and I'd love to see him collecting Sherrins from Bont or Macrae out of stoppages and putting them on the chest of our best positioned forward. Delivery inside forward 50 hasn't always been great, and that also opens up that backline spot for someone who can play a more defensive game rather than Daniel's attacking half-back.

[GVGjr]

This one won't work for many but Bailey Dale to a wing. He was a very handy forward and he has been an AA level defender but with his running and long kicking he could be the player that gets it in to our tall forwards quickly plus he can score a goal.

[Sedat]

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??

He has a naturally defensive-minded attitude, and is not just a "see ball get ball" type. Gee, we could have used someone like him in the centre square for the last 8 minutes of the 3rd qtr in the 2021 GF.

He can easily become our George Hewitt style defensive-minded mid. His outstanding performance in the 2022 EF, off the back of zero senior footy, shows how valuable he is and how much more desperately needed balance he can give to our midfield rotations.

[bornadog]

Bont to stay only in midfield and never a marking forward or any other position . Bont is one of the best mids in the AFL and is wasted in a forward role. With the recruitment of Lobb and the development of JUH, he is not needed in the fwd50.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Laith Vandermeer to half back.

It was where he played his junior footy and where he first impressed at VFL level. The position suits his instinct and with his pace he could offer something. It requires less 'thought' and tact, which I'd argue would help his game.

I don't see him as a forward whatsoever, and he could quickly find himself on the outer if he doesn't adjust.

[1eyedog]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

Too slow and not defensively minded enough. Will never happen.

Rhylee West back pocket specialist. This will be Duryea's last year and we need another defensive minded medium to move into this role ASAP.

West is a man hunter and there looks to be meagre opportunities in the middle and, with the selection of Parker as a natural forward, up the front half as well. This may put pressure on West and Bevo to look at broadening West's skill set with a move to the men's department.

[jeemak]

Libba as a shut down player, letting others do the heavy lifting he's amazing at - but they can also do.

Libba's foot/ hand skills and pace make him the perfect counter to whoever he's negating. If I was to give anyone twenty touches to hurt the opposition by usage after stopping one of them it would be him.

[Bulldog Joe]

Aaron Naughton to the wing.

He is a cat at ground level, but would dominate the air and oppositions would just have to change how they play, because any pressured kick in the air is coming straight back.

We have enough forward options but stopping the opposition from clearing defensive 50 is one of our greatest needs.

[F'scary]

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??

Great vision, great handling and disposal skills, creative and efficient - I would take 18 possessions a game from him over 30 from a volume merchant with only servicable skills. McLean is not a big body but has an inside game a bit like Libba. He has shown us all what he can do when he came back from injury late last season.

[westbulldog]

Jordan Sweet gets a fair run of games instead of being the whipping boy for all and sundry.