2025 Western Bulldogs - Are they coming or going?

[GVGjr]

Western Bulldogs season 2025 preview:

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Western Bulldogs want for little — apart from another premiership to accompany their 2016 triumph. Could 2025 be the year for Luke Beveridge and his men or will they regret an off-season exodus?

There’s been a slight changing of the guard at Whitten Oval following the departures of Jack Macrae, Caleb Daniel and Bailey Smith with only 11 players remaining from the 23 who lined up in the 2021 grand final. With fresh face Matt Kennedy and an array of youngsters continuing to develop, will Luke Beveridge be justified in his decision to reset while Marcus Bontempelli is at the peak of his powers? Lachlan McKirdy looks at all the big issues at the Kennel.

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
There have always been big wraps on Sam Darcy, but he took some massive steps in his development in 2024. He played 21 matches and finished 38 goals as a genuinely dangerous forward target. It’s a big springboard for the rest of his career and with another pre-season under his belt he will look to become one of the competition’s best young forwards.

Who's tipped to have a 2025 breakout?
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INS AND OUTS
IN: Sam Davidson (No. 51 draft pick), Josh Dolan (No. 31 draft pick), Cooper Hynes (No. 20 draft pick), Lachie Jaques (No. 29 draft pick), Luke Kennedy (No. 62 draft pick), Matt Kennedy (trade, Carlton)
OUT: Dominic Bedendo (delisted), Charlie Clarke (delisted), Caleb Daniel (trade, North Melbourne), Alex Keath (retired), Jack Macrae (trade, St Kilda), Aiden O’Driscoll (retired), Kelsey Rypstra (delisted), Bailey Smith (trade, Geelong)

BULLDOGS' PREDICTED BEST 23
FB: Taylor Duryea, Liam Jones, James O’Donnell
HB: Bailey Dale, Rory Lobb, Ed Richards
C: Bailey Williams, Adam Treloar, Harvey Gallagher
HF: Laitham Vandermeer, Aaron Naughton, Rhylee West
FF: Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Sam Darcy
FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore
INT: Matt Kennedy, Lachie Bramble, Ryley Sanders, Joel Freijah, Riley Garcia

WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
Ed Richards built a reputation as a handy halfback during his early seasons at the Bulldogs, but when Tom Liberatore went down he got a chance in the midfield and thrived. Even when Liberatore returned from injury, Richards stayed and played well in the rotation. His ball use is elite out of the centre square and he has a turn of pace that the Dogs lacked. If he can have another strong campaign in the centre, a long-term, big-money extension is on the cards.

COACH STATUS
Entering the last year of his contract, Luke Beveridge knows he could be coaching for his future at the Bulldogs. They finished sixth last season but were no match for the in-form Hawks in September. A repeat finals berth may be required if Beveridge wants to extend his stay at the kennel into a 12th season.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Adam Treloar, Anthony Scott, Arthur Jones, Caleb Poulter, Ed Richards, Jason Johannisen, Lachlan Smith, Laitham Vandermeer, Liam Jones, Marcus Bontempelli, Nicholas Coffield, Oskar Baker, Taylor Duryea, Tom Liberatore

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
The Bulldogs aren’t wanting for much, with Lobb filling their main deficiency down back halfway through last season. If Richards plays a prominent midfield role, an extra distributor down back would certainly help rather than relying heavily on Bailey Dale. Bramble came to the club and quickly became one of Beveridge’s favourites, and will be hoping to take an extra step in his development at his second club.

BURNING QUESTION
Is the Bulldogs’ list one on the way up or down? At times it’s been hard to tell, with genuine superstars ever-present in the team. But there have been big list changes with Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae all departing. Is this the start of a new era where they can build on their sixth-placed finish, or could it be a season of pain as they get more games into their young stars to build again in 2026 and beyond?

[bulldogtragic]

All those words to say the author can’t have an opinion.

[GVGjr]

All those words to say the author can’t have an opinion.

It's a summary more than an opinion piece isn't it?

[bulldogtragic]

True it’s a summary, but it starts and ends with a question. I quite like it when someone puts out their neck just a little and says what they think as opposed to a vanilla question to close.

[Mat Lyons]

It's a summary more than an opinion piece isn't it?

It doesn't know what it wants to be - the predicted team is an opinion and identified areas to fill is also the author's view. I'm with Bulldogtragic on this - give some depth or else what value does this add, beyond what any punter might roll out?

[jazzadogs]

It doesn't know what it wants to be - the predicted team is an opinion and identified areas to fill is also the author's view. I'm with Bulldogtragic on this - give some depth or else what value does this add, beyond what any punter might roll out?

The days of value in journalism are gone - they don't care about that anymore. They're just filling space and hoping you'll be silly enough to click on their crap articles.

[Bulldogs201616]

I love how everyone has written the dogs off. At our best we can beat anyone but it's just a matter of finding consistency.

[jeemak]

Want for nothing..........look forward for that bullshit line being repeated many times between now and round one. And then throughout the season when we clearly want for things.

[GVGjr]

Want for nothing..........look forward for that bullshit line being repeated many times between now and round one. And then throughout the season when we clearly want for things.

Every list has some gaps but where do you think we are wanting for at the moment?

[GVGjr]

I love how everyone has written the dogs off. At our best we can beat anyone but it's just a matter of finding consistency.

A lot of our members don't like lofty expectations being placed on the club for the season ahead and they'll argue that the list isn't that great.
I'm of the belief if you are more or less tinkering with the list management changes between seasons you regard yourself as being in contention.
I like lofty expectations being placed on this club and the clubs management being held to account.

[Bornadog]

A lot of our members don't like lofty expectations being placed on the club for the season ahead and they'll argue that the list isn't that great.
I'm of the belief if you are more or less tinkering with the list management changes between seasons you regard yourself as being in contention.
I like lofty expectations being placed on this club and the clubs management being held to account.

Remember 2010 when Smorgan said we would win the premiership and Rocket had already told the club it will be difficult.

Great to have expectations, as long as they are realistic. I still think we have a very competitive team to finish top 8, but I want top 4 to have a chance at the big one.

[Jasper]

We have to set a high benchmark and the can be no more of the nonsense that close is good enough.
Bevo and this team should be on notice. We have to deliver now on the talent we have.

[jeemak]

Every list has some gaps but where do you think we are wanting for at the moment?

Depending on how Busslinger or JOD come along I think we're vulnerable in defence for talls, Libba's longevity concerns me, but ultimately I compare our outside run and forward flanks/ pocket combinations to the best in the league and we are a few quality players behind.

Feel we've tried to address it the past two trade periods with Harmes and Kennedy being brought across, but even so we're still in need of some quality especially given the losses of Smith and Hunter in recent years.

[GVGjr]

Depending on how Busslinger or JOD come along I think we're vulnerable in defence for talls, Libba's longevity concerns me, but ultimately I compare our outside run and forward flanks/ pocket combinations to the best in the league and we are a few quality players behind.

Yes, I don't think it's much of an issue for us this year but there are some questions in the next 2 or 3 seasons given our age profile
It's one of the reasons why I wish we had a legit back-up ruck man on the list because if Tim goes down for a few weeks I can see us moving Lobb into the ruck to cover him and that would expose the back line.

[jeemak]

A lot of our members don't like lofty expectations being placed on the club for the season ahead and they'll argue that the list isn't that great.
I'm of the belief if you are more or less tinkering with the list management changes between seasons you regard yourself as being in contention.
I like lofty expectations being placed on this club and the clubs management being held to account.

I'm fine with high expectations, providing they come with realistic conditions. For instance, we need to acknowledge we have gaps in quality in areas and not believe the bullshit that we want for nothing because it's simply untrue. Having gaps doesn't mean we can't excel, but excellence needs to be conditional on maintaining form (players and coaching), staying healthy, and getting a bit lucky.

To a large extent we can control form through preparation and discipline to achieve high standards. In some ways we can control the health of our list via the same, but ultimately a lot of that's out of our hands. And while you make your own luck to an extent, we can't control how other teams perform. It's an even competition, to get to the pointy end means a lot of things have to go right pretty much all the time.