2025 Western Bulldogs - Are they coming or going?

[Danny Delre]

Interesting. Dougie has been banging on about Naughton going back the last 12-24 months. Has he realised Bevo won't do it? Now its trade Juh for a key back.

[Garbs_7]

Definitely coming, I know every team thinks this especially at this stage of the pre-season, but we still have a really talented best 16-18 and now some quality young depth and new guys like Kennedy that may help bump that 18-26 group we have struggled with recently.

[mjp]

I have some trepidation about next year. We'd need a big step up from a few young guys to replace Macrae and Daniels output last year.

Caleb: 16 games, averaged 14x touches - Kicked 2x goals.
Jackson: 19 games, averaged 19x touches - Kicked 5x goals.
Smith: 0 games, averaged 0x touches and kicked 0x goals.

Matt Kennedy played 24 games with 18x touches and kicked 16 goals...

Now of course Jacko and Caleb have been monuments to the club and had great careers (and Bailey Smith IS a good player) but if you're worried about replacing their 2024 output, Kennedy can/will do that. I don't think we need to count on the youngsters to do much more than be solid contributors...

If we can get a bit more out of the roles played by Gallagher (20 games, 12x touches, 11x goals), McNeil (12-games, 9x touches, 6x goals) and VDM (24 games, 10x touches, 10x goals) - which shouldn't be HARD!! - then it's going to more than replace Macrae/Daniel...

The challenge isn't at that end. It's can Bont have a good year, Treloar, Dale, Lobb, Jones...can Jamarra kick another 50-goals etc.

The challenge is with our best players - not those replacing the spare parts.

[Bulldog Joe]

Caleb: 16 games, averaged 14x touches - Kicked 2x goals.
Jackson: 19 games, averaged 19x touches - Kicked 5x goals.
Smith: 0 games, averaged 0x touches and kicked 0x goals.

Matt Kennedy played 24 games with 18x touches and kicked 16 goals...

Now of course Jacko and Caleb have been monuments to the club and had great careers (and Bailey Smith IS a good player) but if you're worried about replacing their 2024 output, Kennedy can/will do that. I don't think we need to count on the youngsters to do much more than be solid contributors...

If we can get a bit more out of the roles played by Gallagher (20 games, 12x touches, 11x goals), McNeil (12-games, 9x touches, 6x goals) and VDM (24 games, 10x touches, 10x goals) - which shouldn't be HARD!! - then it's going to more than replace Macrae/Daniel...

The challenge isn't at that end. It's can Bont have a good year, Treloar, Dale, Lobb, Jones...can Jamarra kick another 50-goals etc.

The challenge is with our best players - not those replacing the spare parts.

Thanks mjp

You have again highlighted the challenge is around our better player.

At this stage of 2024 not many would have considered that Macrae and Daniel would be relegated to minor roles.

Improvement across 2025 will depend on bringing our best from 2024 consistently.

If we could get the 2023 version of Tim English on the park and Sam Darcy improvement while retaining the output from others we will be truly contending.

[Uninformed]

If our improved performance last year came with moving Ed to the middle and Lobb back, then starting that way this year should get us going earlier to build the Ws for top four.

We can expect improvement in our younger players and have a good back up of talent to replace any of our geriatrics should they lose it. Looking good

I am hoping our fitness guy will lift us another level again this year.

[NAUGHTY100]

Caleb: 16 games, averaged 14x touches - Kicked 2x goals.
Jackson: 19 games, averaged 19x touches - Kicked 5x goals.
Smith: 0 games, averaged 0x touches and kicked 0x goals.

Matt Kennedy played 24 games with 18x touches and kicked 16 goals...

Now of course Jacko and Caleb have been monuments to the club and had great careers (and Bailey Smith IS a good player) but if you're worried about replacing their 2024 output, Kennedy can/will do that. I don't think we need to count on the youngsters to do much more than be solid contributors...

If we can get a bit more out of the roles played by Gallagher (20 games, 12x touches, 11x goals), McNeil (12-games, 9x touches, 6x goals) and VDM (24 games, 10x touches, 10x goals) - which shouldn't be HARD!! - then it's going to more than replace Macrae/Daniel...

The challenge isn't at that end. It's can Bont have a good year, Treloar, Dale, Lobb, Jones...can Jamarra kick another 50-goals etc.

The challenge is with our best players - not those replacing the spare parts.

I agree the top end of our list needs to continue the form of 24, as mjp quoted the likes of Bont , Treloar , Dale need to produce as they did last year , but these guys are professionals so know what to do to get through a season and play good football, Jamarra will top the goal kicking once again and im hoping his accuracy will improve giving him a 50+ goal tally , Darcy will be the one to watch he will consistently get the best defender allowing Jamarra or naughty to get 2nd or 3rd and not many sides have 3 top defenders capable of matching theses 3 guys , the mid field is as strong as you can get with Richards Libba and the Bont , sure Jacko averaged 19 touches last year but i don't think they had a lot of hurt factor , im hoping Matt Kennedy can bridge that gap Jacko has left with better disposal and more goals while resting forward, our back line i don't think is in as bad shape as some think Lobb and Jones although ageing can still produce top football and the likes of Dale and Bramble plus a fit JJ is enough running power in my opinion , so my prediction is top 4 , we have to aim that high or higher , right now we have the list to go all the way if things fall our way , and yeah most sides are saying the exact same thing but the other sides don't have the Bont , Jamarra ,Naughton , Darcy and a few others .

[Bumper Bulldogs]

We are coming for sure. 2025 Will be the our year.

Bevo will have no surprises at selection table, we will get off to a 4 Win 1 loss start and Bevo will get that contract extension.

the concerns are around Libba as he is one concussion away from retirement. However we have plenty of Midfield cover. This is our strength

big improvement in results falls on West, VDM, Garcia, JOD and JUH. These guys have plenty to give and improve.

[bulldogSimmo]

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

Think our midfield stills lacks explosiveness and can be one paced. We get found out against high pressure sides as we can't break into space. Hoping we see another Ed type emergence as we need more like him through the middle

[jeemak]

Think our midfield stills lacks explosiveness and can be one paced. We get found out against high pressure sides as we can't break into space. Hoping we see another Ed type emergence as we need more like him through the middle

It's a well made point Simmo and welcome to the forum.

one thing I really noticed in last year's EF sitting L1 forward pocket and aligned with the centre square/ wing line was how quickly Hawthorn was able to explode into space versus our inside midfielders. We need to have it on our terms more often than not on the inside otherwise we get exposed.

[Uninformed]

Think our midfield stills lacks explosiveness and can be one paced. We get found out against high pressure sides as we can't break into space. Hoping we see another Ed type emergence as we need more like him through the middle

What? Faster than our bionic kneed Italian stallion?

[Rusty12]

Good Topic, and a lot of different opinions in here.
I find this hard, once considering my own bias and hopes.
Keep it objective, and base it on the avg age and XP of our regular 28 players picked, if you are not making it to a prelim, one way or another, then it is a failure, and although you don't need to bottom out, it is time to re-fresh the list and get younger.

[WBFC4FFC]

Pretty huge call. I'd personally look at playing Naughton back before trading out a KPF with considerable upside for a KPD. Not sure it will happen under Bevo thpugh.

Naughton remains our best crumbing forward. This statement is both a compliment (to Naughton, as no other big in the comp is as good as him when the ball hits the deck) as well as an indictment on the club (as our crumbing mids are below AFL average).

[SquirrelGrip]

Naughton remains our best crumbing forward. This statement is both a compliment (to Naughton, as no other big in the comp is as good as him when the ball hits the deck) as well as an indictment on the club (as our crumbing mids are below AFL average).

He's also our best defensive and tackling forward.

[Jeanette54]

For me the red flag is the named likely best 23, almost unchanged from last year, with the absence of Jack and Caleb. Where are we to find the significant improvement in our consistency of performance?

[josie]

For me the red flag is the named likely best 23, almost unchanged from last year, with the absence of Jack and Caleb. Where are we to find the significant improvement in our consistency of performance?

Hopefully in improved fitness, game plan, improved fringe player performance eg McNeill, better goal kicking accuracy (pretty please) etc as evidenced by our mostly very good 2nd half last year. More match sims in pre-season, seemingly good assistant coach pickups now into 2nd year support this.

Those capitulations against Port, Crows and Hawks are a worry though.