Our Under 23 players to watch in 25

[GVGjr]

From Code Sports
WESTERN BULLDOGS


HEADLINE MAKER

How long will it be before Sam Darcy is the best big man in the game? It could come earlier than you think. The 208cm ruck/forward managed only seven games in his first two seasons. But his breakthrough 2024 season yielded 38 goals from 21 games. He is good in the air and on the ground, highlighted by the fact he is rated elite for forward-50 ground ball gets and above average for F50 marks. Having just signed a new four-year deal, the sky is the limit.

X-FACTOR

Just imagine if Jamarra Ugle-Hagan gets his kicking boots on at some stage. He is rated elite for forward-50 marks, but below average for accuracy. If he can change the last bit, he could turn his 43 goals from 2024 into 60-plus this year.
Will Jedd Busslinger get his chance in 2025? Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
QUESTION MARK

Defender Jedd Busslinger has a contract locked in for 2026, but the No.13 draft pick has yet to make his debut. The club has always seen him as a bit of a project player, but we’ll find out more about him now after 38 VFL games in two seasons.

KEEP IT UP

Ryley Sanders and Joel Freijah played 13 and 14 games in their first year. You would expect them to be even more seasoned after another pre-season. Harvey Gallagher looks to have a good future, too.
Jordan Croft with his dad, former Bulldog Matthew. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

WATCH THIS SPACE More Coverage

The Bulldogs’ bulging forward stocks will make it hard for second year father-son pick Jordan Croft to win a regular slot. But he is doing everything right after encountering a few injuries in his first year. He will keep building his experience base in 2025.

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

The Dogs used five selections at last year’s national draft, with the coaches impressed by the work rate of all of those players. Pick 29 Lachie Jaques and pick 62 Luke Kennedy have relished the work.

[GVGjr]

I'm really confident about the majority of our younger group. There is a bit of talent there.
We need a big seasons from Marra, Darcy, Sanders and Frejiah and I'm particularly excited of what we might get from Croft.

[azabob]

Hold on. Darcy kicked 38 goals from 21 games, whilst taking stints as the second ruck!

That is some serious output.

[azabob]

I'm really confident about the majority of our younger group. There is a bit of talent there.
We need a big seasons from Marra, Darcy, Sanders and Frejiah and I'm particularly excited of what we might get from Croft.

Why are you excited about Croft? What are you expectations in number of games and where will he play?

[Mofra]

Hold on. Darcy kicked 38 goals from 21 games, whilst taking stints as the second ruck!

That is some serious output.

I still think a good second ruck/forward is the hardest position to fill on the ground. We've got a guy who may end up the best in the comp at this role by the end of this year.

[GVGjr]

Why are you excited about Croft? What are you expectations in number of games and where will he play?

His athletic traits and his ability to read the play is what has impressed. Seeing him fit and training well is encouraging as well.
I'm open to him playing anywhere with a slight preference in playing him forward.

[Bulldog Joe]

I still think a good second ruck/forward is the hardest position to fill on the ground. We've got a guy who may end up the best in the comp at this role by the end of this year.

I can't think of anyone who did it better in 2024.

Surely Darcy is already the best ruck/forward and hopefully plenty of scope to improve.

[GVGjr]

I can't think of anyone who did it better in 2024.

Surely Darcy is already the best ruck/forward and hopefully plenty of scope to improve.

Perhaps Luke Jackson is the only one who goes close but to me Sam was better value?
But with Sean Darcy missing a few games Jackson was probably more of a ruckman forward.

image.png

[jazzadogs]

I can't think of anyone who did it better in 2024.

Surely Darcy is already the best ruck/forward and hopefully plenty of scope to improve.

Daniher had a better year than Sam, but probably didn't play as many ruck minutes - I can't compare their stats for ruck contests because the AFL app has removed Daniher, but Darcy did have more hitouts.

Sam averaged 22 ruck contests and 7 hitouts a game, which is pretty impressive to go with his 1.8 goals a game.

Anyway Joe is gone now, so Sam is King!

[Bornadog]

Daniher had a better year than Sam, but probably didn't play as many ruck minutes - I can't compare their stats for ruck contests because the AFL app has removed Daniher, but Darcy did have more hitouts.

Sam averaged 22 ruck contests and 7 hitouts a game, which is pretty impressive to go with his 1.8 goals a game.

Anyway Joe is gone now, so Sam is King!

Daniher, 58 hitouts at average of 2.1

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-brisbane-lions--joe-daniher

[jeemak]

I'm really confident about the majority of our younger group. There is a bit of talent there.
We need a big seasons from Marra, Darcy, Sanders and Frejiah and I'm particularly excited of what we might get from Croft.

Freijah jumping out of the blocks actually gave me some early faith in the talent identification we have at the club, given they've been starved of opportunities to show their wares. I think Sanders will be fine.

Like you I think Croft could be anything if we don't tie him down to one role and just give him games anywhere (i.e. KPF/ KPD) should an opportunity arise (as an aside, I'd also get him rucking as soon as possible - he's exactly the type Bevo and any sane coach might try and play there as a back up).

Marra's a no-brainer to be one of the best forwards we've ever seen at the club. Even with the shots he's missed (and almost in lieu of them) he's the most exciting young KPF prospect in the league right now.

[Countrydog5]

There's typically always a surprise from a crop of draftees who turns out to be ready for AFL level before anyone expects it. I can't put my finger on who it could be for us this year. Based on Gary's training reports it could be Kennedy who eeks out 6-10 games and doesn't look out of place. I can't see Hynes impacting for 2 years at least, Davidson is still quite raw based on Milesi's comments in his recruitment video, Dolan is coming from a way back with his foot injury and Jacques may still be a little light for the medium / small defender role we have him pinned for.

We really need Sanders and Friej to continue to develop and be regular best 22 contributors. Freijah I have full faith in. Sanders I'm reasonably confident in, but we need some output soon from a high draft pick with 2 pre-seasons under the belt.
Croft is a funny one for me. I am extremely bullish on the player he could turn out to be, but I'm also of the opinion we can't sink too much time into him teaching forward craft as we really need him to be a defender as far as list balance goes. He has far more opportunity to make the side in place of JOD, Buss, than he would over Mara, Naughts and Darcy due to their age and ability. If we truly see Croft as a forward, we should really look to move one of Mara and Naughts, but that's a conversation for another thread.

[Bulldog Joe]

Daniher had a better year than Sam, but probably didn't play as many ruck minutes - I can't compare their stats for ruck contests because the AFL app has removed Daniher, but Darcy did have more hitouts.

Sam averaged 22 ruck contests and 7 hitouts a game, which is pretty impressive to go with his 1.8 goals a game.

Anyway Joe is gone now, so Sam is King!

Clearly I was missing some thought process, but I can accept that Daniher was certainly better in 2024 and Luke Jackson possibly also.

Sam is certainly way ahead of where Daniher was at a similar age.

Luke Jackson would seem the only player who could challenge Sam for best forward ruck in 2025 if they both stay fit.

[mjp]

Daniher had a better year than Sam...

Stats aside, that thing he did in the final vs the Giants where he completely flushed a couple of sets shots from the boundary and was the prime mover in a 40+ point come back that resulted a couple of weeks later in a premiership was a pretty big differentiator!!

[mighty_west]

Looking forward to seeing how the young crop develop, it's positive when you see the kids not only play well but be consistent at VFL level, then you know they should be getting close to a call up if an opportunity comes up, Freijah and Sanders looked the goods early on, Buss like Freijah just looks composed and hopefully makes his debut early on in 2025, watched the game on tv v Frankston late last season and Gags looked exciting in the middle so hopefully he can take that next step, Crofty is so damn intriguing, were does he play? Positive signs this pre season before Christmas, dare i say it but could he play on a wing? down back playing a similar role to Blakey or be more of a Jake Lever type? Not sure he'll end up a forward, like his old man starting at CHF before moving to the backline where he made a name for himself.