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“Unfinished business”: Treloar’s desire to go on
The veteran midfielder spoke to Bulldogs Media after re-committing to the Kennel for another season.
By Western Bulldogs Media
Sep 15, 2025, 11:31 am
2024 will be a year fondly remembered by Adam Treloar.
The midfielder himself described it as a career-best season—a statement only further justified by his first-ever selection in the All-Australian team.
Treloar would have entered 2025 full of confidence.
If 2024 was one of his “best years to date,” then 2025 could not have been more of the opposite.
It has been a year of frustration for the beloved Bulldog, who has battled recurring injuries throughout much of the AFL season.
Cruelly, each time a return seemed imminent, another setback would appear.
Injuries saw Treloar go from a 23-game season in 2024 to just four senior appearances in 2025. The time on the sidelines proved challenging—even for someone with all his experience.
“It’s has been a super frustrating year, probably the most challenging year that I’ve had individually,” Treloar said in an interview with Western Bulldogs media.
“I’ve had some tough seasons that I can think of but, I feel like it’s the hardest one that I’ve had.
“To mentally get yourself up to get back out there and play and train—probably more so training, because that’s where I was kind of falling at the last hurdle early days.
“To then get back and play repeatedly and hurt myself, it was very frustrating.”
The repeated setbacks took their toll on Treloar, who at times found himself questioning his desire to continue.
It was only when the 32-year-old took a step back and reflected on his journey that he rediscovered the competitor within.
“There were many times where I felt like ‘I don’t know what’s going on’ or ‘I don’t know how I can keep going through this,’” he said.
“But then the competitor in me—the person inside of me who thinks back to being the kid or the 17-year-old who got drafted...
“If I were to talk to that guy and say ‘I want to just stop,’ he’d be really disappointed.
“There’s so much fire in my belly still.”
While time may have run out on the Bulldogs’ AFL season, Treloar’s return from injury coincided perfectly with Footscray VFL’s deep run into September.
Returning against Carlton VFL with a quiet 40 disposals, Treloar qualified for selection in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL series.
The injury that cruelly sidelined him has, ironically, turned into a great opportunity to end 2025 on a high.
Feeling fresh, fit, and raring to go, Treloar has been at his very best in his three VFL games—averaging 35 possessions, eight clearances, and seven tackles.
Footscray secured their spot in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final with an impressive win over Box Hill in the Preliminary Final.
With a fresh contract now inked, Treloar has the chance to put the challenges of the year behind him and finish on the ultimate high—lifting a trophy for the first time in his 258-game AFL career (or his four-game VFL career).
“I’ve never won a premiership—that’s all forms of footy,” he said.
“I’d be lying to say that I’m not super pumped or excited already.
“To be able to lift any silverware for the footy club would be a great honour... and be known as a Western Bulldogs/Footscray premiership player.”
Footscray take on the Southport Sharks this Sunday at IKON Park.
image.png
“Unfinished business”: Treloar’s desire to go on
The veteran midfielder spoke to Bulldogs Media after re-committing to the Kennel for another season.
By Western Bulldogs Media
Sep 15, 2025, 11:31 am
2024 will be a year fondly remembered by Adam Treloar.
The midfielder himself described it as a career-best season—a statement only further justified by his first-ever selection in the All-Australian team.
Treloar would have entered 2025 full of confidence.
If 2024 was one of his “best years to date,” then 2025 could not have been more of the opposite.
It has been a year of frustration for the beloved Bulldog, who has battled recurring injuries throughout much of the AFL season.
Cruelly, each time a return seemed imminent, another setback would appear.
Injuries saw Treloar go from a 23-game season in 2024 to just four senior appearances in 2025. The time on the sidelines proved challenging—even for someone with all his experience.
“It’s has been a super frustrating year, probably the most challenging year that I’ve had individually,” Treloar said in an interview with Western Bulldogs media.
“I’ve had some tough seasons that I can think of but, I feel like it’s the hardest one that I’ve had.
“To mentally get yourself up to get back out there and play and train—probably more so training, because that’s where I was kind of falling at the last hurdle early days.
“To then get back and play repeatedly and hurt myself, it was very frustrating.”
The repeated setbacks took their toll on Treloar, who at times found himself questioning his desire to continue.
It was only when the 32-year-old took a step back and reflected on his journey that he rediscovered the competitor within.
“There were many times where I felt like ‘I don’t know what’s going on’ or ‘I don’t know how I can keep going through this,’” he said.
“But then the competitor in me—the person inside of me who thinks back to being the kid or the 17-year-old who got drafted...
“If I were to talk to that guy and say ‘I want to just stop,’ he’d be really disappointed.
“There’s so much fire in my belly still.”
While time may have run out on the Bulldogs’ AFL season, Treloar’s return from injury coincided perfectly with Footscray VFL’s deep run into September.
Returning against Carlton VFL with a quiet 40 disposals, Treloar qualified for selection in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL series.
The injury that cruelly sidelined him has, ironically, turned into a great opportunity to end 2025 on a high.
Feeling fresh, fit, and raring to go, Treloar has been at his very best in his three VFL games—averaging 35 possessions, eight clearances, and seven tackles.
Footscray secured their spot in the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final with an impressive win over Box Hill in the Preliminary Final.
With a fresh contract now inked, Treloar has the chance to put the challenges of the year behind him and finish on the ultimate high—lifting a trophy for the first time in his 258-game AFL career (or his four-game VFL career).
“I’ve never won a premiership—that’s all forms of footy,” he said.
“I’d be lying to say that I’m not super pumped or excited already.
“To be able to lift any silverware for the footy club would be a great honour... and be known as a Western Bulldogs/Footscray premiership player.”
Footscray take on the Southport Sharks this Sunday at IKON Park.
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