Last Season
After winning the premiership and not making the finals the next year, it's easy to say that their season was a failure. In a season that was ridiculed by injuries, the hunger that saw them win the flag in 2016 was far too inconsistent in 2017.
The premiership defence was in full swing as the Dogs won five of their first seven games of the season. In this run however, they were everything but convincing, struggling to put away North Melbourne and Brisbane, while they were able to beat eventual finalists Sydney and Richmond.
The next eight games saw the Dogs lose six and only win two as the wheels looked like they were falling off in the premiership defence. After a four-game winning streak, to leave the Dogs at 11-8, there hopes of making it into September was dashed, with losses to GWS, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn to end the season.
One of the biggest problems for the Bulldogs last year was their inefficiency in the forward line. The recruitment of Travis Cloke was a bust, while Tom Boyd struggled to show even a glimpse of the form that he showed on grand final day in 2016. Stewart Crameri and Tory Dickson were way too inconsistent, while the form, fitness and attitude shown by Jake Stringer eventually led to him being shown the door come trade period.
The Dogs were in the bottom four for scoring last year, while their tackle count dropped from the 5th best in the competition to the 10th best. In order to combat this, key midfielders had to spend time down forward, which resulted in a dramatic drop in their clearance numbers, which was a strong asset in 2016 for the Bulldogs.
Off Season Grade
In: Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier, Josh Schache, Aaron Naughton (Pick 9), Ed Richards (Pick 6), Callum Porter (Pick 74)
Out: Jake Stringer, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy, Travis Cloke, Stewart Crameri
Off season Grade: B+
Former number two draft pick Josh Schache comes to the Kennel with high hopes he can drastically improve a poor forward line last year. Along with Jackson Trengove, who can either play back, forward or even ruck, they both should add a different dimension to the Dogs. Hayden Crozier, a long time target for the Dogs arrives in a bid to aid the forward line. Jake Stringer is a big loss for the Dogs considering the form he is capable of, but considering his attitude and motivation last year along with his form, maybe a move for both parties was beneficial.
Defining Period
The bulldogs have a pretty fovourable draw this season. They play three of their first four games at Etihad Stadium, where they also get to play two games at their new adopted home in Ballarat. They get to play four games on Friday night while also playing double up games against Carlton and North Melbourne. In a surprising move by the AFL, the Dogs were stripped of playing on Good Friday after only one year.
Before the bye this season, the Bulldogs only have to play outside of Victoria three times. They travel to Canberra in a match against traditional rivals GWS, whilst also travelling to Perth to face Fremantle and and Adelaide to play the Crows. Other then that they will play their remaining games at Etihad Stadium. Within this stretch pre the bye, the Dogs have winnable games against West Coast, Fremantle, Carlton, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Collingwood. If they can be 6-5 or even 7-5 going into the last 11 games of the season, finals may be on the horizon.
Round 1 GWS Giants, UNSW Canberra Oval (Away)
Round 2 West Coast Eagles, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Round 3 Essendon, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Round 4 Sydney Swans, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Round 5 Fremantle, Perth Stadium (Away)
Round 6 Carlton, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Round 7 Gold Coast, Mars Stadium (Home)
Round 8 Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Round 9 Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Oval (Away)
Round 10 Collingwood, Etihad Stadium (Away)
Round 11 Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (Home)
Champion Data Suggests...
Champion Data suggests that the drop off last year started with the dip in form from their top 10 players. Nine of their top 10 players were down on their 2016 form. Only Mitch Wallis increased his output. Champion Data also highlights the dip in key statistical measures that the Bulldogs prided themselves on in 2016. Their kicking differential, handball differential, disposal differential, contested possession differential, time in forward half, inside 50 differential, goals per inside 50 and shot at goal kick rating were all down. Bulldogs ability to trap the ball in their forward line was significantly less while there forwards didn't deliver.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths: The Bulldogs' strength lies within their players aged in between 21-24. They have eight players within this age bracket, but more importantly the quality of this ranks 6th best in the league. In the midfield, they have eight players, with seven of them qualifying for relative rating. Six of these players are rated positively with Lin Jong breaking even. Marcus Bontempelli, Toby McLean, Caleb Daniel, and Lachie Hunter all rank in the top 35 percent of there age bracket and position, while Bailey Dale and Jack McCrae both rank as average but have a positive rating.
Overall, they have a pretty good list. Champion Data ranks the Bulldogs' general defenders as the 3rd best in the league, whilst also ranking their mid-forwards and midfielders as the 4th best in the league. The Dogs will be heavily relying on their small to medium size players to help them propel back up the ladder. A similar tactic to the way Richmond played last year could be on the cards.
Weaknesses: The Bulldogs forward line was very weak and powerless last season. Liam Picken and Jake Stringer were the leading goal kicker with 24, the lowest tally by any club in 2017 and the lowest for the Bulldogs since 1989. They have lost Stringer, delisted Crameri and Cloke has retired. They have brought in Josh Schache, to add a focal point to the forward line, however he is still yet to blossom into a key forward. The Dogs will be desperately hoping he can perform and show his potential that he showed as a junior.
Bulldogs' high conversion rate from forward 50 entries were the highlight in 2016, but their lowlight in 2017. The Dogs were ranked 18th in the competition for goals per inside 50 and 18th for shot on goal rating.
The Bulldogs' inability to win a one on one contest is also a massive weakness hence the recruitment of defender Jackson Trengove. In defensive one-on-one contests, the Bulldogs have the second worse mark loss percentage, and the worst mark win percentage.
Prediction
11th
Can Luke Beveridge replicate his 2016 form? He has the quality players but do they still have the drive and commitment needed to succeed. With Marcus Adams returning in defence, alongside new recruit Jackson Trengove, a formidable defence could be formed. The emergence of key defence prospect Lewis Young alongside Easton Wood, Shane Biggs and Dale Morris could mean the Dogs will be hard to score against this season. Jack Macrae, Mitch Wallis and Lachie Hunter are vital to the teams chances to help shoulder the load off Marcus Bontempelli. Josh Schache will add another dimension alongside their small forward brigade spearheaded by Picken and Daniel. If Jason Johannisen can overcome a tag, he could go to the next level.
We have them finishing in 11th, but anywhere between 8th and 12th could be decided by a win or two.
Previous: Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Carlton, North Melbourne, Fremantle, Collingwood, Hawthorn, St Kilda
