The Western Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 2021 campaign that was soured by a late fade-out in last year's Grand Final to Melbourne.ย
The Doggies sat in the top two for most of the season before losing the last three games of the regular season to finish outside of the top four.ย
The side rallied in the finals to win three weeks in a row to earn a spot in the Grand Final, before their demise to Melbourne in the big dance.ย
Star players in Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae had quality seasons, whilst the continual emergence of Bailey Smith, especially in finals, has been one that has impressed in the past season.ย
Luke Beveridge has a strong, star-studded lineup at his disposal that is expected to be premiership contenders once again, and will look to kick off their 2022 campaign with a redeeming win over rivals Melbourne at the MCG tonight.ย
With their premiership window still wide open, can the Doggies pounce on the opportunity? Only time will tell.ย
Ins: Sam Darcy [National Draft], Tim O'Brien [Hawthorn], Charlie Parker [Rookie Draft], Robbie McComb [Rookie Draft], Luke Cleary [National Draft], Arthur Jones [National Draft]
Outs: Easton Wood [retired], Patrick Lipinski [Collingwood], Lewis Young [Carlton], Lin Jong [retired], Will Hayes [delisted], Ben Cavarra [delisted]
Strengthsย
Star midfield: The Bulldogs hold one of the best midfield units in the entire competition. With the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith and Lachie Hunter running the engine room, it's a scary sight for the opposition.
Macrae is a ball-magnet and can win it on the inside and outside, collecting an average of 33.9 disposals per game, a career-high for the 27-year old.
Bontempelli is a star and has firepower both in the middle and down forward, averaging a career-high 26.7 disposals and 31 goals in 2021. Similar same can be said about Adam Treloar, Bailey Smith and Josh Dunkley as goal-kicking midfielders.
Look out for the Bulldogs to have one of the most potent and dynamic midfields again in 2022.
Experience:ย There is a host of experience down at Whitten Oval that have played in big finals, including the 2016 premiership, with eight players lining up in tonight's season opener that featured in their drought-breaking flag win.
The Dogs are in a good position list wise, with the average age of the list being 25 years old which is the fourth oldest list in the competition, and have a good balance of youth coming through with the experienced players.
Younger players such as Bailey Smithย and Cody Weightman, who both experienced a deep finals run last year, will only help the team moving forward in 2022 as they now know what the occasion is like, and can mount another attack on the premiership this season.
