AFL trade news: Two Victorian clubs linked to Dogs midfielder

The Bulldogs are understood to have tabled an offer to the 23-year-old however.

EDITOR | August 24, 2021 - 2:50pm

Interest from Carlton and Collingwood is set to play in the mind of Western Bulldogs midfielder Patrick Lipinski as he weighs up a contract extension tabled by the Dogs.

According to AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey, Lipinski has been offered a three-year deal to remain at Whitten Oval until the end of the 2024 season.

Lipinski has played 56 games in the red, white and blue since making his debut in 2017 and has found opportunities in 2021 hard to come by.

Despite stellar numbers in the VFL with Footscray, Lipinski has managed 11 appearances for Luke Beveridge's side this year - two of which have come as an unused medical sub.

Despite his place in the Bulldogs' midfield pecking order, the club are keen to retain the former Northern Knight on a new deal.

Both Carlton and Collingwood are reported to have shown interest in Lipinski, who followed the Bulldogs as a kid.

Speaking on SEN this week, reporter Sam Edmund tipped Lipinski to depart the Bulldogs at season's end.

“Pat Lipinski will leave the Dogs, but at the moment it’s hard to find a home for him right now and a lot of clubs are unsure," Edmund said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Patrick Lipinski of the Bulldogs celebrates during the 2019 AFL round 19 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium on July 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He’s too good for the VFL, but is he good enough for the AFL? Does he sit in that awkward sweet spot if you like, he uses it well but does he have the leg speed?

“That’s the other thing right now, speed is everything, every list manager you speak to, no one wants a player who doesn’t have speed, who can’t cover the ground, speed is an absolute priority right now and if you don’t have it, it’s hard to find a suitor for them.”

Lipinski joins a short list of Bulldogs unsigned past this season after a strong retention drive by the club in 2021, with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Ed Richards, Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Anthony Scott among others to recently ink new deals.

Bulldogs vice-captain Mitch Wallis is one of several players at the kennel yet to recommit to the club past this year, with the 28-year-old playing just six games in 2021.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: Mitch Wallis of the Bulldogs (right) thanks fans with Lachie Hunter of the Bulldogs during the 2018 AFL round 23 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“Mitch Wallis has been frozen out of the Dogs and we know that," Edmund added.

“I’m hearing it actually might’ve really strained some relationships there at Whitten Oval between player and coach when it comes to Mitch Wallis, who is the vice-captain, who has been completely shut out of the Dogs this year.”

The Bulldogs will face Essendon on Sunday at the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston at 3:20pm, with the winner facing the loser of Melbourne vs Brisbane.