The Western Bulldogs have confirmed Dominic Bedendo and Kelsey Rypstra have not been offered contracts for the 2025 AFL season.
It means Rypstra, a small forward, will leave the Bulldogs without ever taking to the field for an AFL game after being recruited in this year's mid-season rookie draft from North Adelaide in the SANFL.
The 20-year-old suffered a hamstring in the VFL and wasn't able to recover sufficiently to push his claims for an AFL game with the Bulldogs.
His hamstring injury this year combines with a broken leg suffered last year which have seen him struggle to remain a constant presence on the field, despite impressing during his time in the SANFL.
Bedendo, able to play in the forward line or on the wing, on the other hand, was taken at pick 55 in the 2020 AFL draft by the Bulldogs and has spent the last four seasons with the club, playing two AFL games in 2022, but otherwise only featuring at reserve level.
"Dom has made a significantly positive impact in his time at the Club and represented the Bulldogs with distinction at the highest level,โ the Bulldogs' general manager of list and recruiting Sam Power said in a statement confirming the news.
โUnfortunately Kelsey was unable to build continuity due to injury but we appreciate all of his efforts in his short time with us.
"We wish both players all the best for the future and they will always be welcome at Mission Whitten Oval."
The Bulldogs finished sixth in the regular season, and had their season brought to an end on Friday evening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after being beaten by the Hawthorn Hawks to the tune of 37 points.
