Dogs great urges Wallis to look elsewhere

Having not played since Round 2, is it time the 28-year-old begins to consider his future at Whitten Oval?

EDITOR | May 30, 2021 - 1:42pm

Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson believes utility Mitch Wallis' time at the Kennel is coming to a close given the extensive line of players that are currently favoured for selection.

Wallis featured in the Dogs' opening two games of this season and was dropped ahead of the club's Round 3 clash with the Kangaroos after a goalless start to his campaign.

The Bulldogs' vice-captain has since flourished in the VFL with Footscray but has is yet to return to the Luke Beveridge's side despite numerous weekly changes to the senior side's selection planning.

The 28-year-old remains off-contract this season and has had his name brought up as a consideration for the Bombers and Suns by media personalities in the past.

Now, Johnson believes that Wallis should be beginning to consider his options elsewhere from 2022 as he remains on the outer of selection under Beveridge.

“Mitch has fought through scenarios like this in the past, but I think where we’re at at the moment is there seems like there’s five or six players that are in front of Mitch in terms of selection week-in, week-out,” Johnson said Fox Footy's Saturday Stretch.

“Some are younger and developing in the game … and they’ve brought Mitch Hannan in who seems to be playing in front of Wallis at the moment as well.

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)

“On the back of all that, if he wants to play consistent senior football, I’m not sure whether that’s going to be at the Western Bulldogs in the future.

“(It’d be a) really tough decision … but he’s just not in the selection mind at the moment of Luke Beveridge with others around. It might be time to play senior football elsewhere.”

Wallis sits among a host of Bulldogs players fighting for selection, with the club pressing their premiership contention with a 9-2 start to the season.

The Dogs have unveiled five debutants in 2021, including Anthony Scott, Buku Khamis, Lachlan McNeil, Jordon Sweet and more recently, Riley Garcia.

Defender Jason Johannisen was also out of the frame for selection in the early stages of this season but has since regained his place in the 22.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Jason Johannisen of the Bulldogs in action during the 2017 AFL round 19 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium on July 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Young midfielder Patrick Lipinski is another Bulldog who has dominated in the reserves this year but has found himself dropped from Beveridge's side throughout 2021.