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Much like St Kilda in Tuesday’s preview, Western Bulldogs fans have long been starved of success.
The main difference is that while the Saints have played in a few grand finals over the last 20 years, it’s been more than 50 years since the Dogs have even reached the big dance. To put this in perspective, Richmond, the biggest finals-starved laughing stock of the last three decades, has won five premierships since then.
Historically, when the Dogs are very good, they find a couple better, and when they’re bad, they don’t often prop up the ladder. We might be about to see a season when they do.
» Read the rest of Cam’s AFL preview series
The Bulldogs actually rose one spot up the ladder last season, despite a decrease in wins and percentage from 2013. They were undergoing a rebuild that apparently wasn’t happening swiftly enough for the fans, or in the manner that the senior players liked.
The tail wagged the Dogs, and coach Brendan McCartney was sacked. Skipper Ryan Griffen wanted out. Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins took up free agency. This was a club in disarray.
With his Geelong connections from 11 years and two premierships under Mark Thompson, McCartney had brought across Matthew Scarlett, Cam Mooney, Joel Corey and Steven King as assistant coaches.
Who would you place more stock in – the opinions of a generation of Bulldogs players cloaked in mediocrity and never ruthless enough to compete on the last Saturday in September, or a cavalcade of personnel from one of the greatest and most dominant teams of all time? I’ll let you decide.
Nevertheless, the new future is here for the Dogs. Let’s see what their season in 2015 holds.
Best squad
B: D.Morris, J.Roughead, L.Picken
HB: R.Murphy, J.Hamling, E.Wood
C: J.Macrae, T.Liberatore, M.Bontempelli
HF: L.Dahlhaus, S.Crameri, N.Hrovat
F: C.Daniel, T.Boyd, J.Stringer
Foll: W.Minson, M.Boyd, M.Wallis
Int: L.Jong, L.Hunter, S.Biggs, K.Stevens
Em: T.Dickson, J.Redpath, J.Johannisen
The first stand-out here is the big gaps at centre half-forward and centre half-back.
Joel Hamling, recruited from Geelong where he spent three years on the list and never played a senior game, is the nominal man for the key defensive post. Stewart Crameri, who should only ever be a third or fourth tall or medium forward, may be forced into the main lead-up role in a small forward-line, which can work well given quick, confident and skilful ball movement – something for which the Dogs are not renowned.
No doubt new coach Luke Beveridge will be hoping one of Jack Redpath, Ayce Cordy or Tom Campbell has taken their game to a new level to demand a key forward spot, and also allowing some ruck relief for Will Minson.
The Bulldogs have a lot of mid-size or in-between players like Crameri. Dale Morris is another, while Bob Murphy, the new captain, has displayed great skill playing a number of roles but has never really settled into any. Jake Stringer has presence, talent and football smarts, but is also an awkward size.
Also similar to the Saints, there is a huge gap of missing players in the prime 23 to 29 age group. This was exacerbated post 2014 when bona fide gun Griffen (28), Brownlow medallist Cooney (29) and classy utility Higgins (27) all departed.
Callan Ward (24), arguably a top 10 midfielder in the competition, was annexed by Greater Western Sydney for their start-up team. Likewise Jarrod Harbrow (26) to the Gold Coast Suns.
In addition to the names mentioned, there are up to another dozen top 40 draft picks over the last decade either no longer at the club, or struggling to command a senior game. It’s into this abyss that the Bulldogs list has fallen.
But, started by McCartney, the Dogs have been building up youthful depth through the midfield for a few years now, and there is plenty to like from what we’ve seen so far. The inside bodies are being complemented by some outside run and skill.
But, the Dogs are still too young for consistent football, still too limited down back, and will still find it difficult to kick winning scores this year. A sharp rise can be hoped for at some point in the coming seasons, but not 2015.
Predicted ladder spread: 15th-18th
Predicted finish: 17th