2022 was an indifferent season for the Western Bulldogs after reaching the Grand Final the year before.
Never at any point did the side find any consistent form despite securing a finals spot after Collingwood edged out Carlton on the final day of the home and away season.
Despite their up-and-down form, the Bulldogs dared to dream of another run as they did during their drought-breaking 2016 premiership campaign. And it was looking to be heading that way in the opening week of finals.
Racing out to a 41-point lead early in the second quarter, a place in the semi-final was all but a guarantee. However, the Bulldogs' plans suddenly came to a halt and steadily evaporated, and with it their finals dream came to an end.
Attention turns to a brand new campaign and a chance to rectify areas requiring tinkering to match it with the top teams.
The Bulldogs have the list to challenge for a top-four spot, with the question being can they beat the top teams and prove their potential?
Let's take a look at how each section of the side's backline, midfield and forward setup will fare on paper.
Ins:
Oskar Baker (pre-season supplemental selection period), Jedd Busslinger (No.13 draft pick), Charlie Clarke (No.24 draft pick), Harvey Gallagher (No.39 draft pick), Liam Jones (free agent), Rory Lobb (trade, Fremantle)
Outs:
Louis Butler (delisted), Zaine Cordy (free agent, St Kilda), Josh Dunkley (Brisbane), Lachie Hunter (trade, Melbourne), Stefan Martin (retired), Charlie Parker (delisted), Josh Schache (trade, Melbourne), Mitch Wallis (delisted)
Defenders
If you are to stack the Bulldogs' back six on paper against the other 17 teams, it's solid without totally being elite. The return of Liam Jones back to Whitten Oval will add an intercepting marking option that the side lacked against the opposition's elite forwards. His career turnaround in the second half of 2017 was one no one saw coming after not fully cementing a place as a forward at either the Dogs or Blues.
Alex Keath will be given the mantle of stopping the opposition's number-one forward, with Ryan Gardner most likely to play on the opposition's second-best forward. Height amongst its key defenders is glaring compared to the likes of Geelong and Sydney. It's going to be important that Keath, Jones and Gardner hold the mantle in defence, otherwise opposition scoring will be a constant issue.
At various stages last season, the Bulldogs couldn't contain teams, giving up 100 points on five occasions, including consecutive rounds against Brisbane and Sydney. Whilst its backline has weaknesses, the ranks of their half-backs is strong, one the Bulldogs seek to bring into games.
Bailey Dale, who has gotten better each season as an important barometer for the way the side seeks to use his elite kicking skills. He rarely misses targets by foot and his drive is crucial to the side's counterattacking play. Teams began paying more attention to the 26-year-old as 2022 went by.
A player similar to Dale in terms of his kicking skills is Caleb Daniel. He is an important architect to the Bulldogs' back six with the South Australian's precision-like kicks a feature in his game. His contributions again are going to be significant, as are Ed Richards and Bailey Williams, who each had solid 2022 campaigns.
The lingering question which will remain is can the back six stem the bleeding when the opposition gets a run-on?
Midfielders
For roughly around four seasons, the Western Bulldogs midfield brigade has always been there as one of the best in the league. Although it lost club best and fairest Josh Dunkley to Brisbane and Lachie Hunter to Melbourne, the red, white, and blue still have plenty of depth running around in the engine room.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli, one of the elite players in the game, oozes class with his poise and calmness in traffic, setting the tone for his teammates.
The four-time All-Australian doesn't need to have 30 disposals each game to cut the opposition to ribbons. His influence out on the field is going to be paramount once again when it comes to tight contests.
Tom Liberatore provides the battering grunt right in the heart of the coalface, which was on full display last season. Never afraid to put his body on the line, Liberatore averaged 24.7 disposals and 7.2 clearances, including five games of 10 or more clearances. His underlying importance will be important in generating the side's first use of the ball.
Every team has a different dimension to its midfield blend and Jack Macrae is one of them. Since his breakout second season, the endurance specialist keeps accumulating the football on a string. His ability to get leather poisoning is something that can't be taught. Macrae's poise in delivering the ball to its forwards is an area the Bulldogs consistently aim to use when entering forward 50.
Complementing the midfield spine is Adam Treloar and Bailey Smith. When given space they are damaging by foot and their metres gained numbers are an area that determines whether the Bulldogs are going to be successful or not. Late last season, the Bulldogs put Treloar at half-back to give the side extra dash. Whether Coach Luke Beveridge at times this season opts for Treloar to play down back remains to be seen.
Heading into his fifith season, Smith has shown why he is one of the best young midfielders in the game. With his flying mullet and ability to break lines from contests, he will be an important asset to the Dogs' midfield come the club's season opener on March 18 against Melbourne.
Complementing the side's midfield nucleus is West Australian ruckman Tim English. Despite missing Rounds 6-10 with a hamstring injury and Rounds 15 and 16 with concussion symptoms, the athletic 25-year-old still had a terrific campaign. His best outings came against Carlton, Sydney, and Melbourne with his ability to play as an extra midfielder, taking the pressure off Bontempelli, Liberatore, Smith, Macrae and Treloar.
The Bulldogs will be hoping he continues to further ascend, already showing he can match it with the best ruckmen in the league.
Forwards
During the trade period, the side secured wantaway Docker Rory Lobb to its forward stocks. The 206cm giant had a career-best year in 2022, kicking 36 goals to take home the club's goalkicking award. Lobb's acquisition gives the Bulldogs another dimension, with the 29-year-old to play an important role in complementing Aaron Naughton.
Speaking of Naughton, the West Australian is coming off a brilliant year after kicking 51 majors, including two five-goal hauls against North Melbourne and GWS. He also had three four-goal outings against Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Geelong. His underlying importance to the team's key forward stocks is paramount with his ability to take a soaring pack mark and excellent agility at ground level, standing at 195 cm.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is starting to find his feet at the elite level after being taken first overall in the 2020 draft. The back end of 2022 saw his true potential, booting 11 goals from Rounds 17-20, including a breakout five-goal match-winning performance against Melbourne. If he can replicate that form and carry it into this season, then opposition defences will be exploited quickly.
At ground level, Cody Weightman is moulding himself into one of the league's up-and-coming small forwards with his excellent goal sense and ability to take a solid lead-up mark - similar to Eddie Betts. Weightman finished with 36 majors in 2022, including 24 in the second half of the season. With the Bulldogs light on crafty smalls, Weightman again is going to be an important factor in regularly hitting the scoreboard.
Best 23
FB: Ryan Gardner, Liam Jones, Caleb Daniel
HB: Ed Richards, Alex Keath, Bailey Dale
C: Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae, Adam Treloar
HF: Rhylee West, Rory Lobb, Toby McLean
FF: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Cody Weightman
FO: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore
I/C: Sam Darcy, Jason Johannisen, Bailey Williams, Taylor Duryea
SUB: Anthony Scott
EMERG: Riley Garcia, Hayden Crozier, Oskar Baker
