When Alex Rance missed the Richmond Tigers' 2019 premiership triumph, coach Damien Hardwick infamously likened his return to having "the number one draft pick".
The Bulldogs find themselves in a similar place. A healthy Sam Darcy has looked every bit the generational unicorn his boyhood club had him earmarked as, and when he returns from his latest setback, he will lift his team's floor and its ceiling, drastically.
Who then are some pieces the club can bring in to maximise the window in which Sam Darcy and living legend Marcus Bontempelli ply their trades together?
Those two, and the stellar auxiliary pieces around them (Ed Richards, Aaron Naughton, and the like) have the midfield and the front half as well stocked as any side in the competition. It's the backline that has needed work, and that still rings true now.
Who are some targets firmly in the sights of Luke Beveridge, Sam Power and co? And who are some that should be? Take a look!
Charlie Ballard
As reported on Zero Hanger's Six Points podcast on Monday morning, the Western Bulldogs are "knee-deep" in the race for the 27-year-old defender's services.
The Sun is contracted to the Glitter Strip until the end of 2029, but has been in and out of the senior side as Damien Hardwick's charges fail to replicate the magic of their maiden finals appearance in 2025 - a season Ballard missed after rupturing his ACL.
He presents as a pivotal piece of a backline in dire need of shoring up, especially if Buku Khamis heads for the exits, as is tipped.
A solid AFL contributor, but hardly a superstar, Ballard would not command an extensive bounty of draft picks if he were to request a move to the Whitten Oval.
