The Western Bulldogs finished 2025 with 14 wins and a whopping percentage of over 137 - both of which were records for a non-finals playing side.
On paper, the Dogs boast one of the most complete lists in the competition: a forward line spearheaded by Sam Darcy and Aaron Naughton, a midfield featuring Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards, and a backline sparked by the line-breaking Bailey Dale.
Yet, despite being a dangerous side chock-full of star power at the top, the Dogs' depth, defensive capabilities and consistency were a step below the top eight and ultimately saw them miss September despite averaging over 16 goals per game, becoming the first club to achieve that scoring feat since Adelaide in 2016.
So, what should Dogs fans expect from the playing group in 2026? Here's the best 23 that might run out in the tricolours this season…
Midfielders
Across the centreline, Beveridge has a plethora of talent at his disposal, but a similar engine room to 2025 will likely take shape.
At full health, Adam Treloar is an immediate inclusion, while there's no doubt All-Australians Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli will find themselves in the heat of the contest weekly.
The ever-versatile Matthew Kennedy can be inserted when needed or injected up forward as a dynamic connector option, while Tom Liberatore's hard-nosed abilities will add a level of grit to an already enticing midfield mix.
Ryley Sanders will also be pushing for selection to start in the centre square following a breakout 2025 campaign where he established himself in the Dogs' senior side, though he'll likely start on the bench rather than in the centre square in the early stages of the year.
The ruckman of choice will undoubtedly be Tim English, whose elite ball-winning and marking are important assets that complement his ruck work well. The durable and underrated tall is currently in his prime, and the Dogs need another strong campaign from him, given the lack of proven ruck depth at the club.
