The Western Bulldogs are accustomed to punching above their weight, and if last season is any indication, they may be faced with David versus Goliath scenarios on a regular basis in 2013.
Losing influential senior players to retirement over recent years has sparked a transitional phase for the Dogs, causing a significant drop-off in performance.
They lost 11 consecutive games by an average of 59 points in the second half of 2012, finishing 15th with five wins and 17 defeats. Yet it is the Bulldogs’ victories that paint an equally revealing picture as their blemishes.
Beating Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide, the Dogs only claimed one victory against a side above the bottom five positions. The unwanted record highlights their place in the AFL pecking order.
A heavy reliance on midfielders Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffin to carry the Bulldogs’ engine room seems unlikely to change in the interim. The Bulldogs central group deserve credit for a colossal effort in 2012, pushing the Dogs’ into the top bracket for total disposals (third), clearances (fifth) and disposal efficiency (equal seventh).
Continued development from Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis is vital to support the aforementioned trio, particularly while top draft picks Jake Stringer and Jackson Macrae are eased into senior football.
An area of real concern is in the key position stocks at both ends. Brian Lake’s defection to Hawthorn will thrust added responsibility on Dale Morris amongst a crop of inexperienced defenders, and the forward line contains a similar conundrum.
The Dogs were 16th for average points and 18th for scoring percentage from inside 50s (42.5%) last year. Tall options Liam Jones, Jordan Roughead and Ayce Cordy all struggled to contribute goals and that needs to change if the Bulldogs are any chance of kicking winning scores consistently.
Key Player: Adam Cooney
The 2008 Brownlow medalist has sparingly replicated the form that bestowed him the league’s highest individual honour, largely due to a degenerative knee problem.
At his brilliant best, Cooney possesses deadly skills, a sharp turn of pace and elite goal-kicking capabilities from midfield.
The Bulldogs desperately need the 27-year-old to re-establish himself as one of the AFL’s most damaging players, and there are signs to suggest those prayers will be answered. Cooney racked up 57 possessions and two goals in the final two fixtures of 2012, and has since received revolutionary knee surgery in Germany. The successful treatment has enabled him to experience a relatively pain-free pre-season.
The return of ‘classic’ Adam Cooney would be a wonderful sight for football purists and a huge boost in the skill and leadership department for the Bulldogs.
Circle it on the calendar: Round 14, Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
In a season that is highly unlikely to reap tangible rewards, overcoming an arch-rival can become a specific and achievable goal. Yet in the case of the Western Bulldogs, it’s difficult to pinpoint an obvious and bitter nemesis.
Remarkably for a Melbourne-based club, the Bulldogs only play one game at the MCG in 2013. That clash against fellow strugglers Melbourne presents as one of very few genuine winning opportunities, and a game in which the Dogs can stake a claim for more action at the home of football.
2013 Prediction: 16th – 18th
It could be a long season ahead for the Western Bulldogs. Simply, their list lacks depth and elite talent. Arguably only Boyd, Cooney, Griffin and Robert Murphy can be considered in the league’s top echelon. Patient development of highly credentialed youngsters, particularly in key positions, shapes a primary focus for second-year coach Brendan McCartney.
The fixture hasn’t been too kind to them either. They play Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Port Adelaide just once each. Those matches could be the difference between bottom two or pushing to escape the bottom four.
It may be painful now, but the Bulldogs have to look at the bigger long-term picture.
Paul Bastin is a third-year Bachelor of Media Studies student at La Trobe University and upstart’s sports editor. You can follow him on Twitter: @PaulBastin10
