Five Things We Learned - Game 1 & 2 vs Hawthorn

At this time of year, we’re always told that it’s only pre-season, that you shouldn’t get too carried away with one performance, and that there is a long way to go before the season is done.

But we say nuts to that! We want to take away as much as possible as quickly as we can!

Even though it’s the first hitout of the season, the Western Bulldogs pre-season campaign did get underway against Hawthorn last Friday, with the club spreading out the squad across two games, winning both of them.

There was a lot to assess and unpack out of the two games, and here were the five key things that we noticed over the two games.

1. Ryley’s Ready

Had you asked around the crowd pre-game which Bulldogs players fans were most looking forward to seeing on Friday, Ryley Sanders would’ve surely featured in most people’s top three.

The prized recruit - taken at Pick 6 in last year’s draft - has impressed those close to the club almost from the moment he walked through the doors, and his pre-season has been so strong that he’s been in the frame for a Round 1 debut ever since/

Any doubts about Sanders making his debut on the MCG in a few weeks from now were very quickly dissipated, as he wasted little time in demonstrating his class through the midfield on Friday, being involved in the very first centre clearance of the day, and picking up eight disposals in the opening term alone.

Despite a wealth of class and experience around him, Sanders was trusted with the responsibility of featuring in many of the centre bounce combinations throughout the day and was regularly involved in chains that led to both Bulldogs clearances and goals.

Although Sanders’ stats at the end of the day read 25 disposals and eight tackles, the highlight of his day did come in the opening term, where he received a handpass at half-forward before charging towards goal and finishing on the run from outside 50. Once he made his mind up that he was going to go for home, he never looked like missing. The move demonstrated all the composure and skill of a player who has already amassed over 100 games. A fit Sanders is not only a certainty to play Round 1, but will also be one of the favourites for the Rising Star.

Ryley Sanders demonstrated skill and maturity beyond his years, and will surely play Round 1. Source: Getty Images

2. Darcy’s Decided

Bulldogs fans have had to be very patient with Sam Darcy since he arrived at the end of 2021. Still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot when he arrived, he’s since had to deal with numerous untimely injuries, including a fractured jaw, internal bleeding in his quad, and even spent time on the sidelines due to a hole in his lung. All up, it’s amounted to just seven appearances at AFL level, with Bulldogs fans largely reduced to salivating over some promising VFL performances in between all of those injuries.

If Friday is anything to go by, however, things could be about to take a turn for the better for Darcy in 2024.

Often alternating between playing as the third tall forward and the floating intercept defender in his first two seasons at the Bulldogs, it seems that the club have made the call to use him to score goals rather than save them.

Admittedly, Hawthorn’s defensive stocks have taken a bit of a hit in recent weeks, so you can anticipate Darcy facing sterner defensive tests as the season unfolds, but he made every post a winner on Friday, as he dominated in the forward half of the ground.

Alternating with Rory Lobb in that forward-ruck role, Darcy showed just what he is capable of at the level. Over the day, he collected 16 disposals, nine hitouts, four marks and booted 3.1 when he was up forward. He wasn’t at his absolute best aerially (he did drop a few marks inside 50), but he wasn’t out of the contest when the ball hit the ground either. One such instance came in the first term, where he dropped a mark close to goal, but followed up to lay a tackle, and was rewarded with the free kick. It was one of five tackles from him for the day. 

It will be a good test to see if Darcy can back things up against the Hawks in Tasmania this weekend, but another good showing there, and it’s hard to see him missing Round 1.

Sam Darcy impressed up forward for the Bulldogs on Friday, kicking three goals. Source: Getty Images

3. Small Forward Showdown

Every year there’s normally one player that spends the entire summer sitting well outside of everyone’s Best 22 predictions, but suddenly storms back into calculations after a strong performance in the first pre-season match.

This year, that player is Lachie McNeil.

A player that has often been right on the cusp of the Bulldogs senior side but has never quite established himself as a first-team regular, McNeil has played 13, 16, and 13 games in his three seasons at the club. However, last year was a particular struggle for him, either being subbed on or off in nine of the 13 games he played, giving him minimal opportunity to impress enough in the few minutes of game time he was being afforded.

But with a full match to impress on Friday, McNeil made the most of his chance. Used as the main crumbing forward in Game 1, McNeil proved to be too slippery for the Hawthorn defence, kicking four goals - more than anyone else on the ground. It was a good reminder to all of the value that McNeil can add to the side because there is a reason he’s been right on the edge of becoming a regular first-team player for three years now, but the lack of game time has hurt his chances of showing his wares - of the 13 games he played last year, he spent last than 25% of the match on the ground in six of those.

But McNeil wasn’t the only small forward to demonstrate his prowess on Friday.

In Game 2, the Bulldogs rolled out a host of regular starters, including Cody Weightman. Whether by choice or as a consequence of the lack of alternatives, Weightman was regularly used as part of the centre bounce combinations throughout the day and was involved in several centre clearances, combining to great effect with both All-Australian ruckman Tim English, and recent draftee Lachie Smith. 

The move of Weightman into the centre was floated this time last year as well, but outside of a successful late cameo against Carlton in Round 9, Luke Beveridge rarely utilised Weightman in this manner. Weightman’s contributions didn’t end in the middle, either, as he also floated forward and managed to score a couple of goals, and was his lively self whenever he did get near the ball inside 50.

The other small forward that had an impact was Charlie Clarke. Despite playing most games in the VFL last year, he wasn’t someone who ever looked like coming close to making his debut at AFL level, kicking just 13.13 in 20 games. However, he looked very lively in Game 2 on Friday, particularly in the first half, kicking two goals and proving himself to be a real menace up forward, including one effort where he recovered the ball on the goal line, before stepping around the defender to kick his second of the day. 

Clarke’s performance might not be quite enough for a Round 1 debut, but it’s a good indication of the competition among the small forwards. Luke Beveridge has some decisions to make about who will be working alongside Cody Weightman as part of the small-forward setup.

Lachie McNeil's four-goal performance puts him in the frame for Round 1 berth. Source: Getty Images

4. Daniel Pratt’s New-Look Defence

Much has been made of the Bulldogs’ defence over the past couple of seasons and whether it is strong enough to hold up in finals. Consequently, the arrival of Daniel Pratt as the club’s new backline coach was always going to be met with much intrigue, as was the system that he sought to implement when he arrived at the club.

Admittedly, it’s only one pre-season match, and there are numerous factors that need to be considered when assessing its success (or lack of), but there were some interesting changes to take note of.

Firstly, for most of the afternoon, the Bulldogs starting defence at the centre bounce was set up in what can only be described as a 2-2-2 formation, which, when broken down resembled two key defenders (often Liam Jones and Ryan Gardner), two third-tall defenders that were set up to intercept the ball (Buku Khamis and Nick Coffield) and then two small-to-mid-sized defenders (Jason Johannisen and Luke Cleary). While this wasn’t the starting back six for the whole game, this is the set-up for the majority of the match.

On the surface, it’s a very attacking setup, with most of those players naturally more interested in winning the ball and setting up plays from half-back rather than worrying too much about their direct opponent, with Ryan Gardner the key exception among those aforementioned players.

As far as their responsibilities were, the two key defenders (Jones and Gardner), were focused solely on keeping their direct opponents in check. Jones kept Mitch Lewis scoreless, while Mabior Chol managed 0.3 on Gardner.

As the intercepting pair, Coffield and Khamis were given license to attack the ball and leave their opposition behind. The two combined to great effect all afternoon, constantly winning the ball back and venturing forward to set up attacks. They weren’t perfect, and both had their moments where things didn’t quite come off, but there was enough to suggest that a) it’s worth persisting with, and b) that Coffield and Khamis could theoretically play in the same side together.

The final set of two (Johannisen and Cleary), were the most balanced of the three sets of two, utilising a blend of both attack and defence. Johannisen roamed further up the ground, deploying his usual sense of dare and adventure, while the less experienced Cleary remained far more watchful and cautious staying behind the ball.

As I mentioned earlier, there are some considerations to factor into all of this. Firstly, the Bulldogs’ Plan A would’ve been to incorporate James O’Donnell into this setup, but an ankle injury very early on put an end to this. Furthermore, several players that you would expect to be playing in Round 1 weren’t involved in Game 1, including Bailey Dale, Ed Richards and Taylor Duryea. Whether this defensive setup was used because of the lack of options, or whether it is the Bulldogs’ main setup, will become clearer after our next clash against Hawthorn this week.

Buku Khamis was impressive as part of a new-look defensive setup under the tutelage of Daniel Pratt. Source: Getty Images

5. New Boss Brendon

Senior Coach Luke Beveridge enters Season 2024 under a mountain of pressure, following two desperately underwhelming seasons at the Bulldogs. As a result, Bulldogs fans and neutral observers alike tuned into the game on Friday keen to see how he would go leading the club in their first pre-season game of the season.

Unfortunately, no one got to see it.

As reported by Sam Edmund the morning of the game, Beveridge was going to be watching the match from home, as a result of illness. Given that Beveridge has led the Bulldogs to some of the biggest games in the club’s history, it’s unlikely that this was something as simple as pre-game nerves that led to his absence, so we wish Beveridge all the best in his recovery, and hope that he is back soon.

As a result of Beveridge’s absence, it was left to midfield and ruck coach Brendon Lade to lead the side who, despite only arriving at the club over a year ago, is one of the most experienced members of the Bulldogs’ current coaching lineup. 

Despite the last-minute call to lead the side, Lade did a fine job, leading the Bulldogs to victory in his first game in charge, although it’s likely most of the matchday plans had already been agreed upon before he took the reigns rather than him establishing a new-look plan at the last minute, so we’ll stop short of labelling him a mastermind at this stage. But it seems like he knows how to deliver a pre-match address; the Bulldogs kicked six goals to none in his opening term in charge.

Filling in for the ill Luke Beveridge, Brendon Lade did a fine job on Friday. Source: Getty Images