Greatest Ever Western Bulldogs Team: Traded Edition

It's been a while since we've released a "Greatest Ever" installment. But given we're in the midst of a hectic Trade Period with players being rumoured all over the place, let's hit the pause button for a moment and reflect on the Western Bulldogs history at the trade table by looking at their best traded 22.

For this team, we're looking at players that have been traded to the Western Bulldogs from another club since the Trade Period was first introduced in 1987. Anyone who was traded to the club is eligible for this list, but the player has to have been on a list at the time of the trade, so draft picks that were swapped and eventually turned into players are not eligible for this list. An example of this is Callan Ward, when he was taken with Pick 19 in the 2007 National Draft - that pick had been traded to the Bulldogs prior to the draft.

Furthermore, delisted, unrestricted, and restricted Free Agents do not arrive at clubs via a trade, so you won't be finding any of them in this team, either. Names that fall under this category include Joel Hamling, Matthew Suckling, and Jackson Trengove.

With all that in mind, let's get started:

Back Pocket: Hayden Crozier, 54 Games, 2018- (plus future fourth-round pick)

Traded For: Picks 40 and 82

A fairly recent nomination to kickstart proceedings, but a worthy one nonetheless. Despite spending most of his time at Fremantle as a forward, the Bulldogs earmarked him as a defensive option the moment he arrived at the club, and it has paid instant dividends. The high-flying half back has provided great aerial support to the defence over the past three seasons, and has also been an excellent attacking option, providing great drive off half-back. Still aged just 26, you can expect to see him around for a while yet.

Full Back: Alex Keath, 18 games, 2020- (plus future fourth-round pick)

Traded For: Pick 45 and future second-round pick

You might think that in 30 years we've traded in a more than one full back. But we simply haven't. It really did take us until last season to bring one in. Maybe if Jackson Trengove was eligible for this team I would consider him, but it's hard to go past a guy that managed a top-5 finish in The Salty Bulldog Player of the Year Award, and a 6th placed finish in the Charles Sutton Medal. Bulldogs fans will be hoping for a repeat next season.

Back Pocket: Taylor Duryea, 17 games, 2019-

Traded For: Future fourth-round pick

I promise that this entire team isn't made up of currently-listed players; it's just a coincidence that the full-back line contains three of them. It's a bit surprising to see that Duryea has only played 17 games for us, but he has suffered long-term injuries in both of his seasons at the club. Still, when fit, he has proved himself to be a calming, reliable influence on the team, and will rarely put together a bad game.

Half Back Flank: Shane Biggs, 57 games, 2015-18 (plus Pick 39)

Traded For: Pick 37

See? I told you this team wasn't filled with current-day players. Although still contemporary, it's been a good couple of seasons now since Shane Biggs last pulled on a Bulldogs jumper. While he only played 57 games for the club, he left a lasting impression on fans, saving his very best for the successful 2016 Premiership campaign. Biggs was one of only four Bulldogs to play every game in the successful 2016 Premiership campaign, and averaged 21 disposals for the year as well. Oh, and he was also the man behind that famous minute. Never Forget.

Centre Half Back: Kingsley Hunter, 57 games, 1999-2002

Traded For: Brad Wira

At last, we get to enjoy a venture down Memory Lane, having to go back all the way to the end of the 20th century, when the Bulldogs brought the versatile Kingsley Hunter across from Fremantle. Capable at both ends of the ground, Hunter was mainly deployed in defence in his four-year spell at the Bulldogs, but did enjoy some success up forward, including a seven-goal haul on the last day of the 2001 Season against Melbourne, and becoming the first and only Bulldog to win the Goal of the Year award, thanks to a sensational run from half back against Brisbane in 2000 in just his third game for the club.

Half Back Flank: Ben Harrison, 85 games, 2000-05

Traded For: Pick 41

With the No.22 on his back, Ben Harrison was my childhood hero growing up. I idolized him, and we even shared the same birthday. Despite the obvious bias, I think I can justify his spot in this side. Harrison played 82 out of a possible 88 games in his first four seasons at the club (including two top-10 finishes in the Charles Sutton Medal), before persistent knee injuries brought about an end to his career in 2005. Had a reputation for being a versatile player and was deployed in various positions on the ground, but spent most of his Bulldogs career in defence.

A personal favourite of mine, Ben Harrison was a reliable utility for the Bulldogs in the early 2000s. Source: Getty Images

Wing: Koby Stevens, 63 games, 2013-16

Traded For: Pick 43

It was a real shame to see Stevens' career peter out the way it did, having succumbed to persistent concussion issues in 2018. He arrived at the Bulldogs during a difficult rebuilding period, but he immediately provided steel to the midfield group, impressing with his fearless attack on the ball and ball-winning abilities. Looked to be establishing himself as a fine midfielder during the 2015-16 era for the Bulldogs, before suffering long-term injuries in both seasons.

Centre: Jason Akermanis, 77 games, 2007-10

Traded For: Pick 34

No doubt Akermanis was used more as a forward during his time at the Bulldogs, but the lack of midfield options means that he has to slot in the centre, but is still in a position to dominate games. While the Bulldogs didn't win the Premiership that Akermanis was brought across to help achieve, he provided invaluable experience to the Bulldogs lineup during his four seasons at the club, and regularly won games off his own boot for them.

Wing: Nathan Eagleton, 221 games, 2000-10

Traded For: Brett Montgomery and Pick 28

Pretty easy decision this one. A member of the inaugural Port Adelaide squad, a string of disappointing seasons saw Eagleton with one foot out the door midway through the 2003 season. But a late-season resurgence saw him get one last chance at the club, and never looked back, thriving under the run-and-gun game plan implemented by Rodney Eade until the end of the decade.

A devastating run down the wing, followed by a penetrating kick towards goal from Nathan Eagleton was a familiar sight for Bulldogs fans for much of the 2000s. Source: Getty Images

Half Forward Flank: Richard Osborne, 51 games, 98 goals, 1994-96

Traded For: Pick 28

Certainly, Richard Osborne was past his best by the time he arrived at the Bulldogs at the end of the 1993 season, but did still manage to have a big impact up forward, in particular during the 1995 season, where he led the club's goalkicking charts with 53.32 as the Bulldogs made finals.

Centre Half Forward: Tom Boyd, 51 games, 52 goals, 2015-19

Traded For: Ryan Griffen and Pick 6

Without a doubt the most controversial trade in this team, and one that's success continues to be debated to this very day. Frankly, Tom Boyd was brought in to help win the club a Premiership, and the reality is that without him, there's no Premiership in 2016. Battled manfully in the ruck to get the Dogs over the line in the Preliminary Final, and then backed it up with arguably a Norm Smith Medal-winning performance the week later.

Half Forward Flank: Simon Minton-Connell, 25 games, 53 goals, 1997-98

Traded For: Pick 29

It seems a bit odd that a player of Simon Minton-Connell's ability was shuffled across four different clubs during his 12-year career, considering that he managed a career average of over 2.5 goals a game. The Bulldogs were the last of the four clubs that he played for, managing to score 53.33 from just 116 kicks over his two seasons at the club, including winning the club's leading goalkicker award in 1997.

Forward Pocket: Sam Lloyd, 32 games, 45 goals, 2019-

Traded For: Pick 64

With the Bulldogs desperately crying out for attacking options at the end of the 2018 season, they dipped into the Trade Period and prized the out-of-favour Sam Lloyd from Richmond, who couldn't get a game at the dominant Tigers despite strong VFL form. He slotted effortlessly into the lineup, playing every game in his first season, and leading the club's goalkicking charts with 38.31, before injuries and a loss of form saw his output reduced in 2020.

Full Forward: Barry Hall, 39 games, 135 goals, 2010-11

Traded For: Pick 47

Another selection that pretty much picks itself. Brought across from Sydney as a solution to the Bulldogs needs for a key forward, Barry Hall filled the void instantly, kicking 80.41 and 55.17 in his two seasons at the club, winning the leading goalkicker award both times, and managing All Australian honours in 2010. Despite not being able to help the Bulldogs to that elusive Premiership, he was a bargain for Pick 47.

Big Bad Bustling Barry Hall was an instant hit at the Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images

Forward Pocket: Matthew Robbins, 139 games, 135 goals

Traded For: Picks 15, 38, and 54

Was deployed all over the ground during his time at the Bulldogs, but enjoyed his best football in the forward line, where his pressure and high-flying abilities never failed to get the fans off their seats. He thrived particularly when Rodney Eade was at the helm, kicking a combined 76.39 during the 2005-06 Season, as the Bulldogs possessed one of the most lethal forward lines in the competition.

Ruck: Ben Hudson, 88 games, 2008-11 (plus Pick 43)

Traded For: Picks 30 and 38

With the retirement of Luke Darcy, the Bulldogs were left with a gap in their ruck stocks, and went about filling it immediately, with the acquisition on Ben Hudson from Adelaide. Affectionately known as "The People's Beard", Hudson quickly established himself as a fan favourite, with his strength in the ruck contest coupled with his ability to compete as an extra midfielder. I know we mentioned that draft picks didn't matter in this team, but that Pick 43 we received from Adelaide turned into Premiership captain Easton Wood, so that Bulldogs did pretty well out of this trade.

Ruck Rover: Simon Garlick, 137 games, 1998-2004

Traded For: Pick 31

After spending four years at Sydney, Garlick was traded to the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 1997 season, and enjoyed a consistent career with the Bulldogs, being used mainly as a midfielder, but also enjoyed success in the forward line, most notably with a match-winning six-goal haul at Carlton in 2000.

Rover: Luke Beveridge, 31 games, 1993-95

Traded For: Pick 122

A brilliant coach for the Western Bulldogs, but I think even Luke himself would admit that he's not the best player that the Bulldogs have ever traded in, but as I mentioned earlier, midfield options run pretty thin in this list. As a result, Beveridge sneaks into this team, proving himself to be at least a useful option during his three seasons as a player, and also managed a final.

Interchange: Peter Street, 61 games, 2004-08

Traded For: Pick 20

The original Two Metre Peter, Street proved himself a useful auxiliary ruckman during his first two seasons at the club, before injuries to most of his direct competition saw him emerge and enjoy fruitful campaigns from 2005-06. Afterwards, the arrival of Ben Hudson and the improvement of Will Minson saw him struggle for game time, and eventually retire in 2008.

Interchange: Stewart Crameri, 42 games, 70 goals

Traded For: Pick 26

Things could have been so very different during Stewart Crameri's time at the Bulldogs. The leading goalkicker in 2014 with 37.17, he overcame a sluggish start in 2015 to finish with 32.21, combining with Jake Stringer, Jack Redpath and Tory Dickson to devastating effect. But Crameri then incurred a retrospective ban as a result of the Essendon Supplements Saga, forcing him to miss out on the entire 2016 Premiership campaign, when he should have been at the peak of his powers. Lack of fitness and persistent hip issues conspired to see him play just twice more for the club.

Interchange: Nathan Djerrkura, 21 games

Traded For: Pick 57

Here we run into the "lack of midfield options" problem again. I could've gone for Justin Sherman, but I think Nathan Djerrkura showed more during his time at the club, despite arriving with much less fanfare. He impressed in his two seasons at the club with his pace and pressure, and managed 13 games in Brendan McCartney's first season at the helm in 2012, and it looked as though he rated Djerrkura highly. But the former Geelong midfielder announced his retirement at the end of the season, with a desire to return home to his family.

Interchange: Brad Wira, 61 games, 1996-98 (plus Hugh Reimers)

Traded For: Pick 13

With zero games to his name, Hugh Reimers wasn't exactly a hit at the Bulldogs, but Brad Wira had a successful stint with the club over three seasons, impressing in defence during a very difficult 1996 season, before maintaining his place in the side in finals-bound teams of '97 and '98. Wira's time at the Bulldogs was sandwiched in-between two spells at Fremantle, who he returned to at the conclusion of the 1998 season.

FULL TEAM:

B: H. Crozier; A. Keath; T. Duryea

HB: S. Biggs; K. Hunter; B. Harrison

C: K. Stevens; J. Akermanis; N Eagleton

HF: R. Osborne; T. Boyd; S. Minton-Connell

F: S. Lloyd; B. Hall; M. Robbins

R: B. Hudson; S. Garlick; L. Beveridge

I/C: P. Street; S. Crameri; N. Djerrkura; B. Wira