Player Ratings - Round 1
The Western Bulldogs started their 2024 campaign in disappointing fashion, going down to Melbourne in 45 points in their opening game of the season.
Despite remaining in touch with Melbourne for most of the afternoon, the Bulldogs fell away late, conceding six goals to two in the final term to finish well adrift at the MCG.
1. Adam Treloar
Started at the first centre bounce of the season and found enough of the football over the afternoon, picking up 31 disposals, but just nine of them were kicks. He also went at just 55% efficiency by foot, four score involvements, only one inside-50, and gained only 156m. Lots of effort; not much end product – 6
2. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Clearly the best among the key forwards on display for the Bulldogs. Kicked 2.3 from his 14 disposals, which included four contested marks and four marks inside 50 – both ranked No.1 among both sides. Some costly misses in front of goal hurts his score – 7
3. Cody Weightman
When the Bulldogs were on top, it was the usually-accurate Weightman who misfired, managing 0.1 from two set shots, and had another goal-bound effort touched on the line. Brought up his 100th goal for the club with an important major to keep the Dogs in touch just before half time, but didn’t impact things much after that – 4
4. Marcus Bontempelli
Led by example in the first half, with a crucial goal in the second term to go along with his 16 disposals. His output waned in the second half, collecting just nine touches after half time – 7
Marcus Bontempelli celebrates his second-quarter goal against Melbourne. Source: Getty Images
7. Rory Lobb
Took a nice mark on 50 in the opening term, before going back and converting a touch chance with relative ease. It was the only thing of note he did all day. He finished up with two marks from seven disposals, and was largely ineffective when thrown into the ruck – 2
9. Ryley Sanders
Suffered from some stage fright on debut, committing four turnovers and going at just 22% efficiency by foot from his nine kicks. Still, he’d managed 15 disposals halfway through the third quarter and showed some bright moments, although not bright enough to avoid being subbed out – 5
12. Harvey Gallagher
Supplied one of the highlights of the day in the first term when he received the handpass in the forward pocket, before snapping through the first goal of his career. He almost had a second a few minutes later, but was caught taking too long to dispose of the ball. It wasn’t a massive performance, picking up just nine disposals, but his five tackles were a joint team-high, and showed enough endeavour to justify his selection – 5
14. Rhylee West
Forced to work with very limited supply all afternoon, but he gave it his best shot. Showed great anticipation to rove a pack, before then showing composure to kick his only goal late in the final term. Was also the only Bulldog to lay multiple tackles inside-50, and his 19 pressure acts were second only to Bontempelli – 6
17. Nick Coffield
Was so caught up in trying to defend the likes of Kozzie Pickett that he gave himself very little time to focus on actually winning the ball back, which was reflected in his three intercept possessions and zero intercept marks, just part of his 10-disposal performance. A quiet debut – 3
19. Liam Jones
Led the way defensively, with his five intercept marks a game-high, and regularly outpointed his direct opponents, but wasn’t rewarded in that Jacob van Rooyen and Ben Brown still combined for five goals. Hard to fault much of what he did during the day – 7
20. Ed Richards
Defensively he was sound enough in the game. He took four intercept marks and his eight intercept possessions were a team-high, but wasn’t quite able to generate enough going the other way. His disposals efficiency went at 93%, but he only had 15 touches and two score involvements – 6
21. Tom Liberatore
The newly-appointed vice-captain was the one midfielder other than Bontempelli who was able to hold his head high over the afternoon. Toiled away all match and finished with 32 disposals, nine clearances, and five centre clearances (all team-highs). Oddly enough, he laid just one tackle all game and, concerningly, only Bailey Dale gained more metres than him (423) – 8
22. James Harmes
A day to forget for Harmes, who made his club debut against his former side. He failed to touch the ball in the first quarter, and failed to score from his 11 disposals, which also included five clangers and three free kicks against – 2
23. Laitham Vandermeer
Picked up most of his 10 disposals across half forward, but was largely ineffective for most of the game, regularly fumbling the ball and showed a concerning lack of awareness of his surroundings at times, too. Went at just 50% by foot – 2
24. Buku Khamis
For the second game in a row for him at AFL level, Khamis was forced to play a role that he’s not physicaly equipped for. This time he was forced to play as a lockdown key defender, due to the lack of height around him in defence. It took away his ability to play his natural intercepting game, claiming just the one intercept mark and three intercept possessions. Worth highlighting his efforts to get back and deny a certain Melbourne goal in the opening term, reaching out to get a hand on the bouncing ball just before it crossed the line – 3
29. Lachie Bramble
The most impressive of the five Bulldog debutants. Demonstrated strong balance to his game, with 22 disposals at 90% efficiency and 407m gained, but also took two intercept marks and recorded four intercepts in total. Also topped off his performance with a nice goal on the run off the back of some neat evasive action – 7
Lachie Bramble (No.29) capped off an impressive club debut with a goal in the last quarter. Source: Getty Images
30. Lachie McNeil
Deserved his Round 1 opportunity off the back of some impressive pre-season performances, but failed to take his chance. Guilty of seven clangers and six turnovers, while failing to hit the scoreboard from his 14 disposals. One of several who can consider themselves fortunate to have not been subbed off – 2
31. Bailey Dale
Recovered from his hamstring injury just in time to play, and was ok without being spectacular. He collected 23 disposals and his 476m gained was a team-high, but he had a kicking efficiency of just 60%. Still, got himself into some good positions to provide strong rebound, and will hopefully be better for having got through the match – 5
33. Aaron Naughton
In the opening minute, he took a strong mark inside-50 and the beautiful set shot that followed gave the Bulldogs their first goal of the season. But those hoping that effort would set the tone for the rest of the game were sadly mistaken. It was the only mark Naughton took all game, and he would add just a further 0.1 from his remaining five disposals. For a club leader, it simply wasn’t good enough – 1
34. Bailey Williams
18 disposals at 89% efficiency, but just eight kicks, two score involvements, and two intercepts. A very ‘meh’ performance – 5
35. Caleb Daniel
Subbed on halfway during the third term, he immediately added a bit of extra class and zip behind the ball, picking up 12 disposals and three clearances in just 37 minutes of game time. He won more disposals in that short cameo then eight of his teammates did over the course of four quarters. As a sub, he did his job – 6
39. Jason Johannisen
A nice, balanced game. 26 disposals (with just one turnover), seven score involvements, seven intercepts, and 404m gained. But it lacked the real damage to his game that we’ve seen in years gone by – 7
44. Tim English
English’s stats sheet will always look pretty, because he is a tall midfielder that moves well and can link up easily with his teammates when it comes to winning the football. But in terms of his actual ruck craft, it continues to leave a lot to be desired, especially against the very best. He held his own against Gawn around the ground, with 23 touches, five marks and four clearances, but in the actual ruck stakes, which should be a ruckman’s priority, English was second-best again. Two costly misses in the third term also hurts his score - 5