Player Ratings - Round 3

For the first time this year, the Western Bulldogs are in the top eight, following a comfortable 76-point win over the West Coast Eagles.

Despite the Bulldogs boasting a range of top-line players, it was a day for some of the club's lesser lights to shine, with a number of unlikely suspects scoring particularly well this week.

1. Adam Treloar

The only player on the ground to reach the 30-disposal mark – he finished with 35 – Treloar was the chief midfield force for the Bulldogs, with his 12 contested possessions, eight clearances and three centre clearances all team-highs, and his 10 score involvements were second only to Aaron Naughton. Capped off his display with a deserved goal at the end – 9

2. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

Was involved enough in the contest to have a huge impact, with 13 disposals, nine marks, and three inside-50, but managed only 1.0, with a couple of efforts failing to score. The fact that he leads regularly into the pockets - resulting in low-percentage shots – doesn’t help, and looked indecisive when it came to opting between kicking a drop punt and kicking around his body. His kicking for goal really does need to improve – 5

3. Cody Weightman

Kicked the Bulldogs first goal of the game, but sent fears through the camp in the second term when he clutched at his arm while attempting a tackle in the second term. It looked to be a recurrence of the dislocated elbow he suffered in 2022. Played out the game, and kicked a classy dribble goal from almost 50m in the final term. Just the eight disposals, but did his job in front of goal – 5

Cody Weightman (R) just about played his role, while Aaron Naughton (L) played a very selfless team game. Source: Getty Images

4. Marcus Bontempelli

Went into the match under the injury cloud, which probably explained both why the Dogs hid him in the forward line for the majority of the match, and his overall lack of influence on proceedings. To three-quarter time, Bontempelli only had 10 disposals and one goal to his name. A couple of goals when the dye was cast in the final term flattered his overall performance, but he was far from his best – 5

9. Ryley Sanders

Another tidy display, as he worked hard around the ground. Managed just the one clearance, but gathered 20 disposals at an efficiency of 75%, and laid six tackles, too. Also involved in seven scores, but still waiting for his first goal for the club – 7

10. Sam Darcy

Quieter this week, but he’s now starting to string some games together at senior level, which will be more pleasing to Bulldogs fans than anything he does on field right now. Managed 11 disposals, one goal and 11 hitouts from 27 ruck contests, and has done well to hold his own both up forward and in the ruck over the past fortnight – 5

11. Jackson Macrae

Finally back in the side, although it wasn’t a massive return on the stats sheet. Slowly grew into the game as the match progressed to eventually finish with 20 disposals, and seven score involvements at an efficiency of 75%. One the negative, he failed to gain a clearance. Hopefully just getting through the game will allow him to build over the coming weeks – 5

12. Harvey Gallagher

Came to life in the second term, kicking consecutive goals to kickstart the Bulldogs run of 12 straight majors. Worked really hard along the wing all game to finish with 16 disposals, the highest tally he’s achieved in his fledgling career, although he looks like a player that’s already played much more than 3 AFL games, and you expect he’ll add many more to that tally before his time is done – 7

13. Oskar Baker

Awarded a promotion to the starting 22 after last week’s impressive performance. Didn’t quite star this time around, but was solid enough across the four quarters. Only kicked the ball eight times from his 19 disposals, but went at 100% efficiency, and also had six score involvements – 7

14. Rhylee West

His pressure in the forward line was excellent all afternoon, highlighted by a smother in the second term which directly led to a Harvey Gallagher goal, before being rewarded with a goal of his own in the third term. Continues to be a useful pressure forward who adds something different to the mix – 6

15. Taylor Duryea

Playing his first game for the season, Duryea played a reasonable role in a defence that conceded just three goals all afternoon. His 19 disposals was a higher tally than he managed in any game last season, and his eight intercept possessions and three intercept marks were both equal-team highs. He’ll face sterner tests in 2024, and there are some good defenders to come back, but he’s made it as hard as possible for the selectors – 7

19. Liam Jones

Made it look easy, albeit against a depleted depleted West Coast forward line. It didn’t result in the numbers that we’ve seen over the past two weeks, but he took six intercept possessions, two intercept marks, committed a game-high seven spoils and hit a target with each of his 10 disposals – 8

21. Tom Liberatore

Reasonably subdued in the midfield compared to his efforts from the past two weeks, with just 18 disposals and five clearances. It wasn’t a terrible display, but it certainly fell short of the standards he has set over many years. Subbed out at three-quarter time, but the Bulldogs did stress that it was a tactical move – 5

23. Laitham Vandermeer

What a difference a fortnight makes. A very ordinary Round 1, a hard-working Round 2, and then arguably his best performance for the club. Never stopped running along the wing and half-forward, and was regularly involved in the play, particularly in the first half. It was an all-around performance that consisted of 23 disposals (a career-high), 10 marks (including two contested), eight score involvements, and a goal of his own – 8

24. Buku Khamis

Another Bulldog to reach career-best numbers in terms of disposals (19). Didn’t dominate quite as he did in Ballarat, but two intercept marks among six intercept possessions was still a solid return, and distributed the ball with an efficiency of 90%, all in a backline that conceded just three goals all afternoon - 7

25. Caleb Poulter

Subbed on at three-quarter time when the game was already long decided, so the opportunity to make a decisive impact wasn’t available to him. 0.1 from four disposals - 3

29. Lachie Bramble

With 27 disposals (another equal career-high), that’s three good showings in a row from the former Hawk. He has progressed nicely with every game he’s played in since arriving at the club, with his defensive nous, speed and ball use all impressing. His five rebounds and four inside 50s were both second-most for the team, and he did it all at an efficiency of 89%. Certainly surpassing the expectations of Bulldogs fans so far - 8

31. Bailey Dale

The football kept on finding Bailey Dale in the first half. Unfortunately, Bailey Dale kept failing to find a teammate with it. He had 14 disposals to half time, but regularly turned the football over, and if not for a combination of West Coast’s poor forward craft, and the Bulldogs resolute defence, it could have resulted in a lot more scoreboard pressure. Settled into the game a bit better in the second half once the game was under control, but only five Bulldogs had a worse kicking efficiency (68%) - 4

33. Aaron Naughton

A selfless team performance. 1.1 doesn’t look like a great return for the centrepiece of the forward line, but among his 20 disposals (another career-high), he played a hand in 13 score involvements (more than anyone on the ground), and was the catalyst for four goal assists, which is another personal best. We all want to see Naughton adding to the highlights package with big bags of goals, but being able to set them up is just as valuable - 8

34. Bailey Williams

Starting in defence this week due to injuries, Williams is looking like a player whose confidence is slowly building back. He finished the day with 26 disposals (including a team-high eight intercept possessions), and every single one of his 19 kicks hit the target. He also took eight marks, laid four tackles, and gained the third-most metres of any Bulldog (530) - 8

35. Caleb Daniel

Used largely between the arcs, his 16 disposals wasn’t quite the tally that we’ve grown accustomed to, but six of those touches led to a Bulldogs score, including a goal of his own in the third term. Overall, went at 87% efficiency, but gained just 196m - 5

39. Jason Johannisen

Things have really turned around since his move into defence. Gained 597m and nine rebound 50s (both team-highs) from his 22 disposals, and his 18 kicks went at 89% efficiency, and set up five scores. Whether it’s the move back into his natural position or the crow rows, I’m not sure. But whatever it is, it’s working - 8

44. Tim English

The dominant big man on the ground. Although the hitout count was once again similar (35-29), it was English’s work around the ground that once again made the difference. He collected 17 disposals and booted two second-quarter goals as the Bulldogs made their move. His pressure around the ground was excellent, and showed exactly why West Coast are prepared to offer big money for him. The highlight of the game was his run from wing to half forward, being involved three times in a handpass chain, before Naughton got in the way of what would’ve been a chance at Goal of the Year for English - 9

Tim English was the dominant big man on the ground in last Sunday's win against West Coast. Source: Getty Images