Player Ratings - Round 6

The Western Bulldogs returned to the top eight following a thumping 71-point win against St Kilda on Easter Sunday.

Despite trailing at quarter time, the Bulldogs piled on 15 goals to four after quarter time to emphatically account for the Saints, and square their own ledger at 3-3

4. Marcus Bontempelli

Into the lineup for the first time this season, and wasted little time in reminding the league why he’s still the best player in the game. He got the Bulldogs rolling in the second term with two goals of his own and set up a third, but it was a consistent four-quarter performance that included 30 disposals at 86% efficiency, 12 score involvements and eight clearances. It’s good to have him back - 9

6. Cooper Hynes

Named as the sub this week, but was thrown into the action early due to the injury to Sam Darcy. Had more impact this week, with nine disposals and five score involvements, but missed a big opportunity to kick his first goal for the club. For the second week running faded away in the final term, with just one disposal, highlighting once more that endurance is an issue for him. He will get there, but it will just take time - 4

7.  Rory Lobb

Started in his usual position in defence, but became one of many players who were thrown around as a result of the Darcy injury. Spent a lot more time forward than what we’ve grown accustomed to over the past 12 months, and it meant that his defensive numbers were down, with just two intercept possessions. Finished with 0.1 and five marks from 14 disposals - 6

8. Matthew Kennedy

Another great showing from one of the recruits of the year. Was too strong for the St Kilda midfield, bullocking his way to 22 disposals and 10 clearances (game-high), all while doing it at 82% efficiency, which was a marked improvement on last week. Also brought out the party tricks around goal, with two classy finishes to cap off the performance - 8

9. Ryley Sanders

His numbers have been climbing nicely this year, but Sunday was the best game of his career. Was involved in everything good that the Bulldogs did, cracking the 30 disposal mark for the first time in his career to finish with 32 at 90% efficiency, while clunking 11 marks and recording 14 score involvements, including a goal of his own in the third term - 9

With a career-high 32 possessions, Ryley Sanders (L) enjoyed his best game for the club. Source: Getty Images

10. Sam Darcy

Emerged as the big talking point out of the game when he landed awkwardly in a marking contest in the opening term, hyperextending his knee. He was immediately subbed out, with the club fearing a potential ACL rupture. Much to the relief of the Bulldogs, scans have since cleared him of any damage to the ACL, but it will still be a long time until we see him again - 1

14. Rhylee West

With the Bulldogs desperately searching for avenues to goal, Rhylee West put his hand up with a season-high three goals from 10 disposals. As encouraging as it was to see him taking his chances, his aerial work was most impressive, proving a real handful in the air for the St Kilda defenders and more often than not won out - 8

18. James O’Donnell

After playing forward for the past couple of weeks, O’Donnell returned to the backline for the Bulldogs this week. St Kilda got the jump on the Bulldogs with four goals in the opening 15 minutes, but very little was asked for the Bulldogs defenders after that, highlighted by the fact that O’Donnell’s two intercept marks and four spoils were both team-highs, but the backline deserve credit for keeping the Saints to just four goals after quarter time - 7

19. Liam Jones

A steadying performance after a couple of below-par weeks in defence. Like many of his defensive teammates, didn’t have an awful lot to do down back, but deserves credit for dealing with the few dangers that did come his way. Three of his 12 disposals were intercepts, and kept things safe with his distribution, with a disposal efficiency of 83% - 7

20. Ed Richards

Despite the return of Marcus Bontempelli, St Kilda sent its designated tagger in Marcus Windhager straight to Ed Richards. But Richards still managed to work his way through it produce a fine game. He finished with 23 disposals at 82% efficiency, while also picking up six inside-50s, four clearances, and added a goal to his name in the third term. With Bontempelli back and Treloar only a couple of weeks away, it should mean opposition clubs divert their attention away from Richards, which will only help to free him up - 8

21. Tom Liberatore

Yes, we’ve all replayed that tackle of Brad Hill a hundred times over, but that was only the crowning moment in yet another stellar performance from Liberatore, who finished with 29 disposals, eight score involvements, seven tackles, and a late goal as the Bulldogs filled their boots in the final term. There’s little doubt that if the All-Australian selectors put together a team after Round 6, Liberatore would be in the squad - 8

24. Buku Khamis

Was used more in the forward line this week, occasionally moving up the ground to partake in stints as a relief ruckman once Sam Darcy went down. Was solid enough when he did have the ball, with four score involvements from his nine disposals, and took six marks, but didn’t have a major influence. Will be one to watch over the coming weeks as the club tries to deal with Darcy’s absence - 5

26. Josh Dolan

Looks to be building week-on-week as he continues to establish himself in this Bulldogs lineup. As a young small forward, consistency and impact can be difficult to acquire, but Dolan is slowing improving his output every week, and will hold him in good stead long term. This week, his 12 disposals resulted in six scores, and he did it at 91% efficiency. He’s done well to play every game to this point - 5

27. Joel Freijah

A strong return to form after a couple of quiet weeks. Set the Bulldogs on their way with their first goal of the game, before adding a second late in the game with a clever snap. Inbetween, he controlled traffic through the midfield with his trademark poise and composure, finishing with 24 disposals, 10 score involvements and six clearances. The AFL Player Ratings also saw him accrue 27.8 points, which was the highest score of any player across the round - 8

29. Lachie Bramble

After a sluggish start to the season, Bramble is starting to build into some good form. Picked up 25 disposals and 12 marks at 92% efficiency, while also gaining 423m for his team. Showing us all why he was touted as one of the recruits of last year, and looks like he’s found his feet in 2025 - 8

30. Lachie McNeil

Did his job once again in that small forward role, with some really good defensive moments to help lock the ball inside the Bulldogs attacking 50, including a terrific smother that led to a clever goal for Matt Kennedy. Got on the end of a goal of his own in the final term, but looked to pull up lame in the aftermath, with news since coming through that he will miss this week’s match with a hamstring injury - 6

31. Bailey Dale

Back to his best after having his colours lowered in Norwood. No one on the ground bettered his 32 disposals, which included 24 kicks at 75% efficiency. His 572m were a team-high, and his 11 score involvements were the third-most on the ground. Like man of his teammates down back, didn’t have a lot of defending to do, but was supreme going forward - 9

33. Aaron Naughton

Much responsibility fell to the feet of Aaron Naughton once Sam Darcy went down injured, and the deputy vice-captain stood tall as he reclaimed his spot as the Bulldogs main focal point up forward. Naughton asserted his dominance over the St Kilda defence, taking five marks inside 50, with inaccurate kicking the only thing preventing him to adding to his overall tally of 3.3 (with two of those behinds hitting the post). It was an encouraging return to form, and with no Darcy or Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for the foreseeable future, his influence up forward is needed now more than ever - 8

After Sam Darcy went down injured early, Aaron Naughton stood up for the Bulldogs with three goals. Source: Getty Images

34. Bailey Williams

Often someone who has been dismissed as a reliable foot soldier over the years, Bailey Williams stole the spotlight with arguably the best game of his 157-game career. He reached 30 disposals for the very first time, using the ball at 80% efficiency. His two-way running was on full display, recording six intercept possessions while drifting into defence, but generating eight score involvements and six inside-50s while going the other way. Topped it all off with a goal in the final term that flew into the corporate boxes. Sits comfortably among the best wingers in the competition right now - 9

36. Luke Cleary

Was perhaps the standout defender for the Bulldogs, at least statistically. His six intercept possessions and two intercept marks were both team-highs, finishing with an overall tally of 16 disposals and seven marks at 94% efficiency, while also being involved in seven scores. Has featured sporadically during his time at the Bulldogs, but it’s starting to feel like he’s turned a corner - 7

39. Jason Johannisen

Johannisen wound back the clock with a performance that very much resembled the JJ of old, using his pace to gather 25 disposals and seven score involvements across half back, all while using the ball at 84% efficiency. Even managed to drift forward and boot a long-range goal that saw all his teammates rush to him. Still has a bit of life in the old legs yet - 8

42. Sam Davidson

Another strong showing on the wing, Davidson was very quickly established himself as a regular member of this Bulldogs starting 23, winning 21 disposals and gaining 10 score involvements, while winning five intercept possessions going back the other way. Continues to get better by the week - 8

44. Tim English

Had some nervous moments in marking contests around the grounds, often being outbodied by much smaller opposition, but his ruckwork continues to improve, this time winning the battle against a very formidable opponent in Rowan Marshall. English outpointed Marshall in both hitouts (30-23) and hitouts to advantage (9-5) despite attending four fewer ruck contests than that Saints No.1 ruck. Around the ground he gathered five clearances from 17 disposals, but it’s the ruckwork that wins him his points this week - 8