Player Ratings - Round One

The Western Bulldogs continued their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive 81-point win over the GWS Giants on Saturday.

After taking a 17-point lead into quarter time, the Bulldogs never looked back, extending their lead at every break as they went 2-0 for the first time since 2021.

4. Marcus Bontempelli

Did as he pleased in a dominant first half, picking up 18 disposals and kicking three brilliant goals in a showing that almost matched what he managed in the entirety of Opening Round. Didn’t have quite the scoreboard impact after half time, but was no less dominant, finishing the match with 33 disposals, 11 score involvements, 11 inside-50s and six clearances, producing the magical 30+ disposal, 3+ goal outing for the seventh time in his career. Vintage Bontempelli – 10

6. Cooper Hynes

Got himself an early goal to help kickstart the Bulldogs, but it was his only score involvement for the match, despite finishing with a career-high 14 disposals. Still feels like there’s a bit of acclimatising for him to go, but it’s a great bonus to be blooding games into him while the Bulldogs are still winning – 5

7. Rory Lobb

Wasn’t called upon as much as he was in Opening Round as other Bulldogs defenders led the way, picking up just one intercept mark and only three intercept possessions all game. Still made his presence known in the air with a game-high nine spoils, and collected seven marks and 12 disposals at 91% efficiency – 7

8. Matthew Kennedy

Proved his value to the team one again with another 27 disposals, eight clearances, six inside-50s, and a late goal to wrap up another accomplished display. Has picked up right where he left off from last season – 8

9. Ryley Sanders

Back into the lineup after missing Opening Round with concussion and had a tidy start if unspectacular start to the season, registering 21 disposals at 81% efficiency, but recorded just three kicks and one clearance. Questions continue to linger over how damaging he can be – 6

10. Sam Darcy

Played the role of support cast this week as Aaron Naughton ran proceedings instead, but was still good enough to kick 4.1, including a couple of goals from forward-50 stoppages. Pushed up the ground at times as well to be a factor in some clinical Bulldogs moves. Wasn’t the dominant big man on the ground, but the fact that he managed a goal in each quarter suggests that he was a consistent presence throughout – 8

11. Lachie Jaques

Played a stellar role in just his second game at the level, demonstrating his prowess both defensively and offensively across half back. Picked up 29 disposals and nine marks, recording seven rebounds and managing a team-high six intercept possessions. Was slightly suspect by foot for a player who garnered a strong reputation for his kicking in his junior career (61.9% efficiency from 20 kicks), but it was the only slightly knock on an otherwise accomplished showing. That Rising Star nomination draws ever closer… - 9

13. Oskar Baker

It’s been a hard grind for Baker, but finally reached his 50^th game at AFL level after nine seasons in the system, and duly saluted with a fine display on the wing. Capped off a splendid team move with a goal in the opening term, before doubling his tally early in the second half. Finished the match with 11 disposals at 90% efficiency and also picking up six marks – 8

14. Rhylee West

The Bulldogs went through him a fair amount in the first quarter but was often outpointed by Connor Idun in the one-on-one contests. Played a key role in arguably the moment that broke the Giants, catching Toby Greene unaware at half-forward as the Giants looked to go forward early in the second term. From there the Bulldogs took control of the game and never looked back. Finished with 13 disposals, but given the Bulldogs kicked 21 goals as a team, it was surprising to see West absent from the list of goalkickers – 5

18. James O’Donnell

Played his role without too much concern, although like last week did have another shaky moment or two in defence. Feels like one of the few Bulldogs still trying to ease his way into the campaign. Hit the target with each of his seven disposals, but deserves credit from combning with the defence to keep the Giants’ four two forwards (Hogan, Gruzewski, Riccardi and Stringer) to just one goal – 7

19. Connor Budarick

Has slotted seamlessly into the Bulldogs backline to start the season. Finished with another 23 disposals, six marks and six rebounds, using the ball at 78% efficiency and being involved in four scores. Looking a very handy pickup – 8

20. Ed Richards

Wasn’t quite at his damaging best in Game 150. Was effective enough with the ball when he had it, managing six clearances, six score involvements and two goal assists, but only finished with 19 disposals. It doesn’t help that this game lines up right next to last week, which was arguably the game of his career – 6

21. Tom Liberatore

Is starting in less centre bounces (or throw-ups) than we’ve grown accustomed to over his career but is proving no less effective. Finished with 12 score involvements from 29 disposals, which included a goal of his own in the third term. 21 of those touches were uncontested, which highlights a more outside role, but couldn’t help get himself involved in some of the heavy lifting, with six tackles and six clearances – 9

24. Buku Khamis

Is growing in confidence by the week, with a greater emphasis on team defence playing a key role in helping him thrive. Finished with 13 disposals and nine marks, hitting the target 11 times, while his three intercept marks were a game-high – 7

27. Joel Freijah

It’s felt like a scratchy start to the season for him with things having not yet clicked into gear. Freijah was ok against the Giants, with 20 disposals, but he’s another one who hasn’t produced quite the damage or shown the cleanliness that we’ve come to expect from him so far in his career. Won just one clearance and only went at 65% efficiency – 5

28. Will Lewis

Battled hard on debut but didn’t have much go his way. Failed to score from his six disposals and held just one mark, often being used as the secondary ruck which allowed Darcy to stay forward. His day effectively came to an end late in the third term, when he came from the field with the blood rule following a gruesome four-man collision. Fortunately, he returned to play, but it pretty much summed up his day – 2

29. Lachie Brmable

An odd game. Playing further up the ground again this week, he looked very solid with the 16 disposals that he picked up, but only had five kicks all game, which is ratio he wouldn’t have produced too often in his career. The fact that he had such few kicks would also explain why he gained just 142m all game. He did wrap up a flowing Bulldogs move to kick their final goal of the match late in the final term – 5

31. Bailey Dale

With an influx of back-flankers coming into the fold for the Bulldogs, it feels like there is less responsibility being placed on Dale, who is probably still building his fitness following the knee injury he picked up late in the pre-season. He had a good game, with 23 disposals and four rebounds, but hasn’t hit the heights of last year in his opening two matches – 7

33. Aaron Naughton

Monstered the Giants’ defence in what was arguably the best performance of his career. Finished the game with 11 marks (including five contested and seven inside-50) on his way to kicking 6.1 and recording a further three goal assists. The Giants simply had no answer for him at times, and it continues a rich vein of form from Naughton; he’s now kicked 5+ goals in six of his last 10 games – 10

Aaron Naughton was unstoppable on Saturday. Source: Getty Images

34. Bailey Williams

Played a fine game on the wing, with 17 disposals, five tackles and four marks. No Goal of the Year contenders this time around, but played his role both offensively and defensively - 7

37. Michael Sellwood

Gave away an early goal due to a nervous fumble in the backline, but settled afterwards. He may be a matured-aged recruit, but it’s still just his second game at AFL level and has handled himself reasonably well against two quality opponents in the past fortnight. Took four intercepts for his nine disposals and picked up seven marks across the backline. It’s been a solid enough start to his time in the red, white and blue - 6

42. Sam Davidson

Afforded the opportunity to drift further forward this week and made the most of it, playing a key role in driving the Bulldogs into a commanding position with two second-quarter goals. Only finished with the 11 disposals, but made good things happen every time he got involved - 8

44. Tim English             

The new ruck rules are suiting him perfectly. The 22 disposals and six marks are no surprise – we’ve come to expect that from him for a long time now. His ruckwork was most noticeable on Saturday, winning 23 hitouts from 53 contests, including nine hitouts to advantage. The freedom to run and jump at the ball has helped him enormously, and is playing a critical role in the Bulldogs dominating centre clearances so far this year - 8