Primed and Ready: Are the Dogs Prepared to Deliver?

When you settle in before the season begins to do your AFL In ladder predictions, you operate under the assumption that everyone brings their top cattle to the park, despite this rarely occurring. However, there are times when you lack even that advantage.

You couldn't reasonably predict the Western Bulldogs' performance in 2025 before the season started without taking into account their injured list, which was noteworthy not just because of how many players were out but also due to the caliber of those players.

Given the constant rumors swirling around Coach Luke Beveridge’s status, which created an uneasy atmosphere, the Bulldogs had to manage without their top four players from last season's best and fairest—captain Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar, and Liam Jones—as well as key small forward Cody Weightman and 2016 Norm Smith Medal winner Jason Johannisen at the start of the game.

The Bulldogs had already put the critics' patience to the test sufficiently over the past few years, leaving them highly critical.

Moreover, the significant player injuries led numerous doubters to exclude them from serious contention for a playoff berth, a stance further solidified by the later developments regarding these setbacks. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's non-appearance , then, only a fortnight ago, what might have been the catastrophic loss of potential superstar Sam Darcy.

That's the thing about Beveridge's team, though. It manages to pleasantly surprise more often than it occasionally unexpectedly disappoints. And having negotiated the worst of its manpower issues, it is now arguably in as good a position at this stage of a season as it has ever been in the coach's 11-year reign.

I offered them one final opportunity during the preseason. anticipating they will end up in the top four With high hopes, they managed to persevere until the troops came back. However, the Dogs have accomplished far more than merely surviving.

It's not just the 5-3 record now and sixth spot on the ladder. It's even the losses -- to Collingwood by a kick, Fremantle in Perth, and reigning premier Brisbane after having led the Lions by 39 points, which speak to a consistent competitiveness in 2025 which hasn't previously necessarily been a trademark.

It's the adapting with relative comfort to sometimes dramatically changed circumstances and on the run.

Consider, for example, the potentially fatal ramifications of the perhaps season-long loss of Darcy as well as Ugle-Hagan, the Bulldogs' leading two goalkickers last year, not to mention another goalkicker in Weightman for half the season. Indeed until Bontempelli's return, that was four of the Dogs' top five goalkickers who were scratchings.

Despite this, the Dogs, who were ranked second in scoring last year, continue to hold that spot. A group of smaller players have risen to meet the challenge, with Rhylee West, Lachie McNeil, Ryley Sanders, Matt Kennedy, and James Harmes each contributing at least one goal per match on average.

Whether Beveridge was okay with their departures or not, the loss of three experienced hands in one hit in Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel, and Jack Macrae could really have knocked around the Dogs' midfield cohesion.

However, the importance of the adaptability and thoroughness that have long been fundamental to Beveridge’s coaching philosophy has rarely been clearer than this season with decisions such as promoting Jedd Busslinger to a crucial defensive role over Jones.

Or with increased backing for the exceptional Tom Liberatore, individuals like Joel Freijah following in the footsteps of Ed Richards from before, the midfielder performing impressively once more against the Power, and perhaps Sanders treading a similar path afterward.

Buku Khamis has demonstrated his ability to move forward effectively. Kennedy has provided the toughness and grit as a sturdy midfielder that the Dogs might have missed since losing Josh Dunkley. Both McNeill and Laitham Vandermeer appear to have progressed further, serving more purpose than merely filling in for the injured players within their best 23 lineup.

Some may refer to them as role players, but even then, their parts are increasingly taking on greater importance.

So, the comeback of Bontempelli in the last three matches, along with Adam Treloar’s participation in Saturday's decisive victory against Port Adelaide, hasn’t exactly been an answer to a frantic distress call from the rest of the Bulldogs squad. Instead, these additions have felt like premium toppings—thick, indulgent cream atop an already delightful dessert.

The icing on the cake was undoubtedly Tim English’s performance, which could be considered among the finest in his current 139-game stint. The towering player excelled against his ex-teammate Jordon Sweet, controlled the center clears, and matched his personal bests with 27 possessions and three goals.

That threesome completes a midfield unit that ranks among the best in the competition whenever they're healthy and playing together. Although the defense hasn't quite reached the standards set back in 2024—when it allowed fewer points than any other team—the Bulldogs are making progress once more. Their most solid defensive displays this season came during victories against St Kilda two weeks prior and Port Adelaide.

At times, the Bulldogs have appeared somewhat unconventional under Beverridge’s leadership because they seem to perform best when facing challenges. Conversely, it appears they might falter precisely when conditions start looking favorable for them.

However, as the urgency grows for the team to renew Beveridge’s contract before too long, which is striking considering how unstable his situation seemed just recently, maybe now he has a squad seasoned enough to capitalize on the effort they’ve put in to remain competitive.

We're only one-third of the way through the season and already the Dogs appear to have seen off without too much consequence the worst fate has had to deal. Just what they might be capable of with fortune running their way is a tasty proposition indeed for their fans.

You can find more of Rohan Connolly's writings there FOOTYOLOGY .