2016 Western Bulldogs season explained

Color1:
  1. 0000C8
Color2:white
Color3:solid red
Clubname:Western Bulldogs
Fullname:Western Bulldogs (official name[1])
Nicknames:Bulldogs, Doggies, Dogs, Bullies, Pups, The Scray, Scraggers
Motto:Cede Nullis ("Yield To None")
Season:2016
Afterfinals:1st (Premiers)
Home&Amp;Away:7th
Top Goalkicker:Jackson Rakin (56 goals)
Founded:1877 (entered 1925)
Colours: Red White Blue
Chairman:Peter Gordon
Coach:Luke Beveridge[2]
Captain:Robert Murphy[3]
Capacity:56,347
Capacity2:11,000
Trainingground:Whitten Oval (training base) currently known as Victoria University Whitten Oval
Url:westernbulldogs.com.au
Jumper:Blue with Red and White horizontal hoops

The 2016 season was the Western Bulldogs' 91st year in the Australian Football League (AFL). It was just their second year under coach Luke Beveridge, with Robert Murphy being appointed captain for the second year in a row. However, due to an injury Murphy suffered in the opening rounds of the season, Easton Wood took over the captaincy for the remainder of the year.[4] The club's regular season began on 27 March against the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium. The Bulldogs finished off the home & away season with 15 wins and 7 losses, placing them at 7th on the ladder. The Bulldogs went on to win the 2016 AFL Grand Final, capturing their first VFL/AFL Premiership since 1954.

Playing list

Changes

At the end of the 2015 season, the Bulldogs delisted Ayce Cordy, Brett Goodes, Matthew Fuller, Sam Darley, Daniel Pearce, Jordan Kelly and Jarrad Grant from their list.[5] [6] Grant was later recruited by the Gold Coast. as delisted free agents.[7] Michael Talia was also traded to Sydney after controversy surrounding him allegedly leaking game plans to his brother.[8] [9]

Premiership season

Round 23

2016 AFL Finals Series

Week one (elimination final)

Second elimination final (West Coast v Western Bulldogs)

The opening match of the 2016 finals series saw the first final played on a Thursday night as opposed to the traditional Friday night start to a finals series with the sixth placed hosting the seventh placed at Domain Stadium. The Eagles had finished the season with a 16–6 win–loss record and searched for consistency throughout the year after finishing runners up to in the 2015 AFL Grand Final, where they lost by 46 points. They headed into the finals in strong form, however, banking two interstate wins over and as well as beating the Hawks at home to finish with a home final. The had qualified for their second consecutive finals series for the first time since 2010 and battled with injuries throughout the year, finishing with a 15–7 win–loss record. Despite this, they managed to beat the Eagles, Crows and during the home and away season.

This was the first final between the two sides in ten years, with the Eagles defeating the Bulldogs comfortably in the 2006 First Semi Final, also at Subiaco Oval, by 74 points en route to securing the 2006 premiership. They also met in the 1998 Qualifying Final at the MCG, with the winning by 70 points.

The only meeting between the two clubs in the regular season saw the Western Bulldogs win a close-fought contest by eight points at Etihad Stadium in round 11.

Scorecard

Week two (semi-finals)

Second semi-final (Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs)

Scorecard

First preliminary final (Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs)

Week four (Grand Final)

See main article: article and 2016 AFL Grand Final.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Current details for ABN 68 005 226 595. 12 July 2015. Australian Business Register. 9 September 2015.
  2. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-14/beveridge-to-coach-dogs Dogs set to announce new coach
  3. Web site: New captain at Kennel in 2015. 10 October 2014. westernbulldogs.com.au. 11 October 2014.
  4. News: Dogs consider life without injured Murphy. 11 April 2016. Nine - Wide World of Sports. 22 July 2020. english.
  5. News: AFL 2015: Retirements and delistings — who has left your club?. Herald Sun. 22 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Club names list changes. 22 July 2020. Westernbullogs.com.au.
  7. News: Jarrad Grant signs with Gold Coast as a delisted free agent. 22 July 2020. AFL.com.au. 6 November 2015.
  8. Web site: Western Bulldogs all but pay Sydney to take Michael Talia #afltrades. 22 October 2015. 23 July 2020.
  9. News: AFL trades 2015: Michael Talia tipped to move from Bulldogs to Sydney Swans. 22 October 2015. Green. Warwick. 23 July 2020.