2021 Western Bulldogs season explained

Club:Western Bulldogs
Season:2021
Coach:Luke Beveridge
(7th season)
Captain:Marcus Bontempelli
(2nd season)
Home Ground:Marvel Stadium
Preseason Comp:2021 AAMI Community Series
Regularseason Comp:AFL season
Regularseason Result:5th
Finals Series:Finals series
Finals Result:Runners Up
Club B&Amp;F:Charles Sutton Medal
Leading Goalscorer:Josh Bruce (48)
Highest Attendance:52,402 vs. (Round 7)
Lowest Attendance:0 (multiple times); 7,387 vs. (Round 4) (excluding matches played behind closed doors)
Prevseason:2020
Nextseason:2022

The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football team based in Melbourne, Victoria. Their 2021 season is their 96th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their seventh season under premiership coach Luke Beveridge, and their second season with Marcus Bontempelli as captain. By the end of the home-and-away season, they finished fifth with 15 wins and 7 losses despite topping the ladder for eight weeks.[1] Nevertheless, they were able to make the 2021 Grand Final against Melbourne, where they lost by 74 points to finish the year as runner-up.

Background

The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football team based in Melbourne, Victoria, that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL). They ended the 2020 home-and-away season seventh on the ladder. Their season ended after beat them in the first week of the finals; however, they were able to make the 2021 Grand Final against Melbourne, scheduled for Saturday 25 September 2021.

In the off season, Marcus Bontempelli was named captain of the Western Bulldogs for the second year in a row. Mitch Wallis was named as the vice-captain, which was a role formerly held by Easton Wood. The leadership group was abolished, with players being asked to 'take on more responsibility to guide the team forward'.[2]

Luke Beveridge was head coach for a seventh season.

The Western Bulldogs continued with Mexican foods supplier company Mission Foods as their major sponsor for 2021.

Playing list

2020 off-season changes

At the end of their 2020 season, the Western Bulldogs delisted 2018 leading goalkicker Billy Gowers and 2016 draftees Fergus Greene and Brad Lynch. Veterans Jackson Trengove and Matthew Suckling, as well as 2017 draftee Callum Porter, were delisted after the trade period. The Western Bulldogs only traded one player, Lachie Young, in the trade period, who went to in a three-way trade that saw the Western Bulldogs receive ruckman Stefan Martin; Brisbane and North Melbourne trade picks 63 and 70, respectively; and Lachie Young be sent to . They received out-of-favour midfielder Adam Treloar and picks 26, 33 and 42 in exchange for a first-round and future second-round pick.[3] Finally, Mitch Hannan was also traded to the Bulldogs in exchange for a future third-round pick.[4]

In the 2020 AFL draft, the Bulldogs drafted Next Generation Academy graduate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan with the first pick of the 2020 AFL draft[5] as well as small forward Dominic Bedendo with pick 55.[6] They also obtained midfielder/forward Lachlan McNeil at the rookie draft with pick 11.[7]

Removals from playing list
PlayerReasonGames played
Billy GowersDelisted33[8]
Fergus GreeneDelisted5
Brad LynchDelisted9
Callum PorterDelisted1[9]
Matt SucklingDelisted178 (76 at the Western Bulldogs)
Jackson TrengoveDelisted185 (32 at the Western Bulldogs)
Lachie YoungTraded to 8[10]
Tory DicksonRetired114[11]
Sam LloydRetired89 (32 at the Western Bulldogs)[12]
Additions to playing list
PlayerAcquiredFormer clubFormer league
Traded from AFL
Traded from AFL[13]
Traded from AFL
1, 2020 national draftOakleigh ChargersNAB League
55, 2020 national draftMurray BushrangersNAB League
11, 2020 AFL Rookie draftSANFL

Statistics

Playing list and statistics[14]
PlayerGamesGoalsBehindsKicksHandballsDisposalsMarksTacklesNotes/Milestone(s)
1 17 13 9 186 209 395 50 73 Western Bulldogs debut (Round 1)
2 9 1 1 47 52 99 24 14
3 6 4 2 28 33 61 20 10
4 26 31 19 396 299 695 104 127 150th game (Round 5)"
5 15 5 8 129 220 349 56 78
6 26 17 13 354 259 613 97 87 50th game (Round 9)[15]
7 25 10 7 326 220 546 125 60
8 9 1 0 29 64 93 11 17 Western Bulldogs debut (Round 1)[16]
9 10 0 0 111 48 159 59 14
10 15 2 0 111 65 176 70 22
11 26 6 4 435 445 880 102 128
12 19 0 0 126 57 183 67 38 100th game (Round 21)[17]
13 9 5 4 67 27 94 41 11
14 4 0 2 6 3 9 2 2
15 25 1 0 281 156 437 132 38
16 3 2 2 17 25 42 9 2
17 20 48 21 138 83 221 100 28 150th game (Round 21)
18 1 0 0 6 4 10 5 2
19 16 26 13 120 40 160 48 30
20 5 1 0 43 25 68 16 9
21 25 14 12 285 313 598 65 135 150th game (Round 2)[18]
22 5 7 2 25 10 35 14 8
23 11 6 8 46 50 96 24 26
24 1 0 0 7 4 11 1 1 Category-B Rookie, AFL debut (Round 8)[19]
25 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1
26 0
27 11 2 1 74 79 153 39 22 50th game (Round 5)[20]
28 21 10 8 88 95 183 33 35 Rookie, AFL debut (Round 1)
29 17 14 13 114 53 167 59 51
30 13 7 8 60 51 111 21 24 Rookie, AFL debut (Round 1)
31 26 9 0 447 176 623 100 26
32 0 Rookie
33 25 47 40 186 94 280 153 39
34 23 0 0 247 136 383 104 53
35 25 1 0 364 267 631 100 58
37 14 3 4 79 88 167 29 34 Rookie
38 9 4 3 57 46 103 14 17 AFL debut (Round 11)[21]
39 25 15 12 152 99 251 67 41
41 5 1 2 21 22 43 12 19 Rookie, AFL debut (Round 5)[22]
42 23 0 1 161 117 278 110 43 50th game (Round 2)
43 9 0 0 37 18 55 20 5 Rookie
44 22 19 15 164 126 290 103 63 50th game (Round 3)[23]
46 1 0 1 2 2 4 2 0

Season summary

The fixture for the 2021 season was revealed in December 2020, with each team scheduled to play 22 matches and have a mid-season bye, as was normal prior to COVID-19. Only the first six rounds had times and dates set for the matches, with the remaining dates being confirmed at a later date.[24] The Bulldogs played,,, and twice, and the other teams once each.[25]

The Western Bulldogs' first match of the season was against at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Bulldogs secured their first win of the season, a 16-point win, after leading the entire game. This saw former player Adam Treloar play against his old club for the first time.[26] In Round 2, the Bulldogs played at Marvel Stadium. The game was very even, with the lead switching 11 times throughout the game. Although the Eagles led by 2 goals at three quarter time, the Bulldogs kicked 5 goals to 2, with Bontempelli kicking the sealer, in order to secure the win, which was described as 'the best game of 2021 so far'.[27]

Round 3 saw the team make history as they brutally demolished in the Good Friday marquee match by 128 points, their biggest winning margin in the club's history.[28] [29] Josh Bruce kicked 10 goals, the biggest amount kicked by an AFL player since Ben Brown in 2019.[30] The win propelled them to the top spot of the ladder, with a percentage of 181.6. Round 4 saw the club continue their undefeated streak, after they beat 2020 preliminary finalists by 19 points on a windy day at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.[31] Ruckman turned forward Tim English, new recruit Adam Treloar and the ever-consistent Jack Macrae were named as the team's best on ground after they collected a combined 78 disposals and 4 goals.[32]

The Bulldogs went undefeated for the first five games in a season for the first time since 1946 as they beat by 62 points in a fierce display at Marvel Stadium, scoring 11 goals to 1 in the opening half as 150 gamer Marcus Bontempelli led the way. After conceding the third quarter to the Suns, they pulled away in the final quarter to win by their 2nd biggest margin up to that point.[33] [34] [35] Their undefeated streak continued the following week as the Bulldogs pulled away in a back and forward slog against to claim the victory by 39 points.[36] [37] Lin Jong came back into the team only to injure his hamstring in his fourth game in the senior team since 2018, while the ever-consistent Josh Dunkley dislocated his shoulder and ruckman-turned forward Tim English suffered a head knock.[38] [39]

The Bulldogs suffered their first loss for the season in Round 7 after they lost to reigning premiers by 22 points. Despite leading at half time, they could not hold out against the Tigers, who had been inaccurate in the first half.[40] [41] After being down 27 points at one stage in the third quarter, the Bulldogs grinded out a win against in Round 8, with Bruce and Bontempelli among the best performers for that game after collecting 32 disposals and 5 goals, respectively.[42] [43] The next week saw the team travel to Adelaide Oval to face, where they secured a 19-point win.[44] After kicking 6 goals to 2 in the first term, the exact opposite occurred in the second, with the Bulldogs conceding 6 goals and kicking 2 themselves.[45] However, they managed to pull through with late goals to Cody Weightman and Aaron Naughton, sealing the win.[46]

The Bulldogs again made history in Round 10, recording their biggest-ever win against the Saints[47] and recording two 100-point wins for the first time in one season.[48] Their 111-point victory saw the Bulldogs narrowly keep on top in the first quarter, with a 3-goal-to-2 quarter seeing inaccurate kicking from both sides. However, from there, the Bulldogs would kick 18 of the next 21 goals, with 5 players for the Bulldogs scoring multiple goals.[49] [50] [51] Round 11 saw the Bulldogs get handed their second loss for the season after they were dominated by for the majority of the game, resulting in a 28-point loss.[52] The game was played without crowds due to the impact of the pandemic lockdown occurring in Victoria that week.[53] [54] The team secured another win against at Perth Stadium in Round 12, running out 28-point victors after some inaccurate kicking at goal.[55] [56] It was their first win in the state of Western Australia since the 2016 Elimination Final against the West Coast Eagles, which that year saw them progress into the 2016 finals series.[57]

The Western Bulldogs lost their ladder position in the last few weeks of the home-and-away season, slipping from first to fifth. However, they scored wins against Essendon, Brisbane, and Port Adelaide in the finals to qualify for the 2021 Grand Final against Melbourne.

Results

Regular season results[58]
RoundDayDateResultScoreOpponentScoreGroundAttendance
1Sunday1096971153Melbourne Cricket GroundA46,051
2Sunday141610014993Marvel StadiumH21,391
3Saturday25171675939Marvel StadiumA28.483
4Saturday1013738654Mars StadiumH7,387
5Friday17161188856Marvel StadiumH18,920
6Saturday151410491165Manuka OvalA10,064
7Sunday71355111177Melbourne Cricket GroundA52,402
8Sunday1611107131391Marvel StadiumH27,663
9Sunday1569612577Adelaide OvalA32,787
10Saturday21181445333Marvel StadiumH28,720
11Friday8115913987Marvel StadiumH0
12Sunday13159391165Optus StadiumA32,875
13Bye
14Friday111278121183GMHBA StadiumA6,583
15Sunday1320986743Optus StadiumA0
16Sunday1612108111379Marvel StadiumH18,216
17Sunday81260111379Marvel StadiumH24,817
18Saturday14690111379Metricon StadiumA8,244
19Saturday1378591165Melbourne Cricket GroundH0
20Saturday15151058856Mars StadiumH0
21Sunday12128415797Marvel StadiumH0
22Saturday910645737UTAS StadiumA7,822
23Friday1046491266Marvel StadiumH0
Sunday137 854 12 36UTAS StadiumH9,760rowspan="4"
Friday11137911 12 78The GabbaA30,647
Saturday17141166945Adelaide OvalA26,400
Saturday106662114140Optus StadiumA61,118
H
Home game
scope=rowAAway game
scope=row style="background:#FFC0CB; border:1px solid #aaa; width:3em;"EFElimination final
scope=row style="background:#CCCCFF; border:1px solid #aaa; width:3em;"SFSemi-final
scope=row style="background:#07b51e; border:1px solid #aaa; width:3em;"PFPreliminary final
scope=row style="background:#fdff87; border:1px solid #aaa; width:3em;"GFGrand final

Notes

Ladder

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AFL Tables - Ladders - Year by Year. 2021-09-11. afltables.com.
  2. Web site: Wallis appointed as Bont's deputy for 2021. 18 February 2021. Western Bulldogs Media. 13 April 2021.
  3. Web site: Last-minute drama: Treloar becomes a Bulldog at the death. AFL Media. 12 November 2020. Schmook. Nathan. 14 April 2021.
  4. Web site: Crafty forward enters Kennel for future pick. AFL Media. Schmook. Nathan. 10 November 2020. 14 April 2021.
  5. Web site: 2020 Draft, Pick 1: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. 9 December 2020. Western Bulldogs Media. 13 April 2021.
  6. Web site: 2020 Draft, Pick 55: Dominic Bedendo. Western Bulldogs Media. 9 December 2020. 13 April 2021.
  7. Web site: 2020 Rookie Draft: McNeil arrives, Smith returns. 10 December 2020. 22 March 2021. Western Bulldogs Media.
  8. Web site: Bulldogs confirm list changes. 6 November 2020. Western Bulldogs Media. 13 April 2021.
  9. Web site: Dual premiership player among three Dogs delisted. AFL Media. 13 April 2021. 17 November 2020.
  10. Web site: Trade: Young becomes a Roo. North Melbourne Kangaroos Media. 13 April 2021. 10 November 2020.
  11. Web site: Dog's days are over: Premiership hero calls time. Whiting. Michael. 13 April 2021. 27 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Retirement shock: Dogs forward, ex-Tiger quits despite contract. AFL Media. 13 April 2021. 15 December 2020. Noakes. Cameron.
  13. Web site: Big Lion, young Dog find new homes in three-way trade. AFL Media. 14 April 2021. 10 November 2020. Cleary. Mitch.
  14. Web site: 2021 Player Stats. AFLTables. 14 April 2021.
  15. Web site: Round 9 • Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs - Line Ups. afl.xom.au. 15 November 2021.
  16. Web site: Bulldogs to unveil FOUR Round 1 debutants. Cotton. Ben. 17 March 2021. ZeroHanger. 14 April 2021.
  17. Web site: Round 21 • Western Bulldogs v Essendon - Line Ups. afl.com.au. 15 November 2021.
  18. Web site: Western Bulldogs vs West Coast - Line Ups. afl.com.au. 14 April 2021.
  19. Web site: Dogs stun Blues with final-quarter fightback. Healy. Jonathan. AFL Media. 15 November 2021. 9 May 2021.
  20. Web site: Round 5 • Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns - Line ups. 15 November 2021. afl.com.au.
  21. Web site: Round 11 • Western Bulldogs v Melbourne - Line Ups. 15 November 2021. afl.com.au.
  22. Web site: Sweet to debut. 16 April 2021. 27 April 2021. Western Bulldogs Media.
  23. Web site: North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs - Line Ups. afl.com.au. 14 April 2021.
  24. Web site: Schmook . Nathan . Full AFL fixture reveal: Six rounds locked in, floating schedule unveiled . AFL.com.au . 21 December 2020.
  25. Web site: Fixture breakdown: Double-ups, byes, what your club says. AFL Media. 13 April 2021.
  26. Web site: Treloar gets the last laugh as Dogs dominate disposals. 19 March 2021. 13 April 2021. AFL Media. Cleary. Mitch.
  27. Web site: What a game! Bont inspires Dogs in an instant classic. Twomey. Callum. 28 March 2021. 13 April 2021. AFL Media.
  28. Web site: Western Bulldogs record biggest win in club history against pitiful North Melbourne, Josh Bruce kicks 10 goals. sportingnews.com.au. 2 April 2021. 13 April 2021. Francis. Kieran. 13 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413062837/https://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/western-bulldogs-record-their-biggest-win-in-club-history-against-pitiful-north-melbourne-josh-bruce-kicks-10-goals/1hwlywkcs10lt1jzomhxbl1p2m. dead.
  29. Web site: Josh Bruce kicks 10 in record-breaking Bulldogs win. Ryan. Peter. 2 April 2021. The Age. 13 April 2021.
  30. Web site: Bruce boots massive bag in brutal demolition of dismal Roos. Cleary. Mitch. 2 April 2021. 13 April 2021. AFL Media.
  31. Web site: Dogs master Lions in windy Ballarat to stay perfect. AFL Media. 13 April 2021. 11 April 2021.
  32. Web site: Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane Lions - Player Stats. AFL Media. 13 April 2021.
  33. Web site: Dogs ride 11-goal burst to continue perfect start. AFL Media. 17 April 2021. 24 April 2021. Michael. Luke.
  34. Web site: Gold Coast Suns narrowly avoid historic low against Western Bulldogs. news.com.au. 24 April 2021. Savage. Nic. 17 April 2021.
  35. Web site: Bulldogs party as ‘The Bont’ celebrates 150th in style. Ryan. Peter. 24 April 2021. 17 April 2021.
  36. Web site: Injuries galore as Dogs break Giant shackles late to stay perfect. Pegan. Martin. AFL Media. 23 April 2021. 24 April 2021.
  37. Web site: Western Bulldogs maintain unbeaten start to AFL season with 39-point win over GWS Giants. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 April 2021. 23 April 2021. Coch. Lukas.
  38. Web site: 'It's an emotional night': Dogs count cost of brutal win. Pegan. Martin. 23 April 2021. 24 April 2021. AFL Media.
  39. Web site: ‘That’s shattering’: Injury carnage as Dogs stars face lengthy sideline stints. 24 April 2021. Balmer. Matt. Waterworth. Ben. 24 April 2021. Fox Sports.
  40. Web site: Still the team to beat: Injury-hit Tigers end Dogs' undefeated streak. Beveridge. Riley. 30 April 2021. AFL Media. 21 May 2021.
  41. Web site: ‘Second-rate’ Dogs flaw utterly exposed; Tigers beast roars back into form: The 3-2-1. Laughton. Max. Fox Sports. 21 May 2021. 30 April 2021.
  42. Web site: Dogs stun Blues with final-quarter fightback. Healy. Jonathan. AFL Media. 21 May 2021. 9 May 2021.
  43. Web site: Dogs hound brave Blues into submission. 9 May 2021. Leonard. Owen. 21 May 2021. Herald Sun.
  44. Web site: Western Bulldogs beat Port Adelaide by 19 points, Richmond defeats GWS by four, after wins for Sydney, Nth Melbourne and Brisbane. 15 May 2021. 21 May 2021. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  45. Web site: Western Bulldogs outmuscle Power to move to the top. Barrett. Steve. 15 May 202. The Age. 21 May 2021.
  46. Web site: Brilliant Bulldogs bare their teeth in powerful win over Port. AFL Media. Michael. Luke. 21 May 2021. 15 May 2021.
  47. Web site: Dogs maul Saints, but Treloar injury sours win. Twomey. Callum. AFL Media. 23 May 2021. 22 May 2021.
  48. Web site: AFL Report - Bulldogs back on top with triple-figure win. 22 May 2021. 23 May 2021. Western Bulldogs Media.
  49. Web site: Dogs reclaim ladder lead ahead of defining month; Saints’ season from hell is over: The 3-2-1. Laughton. Max. 22 May 2021. Fox Sports.
  50. Web site: Adelaide Crows pip Melbourne in AFL thriller, Western Bulldogs hammer St Kilda by 111 points. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2021. 22 May 2021.
  51. Web site: Dogs hand Saints brutal reality check with third thrashing of the year. Gould. Russell. 23 May 2021. 23 May 2021. news.com.au.
  52. Web site: What a statement! Dees dismantle Dogs to take top spot. AFL Media. Twomey. Callum. 28 June 2021. 28 May 2021.
  53. Web site: Eerie scenes as AFL blockbuster proceeds without a crowd. Lerner. Ronny. Bruce. Jasper. news.com.au. 28 May 2021. 28 June 2021.
  54. Web site: No blockbuster for Bulldogs as AFL counts lockdown cost. Ryan. Peter. The Age. 28 June 2021. 27 May 2021.
  55. Web site: Injury ‘carnage’ puts Freo’s season in peril, Dogs break Optus Stadium hoodoo: The 3-2-1. Laughton. Max. Cotton. Ben. Fox Sports. 28 June 2021. 7 June 2021.
  56. Web site: Purple pain: Dogs too good for injury-devastated Dockers. Schmook. Nathan. 28 June 2021. 6 June 2021. AFL Media.
  57. Web site: AFL TEAM - Round 12. 4 June 2021. Western Bulldogs Media. 28 June 2021.
  58. Web site: 2021 Season Scores and Results . AFL Tables . 28 March 2021.

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