Those plucky Bulldogs are giving their fans something to be proud of and, rightfully, letting them dare to dream.
They’ve won two of their first three games, lost the other by a goal, but more importantly, have appeared to be rejuvenated and shown great resilience in the face of some pretty significant obstacles.
Marcus Bontempelli is an inevitable constant. The best player in the league has rarely missed any time throughout his career, and that sort of consistent presence being available acts as a sort of safeguard, protecting the floor of the Bulldogs, regardless of how the rest of the team performs.
When his absence for the opening stanza of the season was announced, the Bulldogs’ chances of success this season were dashed. Add to that the longer-term layoff for All-Australian midfielder Adam Treloar, vitally important small forward Cody Weightman and the initial unclear timeline on Liam Jones, and it all seemed pretty diabolical.
There have been countless examples of clubs suffering from such important injuries in the season across a multitude of sports, and it resulting in an immediate write-off.
Yet, faced with such difficulties, an argument can be made that Bulldogs fans haven’t been this excited with their club since 2021.
It’s been a long while now that coach Luke Beveridge has been harangued by all corners of the football world, and this weekly piece is not excluded. There have been moments when the media has gone too hard. At times, it’s been justifiable – moments of brilliance have mixed with moments of footballing tactical turpitude.
Coaches don’t last this long at the same club without experiencing the ups and the downs. Supporters have been equally as volatile with their emotions towards the coach.
That aforementioned rejuvenation of the Bulldogs, an almost freshened look at the game that we’ve seen in the first three weeks, it’s coincided with perhaps the most carefree and refreshed Beveridge since perhaps even the flag nearly a decade ago.
That’s not to absolve him of all criticism and to indicate that a contract extension should be in his immediate future, but there’s a different vibe with him and the Bulldogs at the moment, which ought to be celebrated and commended.
Faced with the absence of the face of the Bulldogs and other key pieces, including the uncertainty around star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Beveridge embraced the challenge and offered it as an opportunity to his players. They’re certainly playing like it.
Tom Liberatore is the heart and soul of the club, even if the personal accolades are severely lacking despite being in the upper echelon of inside midfielders for years. The captaincy in Bontempelli’s absence is more of a title than anything else – he is the guy the players look up to.
But respectfully, it’s what’s been happening around Liberatore that has earned the Bulldogs victories and certainly the plaudits of many.
Albeit in a small sample size, Champion Data has them ranked third fastest in a new system ranking ball movement. They’re taking the game on while playing gritty footy. They’re committed to getting the ball forward, but not as committed as they are to putting in the hard yards defensively.
And who’s there to stand up in the absence of key personnel?
Many predicted that Ed Richards was due to break out in season 2025 and so far has averaged 26 disposals, five clearances, seven inside 50s and having five goal assists in three games. He has established himself as a damaging force through the middle.
Sam Darcy celebrates a goal. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
There were murmurings that the fitness and strength of Joel Freijah elevated both the floor and ceiling of what he could be in the offseason. His debut season across half-back was extremely good.
When Beveridge identifies a talent, he piles the responsibility onto them. The 19-year-old is playing through the middle and across half-back; he’s pushing into an offensive midfield role, and they’re trying to get the ball in his hands. He’s had a couple of clutch moments already in season 2025.
Divisive, yet incredibly impressive against Carlton to elevate his stocks, Ryley Sanders is unfairly maligned in his second season, but the brutal nature of his game when in the middle, as well as hitting the scoreboard, is encouraging.
Matt Kennedy’s recruitment and inclusion almost typifies what the Bulldogs are about, he certainly has a team-first mentality to the nth degree that is in such alignment with Liberatore that it almost makes too much sense.
The way his Carlton career was, quite frankly, a disgrace. The start of his career at his third club has been superb.
That’s really why the Bulldogs have been so impressive and a source of pride for their supporters. You can’t replace absences man-for-man, it has to be done by committee.
Liam Jones has been back for a game. Without him, James O’Donnell stood up, Luke Cleary got a go, and Buku Khamis, an undersized key defender, has been great.
Rory Lobb was nearly out the door halfway through 2024. He’ll be eyeing an All-Australian blazer this year.
Say what you want about Beveridge’s treatment of Jack Macrae, but his support and backing of Sam Davidson, a genuine wing player who cut his teeth as more of an offensive hub at VFL level, has seen the Bulldogs stretch the field better.
No Weightman? No Ugle-Hagan? No skipper? Naughton is completely out of form? The Bulldogs are attacking games by committee. Of the 20 players who have featured in every game, all bar Harvey Gallagher and Lachie Bramble – back pockets – have hit the scoreboard.
Naturally, when a budding superstar of the game is your focal point, it makes everything a little easier.
Every positive affirmation that is shared about Sam Darcy is true; he’s truly unstoppable with good service, his use around the ground on both sides of his body is exceptional, and quite frankly, his impact on the ruck contest is the best the Bulldogs’ have at the minute. Just wait for some improved support around him, and we’ll see the team’s score increase drastically.
They’re using the handball a little more than last year, a byproduct of Liberatore being in the clinches and Sanders’ tendency to avoid kicking it. The pressure numbers are nothing special, but the positioning of the likes of Tim English, Joel Freijah and Bailey Williams when defending full-ground has allowed Lobb to approach intercepting with freedom.
It’s the best intercepting stretch we’ve seen from the Bulldogs, and it’s purely structural.
Of course, it’s results that ultimately matter for fans and the public opinion on the coach, rightfully so, a decade in. It only takes a couple of bad losses in a row for this all to turn around.
Fremantle in Perth into Brisbane in Gather Round is a tough fortnight. They shouldn’t be expected to win either game, but that’s sort of the point of all this.
The Bulldogs have been plucky and resilient. The youth are bringing this club forward, and the veterans are as energised by it as they are the instigators of the youth’s exuberance.
Eventually, the two, three and four star players will all return, and they’ll be coming into a team that will afford them the luxuries of meaningful versatility that we see from the very best teams in the league, rather than the classic hopeful magnet-throwing that the coach has been guilty of.
It can be easy to play without a heap of expectations, but upholding the current spirit when the expectations return will be a specific challenge to overcome.
Right now, they’re fun, they’re tough and they’re around the mark. The fans should be proud, the coaches should be proud and the players should be proud.
Footy’s never been closer top-to-bottom, so it begs the simple question that this rejuvenated team should be asking in season 2025: why not us?
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