What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 4
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- Mar 27, 2004
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The ‘media’ are **** wits.
Article on the AFL website
WITH his mop of bleached blond hair, it's little surprise Cody Weightman often trades the Sherrin for a surfboard.
During this off-season the Western Bulldogs forward, free of surgery, took that passion to Indonesia.
And while Weightman lapped up time in the sun in Bali, it was around 150 kilometres off the western coast of Sumatra in the Mentawai Islands the 23-year-old derived, what he describes, as some serious "benefits".
Training in the heat – alongside three-time premiership Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin – has seen Weightman return to Whitten Oval in peak condition, slashing time off his PBs.
"I definitely still train when I'm travelling and I think a big part of it is if you do go away, you come back refreshed and you actually want to run," Weightman said.
"When I've had surgery, it obviously doesn't help with your running, but I think sometimes you can get caught in a bit of an off-season grind and you're just running to the program because you have to.
"Me and Nick trained in the Mentawai and we got some got some good heat benefits from that, I think, which is a bonus.
"To come back really refreshed, I think is the main thing.
"And you actually want to train hard because you've had worse facilities over there. And it feels easier when you're here, which is great."
Emblematic of his team, Weightman navigated a frustrating road in 2023. Groin surgery kept him grounded for the first month of the season.
"I had a few little things last year and probably my whole career so far. I think that's just a part of footy, really," he says.
"I think the biggest thing for me is just I've learnt how to play through injury now so when I do feel fresh, that's exciting.
"And I'm feeling pretty good at the moment. No surgery is a massive win."
On the day of this interview, Weightman is playing in spurts through the midfield in match simulation. He calls it his "second favourite" position – and that's premise of this particular part of the session, to have a go in another part of the ground.
Weightman says he's "open" to attending more centre bounces, but he doesn't promise anything flashy.
"There was a little bit of that last year here and there, but we'll see what the team sort of needs. And if it's that, then that'll be exciting," he said.
"I'd look to come in and provide a bit of energy. Just make it messy, I think.
"Nothing too fancy or clean. I'll leave that to (captain Marcus Bontempelli) and a few of the other guys that are bona fide midfielders."
One guy that won't feature in the guts at all this season is Bailey Smith. The cult figure is diligently doing his rehab in the Bulldogs' new-look gym in what is his last contracted season at Whitten Oval.
Smith's ACL injury, suffered in December. has largely been described as a devastating blow, but Weightman is more of a half-glass full kind of person.
"This is another challenge for him and I'm sure he's going to crunch it," Weightman said.
"I had a good chat to him about the opportunities this actually provides for him.
"For someone in his in his peak powers, to have a year off and focus on a few other things as well as footy, I think that's really exciting for him.
"Hopefully next year he can come out and have some real impact for us. But I think it's exciting, too, off field. He's going to do some big things, I think."
While Smith won't be part of coach Luke Beveridge's midfield mix this year, another first-round draft pick is every chance.
Ryley Sanders – selected at No.6 at last year's AFL Draft – is impressing with his professionalism off the field, and his talent on it.
"He's a great kid, really disciplined," Weightman said.
"He's fitting in really well. He's an exciting player, really clean, and looks to drive his legs out of stoppages.
"He's done everything right so far."
Looking around Whitten Oval the changes are obvious.
The new indoor training facilities are first-class, while the Whitten Stand is in its final phases of the build.
Then there's the coaching panel. In: Alex Johnson, Matt Egan, Jarryn Geary, Daniel Pratt. Out: Rohan Smith, Marc Webb, Travis Varcoe, Stefan Martin.
It's a fair amount of change. But Weightman is confident they are the additional building blocks the club needs to realise the potential of its list – and get back to the kind of form that took the Bulldogs to the 2021 Grand Final.
"I think over the last couple of years we've talked about we feel like our team's actually gotten better since '21 when we challenged for premierships," Weightman said.
"Some things are starting to come together now at the club and it's starting to feel like it's running really smoothly.
"So I think that's going to go a long way to hopefully seeing a bit of on-field success."
WITH his mop of bleached blond hair, it's little surprise Cody Weightman often trades the Sherrin for a surfboard.
During this off-season the Western Bulldogs forward, free of surgery, took that passion to Indonesia.
And while Weightman lapped up time in the sun in Bali, it was around 150 kilometres off the western coast of Sumatra in the Mentawai Islands the 23-year-old derived, what he describes, as some serious "benefits".
Training in the heat – alongside three-time premiership Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin – has seen Weightman return to Whitten Oval in peak condition, slashing time off his PBs.
"I definitely still train when I'm travelling and I think a big part of it is if you do go away, you come back refreshed and you actually want to run," Weightman said.
"When I've had surgery, it obviously doesn't help with your running, but I think sometimes you can get caught in a bit of an off-season grind and you're just running to the program because you have to.
"Me and Nick trained in the Mentawai and we got some got some good heat benefits from that, I think, which is a bonus.
"To come back really refreshed, I think is the main thing.
"And you actually want to train hard because you've had worse facilities over there. And it feels easier when you're here, which is great."
Emblematic of his team, Weightman navigated a frustrating road in 2023. Groin surgery kept him grounded for the first month of the season.
"I had a few little things last year and probably my whole career so far. I think that's just a part of footy, really," he says.
"I think the biggest thing for me is just I've learnt how to play through injury now so when I do feel fresh, that's exciting.
"And I'm feeling pretty good at the moment. No surgery is a massive win."
On the day of this interview, Weightman is playing in spurts through the midfield in match simulation. He calls it his "second favourite" position – and that's premise of this particular part of the session, to have a go in another part of the ground.
Weightman says he's "open" to attending more centre bounces, but he doesn't promise anything flashy.
"There was a little bit of that last year here and there, but we'll see what the team sort of needs. And if it's that, then that'll be exciting," he said.
"I'd look to come in and provide a bit of energy. Just make it messy, I think.
"Nothing too fancy or clean. I'll leave that to (captain Marcus Bontempelli) and a few of the other guys that are bona fide midfielders."
One guy that won't feature in the guts at all this season is Bailey Smith. The cult figure is diligently doing his rehab in the Bulldogs' new-look gym in what is his last contracted season at Whitten Oval.
Smith's ACL injury, suffered in December. has largely been described as a devastating blow, but Weightman is more of a half-glass full kind of person.
"This is another challenge for him and I'm sure he's going to crunch it," Weightman said.
"I had a good chat to him about the opportunities this actually provides for him.
"For someone in his in his peak powers, to have a year off and focus on a few other things as well as footy, I think that's really exciting for him.
"Hopefully next year he can come out and have some real impact for us. But I think it's exciting, too, off field. He's going to do some big things, I think."
While Smith won't be part of coach Luke Beveridge's midfield mix this year, another first-round draft pick is every chance.
Ryley Sanders – selected at No.6 at last year's AFL Draft – is impressing with his professionalism off the field, and his talent on it.
"He's a great kid, really disciplined," Weightman said.
"He's fitting in really well. He's an exciting player, really clean, and looks to drive his legs out of stoppages.
"He's done everything right so far."
Looking around Whitten Oval the changes are obvious.
The new indoor training facilities are first-class, while the Whitten Stand is in its final phases of the build.
Then there's the coaching panel. In: Alex Johnson, Matt Egan, Jarryn Geary, Daniel Pratt. Out: Rohan Smith, Marc Webb, Travis Varcoe, Stefan Martin.
It's a fair amount of change. But Weightman is confident they are the additional building blocks the club needs to realise the potential of its list – and get back to the kind of form that took the Bulldogs to the 2021 Grand Final.
"I think over the last couple of years we've talked about we feel like our team's actually gotten better since '21 when we challenged for premierships," Weightman said.
"Some things are starting to come together now at the club and it's starting to feel like it's running really smoothly.
"So I think that's going to go a long way to hopefully seeing a bit of on-field success."
- Oct 11, 2014
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Kane is at again he never misses an opportunity to comment on Bevo mostly negative but this time as a lucky winner. Bevo better have a good year or he is going have everyone gunning for him starting with the media and dogs supporters. He simply has to have the dogs humming from round 1,
SEN1116 WEBPAGE
Kane Cornes has anointed Luke Beveridge as the big winner from the weekend just gone.
Cornes came to that conclusion following the findings from the Western Bulldogs’ internal review coming to light.
While the club made some changes after the review with Matthew Egan appointed to the new role of GM of Football Operations and Chris Grant moving into an Executive Director of Football role, Beveridge was seemingly spared any real scrutiny.
On top of escaping the internal review without blame, Beveridge has now been linked to Fremantle with a report in The West Australian stating that the Dockers are keen to poach the Bulldogs coach if Justin Longmuir is sacked during the 2024 season.
Cornes believes this interest gives Beveridge leverage at the Bulldogs again and is in a great bargaining position despite the side disappointingly missing out on playing finals in 2023.
“My weekend winner is Luke Beveridge. He survives the external review,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“It looks as though they've overlooked all of the flaws - the inability to stop momentum, not maximizing the list, the selection issues that he's had, the run-ons that he can't stop.
“All the blame has been lumped onto Chris Grant, clearly.
“Not only that, we now have a report in The West Australian is reporting that the Dockers are going to target Luke Beveridge as their next coach.
“Meaning that Beveridge once again has significant leverage - just as he did when he got that two-year contract extension after the Saints sacked Brett Ratten. They thought, ‘Oh, the Saints might go and get him. Let’s give him an extension’. One they didn’t need to give him.
“He's got leverage. What a weekend for Luke Beveridge. I thought he was a significant winner.”
SEN1116 WEBPAGE
Kane Cornes has anointed Luke Beveridge as the big winner from the weekend just gone.
Cornes came to that conclusion following the findings from the Western Bulldogs’ internal review coming to light.
While the club made some changes after the review with Matthew Egan appointed to the new role of GM of Football Operations and Chris Grant moving into an Executive Director of Football role, Beveridge was seemingly spared any real scrutiny.
On top of escaping the internal review without blame, Beveridge has now been linked to Fremantle with a report in The West Australian stating that the Dockers are keen to poach the Bulldogs coach if Justin Longmuir is sacked during the 2024 season.
Cornes believes this interest gives Beveridge leverage at the Bulldogs again and is in a great bargaining position despite the side disappointingly missing out on playing finals in 2023.
“My weekend winner is Luke Beveridge. He survives the external review,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“It looks as though they've overlooked all of the flaws - the inability to stop momentum, not maximizing the list, the selection issues that he's had, the run-ons that he can't stop.
“All the blame has been lumped onto Chris Grant, clearly.
“Not only that, we now have a report in The West Australian is reporting that the Dockers are going to target Luke Beveridge as their next coach.
“Meaning that Beveridge once again has significant leverage - just as he did when he got that two-year contract extension after the Saints sacked Brett Ratten. They thought, ‘Oh, the Saints might go and get him. Let’s give him an extension’. One they didn’t need to give him.
“He's got leverage. What a weekend for Luke Beveridge. I thought he was a significant winner.”
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We don't know whether Beveridge escaped blame. The findings and recommendations weren't released.Kane is at again he never misses an opportunity to comment on Bevo mostly negative but this time as a lucky winner. Bevo better have a good year or he is going have everyone gunning for him starting with the media and dogs supporters. He simply has to have the dogs humming from round 1,
SEN1116 WEBPAGE
Kane Cornes has anointed Luke Beveridge as the big winner from the weekend just gone.
Cornes came to that conclusion following the findings from the Western Bulldogs’ internal review coming to light.
While the club made some changes after the review with Matthew Egan appointed to the new role of GM of Football Operations and Chris Grant moving into an Executive Director of Football role, Beveridge was seemingly spared any real scrutiny.
On top of escaping the internal review without blame, Beveridge has now been linked to Fremantle with a report in The West Australian stating that the Dockers are keen to poach the Bulldogs coach if Justin Longmuir is sacked during the 2024 season.
Cornes believes this interest gives Beveridge leverage at the Bulldogs again and is in a great bargaining position despite the side disappointingly missing out on playing finals in 2023.
“My weekend winner is Luke Beveridge. He survives the external review,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“It looks as though they've overlooked all of the flaws - the inability to stop momentum, not maximizing the list, the selection issues that he's had, the run-ons that he can't stop.
“All the blame has been lumped onto Chris Grant, clearly.
“Not only that, we now have a report in The West Australian is reporting that the Dockers are going to target Luke Beveridge as their next coach.
“Meaning that Beveridge once again has significant leverage - just as he did when he got that two-year contract extension after the Saints sacked Brett Ratten. They thought, ‘Oh, the Saints might go and get him. Let’s give him an extension’. One they didn’t need to give him.
“He's got leverage. What a weekend for Luke Beveridge. I thought he was a significant winner.”
IMO there's a decent chance that he copped a serve in the confidential part of the review report (which is 100% of it at this stage).
However Cornes should know that the Dogs were never going to sack Beveridge as a result of this review. The club had pretty much made that clear with all its other actions since Rd 24.
He might be a tiny fraction closer to the mark with his comments about St Kilda and the unnecessary Beveridge extension but I'd hope we wouldn't be dumb enough to make that same mistake again just because somebody wrote a speculative off-season article about Freo and Longmuir.
- Nov 16, 2015
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Kane Cornes reminds me of some Big Footy posters.
- Sep 14, 2015
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When has Cornes ever let a lack of information stop him from drawing the conclusions that suit his narrative?
Article on the AFL website
ALL-AUSTRALIAN ruckman Tim English has returned to full contact training on the Western Bulldogs' pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast, but it was the form of two new midfielders – James Harmes and Ryley Sanders – that caught the eye during Thursday's match simulation at Maroochydore Sports Complex.
English has experienced an interrupted pre-season at the Whitten Oval, completing all the conditioning work but sitting out contact training in December and January due to migraine-related symptoms.
The 26-year-old transitioned back into full training on Tuesday during a wet and wild session in Maroochydore that saw more than 200mm of rain saturate the region, before being unleashed across 80 minutes of match simulation in sapping Queensland heat and humidity.
Harmes is on a path to face his old side Melbourne in the Dogs' opener at the MCG on March 17 after producing a standout performance in conditions that had it all – pouring rain, scorching heat and wild wind – kicking four goals and finding plenty of the ball, dividing his time between the midfield and half-forward.
The 28-year-old sought a fresh start last October after his senior opportunities dried up in 2023 – Harmes played nine times for Simon Goodwin's team despite strong VFL form – moving to the kennel on a three-year contract in exchange for a future third-round pick.
With star midfielder Bailey Smithrupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in December and forced to watch on from the sidelines this week, Harmes' recruitment has grown in value since the paperwork was submitted during the Trade Period.
Sanders is the other fresh name that looks almost certain to make his debut in round one, adding another compelling match simulation session to an impressive maiden pre-season to date.
The 2023 pick No.6 played almost the entire scratch match in the midfield and amassed plenty of disposals, cutting the game apart at times with his hands and feet, as well as making an impact at stoppage with his tackling and clearance work. The Tasmanian will start the season as one of the favourites for the Rising Star award if he maintains this form across the final block of the pre-season.
After being around the mark for a debut this time last year before injuries derailed his pre-season and disrupted his first campaign, Harvey Gallagher is firmly in the hunt for an early-season debut after banking a strong second pre-season.
The 20-year-old produced some eye-catching moments playing in the midfield on Thursday and is rated highly internally. If the Bendigo Pioneers product performs in the pre-season matches against Hawthorn at Whitten Oval on February 23 and at University of Tasmania Stadium on March 2, Gallagher will come under serious consideration for a debut in round one.
Veteran key defender Liam Jones was close to best on ground on Thursday, using the knowhow he gained playing a season for Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL to master the tricky conditions, regularly finding a fist to provide a late spoil or cutting across to haul in an intercept mark.
After finishing fifth in the Charles Sutton Medal in his first season back at the club – and back in the AFL after sitting out the 2022 season – Jones will be the key pillar in defence again for Luke Beveridge, but he might be joined on a permanent basis by James O'Donnell.
With former Adelaide backman Alex Keath still recovering from the knee soreness that has limited his pre-season since December, O'Donnell has thrived playing as a key back and has developed at a rapid rate across his first pre-season at the club after being signed as a Category B Rookie in April, before playing 12 games last year after making his debut in round nine.
Buku Khamis played alongside Jones and O'Donnell and spent a chunk of the match simulation matched up on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. After kicking 41 goals in the VFL in 2023, the 191cm swingman has returned to a spot down back and made inroads this summer.
Star key forward Aaron Naughtonremained at the hotel in Mooloolaba and didn't feature on Thursday due to illness, creating more opportunities for Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy to compete for the third tall/second ruck spot ahead of the clash against the Demons in 45 days.
Lobb has shouldered most of the ruck load in the absence of English during the pre-season, but Darcy has overcome the nightmare injury run that limited the 2021 No.2 pick to only seven AFL games to date and he looks ready to play on a more regular basis in 2024.
Both had their moments in challenging conditions, with Darcy hitting the scoreboard with a couple of goals to continue his strong form. The Dogs are unlikely to play both in the same side alongside Naughton and Ugle-Hagan. Expect that spot to be a point of selection intrigue across the next month or two.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli built into the session like he has built into his 11th pre-season in the AFL. The five-time All-Australian and five-time best-and-fairest winner hasn't missed a beat since returning to full training at the start of January after recovering from ankle surgery in November, producing game-breaking moments in the second half.
Former Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Adam Treloar also made an impact playing in the midfield and has banked almost a full pre-season after recovering from ankle surgery this time last year.
Much to the enjoyment of the players and football department, new development coaches Jarryn Geary and Alex Johnson featured in the early stages of the game, helping fill the numbers. Neither found too much of the ball, but more importantly, the former St Kilda captain and the Sydney premiership player exited the game without injuries.
ALL-AUSTRALIAN ruckman Tim English has returned to full contact training on the Western Bulldogs' pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast, but it was the form of two new midfielders – James Harmes and Ryley Sanders – that caught the eye during Thursday's match simulation at Maroochydore Sports Complex.
English has experienced an interrupted pre-season at the Whitten Oval, completing all the conditioning work but sitting out contact training in December and January due to migraine-related symptoms.
The 26-year-old transitioned back into full training on Tuesday during a wet and wild session in Maroochydore that saw more than 200mm of rain saturate the region, before being unleashed across 80 minutes of match simulation in sapping Queensland heat and humidity.
Harmes is on a path to face his old side Melbourne in the Dogs' opener at the MCG on March 17 after producing a standout performance in conditions that had it all – pouring rain, scorching heat and wild wind – kicking four goals and finding plenty of the ball, dividing his time between the midfield and half-forward.
The 28-year-old sought a fresh start last October after his senior opportunities dried up in 2023 – Harmes played nine times for Simon Goodwin's team despite strong VFL form – moving to the kennel on a three-year contract in exchange for a future third-round pick.
With star midfielder Bailey Smithrupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in December and forced to watch on from the sidelines this week, Harmes' recruitment has grown in value since the paperwork was submitted during the Trade Period.
Sanders is the other fresh name that looks almost certain to make his debut in round one, adding another compelling match simulation session to an impressive maiden pre-season to date.
The 2023 pick No.6 played almost the entire scratch match in the midfield and amassed plenty of disposals, cutting the game apart at times with his hands and feet, as well as making an impact at stoppage with his tackling and clearance work. The Tasmanian will start the season as one of the favourites for the Rising Star award if he maintains this form across the final block of the pre-season.
After being around the mark for a debut this time last year before injuries derailed his pre-season and disrupted his first campaign, Harvey Gallagher is firmly in the hunt for an early-season debut after banking a strong second pre-season.
The 20-year-old produced some eye-catching moments playing in the midfield on Thursday and is rated highly internally. If the Bendigo Pioneers product performs in the pre-season matches against Hawthorn at Whitten Oval on February 23 and at University of Tasmania Stadium on March 2, Gallagher will come under serious consideration for a debut in round one.
Veteran key defender Liam Jones was close to best on ground on Thursday, using the knowhow he gained playing a season for Palm Beach Currumbin in the QAFL to master the tricky conditions, regularly finding a fist to provide a late spoil or cutting across to haul in an intercept mark.
After finishing fifth in the Charles Sutton Medal in his first season back at the club – and back in the AFL after sitting out the 2022 season – Jones will be the key pillar in defence again for Luke Beveridge, but he might be joined on a permanent basis by James O'Donnell.
With former Adelaide backman Alex Keath still recovering from the knee soreness that has limited his pre-season since December, O'Donnell has thrived playing as a key back and has developed at a rapid rate across his first pre-season at the club after being signed as a Category B Rookie in April, before playing 12 games last year after making his debut in round nine.
Buku Khamis played alongside Jones and O'Donnell and spent a chunk of the match simulation matched up on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. After kicking 41 goals in the VFL in 2023, the 191cm swingman has returned to a spot down back and made inroads this summer.
Star key forward Aaron Naughtonremained at the hotel in Mooloolaba and didn't feature on Thursday due to illness, creating more opportunities for Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy to compete for the third tall/second ruck spot ahead of the clash against the Demons in 45 days.
Lobb has shouldered most of the ruck load in the absence of English during the pre-season, but Darcy has overcome the nightmare injury run that limited the 2021 No.2 pick to only seven AFL games to date and he looks ready to play on a more regular basis in 2024.
Both had their moments in challenging conditions, with Darcy hitting the scoreboard with a couple of goals to continue his strong form. The Dogs are unlikely to play both in the same side alongside Naughton and Ugle-Hagan. Expect that spot to be a point of selection intrigue across the next month or two.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli built into the session like he has built into his 11th pre-season in the AFL. The five-time All-Australian and five-time best-and-fairest winner hasn't missed a beat since returning to full training at the start of January after recovering from ankle surgery in November, producing game-breaking moments in the second half.
Former Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney midfielder Adam Treloar also made an impact playing in the midfield and has banked almost a full pre-season after recovering from ankle surgery this time last year.
Much to the enjoyment of the players and football department, new development coaches Jarryn Geary and Alex Johnson featured in the early stages of the game, helping fill the numbers. Neither found too much of the ball, but more importantly, the former St Kilda captain and the Sydney premiership player exited the game without injuries.
- Nov 16, 2015
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Liking the Gallagher form 
Ch 7 advising of aBulldog mid not being fit for round 1 in their 6.50 news bulletin. If it’s about Bailey Smith I will “spew up”. Anyone heard anything?
Apparently Macrae did a hammy. Classed as minor
Article on the AFL website
WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae has suffered a setback in his preparations for round one with the three-time All-Australian injuring his hamstring on the club's pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.
The 29-year-old sustained the low-grade hamstring strain on Tuesday and didn't feature in Thursday's intraclub at Maroochydore Sports Complex, completing a running session with the rehab group instead.
Macrae is only expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks and should be available to play some minutes in the match simulation against Hawthorn later this month.
Bailey Williams was part of more than a handful of players that didn't play in the 8 x 10-minute match simulation session, after entering the AFL's concussion protocols last week following a brutal collision with draftee Aiden O'Driscoll at Whitten Oval.
O'Driscoll spent last Friday night in hospital following the collision and has travelled to Queensland, but the club will take a conservative approach with the West Australian.
Aaron Naughton didn't play due to illness and remained in the hotel on Thursday, while first-round pick Jordan Croft is also sidelined with shin soreness.
Veteran key defender Alex Keath is closing in on a return to full fitness and could return to the main group next week ahead of the pre-season matches.
The 32-year-old has been on a modified program since December due to lingering knee soreness.
Laitham Vandermeer is also recovering from a low-grade hamstring strain and is expected to return to full fitness within the next fortnight.
Star midfielder Bailey Smith is on the camp in Mooloolaba completing the early stages of his rehabilitation program after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training in December.
Luke Beveridge's side faces Hawthorn twiceahead of the Bulldogs' round one clash against Melbourne on March 17.
WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae has suffered a setback in his preparations for round one with the three-time All-Australian injuring his hamstring on the club's pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast.
The 29-year-old sustained the low-grade hamstring strain on Tuesday and didn't feature in Thursday's intraclub at Maroochydore Sports Complex, completing a running session with the rehab group instead.
Macrae is only expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks and should be available to play some minutes in the match simulation against Hawthorn later this month.
Bailey Williams was part of more than a handful of players that didn't play in the 8 x 10-minute match simulation session, after entering the AFL's concussion protocols last week following a brutal collision with draftee Aiden O'Driscoll at Whitten Oval.
O'Driscoll spent last Friday night in hospital following the collision and has travelled to Queensland, but the club will take a conservative approach with the West Australian.
Aaron Naughton didn't play due to illness and remained in the hotel on Thursday, while first-round pick Jordan Croft is also sidelined with shin soreness.
Veteran key defender Alex Keath is closing in on a return to full fitness and could return to the main group next week ahead of the pre-season matches.
The 32-year-old has been on a modified program since December due to lingering knee soreness.
Laitham Vandermeer is also recovering from a low-grade hamstring strain and is expected to return to full fitness within the next fortnight.
Star midfielder Bailey Smith is on the camp in Mooloolaba completing the early stages of his rehabilitation program after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training in December.
Luke Beveridge's side faces Hawthorn twiceahead of the Bulldogs' round one clash against Melbourne on March 17.
- May 23, 2019
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Vandermeer and a hammy strain, name a more iconic duo
Death and taxes yada yada yada
Unfortunately story of Vandermeer’s career
dogwatch
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I'm not keen on labelling players "injury prone". Sometimes it's just bad luck rather than physical constitution. I think Roarke was probably in that category.
However repetitive soft tissue injury, especially to a hamstring, is a type of injury that we know certain players can be particularly susceptible to. Often it's the speedy types like JJ and VDM but sometimes it's other types like Kretiuk and Easton Wood. I think in the case of these last two we developed a physio and rehab routine that kept them out of trouble for longer periods, but even with them it wasn't possible to eliminate the hamstrings strains completely.
The big difference among those four is that only three of them were walk-up starts in the senior 22. Those three have had a long history of solid achievement. Wood won a Charles Sutton Medal and both JJ and Kretiuk were CSM runners-up.
By contrast I don't think Vandermeer has ever had a "breakout game" let alone put together a season worthy of a top 10 in the CSM.
Patience and persistence is justified with players like Wood and JJ because you know that the payoffs are really good if they can stay on the park. I can't imagine the club will have much more patience with VDM if he keeps pinging his hammy. I'm just very surprised to see that his contract doesn't expire until the end of 2025. Lucky kid!
Sen Article
Dual premiership Kangaroo David King is tipping young pup Ryley Sanders to take out the 2024 Rising Star after watching the Western Bulldogs’ pre-season training.
Sanders, who turned 19 in late January, joined the Dogs with pick six in last year’s National Draft and has turned heads since coming to Whitten Oval.
Standing at 185cm, Sanders was a clean-handed inside midfielder as a junior who had no trouble finding the footy.
With Bailey Smith to miss all of 2024 after rupturing his ACL, there’s a spot in Luke Beveridge’s starting lineup that Sanders could fill.
King believes the youngster will grab it with both hands.
“They’ve probably got, in my opinion, the Rising Star winner for this year. Ryley Sanders, mate, he is just a sensation,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“His work in tight was really competent for an 18-year-old body coming in and playing against men, sometimes they (draftees) can take a backwards step and spectate.
“He was in, he was creating, he was linking up and getting to the next contest as quick as the seasoned campaigners.
“I loved him. I thought he was terrific.”
Sanders is just one reason why King remains confident in the Dogs bouncing back to form in 2024.
Beveridge’s men narrowly missed finals in 2023 but have undergone a restructure of the footy department and coaching panel over the off-season, with optimism once again high at the Kennel.
“I’m going to be a believer in the Bulldogs. I think they’ve got wildcard talent, the talls,” King added.
“Sam Darcy put on a clinic (up forward) when I watched training… they used Aaron Naughton a lot higher up the field, he becomes like a Jeremy Cameron kicking the ball inside 50 but also rolling back in, so he becomes a different matchup.
“If Darcy and Jamarra (Ugle-Hagan) can hold up as deep forwards, you get some flexibility with what you can do with Naughton and to me, that’s a game-changer.”
But while the Dogs have plenty of assets forward of the footy, 2023 proved it’s a different story in defence.
After Round 11, the backline proved an Achilles heel in leaking over 80 points a game on average. King believes the reshuffle in the assistant coach ranks will play a big role in addressing that.
“Well they’ve got Daniel Pratt in, he’s come from West Coast. He was, in a large way, responsible for the (Eagles') web back in their halcyon days,” he said.
“He’s a smart football mind. I’m backing him in to provide sound advice for Bevo… it’s a good time to walk in as an assistant coach.”
The Western Bulldogs re-signed Beveridge on a two-year contract at the start of 2023, but the 2016 premiership coach remains under plenty of pressure for a hot start to the season.
Dual premiership Kangaroo David King is tipping young pup Ryley Sanders to take out the 2024 Rising Star after watching the Western Bulldogs’ pre-season training.
Sanders, who turned 19 in late January, joined the Dogs with pick six in last year’s National Draft and has turned heads since coming to Whitten Oval.
Standing at 185cm, Sanders was a clean-handed inside midfielder as a junior who had no trouble finding the footy.
With Bailey Smith to miss all of 2024 after rupturing his ACL, there’s a spot in Luke Beveridge’s starting lineup that Sanders could fill.
King believes the youngster will grab it with both hands.
“They’ve probably got, in my opinion, the Rising Star winner for this year. Ryley Sanders, mate, he is just a sensation,” King told SEN Breakfast.
“His work in tight was really competent for an 18-year-old body coming in and playing against men, sometimes they (draftees) can take a backwards step and spectate.
“He was in, he was creating, he was linking up and getting to the next contest as quick as the seasoned campaigners.
“I loved him. I thought he was terrific.”
Sanders is just one reason why King remains confident in the Dogs bouncing back to form in 2024.
Beveridge’s men narrowly missed finals in 2023 but have undergone a restructure of the footy department and coaching panel over the off-season, with optimism once again high at the Kennel.
“I’m going to be a believer in the Bulldogs. I think they’ve got wildcard talent, the talls,” King added.
“Sam Darcy put on a clinic (up forward) when I watched training… they used Aaron Naughton a lot higher up the field, he becomes like a Jeremy Cameron kicking the ball inside 50 but also rolling back in, so he becomes a different matchup.
“If Darcy and Jamarra (Ugle-Hagan) can hold up as deep forwards, you get some flexibility with what you can do with Naughton and to me, that’s a game-changer.”
But while the Dogs have plenty of assets forward of the footy, 2023 proved it’s a different story in defence.
After Round 11, the backline proved an Achilles heel in leaking over 80 points a game on average. King believes the reshuffle in the assistant coach ranks will play a big role in addressing that.
“Well they’ve got Daniel Pratt in, he’s come from West Coast. He was, in a large way, responsible for the (Eagles') web back in their halcyon days,” he said.
“He’s a smart football mind. I’m backing him in to provide sound advice for Bevo… it’s a good time to walk in as an assistant coach.”
The Western Bulldogs re-signed Beveridge on a two-year contract at the start of 2023, but the 2016 premiership coach remains under plenty of pressure for a hot start to the season.
maddog37
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If only Astro could kick the ball like J Cameron!!
Some Idiot
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Wood was pretty quick as a youngster from memory and he slowed down a bit when improving his running gait to try to avoid injury. Definitely something for Vandermeer to look into, though if he loses some speed, not sure he will bring enough to the team.
Libbaaaa
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The Astro roll around to play on, stutter step, move to side to side and then bomb it loopy and high is iconic.
dogwatch
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One memorable Wood sprint in his earlier years was in the wet at the SCG when he ran back to save the game in the "mark this day, Doggy fans!" win over Sydney in the slush.
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Croft and Wynd too. Wheeler had them on modified training to manage soft tissue issues. Wheeler sacked, Joyce comes in and says "everyone trains the same!" Almost instantly Crofty did his hammy. Joyce got us to 2 succesive finals series for the first time since Sutton, but heavily compromised team selections in some finals due to extensive injury lists. Luckily Plough came next and was more supportive of individual players, like Wheels had been.
ossie_21
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Just put my mortgage on it after reading this. Whoever King wants to win it usually does!!
