COMPLETING our club-by-club previews ahead of the AFLW Draft, the Western Bulldogs have made minimal changes over the off-season and will add two more players to their list for 2026 including one with a top 10 selection.

>> FREE: View the 2025 AFLW Draft Guide

2025 RECORD: 12th (H&A) | 5-7 | 126.5% | Eliminated: Regular Season
2025 PICKS: 8, 44, 62, 80
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R1 (Western Bulldogs), ’26 R2 (Western Bulldogs), ’26 R4 (Western Bulldogs)

LIST CHANGES:

IN
Mikala Cann (trade, Collingwood)

OUT
Zimmorlei Farquharson (delisted), Naomi Ferres (delisted), Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (self-delisted)

The Western Bulldogs Trade Period was shrouded in a dark cloud around the Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner trade with even neutral fans strapping in to see whether the former number one pick would get to North Melbourne. In the end, the Kangaroos’ Pick 37 was not enough to satisfy the Dogs, though it looks increasingly likely she would get to her destination at that very selection anyway. Other than a couple of delistings, the Dogs were relatively subdued, adding the experienced Mikala Cann to the midfield from the Pies.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 8

The ties to south west Victoria or Tasmania have been there in the past for the Dogs when it comes to their drafting both through their men’s and women’s programs. As it so happens, the pair of similar types in Maggie Johnstone and Priya Bowering are around that region and could well be in contention for the Bulldogs’ first selection.

Both are powerful players who are strong overhead, with Bowering ultra-athletic and Johnstone being just as capable inside 50 one-on-one as she is around the ball. Depending on what the Cats do the pick before, the Dogs will strongly consider both, while also having another Tasmanian in Mischa Barwin in the mix, or a readymade onballer in Carys D’Addario.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 44

The Bulldogs have a long wait until their second selection and given they have lost two tall forwards, it might mean they are after some reinforcements in that area. West Australian Alicia Blizard is one such player in that region, while it would be hard to ignore Nalu Brothwell if she slipped to their selection. High-upside elite athlete Eloise Mackereth is a like-for-like for Weston-Turner and has the runs on the board at national carnival level too.

An out-of-the-box selection might be Sydney Swans Academy tall Grace Parsons who has some outstanding traits, while up the other end, the local pull of Western Jets defender Alex McBride-Loane is one to watch. Fellow Jet, Charlie O’Connor Moreira is a forward-turned-wing who has come along quickly in a short space of time as well, while Stella Huxtable is a strong midfielder//forward who can step straight into the lineup.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the Dogs select someone who the club has ties with their regions with the first pick?
– Do they look tall with their second to replace the outgoing forwards?
– Could they add to the depth with a readymade player?