AFTER being knocked out in the first week of finals and losing a trio of senior players, the Western Bulldogs are well placed to stock up on young talent at this year’s draft. Four to five fresh faces are set to land at the Kennel, including two within the first 25 picks.

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2024 RECORD: 6th, 14-9, 125.1% | Eliminated: Elimination Final
2024 PICKS: 17, 25, 35, 48, 83, 90
FUTURE PICKS: WB R1, WB R2, WB R3, WB R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Nil.

FIRST PICK:
Pick 17

There is plenty of competition for talent in the range of the Bulldogs’ first pick, which lands in the back-end of round one. Midfield depth and running power seems to be a priority given the exits of Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith, and best available selections should yield such attributes.

There was talk that silky skilled midfielder Murphy Reid could be a slider, but perhaps 190cm powerhouse Cooper Hynes is the most realistic target. While neither player boasts natural leg speed, they can impact in the forward half and use the ball creatively by hand and foot.

An array of sliders may also be in store. Midfielder-forwards Taj Hotton and Jesse Dattoli will be in high demand with clubs like GWS, Richmond, and Sydney lurking in the late-teens. Likewise, if Xavier Lindsay were to slip through he’d be difficult to overlook with his inside-outside threat and punchy left foot.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 25, 35, 48, 83, 90

Depending on what’s available with pick 17, perhaps the Bulldogs can target a tall with its next selection in Luke Trainor. The grandson of Doug Wade is being slated as one of the crop’s great sliders and may even be available late into the 20s. His intercept marking and distributive skills are high level.

The Bulldogs’ second and third picks will be bunched a little closer together after Academy bids fall. It means they’ll be able to make decisions with the next in mind and package players up. If power and explosive traits are desired, then they can look no further than Oliver Hannaford and Tom Gross.

A utility like Christian Moraes offers great running power, likely to start out as a wingman or high forward with scope to develop as a midfielder. A little further down the order with pick 35, taller mids like Hugh Boxshall and Jack Ough may also be on the radar after strong ends to their respective seasons.

Along similar lines to Moraes, Xavier Ivisic has potential to develop in a few roles on the back of his endurance base. 190cm West Australian forward Hamish Davis connects the lines just as well, while Ivisic’s Geelong Falcons captain Lachie Jaques could be an option for his burst off half-back.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will the Bulldogs cover their losses by targeting midfield depth?
– Can the Bulldogs add touches of flair and running power?
– Will the Bulldogs lean on their future picks to trade up the order?