There are always plenty of good fantasy options at the Western Bulldogs, but the biggest challenge is trusting Luke Beveridge to play them in the right roles. Bevo is notorious for shifting players around, making it hard to predict who will thrive from year to year. Another key factor is the Bulldogs’ aging midfield. With Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, and Adam Treloar all well into their careers, opportunities should start to open up for the next generation. That could lead to some exciting breakouts if they’re given the chance.
Breakout Candidates
Ryley Sanders
Ryley Sanders was one of the most hyped fantasy prospects from the 2023 draft, but he found it tough to break into the Bulldogs’ stacked midfield. Instead, he was forced to play forward and was eventually sent back to the VFL, where he dominated with an average of over 100 points per game. With Adam Treloar sidelined, there’s now a real chance for Sanders to break into the senior midfield. Given his forward status in AFL Fantasy, he’s one to watch—provided Bevo doesn’t mess with his role.
Sam Darcy
Sam Darcy has been highly rated in community draft rankings, often appearing in the top 100, but I’m not convinced he’ll be a big fantasy scorer. With Tim English ahead of him as the Bulldogs’ number one ruck, Darcy isn’t going to get much time in the ruck, which is where he’d need to play to be fantasy-relevant. Instead, he’ll likely be used as a key forward with some ruck rotation—a role that rarely translates to strong fantasy scoring. He could settle as a solid 75-80 average forward, but expecting much more than that might be a stretch.
Harvey Gallagher
Harvey Gallagher could easily be classified as a stash option since he’s still behind Bontempelli, Liberatore, Treloar, Richards and Sanders in the pecking order. However, he’s entering his third year, which means there’s potential for him to take the next step in his career. His numbers last season weren’t huge, but he did get midfield opportunities when needed, which suggests the Bulldogs see him as a long-term option in that role. There’s also a chance he ends up playing on a wing, given his strong outside game as a junior and at VFL level, but that wouldn’t be great for his fantasy scoring. If he continues to develop, he could be one to watch.
Undervalued Players
Matthew Kennedy
Matthew Kennedy only averaged 77 last season, but as a forward, that’s a number you’d take every day of the week. His average could have been significantly higher if he hadn’t been subbed out or used in forward roles instead of his natural midfield position. At the Bulldogs, he should get more midfield time, and he’s unlikely to be used as the sub as often. An 85 average is well within reach, and with forward status, he could be a very handy pick for fantasy teams. However, there is some concern that he might play a very similar role to what Jack Macrae played last year, which wasn’t good for fantasy scoring.
Stash Options
Joel Freijah
Joel Freijah played 12 games last season, including in the Bulldogs’ finals loss to Hawthorn. He showed promising signs, particularly when he was given a half-back role late in the season, where he looked like a player who could score well in fantasy. However, for most of the season, he was used as a forward, which is why he’s been given forward status this year. He’s someone to keep an eye on in the later rounds of drafts, but it may take someone like Bailey Dale retiring before he becomes a great fantasy option.
Riley Garcia
Riley Garcia is a bit of a mystery, but he looks like a good young player with the potential to develop into a solid midfielder. He was recruited as a midfielder and played there as a junior, but given the Bulldogs’ midfield depth, he’s still a fair way down the pecking order. The positive is that the Bulldogs’ midfield core isn’t getting any younger, with all three of their main stars set to be over 30 soon. That could pave the way for Garcia in the future, but it might take another year or two before he becomes fantasy-relevant.
Rookie Watch
Cooper Hynes
Cooper Hynes has been compared to Dustin Martin, which is a massive compliment and suggests he could be a fantasy star if he develops as expected. He’s projected to split his time between the midfield and forward line, making him a potentially valuable fantasy asset. If you want to learn more about Hynes, check out our draftee analysis guide or our draftee podcast for a deeper dive into his potential.
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