Bulldogs AFL grand final player profiles

Western Bulldogs player profiles ahead of Saturday’s AFL grand final against Sydney at the MCG:

1. Matt Suckling

Age: 28. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 80kg. Games: 119. Goals: 58. Finals: 11. Grand finals: 3.

Elite distributor by foot whose grand final experience will be important. Missed the preliminary final with an Achilles injury.

4. Marcus Bontempelli

Age: 20. Ht: 192cm. Wt: 91kg. Games: 62. Goals: 58. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Star midfielder who can swing a game off his own boot. Has an uncanny knack of stepping up in key moments when his side needs him.

5. Matthew Boyd

Age: 34. Ht: 184cm. Wt: 88kg. Games: 281. Goals: 83. Finals: 15. Grand finals: 0.

His poise and leadership across half-back have been crucial in the absence of injured skipper Bob Murphy. All Australian for a third time this year.

6. Luke Dahlhaus

Age: 24. Ht: 179cm. Wt: 77kg. Games: 114. Goals: 34. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Important midfield runner who has averaged 26 possessions a game this season. Missed six weeks with a knee injury suffered in round 12.

7. Lachie Hunter

Age: 21. Ht: 183cm. Wt: 80kg. Games: 61. Goals: 26. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Key cog in the Dogs’ midfield. Has played every game this season, averaging 28 disposals, with a career-high 44 touches against North Melbourne in round six.

9. Jake Stringer

Age: 22. Ht: 192cm. Wt: 92kg. Games: 72. Goals: 135. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

At his best the full-forward is a game-changer but he has been unable to produce at a high level consistently this year. Kicked 41 goals in 2016.

10. Easton Wood

Age: 27. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 87kg. Games: 106. Goals: 15. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Elite defender and intercept mark specialist who has stood in as skipper in Bob Murphy’s absence. Missed a month with an ankle after round 10.

11. Jack Macrae

Age: 22. Ht: 191cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 76. Goals: 19. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Fought back from a hamstring injury suffered in round 19 to be a key finals contributor. Dominated in the semi-final win over Hawthorn with 39 touches.

12. Zaine Cordy

Age: 19. Ht: 192cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 10. Goals: 7. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

Developing tall forward who broke into the side for his first game of the season in round 19. Kicked two goals in the preliminary final.

14. Clay Smith

Age: 23. Ht: 182cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 46. Goals: 34. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

Has played 12 games this year after coming back from his third knee reconstruction. Kicked four first-half goals in the preliminary final.

15. Tom Campbell

Age: 24. Ht: 200cm. Wt: 106kg. Games: 35. Goals: 21. Finals: 0. Grand finals: 0.

Unlucky with injury this year but is an important player in coach Luke Beveridge’s plans at his best. Had a career-high 34 hitouts against Melbourne in round eight.

16. Toby McLean

Age: 20. Ht: 180cm. Wt: 78kg. Games: 18. Goals: 15. Finals: 2. Grand finals: 0.

Has proved a valuable finals contributor after being left out of the elimination final side. Will be hard to dislodge after an excellent preliminary final performance.

17. Tom Boyd

Age: 21. Ht: 200cm. Wt: 103kg. Games: 37. Goals: 34. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

High-profile ruck-forward spent a large portion of the season in the VFL but has shown glimpses of his best since returning in round 17.

18. Fletcher Roberts

Age: 23. Ht: 196cm. Wt: 90kg. Games: 36. Goals: 0. Finals: 2. Grand finals: 0.

Tall defender came in for his first final against the Giants but was outpointed by Rory Lobb on a few occasions.

20. Josh Dunkley

Age: 19. Ht: 189cm. Wt: 85kg. Games: 16. Goals: 9. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

Rising Star nominee who will play against the team that could have had him as a father-son recruit. Powerful midfielder has had an impressive debut season.

21. Tom Liberatore

Age: 24. Ht: 183cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 97. Goals: 32. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

Looked in big trouble when he badly rolled his ankle in round 19 against Geelong but has returned to play a key role in the Dogs’ midfield set-up.

23. Jordan Roughead

Age: 25. Ht: 200cm. Wt: 99kg. Games: 41. Goals: 7. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

The mobile ruckman is a key part of Luke Beveridge’s fleet-footed midfield. Left the preliminary final with an eye injury after copping a ball to the face.

24. Shane Biggs

Age: 25. Ht: 187cm. Wt: 84kg. Games: 41. Goals: 7. Finals: 6. Grand finals: 0.

Mid-sized defender has enjoyed a breakout season, playing all 25 games. Had a career-high 35 touches against Fremantle in round one.

29. Tory Dickson

Age: 28. Ht: 184cm. Wt: 85kg. Games: 78. Goals: 135. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Mid-sized forward who is usually an excellent set-shot for goal but was uncharacteristically wayward in first two finals before an important four-goal effort against the Giants.

30. Joel Hamling

Age: 23. Ht: 194cm. Wt: 90kg. Games: 22. Goals: 0. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Dour tall defender worked his way back into the side in round 19. Doesn’t get big numbers but plays his role in stifling Dogs’ defence.

35. Caleb Daniel

Age: 20. Ht: 168cm. Wt: 71kg. Games: 33. Goals: 17. Finals: 4. Grand finals: 0.

Diminutive midfielder who makes excellent decisions under pressure and disposes of the ball at elite level. Second to Sydney’s Callum Mills in AFL Rising Star this year.

38. Dale Morris

Age: 33. Ht: 190cm. Wt: 91kg. Games: 229. Goals: 3. Finals: 13. Grand finals: 0.

Evergreen defender continues to attack any task he’s given with great vigour. Is capable of playing on Cyril Rioli one week and Lance Franklin the next.

39. Jason Johanissen

Age: 23. Ht: 180cm. Wt: 80kg. Games: 63. Goals: 18. Finals: 3. Grand finals: 0.

Missed a large chunk of the season with a serious hamstring injury but lost none of his dash and flair after returning in round 15. Was important when it counted in the preliminary final.

42. Liam Picken

Age: 30. Ht: 184cm. Wt: 83kg. Games: 175. Goals: 60. Finals: 10. Grand finals: 0.

Once-dour tagger who continues to enjoy a career rejuvenation up forward. Kicked a career-high three goals in the semi-final win against Hawthorn.

46. Lin Jong

Age: 23. Ht: 188cm. Wt: 88kg. Games: 39. Goals: 25. Finals: 2. Grand finals: 0.

Tall midfielder who broke his collarbone in the elimination final but won the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in Footscray’s VFL grand final win less than three weeks later.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!