2016 Western Bulldogs season

Western Bulldogs
Names
Full nameWestern Bulldogs (official name[1])
Nickname(s)Bulldogs, Doggies, Dogs, Bullies, Pups, The Scray, Scraggers
MottoCede Nullis ("Yield To None")
2016 season
After finals1st (Premiers)
Home-and-away season7th
Club details
Founded1877 (entered 1925)
Colours  Red   White   Blue
CompetitionAustralian Football League
ChairmanPeter Gordon
CoachLuke Beveridge[2]
Captain(s)Robert Murphy[3]
PremiershipsVFL/AFL (2): 1954, 2016
Championship of Victoria (1): 1924
VFA/VFL (11): 1898, 1899, 1900, 1908, 1913, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 2014, 2016
Ground(s)Docklands Stadium (capacity: 56,347)
 Eureka Stadium (capacity: 11,000)
Training ground(s)Whitten Oval (training base) currently known as Victoria University Whitten Oval
Other information
Official websitewesternbulldogs.com.au
Guernsey: Blue with Red and White horizontal hoops

The 2016 season was the Western Bulldogs' 91st year in the Australian Football League (AFL). It was just their second year under coach Luke Beveridge, with Robert Murphy being appointed captain for the second year in a row. However, due to an injury Murphy suffered in the opening rounds of the season, Easton Wood took over the captaincy for the remainder of the year.[4] The club's regular season began on 27 March against the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium. The Bulldogs finished off the home & away season with 15 wins and 7 losses, placing them at 7th on the ladder. The Bulldogs went on to win the 2016 AFL Grand Final, capturing their first VFL/AFL Premiership since 1954.

Playing list

Changes

At the end of the 2015 season, the Bulldogs delisted Ayce Cordy, Brett Goodes, Matthew Fuller, Sam Darley, Daniel Pearce, Jordan Kelly and Jarrad Grant from their list.[5][6] Grant was later recruited by the Gold Coast. as delisted free agents.[7] Michael Talia was also traded to Sydney after controversy surrounding him allegedly leaking game plans to his brother.[8][9]

Premiership season

Round 1

Round 1 (Opening Round)
Sunday, 27 March (1:10 pm) Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103) def. Fremantle 5.8 (38) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,832) Report

Round 2

Round 2
Saturday, 2 April (7:25 pm) St Kilda 5.6 (36) def. by Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 37,353) Report

Round 3

Round 3
Sunday, 10 April (3:20 pm) Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) def. by Hawthorn 14.9 (93) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 46,808) Report

Round 4

Round 4
Saturday, 16 April (7:25 pm) Carlton 7.7 (49) def. by Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 27,622) Report

Round 5

Round 5 (Anzac Round)
Saturday, 23 April (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 17.18 (120) def. Brisbane Lions 10.7 (67) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,097) Report

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 29 April (7:50 pm) North Melbourne 9.7 (61) def. Western Bulldogs 6.9 (45) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 47,622) Report

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 7 May (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 18.15 (123) def. Adelaide 17.6 (108) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,984) Report

Round 8

Round 8
Sunday, 15 May (3:20 pm) Melbourne 12.10 (82) def. by Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114) MCG (crowd: 39,921) Report

Round 9

Round 9
Sunday, 22 May (3:20 pm) Greater Western Sydney 15.8 (98) def. Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73) Spotless Stadium (crowd: 9,612) Report

Round 10

Round 10 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)
Sunday, 29 May (3:20 pm) Collingwood 7.11 (53) def. by Western Bulldogs 11.8 (74) MCG (crowd: 45,078) Report

Round 11

Round 11
Sunday, 5 June (3:20 pm) Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) def. West Coast 11.9 (75) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 28,769) Report

Round 12

Round 12
Saturday, 11 June (1:10 pm) Port Adelaide 14.13 (97) def. by Western Bulldogs 15.10 (100) Adelaide Oval (crowd: 40,096) Report

Round 13

Round 13
Saturday, 18 June (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 5.13 (43) def. by Geelong 16.4 (100) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,725) Report

Round 14

Round 14
Bye
Western Bulldogs

Round 15

Round 15
Saturday, 2 July (4:35 pm) Sydney 11.13 (79) def. by Western Bulldogs 13.5 (83) SCG (crowd: 33,386) Report

Round 16

Round 16 (Multicultural Round)
Saturday, 9 July (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85) def. Richmond 11.9 (75) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 39,679) Report

Round 17

Round 17
Saturday, 16 July (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 15.17 (107) def. Gold Coast 8.11 (59) Cazaly's Stadium (crowd: 8,509) Report

Round 18

Round 18
Saturday, 23 July (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 9.6 (60) def. by St Kilda 11.9 (75) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 26,532) Report

Round 19

Round 19
Friday, 29 July (7:50 pm) Geelong 16.7 (103) def. Western Bulldogs 11.12 (78) Simonds Stadium (crowd: 24,331) Report

Round 20

Round 20
Saturday, 6 August (7:25 pm) Western Bulldogs 9.7 (61) def. North Melbourne 7.5 (47) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 30,740) Report

Round 21

Round 21
Friday, 12 August (7:50 pm) Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) def. Collingwood 14.8 (92) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 35,010) Report

Round 22

Round 22
Sunday, 21 August (4:40 pm) Essendon 7.11 (53) def. by Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) Etihad Stadium (crowd: 25,308) Report

Round 23

Round 23
Sunday, 28 August (2:40 pm) Fremantle 10.9 (69) def. Western Bulldogs 6.13 (49) Domain Stadium (crowd: 34,765) Report

Ladder

Pos Team
 Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Sydney 22 17 5 0 2221 1469 151.2 68 2016 finals
2 Geelong 22 17 5 0 2235 1554 143.8 68
3 Hawthorn 22 17 5 0 2134 1800 118.6 68
4 Greater Western Sydney 22 16 6 0 2380 1663 143.1 64
5 Adelaide 22 16 6 0 2483 1795 138.3 64
6 West Coast 22 16 6 0 2181 1678 130.0 64
7 Western Bulldogs (P) 22 15 7 0 1857 1609 115.4 60
8 North Melbourne 22 12 10 0 1956 1859 105.2 48
9 St Kilda 22 12 10 0 1953 2041 95.7 48
10 Port Adelaide 22 10 12 0 2055 1939 106.0 40
11 Melbourne 22 10 12 0 1944 1991 97.6 40
12 Collingwood 22 9 13 0 1910 1998 95.6 36
13 Richmond 22 8 14 0 1713 2155 79.5 32
14 Carlton 22 7 15 0 1568 1978 79.3 28
15 Gold Coast 22 6 16 0 1778 2273 78.2 24
16 Fremantle 22 4 18 0 1574 2119 74.3 16
17 Brisbane Lions 22 3 19 0 1770 2872 61.6 12
18 Essendon 22 3 19 0 1437 2356 61.0 12
Source: AFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

2016 AFL Finals Series

Week one (elimination final)

Second elimination final (West Coast v Western Bulldogs)

The opening match of the 2016 finals series saw the first final played on a Thursday night as opposed to the traditional Friday night start to a finals series with the sixth placed West Coast hosting the seventh placed Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium. The Eagles had finished the season with a 16–6 win–loss record and searched for consistency throughout the year after finishing runners up to Hawthorn in the 2015 AFL Grand Final, where they lost by 46 points. They headed into the finals in strong form, however, banking two interstate wins over Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide as well as beating the Hawks at home to finish with a home final. The Western Bulldogs had qualified for their second consecutive finals series for the first time since 2010 and battled with injuries throughout the year, finishing with a 15–7 win–loss record. Despite this, they managed to beat the Eagles, Crows and Sydney during the home and away season.

This was the first final between the two sides in ten years, with the Eagles defeating the Bulldogs comfortably in the 2006 First Semi Final, also at Subiaco Oval, by 74 points en route to securing the 2006 premiership. They also met in the 1998 Qualifying Final at the MCG, with the Western Bulldogs winning by 70 points.

The only meeting between the two clubs in the regular season saw the Western Bulldogs win a close-fought contest by eight points at Etihad Stadium in round 11.

Scorecard
Second elimination final
8 September (6:10 pm) West Coast def. by Western Bulldogs Domain Stadium (crowd: 42,079) Report
2.3 (15)
3.6 (24)
5.9 (39)
7.10 (52) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		4.4 (28)
7.6 (48)
11.9 (75)
14.15 (99) 		Umpires: Luke Farmer, Brett Rosebury, Justin Schmitt
Television broadcast: Seven Network,
Fox Footy (simulcast)
2: Kennedy, Darling
1: Brown, LeCras, Hill 		Goals 2: Picken, Dunkley, Dickson
1: Dahlhaus, Hunter, Smith, Bontempelli, Daniel, Roughead, Liberatore, Stringer
Hutchings, Gaff, Shuey, Butler, Hurn Best Dahlhaus, Daniel, M.Boyd, Picken, Hunter, Johannisen
Nil Injuries Jong (right shoulder)
Nil Reports Nil

Week two (semi-finals)

Second semi-final (Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs)

Scorecard
Second semi-final
16 September (7:50 pm) Hawthorn def. by Western Bulldogs MCG (crowd: 87,823) Report
3.4 (22)
7.5 (47)
8.9 (57)
12.12 (84) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		1.5 (11)
6.10 (46)
12.11 (83)
16.11 (107) 		Umpires: Chris Donlon, Matt Stevic, Mathew Nicholls
Television broadcast: Seven Network,
Fox Footy (simulcast)
2: Shiels, Hodge
1: Sicily, Gunston, Puopolo, Rioli, Hill, Breust, Fitzpatrick, Burgoyne 		Goals 3: Stringer, Picken
2: Smith, Bontempelli
1: Wood, McLean, Dunkley, Roughead, Dickson, Daniel
Shiels, Hodge, Mitchell, Smith, Duryea Best Bontempelli, Macrae, Picken, Smith, Dunkley, Dahlhaus
Lewis (hamstring) Injuries Nil
Nil Reports Nil

First preliminary final (Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs)

First preliminary final
24 September (5:15 pm) Greater Western Sydney def. by Western Bulldogs Spotless Stadium (crowd: 21,790) Report
2.1 (13)
5.2 (32)
9.7 (61)
12.11 (83) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		2.3 (15)
6.5 (41)
9.6 (60)
13.11 (89) 		Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Justin Schmitt, Simon Meredith
Television broadcast: Seven Network,
Fox Footy (simulcast)
4: Patton
3: Greene, Lobb
1: D. Smith, Shaw 		Goals 4: C. Smith, Dickson
2: Cordy
1: Daniel, Bontempelli, Macrae
Kelly, Scully, Patton, Coniglio, Wilson, Greene Best C. Smith, Dahlhaus, Dickson, Morris, Wood, Johannisen, Macrae, Picken
Ward (concussion) Injuries Roughead (eye)
Nil Reports Nil

Week four (Grand Final)

Main article: 2016 AFL Grand Final
Grand final
1 October (2:30 pm) Sydney def. by Western Bulldogs MCG (crowd: 99,981) Report
1.2 (8)
7.3 (45)
8.5 (53)
10.7 (67) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		2.0 (12)
7.1 (43)
9.7 (61)
13.11 (89) 		Umpires: Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Scott Jeffery
Norm Smith Medal: Jason Johannisen
Television broadcast: Seven Network
National anthem: Vika and Linda Bull
3: Kennedy
2: Mitchell
1: Parker, N. Smith, Rohan, Franklin, Hewett 		Goals 3: T. Boyd, Dickson, Picken
1: Cordy, McLean, C. Smith, Stringer
Kennedy, Mitchell, Rampe, Heeney, Jones, Hannebery Best Johannisen, Picken, T. Boyd, Macrae, M. Boyd, Dahlhaus
Franklin (right ankle), Hannebery (left knee) Injuries Johannisen (calf)
Nil Reports Nil

See also

References

  1. ^ "Current details for ABN 68 005 226 595". Australian Business Register. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  2. ^ Dogs set to announce new coach, AFL.com.au official website, 14 November 2014
  3. ^ "New captain at Kennel in 2015". westernbulldogs.com.au. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Dogs consider life without injured Murphy". Nine - Wide World of Sports. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. ^ "AFL 2015: Retirements and delistings — who has left your club?". Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Club names list changes". Westernbullogs.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Jarrad Grant signs with Gold Coast as a delisted free agent". AFL.com.au. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Western Bulldogs all but pay Sydney to take Michael Talia #afltrades". 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. ^ Green, Warwick (22 October 2015). "AFL trades 2015: Michael Talia tipped to move from Bulldogs to Sydney Swans". Retrieved 23 July 2020.