2016 Western Bulldogs season
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 the 27th of 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.
Western Bulldogs | |
---|---|
Names | |
Full name | Western Bulldogs (official name[1]) |
Nickname(s) | Bulldogs, Doggies, Dogs, Bullies, Pups, The Scray, Scraggers |
Motto | Cede Nullis ("Yield To None") |
2016 season | |
After finals | 1st (Premiers) |
Home-and-away season | 7th |
Club details | |
Founded | 1877 (entered 1925) |
Colours | Red White Blue |
Competition | Australian Football League |
Chairman | Peter Gordon |
Coach | Luke Beveridge[2] |
Captain(s) | Robert Murphy[3] |
Premierships | VFL/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 website | westernbulldogs.com.au |
Guernsey: Blue with Red and White horizontal hoops |
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) | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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) | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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) | |||||
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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 | |||||
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Saturday, 18 June (7:25 pm) | Western Bulldogs 5.13 (43) | def. by | Geelong 16.4 (100) | Etihad Stadium (crowd: 41,725) | Report |
Round 15
Round 15 | |||||
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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) | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | |||||
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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 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
2016 AFL Finals Series
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 | |||
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)
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
- "Current details for ABN 68 005 226 595". Australian Business Register. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- Dogs set to announce new coach, AFL.com.au official website, 14 November 2014
- "New captain at Kennel in 2015". westernbulldogs.com.au. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- "Dogs consider life without injured Murphy". Nine - Wide World of Sports. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- "AFL 2015: Retirements and delistings — who has left your club?". Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- "Club names list changes". Westernbullogs.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- "Jarrad Grant signs with Gold Coast as a delisted free agent". AFL.com.au. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- "Western Bulldogs all but pay Sydney to take Michael Talia #afltrades". 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- Green, Warwick (22 October 2015). "AFL trades 2015: Michael Talia tipped to move from Bulldogs to Sydney Swans". Retrieved 23 July 2020.