2016 Western Bulldogs season

Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
Names
Full name	Western Bulldogs (official name)
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
Captain(s)	Robert Murphy
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

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

The Western Bulldogs won two consecutive finals matches for the first time since 1961.

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

Western Bulldogs won their first premiership in sixty-two years, breaking the longest active drought in VFL/AFL history. The Western Bulldogs became just the second club after Adelaide in 1997 to win four consecutive finals to win a premiership.

References

All games by season:2016

^ "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.

[abn-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.

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