VFL 2026 VFL/VFLW

[dogwatch]

A very civilised GDT. Criminal-free.

 

[DognBones]

We left a lot of goals out there today so there's big improvement to be made in forward efficiency.

 

[Ash1337]

McNeil, Jones & Lewis probably the most likely to get a call up in the front half.

 

[RWnBluey]

McNeil, Jones & Lewis probably the most likely to get a call up in the front half.

If we’re serious McNeil will not be players seniors again.

 

[Fossie 32]

A very civilised GDT. Criminal-free.

They’ve all been rounded up from yesterday. Score?

 

[DognBones]

Looking at the younger players: Dolan was very creative, Jones was very good when he was further up the ground. Perhaps they moved him to forward pocket to test him out as a goal sneak. Emmett made a good debut and competed well in the ruck. Darcy is very raw but he's a long term apprentice. Carmichael was sound at half back, perhaps not as quick as I thought but a good contribution. Kennedy got a good share of the ball around centre/half-forward.
Best: Treloar, Dolan, Jones, Coffield, Lewis, McNeil.
Busslinger was solid. I think Gallagher was injured because he didn't appear after half time.
Cleary was neat as usual except from one careless handball late.

 

[DognBones]

Big shout out to the ABC for taking on VFL footy. The coverage both camera and commentary wise made the AFL website streaming version look 3rd rate, which it was really.

 

[doggiesin08]

Looking at the younger players: Dolan was very creative, Jones was very good when he was further up the ground. Perhaps they moved him to forward pocket to test him out as a goal sneak. Emmett made a good debut and competed well in the ruck. Darcy is very raw but he's a long term apprentice. Carmichael was sound at half back, perhaps not as quick as I thought but a good contribution. Kennedy got a good share of the ball around centre/half-forward.
Best: Treloar, Dolan, Jones, Coffield, Lewis, McNeil.
Busslinger was solid. I think Gallagher was injured because he didn't appear after half time.
Cleary was neat as usual except from one careless handball late.

Gallagher doing some tests of his adductor on the bench in the first quarter. Definitely played on in the first half after those tests though.

 

[Fossie 32]

VFL Match report: Footscray launch 2026 campaign in style

Footscray have kicked off their 2026 VFL Smithy's campaign with a 43-point victory over Casey.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Can someone tell me how Carmichael went?

 

[Testekill]

Can someone tell me how Carmichael went?

Good as the distributor at half back.

 

[Eastdog]

Went along today to Whitten Oval along with Mum who is a Demons supporter. We sat up in the EJ Whitten Stand.

Good game by us and should have won by more kicked a lot of behinds.

Good signs and we have a 100% record in both the AFL and VFL!

Go Bulldogs!!

 

[Eastdog]

From the game day:

Arty Jones was very good. Liked how Dolan went and Will Lewis with 6 goals standing out.

Busslinger looks good at this level and keen to see if he can translate that at AFL level but has competition for a spot in the AFL team right now.

Treloar our leading disposal getter with 33.

 

[cherrypie]

Strong performance. Treloar probably needs another VFL game before going up. Really liked what I saw from Emmett, I think if Croft has a few more quiet games he should be in consideration to take that 23rd spot, especially given his versatility. Both Dolan and Arthur deserve to play seniors based on today. Will Lewis was great. Cleary is going to need to lift if he wants to take Jaques/Sellwood spot, thought Carmichael was decent too so we have plenty of options for HB now.

Pretty weak side on paper by Casey. Annoying that the bye will delay Treloars return.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Treloar's hair looks absolutely ridiculous.

Grown man with kids should be rocking that.

 

[doggiesin08]

Strong performance. Treloar probably needs another VFL game before going up. Really liked what I saw from Emmett, I think if Croft has a few more quiet games he should be in consideration to take that 23rd spot, especially given his versatility. Both Dolan and Arthur deserve to play seniors based on today. Will Lewis was great. Cleary is going to need to lift if he wants to take Jaques/Sellwood spot, thought Carmichael was decent too so we have plenty of options for HB now.

Pretty weak side on paper by Casey. Annoying that the bye will delay Treloars return.

In that small-mid defender role we have +1 at AFL level with Bramble playing up the ground as well as Cleary playing well and Carmichael developing.

In the forward half we have Dolan and Jones (plus hopefully Weightman in Jul-Aug) putting pressure on those in the team.

The midfield is where we’re lacking a bit of depth until Treloar is fully fit, but I guess could be covered by Friejah/Sanders/Kennedy playing more minutes in there and an extra forward playing.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

I see the VFL fixture byes are still terrible

Should not need three byes

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I see the VFL fixture byes are still terrible

Should not need three byes

Par for the course for a competition that's costly to run. Some teams don't even play each other once, yet the 3 queensland teams for example all play each other twice. If there was more games, you'd either have more teams playing each other twice or even three times, or the AFL having to fund interstate travel, which is expensive. Either way, fewer byes means running the competition in some sort of inferior manner to what it currently is.

There's also more that goes on behind the scenes in terms of both the clubs and the AFL working with each other for match sims and VFL practice games etc. within Melbourne. It just doesn't have to be a game played for VFL premiership points, which is fair enough.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I see the VFL fixture byes are still terrible

Should not need three byes

Even number of teams. Multiple byes shouldn't be a thing. Teams should also be playing 2-3 games more a season.

 

[Testekill]

It's ridiculous. We have two byes in four weeks because the VFL bye is the same week as our AFL one and then we play a shite team in Essendon before the VFL week off because of Gather Round.

edit: we don't play rounds 2, 7 and 14 and it's two weeks between rounds 3 and 4. How is a team supposed to build any form? We don't even benefit from a late season bye to rest up.

 

[doggiesin08]

Found this pretty funny on our former VFL player:

 

[DognBones]

There are now 22 teams in the VFL competition which is an even number so byes are not even necessary. There are only 18 home and away games plus 3 byes for each team. This means we don't even play 3 teams once. Only the AFL could botch a fixture to this extent.

 

[W W Biscuit]

There are now 22 teams in the VFL competition which is an even number so byes are not even necessary. There are only 18 home and away games plus 3 byes for each team. This means we don't even play 3 teams once. Only the AFL could botch a fixture to this extent.

I notice that the new Tassie team doesn't play a single game in Melbourne against an AFL affiliated opposition. For the whole season. Certainly a fixture designed to give the new team a soft beginning.

 

[VitalDread]

I notice that the new Tassie team doesn't play a single game in Melbourne against an AFL affiliated opposition. For the whole season. Certainly a fixture designed to give the new team a soft beginning.

Best way to boost revenue and keep it tas focus fan base

 

[stevieg1969]

We also play against Casey and Carlton twice.