Are the Bulldogs the real deal in 2026?

[PerthBoy86]

Very early days, but the Bulldogs last night showed a resilience and maturity I didn't really see in 2025. They seemed more balanced and solid in defence. I don't know all the specific changes they made, but their youngsters have stood up really well. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can weigh in. Last year they would've probably lost this by 50 when Brisbane got a run on (indeed they lost to the Lions after being about 45 up in Gather Round). Did anyone think Bevo and co made a lot of tactical/structural changes? Their strengths were the same as last year, still able to move through the midfield and attack with frightening speed. Maybe it was the matchup too. McCluggage going down for the Lions may have played some role, but they actually kind of dominated the first quarter except for accuracy.

Maybe its an early season jump, but I hope something fundamental has changed at the Dogs and they'll make top 4 and a real tilt at it. I was sceptical last year, the next few weeks will give some idea if they're headed that way.

 

[JackFlash]

The Dogs are the best team in Victoria, they are the only real challenge to the Lions, Swans, Giants and Suns!

 

[3rdgenbulldog]

this is the fastest dack dropping over reaction of all time. Dogs problem is consistency gotta see more

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Flagscray

 

[Freshwater]

Football journalism seems to be at an all time low. The dogs won 2 games against last years finalists ( some ‘journos’ said none!) But were agonisingly close in 2 more particular games against Geelong and Collingwood on the oppositions ground with brutal lob sided free kick counts. I totally get that you can’t blame umpires etc but both games were actually as good as last night, but when the siren went we were on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Last night we were on the right side. These journalists also say we are flat track bullies under the roof. They were our worst games Hawthorn, Adelaide and Freo in the last game all at Marvel. We are great in the rain, dew and even wind (Ballarat) and struggled under the roof. So we deserved totally where we ended up, but were never a push over or a flat track bully. We were quite an honest footy team.
Having said that it’s our bottom 6 that has been replaced this season by a better group of players that will help…hopefully?

 

[dean33]

Very early days, but the Bulldogs last night showed a resilience and maturity I didn't really see in 2025. They seemed more balanced and solid in defence. I don't know all the specific changes they made, but their youngsters have stood up really well. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can weigh in. Last year they would've probably lost this by 50 when Brisbane got a run on (indeed they lost to the Lions after being about 45 up in Gather Round). Did anyone think Bevo and co made a lot of tactical/structural changes? Their strengths were the same as last year, still able to move through the midfield and attack with frightening speed. Maybe it was the matchup too. McCluggage going down for the Lions may have played some role, but they actually kind of dominated the first quarter except for accuracy.

Maybe its an early season jump, but I hope something fundamental has changed at the Dogs and they'll make top 4 and a real tilt at it. I was sceptical last year, the next few weeks will give some idea if they're headed that way.

3 games in.

 

[bzparkes]

Hard to say with that backline.

Mind you they were very resilient. Seen them fold games like that in the past.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

New rules make them much better so yes

• Ruck rules help English compete better in the ruck plus faster tempo of the game will see him run any ruck of their feet. AA ruck for sure
• Ed Richards will go to the next level with these new rules
• Budarick/Sellwood solve a massive issue they had last year
• Darcy will improve with more 1 on 1 contests this year

I think they are a top 4 side. I think come finals time though when other teams up their intensity they wont go as well

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

They'll be right up there at the end of the minor round, possibly top 4.

 

[dogs4life45]

One game doesn’t guarantee anything. But there was a lot to like. Bont didn’t impact the game in midfield but went forward and was handful. Ed Richards

20

Ed Richards

Age

26

Ht

188cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.3

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.5

3star

CL

1.1

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

is a star

 

[Kermit]

It’s not even Rd 1 yet - people need to chill. I hope we are but honestly, who the hell knows right now

 

[Clark G]

Too early to say.

 

[PCORF]

Great win for them last night but it is too early in the season. They need to be more consistent every week. They cannot let complacency get the better of them.

 

[SA HAWK]

Defence may be a bit suss.

Mids & forwards no problem.

Ruck rules seem to favour English also.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Way too early to tell, but if the backline holds up they've got the quality elsewhere to punish every side.

Richards is a superstar. Criminally underrated IMO. Bont is Bont. Darcy and Naughton is enough to kick a winning score, and the new rules seem to suit rucks like English.

Brisbane still rightful favorites IMO, followed by Gold Coast. Dogs could feasibly be next in line though, or at least the best Victoria has to offer in 2026.

 

[ReturningHawk]

The Dogs are the best team in Victoria, they are the only real challenge to the Lions, Swans, Giants and Suns!

That’s an early crow on the Swans. Their opposition rolled over. They have talent, but so far haven’t played the same level of footy since Longmire left.

Suns good start but obliterating teams in QLD has been a given for years. Hardwick knows they lost to Richmond away just last year, and they missed the top 4 after a loss to Port that was practically comical. They still have some progress to make.

 

[revo333]

Won't improve much until we can beat at least 2 of Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong.

 

[Dale4captain]

Redesigned the backline. We couldn’t get a hold of any good tall so have loaded up on the medium smalls. Sellwood, Budarick, Jaques mean we are harder to play defensively as we are actually playing defenders back there. Carmichael to come in as well and is of the same vein.

Our flakey bottom 6 were binned and replaced with our talented 2nd year players too.

Way too early days. Need to show plenty of consistency.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

Very early days, but the Bulldogs last night showed a resilience and maturity I didn't really see in 2025. They seemed more balanced and solid in defence. I don't know all the specific changes they made, but their youngsters have stood up really well. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can weigh in. Last year they would've probably lost this by 50 when Brisbane got a run on (indeed they lost to the Lions after being about 45 up in Gather Round). Did anyone think Bevo and co made a lot of tactical/structural changes? Their strengths were the same as last year, still able to move through the midfield and attack with frightening speed. Maybe it was the matchup too. McCluggage going down for the Lions may have played some role, but they actually kind of dominated the first quarter except for accuracy.

Maybe its an early season jump, but I hope something fundamental has changed at the Dogs and they'll make top 4 and a real tilt at it. I was sceptical last year, the next few weeks will give some idea if they're headed that way.

The Dogs went know where near loosing by 50 points last year, that's the reason that it might have turned, they might not have beat any top side last year, but they were in every game to near the end, wasn't going to be a huge change to change it around.

 

[Golden_6]

Our largest losing margin was just 22 points last season. We certainly couldn’t get the job done against the best sides when it mattered but the team generally stacked up close to the top echelon over the course of a full game.

It wasn’t the offseason to make wholesale changes. It was a time to tinker with certain aspects of the game plan and find better players suited to specific roles.

Time will tell whether it will be effective.

 

[TruRoo]

They’ve played one game and still conceded 100+

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Far too early, but I have been thinking for some time if they ever got it together, they'd be very difficult to beat in a Grand Final. They should be right up there in the top 4 come finals time. Bontempelli is a gorilla, and to have a 6'10" CHF who can play is awesome.

 

[Robroy22]

Ask again in October.

 

[zyzzbruh]

Can't be trusted. Seen it all before year after year the last few seasons. Some promising performances and hype, but manage to find ways to lose all to often. They'll start dropping games and it'll add up to the usual 7-10 ladder finish.

Jury is out unless they can keep this form up and be comfortably in the top 4 come mid season.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Dogs will either make prelims or not make finals.