The Western Bulldogs could be bracing for an off-season of change in terms of personnel.
The Bulldogs bowed out of the finals in disappointing fashion, giving up a 41-point second-quarter lead to go down to Fremantle by 13 points at Optus Stadium.
While there is plenty more to play out in the coming weeks, the Dogs could be set to say goodbye to several players.
SEN’s Sam Edmund is forecasting some key changes within the playing list at The Kennel, including the potential exit of Josh Dunkley and interest in Jason Johannisen.
Edmund said on SEN Breakfast: “What happens next?”
“Josh Dunkley they’re finding hard to keep. Offers from Brisbane and Port Adelaide, but it’s the Power offer that presents the temptation for Josh.
“It’s the bigger offer, make no mistake, that’s the temptation. We’ll have an answer on this very soon. I know Dogs fans have ridden the ‘will he or won’t he?’ rollercoaster for some time.
“Jason Johannisen could return to a half-back role at the Suns who have presented him that nice offer.”
Edmund also mentioned a number of other Dogs with differing contract statuses, and a pair of incoming players in Fremantle’s Rory Lobb and former Carlton defender Liam Jones, who is preparing for a Whitten Oval homecoming.
“Mitch Wallis looks like playing on, and Hayden Crozier is looking around with a year to run on his contract,” Edmund added.
“As of last week Josh Schache didn’t have a contract offer in front of him, Stef Martin and Zaine Cordy don’t have deals for next year either.
“We know they’ve got Rory Lobb coming in, we know they’ve got Liam Jones coming in, he will join.
“There’s a fair bit of turnover happening at the Western Bulldogs in the off-season.”
After playing in the 2021 Grand Final, the Bulldogs limped into the finals this year before a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Dockers having been in complete control early.
It is understood the club will conduct a review with some pressure believed to be mounting on coach Luke Beveridge, who himself alluded to there being “some uncertainty around who is going to be here next year”.