The Western Bulldogs have some big-name players coming out of contract next year.
All-Australian trio Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel come out of contract in 2022, as do Bailey Smith, Josh Dunkley, Tim English, Jason Johannisen and Toby McLean.
The Bulldogs were beaten by Melbourne to the tune of 74 points in this year’s Grand Final, but are well placed to challenge again next season.
The Dogs’ list management team will have to get creative in managing the salary cap to keep the list together beyond 2022.
“These are some of the names that are out of contract at the Western Bulldogs in 2022: Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Josh Dunkley, Tim English, Jason Johannisen, Jack Macrae, Toby McLean, Bailey Smith. That’s just some of them,” AFL Media’s Mitch Cleary told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“That is a star-studded panel of players for 2022 coming out of contract.
“That list management team is going to have to get to work this off-season and manage this salary cap to within an inch of its life.
“They’re very lucky that Marcus Bontempelli only signed for four more (years), he’s done them a massive favour in not going for that six or seven-year deal.
“They’re going to have to be creative with those players if they want to keep this team together for the future.”
Cleary also provided updates on out-of-contract Dogs duo Lewis Young and Stefan Martin.
“Lewis Young came in and played a role as that ruck, key defender, key forward type option,” he said.
“He’s out of contract and he’s South Australian, will one of the clubs come calling for him? I think there’s a deal for him to stay at the Dogs if he wants it.
“Stef Martin signed a one-year deal with a trigger.
“He’s not going to get that trigger because he missed a lot of the year through injury, but I think there’s an understanding that he wants to play on.
“I think the Dogs will be open to that.”
Martin played nine games in an injury-interrupted first season at Whitten Oval, while Young also made nine senior appearances in 2021.
Young, 22, has played 24 games since debuting for the Bulldogs in 2017.