Unearthing young gems over the past two seasons has no doubt accelerated the Western Bulldogs’ push for a long-awaited AFL grand final berth.
The evenness of the playing list and a new-found depth at the club have ensured that whenever injury or poor form has struck, there has always been a player ready to step up and perform.
And the good news for Bulldogs’ fans is that the production line is not grinding to a halt any time soon.
You need to look no further than Footscray’s VFL grand final triumph over Casey Scorpions at Etihad Stadium on Sunday for evidence.
The Bulldogs were brimming with young talent that will be unleashed in the big league in upcoming seasons.
Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge could already confidently call on Lukas Webb, Bailey Dale, Mitch Honeychurch, Bailey Williams and the injured Nathan Hrovat, just to name a few youngsters, who could step into the AFL team and have a positive impact.
A rookie lister is starting to turn heads as well. Brad Lynch, number 11 in the 2015 AFL rookie draft, was electrifying on the half-back flank for Footscray during VFL finals.
He has speed to burn, is daring with ball in hand and equally adept on either foot, so has the polish to go with his flair.
Lynch arrived at the Western Bulldogs as a raw teenager, but had already played senior football with Swan Districts in the WAFL. At 19, he appears set for a bright future at the kennel.
Moreover, Lynch does not see his future anywhere other than Footscray, despite moving from the west coast to Melbourne on contract.
“I’ve loved every minute of being over here and I’m hoping to stay again next year,” he said.
Lynch wants to grow with the talented young players on the Western Bulldogs’ list. He has been impressed by the togetherness, hunger and football nous of the next gen Bulldogs.
“We just have a ruthless attitude towards footy,” Lynch said. “We have so much depth and we’re so young.
“We’ve learned the game plan so quickly, and it’s just showing right now in how well we’re playing.”
Lynch has been surrounded with good role models in his time in senior football, thanking former Fremantle and St Kilda player Craig Callaghan and Footscray teammate and Western Bulldogs development coach Jordan Russell, in particular, for fast-tracking his development.
You could not wipe the smile from Lynch’s face after the premiership glory.
