Western Bulldogs · 4 notes
Hudson O'Keeffe and Finn Maginness weren't Plan B: Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says "we were well advanced in conversations with them before Zak actually made his choice." Landing Zak Butters took everyone from Luke Beveridge to the president: "everyone played their part."
Hudson O'Keeffe "ripped us apart" late in the year, but the Western Bulldogs were already tracking him, list boss Michael Regan says. The Carlton recruit "brings some aerial presence for us in the ruck and up forward," though Regan conceded his body has frustrated him lately.
Tasmania lets the Bulldogs "zig a little bit this year" and "maybe zag in the next couple of years and bank some extra picks", list boss Michael Regan says, eyeing the 2027 and 2028 drafts. Recruiting focus: ages 22 to 27; Hudson O'Keeffe will develop with the young core.
Ruckmen Flynn Riley and Hudson O'Keeffe have sought trades from Carlton despite extension offers. Chris Davies said Collingwood offered Riley "a significant deal in terms of term". If both go, "I'm not concerned, no", citing Marc Pittonet's year and Liam Reidy as backup.