At an average age of 22.6 the Dogs will again field the youngest team in the League once Round 9 is all said and done according to Champion Data.

The Dogs also average just 55 games per player, 16 less than the second youngest team, the Gold Coast Suns.

But with the fighting wins and frustrating losses that young teams often deliver, there comes an opportunity to see what the playing list is really made of, and with the likes of Bailey Williams, Zaine Cordy, Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards, only one of whom has blown out 21 birthday candles, Luke Beveridge would be pleased with what he’s unearthed so far this year.

Bailey Williams in particular has been a revelation in an underage backline so far this season.  With Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd now retired, Dale Morris injured and skipper Easton Wood missing for the past fortnight, the young defender has been asked to shoulder more than most players at the comparable stages of their careers.

But the 20-year-old South Australian looks to be aging in Dog years, such is his poise and composure for someone so young.

He’s also a competitor who brings a genuine physical edge to the Dogs’ back six.

Beveridge said post-match that for the Dogs to improve, they’ll need to show that they can win one-on-one contests more often, something Williams is already doing regularly. 

“When I mentioned the one on one side of things and winning the footy back and intercepting and being able to drive it back out way, he (Williams) had a really positive game,” he said. 

Taken with the 48^th pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, Williams averaged 16 disposals, four marks and three rebound 50s over 12 games last season.  

This year, he’s upped this averages to 20, six and five across eight games so far, including another 24 on Friday night in his home town of Adelaide, and was again named in the Bulldogs best.

“He’s a player that is really progressing well.,” Beveridge said.  

The Dogs now face Collingwood and Melbourne in the lead up to the bye.