Expert recruiter Gary Buckenara believes the Western Bulldogs can move further up the ladder in 2020, after rejuvenating their list over the past two years.

With a core group of established stars and exciting young talent pushing through, the four-time Hawthorn premiership player says the Bulldogs are on the right track. 

“I rate the list so highly,” Buckenara wrote in the Herald Sun. 

“We saw glimpses of what this group of players — led by stars Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Jason Johannisen and Easton Wood — is capable of in the second half of the season, despite bowing out in the first week of the finals.

“The emergence of Aaron Naughton, who is going to be a superstar, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith, Ed Richards, Bailey Dale and Tim English has the Bulldogs in the enviable position of having one of the most exciting young lists in the AFL.” 

Buckenara says if the Bulldogs can secure St Kilda forward Josh Bruce and Adelaide defender Alex Keath during the trade period, it would be a success. 

“The Bulldogs have gone into this year’s trade period with a plan and have a clear understanding of what their list needs and will address two needs — key-position players forward and back through the expected additions of Josh Bruce from St Kilda and Alex Keath from Adelaide,” he wrote. 

“Bruce is a flexible player who is athletic for his size and has been a good goal kicker for the Saints. 

He’ll form a nice partnership with Naughton and Schache and will likely get the second or third defender. This forward line is going to create some serious headaches for opposition coaches in the coming years. 

“(Keath) will shore up the Dogs’ defence and be the man who can play on the bigger forwards.”