An explosive debut performance from Clay Smith has prompted westernbulldogs.com.au to look at who will be this year’s big improvers (and big NAB AFL Dream Team money earners) from the Western Bulldogs camp.

Smith’s Dream Team value ($107,700) is certain to receive a boost in coming weeks after a very solid showing on the weekend - racking up 79 points before being subbed off late in the third term.

The hard at it midfielder looked composed around the ball and is likely to be given an extended run in the senior side if he continues to perform.

His courageous efforts and high work rate were put on show in Sunday’s game as he gathered 13 possessions and laid 3 tackles to go with 4 goals over the three quarters.

Class act Tom Liberatore is another young Bulldog who stood out in Sunday’s game against West Coast Eagles and after a solid debut season in 2011 is set to up the ante.

His output saw him earning 107 Dream Team points - the second highest in the Bulldogs line-up - almost 40 points higher than his season average last year of 69.8 points.

Liberatore’s $345,000 price tag could prove to be good value if he continues to produce similar results - his lowest score this pre-season was 72 points.

Crowd favourite Luke Dahlhaus continues to build on his breakout debut season in 2011, slotting through 2 goals and earning 92 Dream Team points in the process.

Dahlhaus ($315,200) has continued to work on his defensive game under Senior Coach Brendan McCartney in the pre-season, laying 5 tackles in Sunday’s game - a focus that will only benefit his Dream Team scores in 2012.

Two more established players who are potentially undervalued are Ryan Hargrave ($232,700) and Will Minson ($365,500).

Hargrave has proven Dream Team success after averaging 92.1 points in 2009 - a year in which he received All-Australian honours.

His Dream Team price tag has been reduced drastically after injury restricted him to just five games in 2011 but after a solid pre-season he is on track to regain form and produce larger scores in Season 2012 starting with Sunday’s game where he scored 79 points.

Another player in the Bulldog ranks who is making a solid case for Dream Team selection is ruckman Will Minson who scored 97 points against West Coast.

Minson fought hard in the ruck against arguably the best ruck duo in the competition in Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui to come away with 20 disposals, 9 marks and 16 hit-outs.

During the Bulldogs pre-season campaign Minson also proved dangerous around goals where he is likely to be rested deep while not in the ruck.