The Western Bulldogs football department has never been in a better position to attack the competition, with elite facilities and now an influx well credentialled and ambitious personnel.

With the completion of the Mission Elite Learning Centre and Whitten Oval sporting precinct, the Club has turned their focus to increasing resources in the core business of football.

The Dogs are well placed to prepare for season 2013, according to Senior Coach Brendan McCartney, with 10 new full-time positions in the football department.

“We have been really thankful to the board and Simon [Garlick, CEO] and the executive, we are being resourced more than ever to help our players get better and be a better footy team,” McCartney said.

The appointment of two world class physical preparation and performance minds in Graham Lowe and Andy Barnett, as well as additional coaching staff and an increase in medical roles will aid improvement across the entire football department.

A reshuffle in the coaching department has also seen Brett Montgomery take on the newly created position of Strategy and Opposition Coach with Rohan Smith moving from a development role to Assistant Coach.

Adding premiership players in the form of Development Coach Ashley Hansen, and ex-Geelong pair Cameron Mooney and Matthew Scarlett in supporting roles is also a major coup for the Club.

McCartney said his current team are building their own legacy and not trying to re-create that of Geelong’s, with the inclusion and input of a number of Bulldog greats.

“We are also bolstering other areas of the club…we are creating a strong link with past Bulldogs champions too,” he said.

“They understand our Club and the environment and they helped create the history of the Club and we are going to develop that a little bit further.”