Over the next fortnight, westernbulldogs.com.au will look back on a season like no other – 2020 – reviewing every player who featured in more than three AFL games. 

Next is up is the versatile Toby McLean and high-flying forward Aaron Naughton. 

 
2020 Review: Lloyd, Macrae 
2020 Review: Liberatore, Lipinski 
2020 Review: Johannisen, Keath 
2020 Review: Gardner, Hunter 
2020 Review: Dunkley, English 
2020 Review: Dale, Daniel 
2020 Review: Cordy, Crozier
2020 Review: Bontempelli, Bruce

Toby McLean 

 
A variety of roles were filled by Toby McLean for the Bulldogs this season. 

He spent time forward, on the ball and even as a tagger on occasions – to good effect – across his 12 games.

McLean broke into the team in round three to be part of a season-defining win against the Giants. He was overlooked again for two weeks from round seven, but re-established himself as an important player over the following eight weeks.  

Unfortunately the 24-year-old suffered an ACL injury late in the year against Hawthorn, which will see him miss most of 2021. 

By the numbers… 

Games: 12 
Goals: 6 
 
Disposals: 13.8 
Tackles: 3.8 
Score involvements: 3.5 
Inside 50s: 2.2 

Best game: McLean was sensational against the West Coast Eagles in round 16, as the Bulldogs scraped home for an important win. A lock-down role on star Eagle Andrew Gaff saw McLean play a big part in the win. He restricted Gaff to just 15 disposals and 195 metres gained, while collecting 20 disposals of his own and laying nine tackles. 

Aaron Naughton 

Aaron Naughton rode the wave in an injury-interrupted 2020 season. 

The young gun had knee issues during the pre-season but took his place in round one. He’d started to hit his straps by round four, before an ankle injury sidelined him for six weeks.  

And then, on the eve of finals, he sustained a facial fracture – although he did get up to play less than two weeks later in the elimination final. 

Between all of that, Naughton continued to excite in his second year as a key forward, with the 21-year-old’s strong contested marking skills a highlight. 

By the numbers…  

Games: 12 
Goals: 15 
 
Disposals: 7 
Marks: 3.5 
Score involvements: 3.7 
Contested marks: 1.7 

Best game: Naughton’s best outing for 2020 was clearly in round 12 against the Adelaide Crows. With fellow forward Josh Bruce on the sidelines, the rising star commanded the ball inside 50 in the 57-point win. Naughton pulled in six marks – three of them contested – and had eight disposals. Did we mention he kicked six goals?