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Important update on 1476AMWhy Adam Simpson won't write off the Dogs just yet
Jaiden Sciberras • April 26th, 2026 11:30 am
The Western Bulldogs have gone from hero to zero in just two weeks, but Adam Simpson isn’t ready to give up hope just yet.
After a blistering start to the AFL season, the Dogs sat top of the table with four wins from four games, easily the game’s hottest commodity within the early stages.
However, injuries struck hard. Ruckman Tim English went down with a knee, superstar Sam Darcy tore his ACL, veteran Tom Liberatore suffered multiple concussions while the likes of Rory Lobb, James O’Donnell, Connor Budarick and Arty Jones all suffered hamstring damage – all of which occurred over a three-week span.
As a result, the Bulldogs have stagnated immensely. Invincible to start the year, the Dogs would go on to lose by 40 points to the Hawks, 75 points to the Cats and most recently 66 points to the Swans.
Round 7's loss to Sydney also came at a cost, with star forward Aaron Naughton coming down hard in a marking contest, suffering a neck injury - the extent of which is yet to be confirmed.
Now 4-3, Luke Beveridge’s men have been virtually withdrawn from premiership contention, with many suspecting that the injury-riddled Dogs simply don’t have the depth required to compete with the best.
And while there remains several questions as to how the club responds, the former West Coast Eagles premiership coach won’t rule them out just yet.
“Are there scars being left?” Simpson questioned on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“These aren’t just honourable losses; they’ve become quite concerning.
“It’s early in the year, they’ve got Fremantle next week, then they’ve got Port Adelaide and then the Blues. The conversation is around, ‘get the band back together, take our medicine for the next two weeks’.
“Unfortunately, what happens normally is you lose a couple, and then you lose a couple, and then you get a couple back. All of a sudden, its Round 16 and you’re 8-8.
“What started with so much promise – I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. A team being premiership favourites, and then two weeks later are almost out of contention.
“I’m not writing off the Bulldogs just yet. I still think there’s an opportunity to respond, but unfortunately on the weekend, their better players didn’t play well.
“Their Ed Richards types, they need to be off the charts. His form has dropped way off since English has gone out of the side, (and) his own injury concerns.
“There are some players who that could carry the camp, and they are not at the moment.”
The Dogs host Fremantle at Marvel Stadium next Friday in a bid to restore winning ways.
