5. Prediction
11th
The Dogs will improve in 2021, there's no question. The only real question is by how much? I can't seem them playing finals footy, they're a six, a nine and a prop short of qualifying. That said, they'll be closer to the finals than the wooden spoon.
They're recruited exceptionally well but it will take time to build the side that can consistency run with the big boys. They'll win games this year that they would have lost previously, but this is a slow and steady rebuild.
There are big questions over Trent Barrett as a coach but we'll know much more at the end of this season. The feeling is he's an amazing assistant but looked out of his depth at Manly. Dogs fans will be hoping he's learned from his mistakes.
I'm very much looking forward to a re-energised Bulldogs outfit taking to the park in 2021. I'm a huge fan of Flanagan while Corey Allan's signature completely transforms that backline.
If they can stay fit and win a few games early on, who knows? That said, there's too many deficiencies here to confidently predict anything higher than an 11th-placed finish.
Either way, they'll be a far better side at the end of this season than they were at the end of 2020.
