The Western Bulldogs’ rise under Luke Beveridge has continued in 2016 following their fairy tale campaign last season.

The Dogs currently sit inside the top-four and loom as one of many premiership candidates after 17 rounds, having won their past three games, including six of their last seven following last weekend’s win over Gold Coast in Cairns.

Beveridge’s side has coped with injury better than most in 2016, replacing one wounded soldier with another able bodied replacement across the duration of the season to date.

While Robert Murphy won’t play again this year, and Jake Stringer is out this week after a huge hit from Suns enforcer Steven May, the Dogs welcome back extractor Tom Liberatore, a week after Tom Boyd returned from a club imposed suspension.

Western Bulldogs’ midfield has thrived in 2016, winning more ball than any other team in the entire competition. The Dogs lead disposals (426.6), disposals differential (+67.1), contested possession differential (+19.8) and uncontested possession differential (+48.2).

Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis, Koby Stevens, Caleb Daniel and Tom Liberatore have led the way in the Dogs’ engine room, providing an even blend of inside and outside mix.

That blend has helped the Bulldogs to a No. 2 ranking for inside 50 differential (+10.6), time in forward half differential (+7:19) and a No. 1 ranking for clearances differential (+7.7).

The rise of Hunter in 2016 has been one of the Dogs’ stories of the year. The wingman has acquired the 7th most possessions this year (30.0), 3rd most uncontested ball (21.8), to go with 3.8 inside 50s and 401.1 metres gained per outing. In the process, the Victorian has emerged as a potential All Australian, rivalling West Coast’s Andrew Gaff as the best wingman in the land.

After missing last weekend’s trip to far-north Queensland, Charles Sutton medallist Tom Liberatore returns on Saturday night. While his numbers don’t exactly leap off the page, his influence around the ball has been profound. At the kennel, Liberatore has laid the most tackles (5.8) and won the second most contested ball (10.9). After sitting out the entirety of 2015, the midfielders form this year has been inspiring.

One area of concern for the Dogs this season has been in the ruck, where they have shuffled different players into the role at different times. With Tom Campbell out injured, Jordan Roughead took the bulk of the responsibility against Gold Coast, with Tom Boyd pinch hitting across the night.

While sons of the West sit a game off top spot, they are ranked only 10th for points for (88.8 points), with Jake Stringer the only player at the club to kick over 20 goals this season. He won’t be there on Saturday night, leaving Jack Redpath (19 goals from nine games), Tory Dickson (16 from 12) and Boyd (six from five) with the keys to the kingdom.

In defence, the Bulldogs have one of the stingiest units in the game. They are ranked No. 2 for points against (73.1 points), with Easton Wood, Dale Morris and Matthew Boyd leading a well drilled back six.

2015 All Australian defender Wood is one of the premier intercepting players in the game. He is averaging 8.4 intercepts per game this season, ranked No. 4 behind a handful of the best readers in the AFL – Alex Rance (8.8), Dane Rampe (8.5) and Jeremy McGovern (8.5).

The return of Jason Johannisen from a serious hamstring injury in the last few weeks has provided Western Bulldogs with added run, which could prove telling at the business end of the season, particularly in the absence of Murphy. Johannisen’s return has been impressive, collecting 20, 22 and 23 possessions, as well as kicking the game winning goal in the dying seconds against Sydney.

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Star:

Prodigy Marcus Bontempelli is one of the best young talents in the game. The star midfielder has entrenched himself in the upper echelon of onballers in the game this season. He currently sits in sixth position in the Coaches’ Association player of the year award, averaging 24.6 disposals, 4.6 clearances, 4.4 tackles and 4.3 inside 50s. His rise this season has played a significant role in the Bulldogs’ rise, along with the improvements from Mitch Wallis and Lachie Hunter, amongst others.

Injury watch:

Hard-nosed midfielder Tom Liberatore returns after missing last week with rib damage following an incident with Richmond’s Jayden Short. While the club’s leading goal kicker Jake Stringer misses after hurting his shoulder in the win over Gold Coast in Cairns. Three-time ACL victim Clay Smith is set for his fourth game in a row since returning from another long-term knee injury. The tough midfielder played up forward against the Suns, booting 3.4 in an electric display inside 50.

Limited Edition History Book: Celebrating 50 Years 1966-2016 The Archives Edition