Are the Western Bulldogs destined for an AFL dynasty?

THE Western Bulldogs are barely 48 hours removed from their spectacular 22-point win over the Sydney Swans to win the 2016 AFL premiership, but Sportsbet.com.au is already backing the Dogs to go back-to-back.

The Bulldogs are the $4.50 favourites alongside the GWS Giants to win the 2017 premiership, but the Dogs are not only looking beyond Saturday’s breakthrough win, but deep into their AFL future.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his team is looking to build a ‘dynasty’ on the back of their watershed win.

“That’s our challenge, and it’s hard to look beyond this, but sustainability would be great,” Beveridge said in the aftermath of Saturday’s win.

“I suppose you want to be envied.

“There’s no doubt everyone envies what Hawthorn has achieved.

“Everyone envies Sydney’s sustained success, and their recent flags.

“Everyone envies the Cats and their recent record.

“We’ve nailed one in a long period of time, and to be envied, you need that sustained success.

“That’s our next mandate to see if we can pull that off.”

The club won just its second premiership in its existence, but Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said the Dogs are planning on adding a lot more silverware to the cabinet at the Whitten Oval.

“I really hope as president of the Dogs that we win the next six.” Gordan said.

“We need to get better” – Hannebery

The Swans may have experienced their second grand final heartbreak in four years, but that has not stopped Sportsbet keeping the faith in Sydney, placing the Bloods on the third line of betting for 2017 at the $7.

Fellow top-four teams the Adelaide Crows ($8) and the Geelong Cats ($9) are the only other two sides in single figures for the 2017 flag.

On-baller Daniel Hannebery said that the grand final loss is a hard one to take but one that will ultimately make them better going into the future.

“It will burn for a while and it’s probably what will drive hopefully the group to get better,” Hannebery said.

“We need to get better and there’s no doubt all those guys in there want to get another shot and try and lift that cup up like the Bulldogs did yesterday.”

AFL Premiership Winner 2017

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

GWS – $4.50

Western Bulldogs – $4.50

Sydney – $7

Adelaide – $8

Geelong – $9

Hawthorn – $10

West Coast – $13

Port Adelaide – $21

Essendon – $21

Collingwood – $23

St Kilda – $26

Melbourne – $26

North Melbourne – $31

Gold Coast – $31

Richmond – $34

Fremantle – $34

Carlton – $81

Brisbane – $251

Brownlow-bound Botempelli?

There is plenty of optimism around the Dogs, but it’s not just the club that is primed for success in the eyes of Sportsbet.com.au.

Sportsbet has placed superstar youngster Marcus Bontempelli on the second line of Brownlow medal betting at the $7 quote behind Geelong on-baller Patrick Dangerfield.

Richmond’s Dustin Martin ($8) and Adelaide’s Rory Sloane ($9) are the only two men under double figures for next year’s league best and fairest.

The former number four draft pick is already considered one of the great talents in the game today, which is a scary prospect given he is only 20-years old.

Teammate Luke Dahlhaus described the man Bulldogs’ fans call ‘The Future’ as the ‘complete package’.

“As a player, he is an absolute superstar,” Dahlhaus said of his teammate.

“He has the football smarts and he has God-given talent as well. He is the complete package.

“He is not even 21 yet, but he has captained the club, loves the club and he is always looking to help someone else before himself. It is the perfect thing in a leader.

“To have someone like that, so good when he is 20 years old, is ridiculous.”

2017 Brownlow medal winner

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Patrick Dangerfield $5

Marcus Bontempelli $7

Dustin Martin $8

Rory Sloane $9

Nat Fyfe $11

Luke Parker $12

Daniel Hannebery $17

Joel Selwood $17

Jack Steven $21

Robbie Gray $21

Josh P. Kennedy $21

Gary Ablett $23

Adam Treloar $23

Callan Ward $23

Matthew Priddis $23

Patrick Cripps $26

Scott Pendlebury $26

Dylan Shiel $26

Sam Mitchell $26

Lachie Neale $29

Luke Shuey $29

Stephen Coniglio $29

Tom Rockliff $34

Zach Merrett $34

Andrew Gaff $34

Todd Goldstein $34

Trent Cotchin $41

Dayne Beams $41

Lance Franklin $41

Bryce Gibbs $41

Dion Prestia $51

Marc Murphy $51

Max Gawn $51

Tom Mitchell $51

Tom Liberatore $51

Nick Riewoldt $51

Brett Deledio $67

Lachlan Hunter $67

Travis Boak $67

Sebastian Ross $67

Jackson Macrae $67

Jaeger O’Meara $67

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