Bulldog to stay for four
McLean happy in kennel
WESTERN Bulldogs premiership star Toby McLean has jumped the list management queue and signed for another four seasons.
McLean, who was already contracted for next season, is now locked in at Whitten Oval until 2022.
He has been the Bulldogs’ biggest improver since their 2016 flag and is on track to finish in the top two or three at this year’s best-and-fairest.
“(Contract) talks started at the end of last month and it didn’t take long to get a deal done,” he said last night.
“Both parties are quite happy. It was a little bit of a surprise, knowing that a lot of other boys are out of contract this year.
“We’d have 10 or maybe even more. I was contracted until the end of next year, but I love the club and want to be here for as long as possible.
“The club’s in a really good spot and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. The end of 2022 takes me to 26, which feels like a long way away but can come quick at the same time.”
The Bulldogs have five free agents unsigned — Jordan Roughead, Mitch Wallis (restricted), Tom Liberatore, Luke Dahlhaus and Dale Morris (unrestricted).
McLean, 22, was buoyed by the “variety” of talent unearthed this season as he develops his onball game under midfield coaches Joel Corey and Daniel Giansiracusa.
“We’ve got the right group to (play finals). Anything is possible with the group we’ve got,” he said. “This year we’ve got Aaron Naughton, a big fullback, Ed Richards, who can play back, forward or wing, and then Billy Gowers, who can play forward or mid.
“We’ve got quite a young list, and then we’ve also got the likes of Dale Morris, who hopefully can play for a few more years as well to help the kids grow up quicker.”
McLean tipped Jack Macrae to be “way out in front” in the best-and-fairest.
But McLean, who is the Dogs’ No.1 tackler and No.2 contested ball winner, is also set to receive plenty of votes.
He said he was still recovering from a collarbone injury sustained in the first contest of Round 13, where he bizarrely gave away a free kick.
“Robbie Gray came off the back of the square and I just saw the ball and went for the ball,” McLean said.
“It’s coming back to 100 per cent now, which is five weeks on. It was my 50th game, so I had family come over and to go out in the first two seconds would’ve been a bit of a shame.”
McLean had mum Heather and girlfriend Laura in the Adelaide Oval stands and bravely played on as the Dogs lost Macrae and Easton Wood to hamstring injuries.
He has not missed a game since Round 11 last year and has elevated his midfield game after an introduction late last season.