The Western Bulldogs will go into the 2018 season with the fifth youngest list in the competition it’s been revealed after final playing lists were finalised this week.

With veterans Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd and Travis Cloke retiring, the Dogs average age in Round 1 will be 23.72, with only St.Kilda (23.55), North Melbourne (23.42), Brisbane (23.28) and Gold Coast younger.

And when the Dogs run out to face the Giants in Canberra in Round 1 next season, the average number of games played will be just 56, with only three teams boasting a lower number.

This despite only seven teams having a list that has played more finals.

The Dogs do, however, boast the competition’s third-oldest player in evergreen defender Dale Morris.  The former Rookie will be 35 in December and is set to break through the 250 game barrier next season, the 12th Bulldog in history to do so.

Summary of 2018 AFL club lists

 CLUBAVERAGE AGE (YEARS, DAYS)AVERAGE GAMESFINALS100+ GAMESYET TO DEBUTFROM OTHER AFL CLUBS
ADELAdelaide24192681651413 10
BLBrisbane Lions231285465 9 1112
CARLCarlton2324456567819
COLLCollingwood249868116131012
ESSEssendon2335558639911
FREFremantle232926314413128
GEELGeelong24956520913 1210
GCFCGold Coast 232260317910
GWSGreater Western Sydney241664143101111
HAWHawthorn241797426517911
MELBMelbourne2333557448912
NMFCNorth Melbourne23117 5210710119
PORTPort Adelaide245073109171013
RICHRichmond232556211411 88
STKSt Kilda2320153321010 13
SYDSydney 23343 6630311124
WCEWest Coast232826416915168
WBWestern Bulldogs2325956129976
AVERAGE2333862126111010