The Bulldogs will aim to remain ‘open and flexible’ to attract the best options during the 2025 Continental Tyre Trade Period.
Despite the period only officially beginning on Monday, there has already been plenty of conversation in what is touted to be one of the busiest trade periods to date.
The Dogs have a potential acquisition to look forward to, with Gold Coast SUNS defender Connor Budarick officially requesting a trade to Mission Whitten Oval.
Speaking to Cal Twomey on AFL.com.au’s Trade Radio, Bulldogs Player Acquisition & Strategy Manager Michael Regan said the Club was pleased with Budarick's potential arrival, noting there was still work to be done to make the trade happen.
“We’re really excited that Connor has made the choice to come down to the Western Bulldogs,” Regan said.
“We can really see him helping us out in that defensive end.”
The backline will be a focus for the Dogs this trade period as they look to bolster stocks ahead of 2026.
Despite not being able to secure St Kilda’s Cal Wilkie, Regan revealed the Club would continue taking a targeted approach to ensure they find the right player to slot into a developing defence.
“There’s obviously some external noise around our key-back stocks but we’re really happy with the way that Jedd Busslinger and James O’Donnell are developing and we still see a lot of upside in them,” he said.
“(Wilkie) chose to stay at St Kilda and we really respect that. He gave us a fair hearing and we had a good go at it.
“We’re taking a really considered and targeted approach to what we do in the key backs.
“Unless someone can come in and really improve what we’ve got, then we’ll roll into next year with our current group.”
Conversations will be held with Carlton over the coming days after Bulldogs utility Buku Khamis officially requested a trade to the Blues.
The versatile 25-year-old played in 14 games this season, able to impact at both ends of the ground for the Dogs.
With a year left to run on his contract, Regan highlighted the need for a fair trade describing Khamis as a 'required’ player at Mission Whitten Oval.
“Buku is a required player at the Club and a much-loved member of the Western Bulldogs community from the NGA right through,” he said.
“Obviously he’s been a really valuable player for us on field too having played 31 games over the two years.
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“Setting a price is probably a little bit premature but we’re having some productive conversations with Carlton and we’ll do the best for both Buku and our footy club.”
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was also a topic of conversation on the first day of the 2025 Continental Tyres Trade Period, with the forward looking to a potential move to Gold Coast to continue his career in 2026.
Regan provided insight on the situation, stating that there had been no formal request to date and it would only be considered once there were options on the table.
“At this point we haven’t had an official request come through from Jamarra,” he said.
“We’ll wait for that to come. He’s a Western Bulldogs player and we’ll continue to support him.”
