Footscray has welcomed nine new players alongside a number of Premiership Bulldogs and returning faces ahead of the 2026 Smithy’s VFL season. 

Headlining the group of additions is current development coach Jack Billings, who joined the Kennel late last year after 172 AFL games with St Kilda and Melbourne.

Next Generation Academy prospect Kobe Williams has also signed with the ‘Scray, while Stirling Phipps-Parsons has crossed from Carlton VFL. 

Premiership captain Dan Orgill leads a group of 13 returning Bulldogs, including the 2025 Best and Fairest Billy Crofts, Norm Goss medallist Cooper Craig-Peters and fellow flag-winners Will Lewis and Fred Valpied.

The Bulldogs have also bid farewell to Ethan Hunt, Josh Kellett, Cam Owen, David Cuningham and Diesel Moloney, and thank them for their service to the red, white and blue. 

Footscray will host Casey in Round 1 of the Smithy’s VFL season on Saturday 22 March, with the final list to be confirmed ahead of the clash. 

The squad as it currently stands can be seen below.

2026 Footscray VFL squad (as of January 30)