The Western Bulldogs have one of the healthiest list profiles in the competition according to Champion Data’s recently released AFL Prospectus.

The 2016 Bulldogs boast 29 players under the age of 25, the third most of any side, and more importantly, the quality of the group is ranked sixth best in the competition.  

Of that group, Marcus Bontempelli at 20 years of age is one of four players ranked elite alongside veterans Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd and vice-captain Easton Wood. 

A player is rated as elite if they’re in the top 10% of his position, and Bontempelli is the youngest player in the League in this category, and by some margin.  

Bontempelli has got over two years on Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard (22.65 years old), his closest competition, followed by Greater Western Sydney’s Dylan Shiel (23.04) and Fremantle recruit Harley Bennell (23.48).

The ‘elite’ ranking puts the 37-gamer in Champion Data’s eyes alongside some of the genuine stars of the game.

Just outside of that group in the ‘above average’ category sits Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore, Jake Stringer and Jason Johannison. 

All four are capable of pushing up into elite company based on their 2015  trajectory, and in Liberatore’s case, his Sutton Medal winning form preceding his knee injury last year.

The Dogs have five players that are rated in the top 35% in this age bracket, the most of any side.

Perhaps what’s most encouraging for the red, white and blue faithful is that the Bulldogs possess the least experienced midfield group in the competition with an average of 52 games per player, and yet in Champion Data’s eyes it's ranked the fourth best in League.

Of the players who spent a notable amount of time in the middle, only Liam Picken is over 25.  For a bit of context, the League wide average per side is four. 

Overall, the Dogs have the fifth youngest list in the League when measured by age, at 23 years and 270 days, and If analysing the 44 man squad based on games played, it’s a similar story, the Club listed as the fourth youngest at an average of 57.7 games played. 

Sides who share a similar age profile to the Dogs are the Brisbane Lions, the Greater Western Sydney Giants, the Gold Coast Suns and Mebourne.