Dan Fisher is the latest addition off the ground as the Western Bulldogs try to return to the top.
The Western Bulldogs have appointed Dan Fisher, a long-time men’s recruiter, as their new AFLW list manager.
Fisher has been a valued component of the club’s men’s recruiting squad for more than a decade, serving in a variety of list management capacities.
He began as a recruiting analyst at the Whitten Oval in 2012 before transitioning into pro scouting in 2016. Since 2019, he has served as the club’s men’s list and recruiting officer.
Fisher has now joined a new-look Bulldogs AFLW football department, which has undergone significant changes throughout the off-season, including the hiring of a new football head and senior coach.
Tamara Hyett, an ex-Melbourne assistant, replaced Nathan Bourke as the club’s senior coach in February, while the highly regarded Patrice Berthold was hired as the club’s new head of women’s football in March.
It came after a thorough evaluation of the club’s men’s and women’s football programs, which included the Dogs’ maiden AFLW list and the departure of recruitment manager Mick Sandry from the club in May.
Sandry had recently taken over last December’s AFLW Draft, in which the Bulldogs held the most of the early picks, employing four of the first eleven picks and selecting Western Jets forward Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner with the valued first pick.
He was also intimately involved in the stunning 11-club mega-deal that took place on the final day of the AFLW Trade Period, with the Dogs exchanging six players and six picks as part of the incredible accord.
The Bulldogs traded Kirsty Lamb, Gabby Newton, Katie Lynch, and picks 22 and 61 to rival clubs, in exchange for Lauren Ahrens, Jasmyn Smith, Analea McKee, and picks 4, 6, 11, and 51.
During the same Trade Period, the club had earlier agreed to sign Zimmorlei Farquharson, Ellie Gavalas, and Mua Laloifi, while Celine Moody had been sold to Carlton.
The Bulldogs, who won the AFLW in 2018, have struggled in recent years, making the finals only once in the last six seasons. It culminated in last year’s last place finish and a disastrous 1-9 record.
