THE Western Bulldogs were the first team since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss finals after winning a flag.

A number of players saw a dip in their Fantasy output last season as the premiership hangover appeared to be real. Lachie Hunter (MID, $634,000) was the top averaging player on the list from their successful campaign of 2016. His average dropped from 103 to 90.

It wasn't all doom and gloom at the kennel.

Jack Macrae (MID, $732,000) averaged 104 to make it three out of four years of hitting that figure. Marcus Bontempelli (MID, $704,000) went at 100 for the first time in his career and looks set to continue his rise in Fantasy.

This season will find the Bulldogs hoping to bounce back, and with that, Fantasy coaches will be hoping for a spike in their scoring.

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An average of 88.5 was the lowest return for Luke Dahlhaus (MID/FWD, $624,000) since 2014. Only two years ago he enjoyed his best season to date playing 22 games at an average of 97.3.

Dahlhaus spent longer periods forward in 2017 and although his return was far from terrible, it could be considered that there is at least 10 points per game upside. If he splits his time between the forward line and midfield again, hopefully he gets extra clock in the engine room. The 25-year-old will once again boost his scores to be classed as a top-six forward in Fantasy.

In 2016 Jason Johannisen (DEF, $535,000) was considered as one of the big improvers. He took his previous average from 77 to 93 in one season. While only playing 13 games due to a severe hamstring injury, Johannisen was the perfect Fantasy player running out of the backline collecting an average of 24 disposals and six marks.

Last season opponents would often send players to him to stop his run off half-back. He also played a number of games as a wingman and in the forward line.

Johannisen scored two Fantasy tons for the season and his numbers were down in all major stat categories. If that half-back role is looking likely, JJ is under-priced.

In his three seasons, Toby McLean (MID/FWD, $603,000) has demonstrated that he has a Fantasy game.

Last year he averaged an impressive 85.6 from 19 games and produced six scores over the magical 100 mark. In his last 10 games McLean averaged 95.3. Hopefully there's more of this to come.

The retirements of Matthew Boyd and Bob Murphy will see a spot open up in the back line. During the NAB AFL Trade Period, the Dogs went out to find their replacement and they went west to bring in Hayden Crozier (FWD, $467,000) from the Dockers.

A change of club will mean a change of fortune for Crozier's Fantasy scoring.

When he was used as a half-back flanker for Fremantle in 2016, the 24-year-old pumped out scores of 88, 107, 87, 84, 89 and 90. Crozier is named as a Fantasy FWD but with this likely defensive role, he is a good chance to pick up DEF status in one of the roll outs of new dual position players during the season.

Although he's going into his second season, Tim English (RUC/FWD, $187,000) is the man that fits this category. Quite simply, he is the best chance to get games of all ruckmen priced under $200K.

In his two games in his debut season, English scored 33 and 37. Not a lot to write home about, but he'll be a heartbeat on your bench that you may need to call on at some stage in the season.

A couple of sons-of-guns were Fantasy darlings a few years ago, but haven't produced their best in recent seasons.

Tom Liberatore (MID, $507,000) averaged 97 and 99 in his third and fourth seasons, playing all 22 games in both years. He was flying before a knee injury saw him sit out 2015. Last year he went at an average of 72 Fantasy points for his 18 games, making him a potential bargain if he can get back to his best. His best value may be found in Fantasy Draft, where he may go undrafted in many leagues.

In his second season, Mitch Wallis (MID/FWD, $526,000) averaged 83 and enjoyed his best return in 2015 averaging 89.4. Since then he has averaged fewer than 80 points with sporadic roles that has seen him play more as a forward. As a dual position player, he may be forgotten about in Draft by a few coaches and could be a valuable late-round selection.

Josh Schache (FWD, $326,000) joined the Bulldogs in the dying stages of the 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period. For a player with 27 senior games behind him, Schache has a cheap price tag next to his name. It takes a few years for key position players to develop before becoming Fantasy relevant. He'll improve but not by enough to be worthwhile.

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