THE WESTERN Bulldogs' recent profit of $600,000 isn't enough to allow them to fill their playing list next year.

The Dogs are set to leave two spots vacant because of financial constraints, selecting five players instead of seven at the NAB AFL Rookie Draft on December 16.

While the Dogs' profit sounds comfortable, with rookies costing between $35,000 and $40,000 a season the club must decide between the recruits or another player welfare staff member.

"It is a decision based on financials . . . we might go in two short," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia told Thursday's Herald Sun.

"It is a good move for the AFL to allow two extra rookies per club, but they are not paying for those extra rookies.

"It makes it difficult for the less financial clubs. So it's the same old story: the rich benefit and the ones who don't have the money don't.

"We're not crying poor, but the rules support the ones with money. In some ways, it can defeat the very reason for having a salary cap."

The Bulldogs have been so cash-strapped in the past that they could not afford to have even one rookie, so five is a huge improvement.

"We're being very diligent and we've climbed back to the extent we've got five rookies, but we can't just find another $80,000," Fantasia said.

The Dogs will retain James Mulligan, Henry White and John Shaw as rookies next year, and New South Wales scholarship-holder Chris Ogle will also be counted as one of the group.

Senior players Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris and Jarrod Harbrow are graduates of the Dogs' rookie list.