TOM LIBERATORE 
Following a breakout season in 2013, Tom Liberatore took his game to new heights last year. The son of club champion, Tony, won his first Charles Sutton Medal, averaging 24 disposals and eight tackles per game. In fact he had 173 tackles for the entire season, 10 more than any other player. Liberatore's work around the clearances was sublime so it was no surprise he was named in the All Australian 40-man squad for the first time in his career, just missing out on the final cut. But 2015 won't be without its challenged with the shy midfielder to shoulder a bigger load this year. The losses of skipper Ryan Griffen and Brownlow medalist Adam Cooney mean Liberatore faces the almighty task of leading the Bulldog's engine room, and you can be sure he will attract more attention from opposition taggers.
KEY 2014 STATS: Games 22. In 2014 Liberatore was the No.1 ranked player in the competition for tackles and clearances. He was also ranked third of all midfielders for pressure acts per game, showing just how hard he works when he doesn't have the ball. He was also the second best player in the League when it came to hardball gets and amassed the fourth most contested possessions of any player.

TOM BOYD
In just his second year in the AFL system, and with a meager nine games under his belt, how can Tom Boyd be the most important player at the kennel? It's simple really. A seven-year multi-million dollar contract is a huge investment of faith from the Dogs given Boyd is relatively untried, so there is a lot riding on the 2013 No.1 draft pick. At 19, the former Giant, is incredibly important to the Bulldogs' structure given they have been searching for a talented key forward since Barry Hall departed the club back in 2011. It's a big burden to carry and the club must be careful the hopes and expectations of the fans don't weigh down their most prized recruit.
KEY 2014 STATS: Games nine. Boyd didn't play much footy in his first year but did manage to kick eight goals, nearly averaging one per game, and also had six goal assists. The 19-year-old also took eight marks inside 50, but you can expect that stat to rise significantly in 2015.