1. Macca has a mantra
First-year coach Brendan McCartney is definite in his approach: he believes he and his assistants are coaching the right way to develop the right kind of people to play the right way. With so many youngsters, the philosophy is that it's all about quality people, education, patience, time and incremental improvements. And, of course, contested ball and team defence - look after those two areas, McCartney insists, and the goals will often take care of themselves.

2. There's more pain ahead
The Bulldogs will probably find it even harder in the second and third seasons of McCartney's reign. The Dogs won just five games this year and lost the last 11 games by an average of 59 points, while a look at their playing list raises alarm. They still rely heavily on older players such as skipper Matthew Boyd, Brian Lake, Bob Murphy, Daniel Cross and Daniel Giansiracusa and have too few in the 23-27 age group to buffer the abundance of developing youngsters.

3. There were gallant defeats
The Bulldogs' best - perhaps absolute best - can challenge some of the top sides. Their most complete performance was their 18-point win over North Melbourne in round seven, but their most exciting efforts came in fierce struggles with 2011 grand finalists Geelong (by 20 points in round nine) and Collingwood (21 points in round six) and Adelaide (18 points in round two at AAMI Stadium), each of which only broke free in the last quarter.

4. The pups can play
McCartney is confident the Bulldogs boast enough young talent to develop into a force down the track, and the kids showed plenty of promise. Second-year players Luke Dahlhaus, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore, whose season ended prematurely after receiving a club-imposed suspension, appear destined to become 200-game players. The Dogs blooded eight players, including first-year draftees Clay Smith, Daniel Pearce, Fletcher Roberts and Michael Talia, and rookies Tom Campbell, South-African-born Jason Johannisen and Lin Jong, the first AFL player of East Timorese and Taiwanese descent.

5. Luke is their Dahling
Luke Dahlhaus is a rare talent. It has been a remarkable rise for the dreadlocked Dog. He was elevated from the club's rookie list last year to make his debut in round 12 last year and during the Bulldogs' pre-season campaign had already stamped himself as the club's most exciting player, and one that opposition teams needed to pay close attention to - and they did. Fast, elusive and gutsy, he appears to have the football world at his feet. Just needs to capitalise more.

6. The Dog attack lacks bite
More than any other area of the ground, the Dogs' attack is going to take time to gel with the likes of key talls Ayce Cordy and Liam Jones very much in development mode. Individually, Jones was the Dogs' greatest disappointment of 2012. He was regarded - unfairly on reflection - as the club's forward saviour following the retirement of Barry Hall. After being equal fifth on the AFL for contested marks in 2011, Jones played just 12 games. Tom Williams could overtake him as a marking target next season.

7. Cooney is up 'n' Adam
Adam Cooney can be a meaningful contributor despite his knee problem. The Brownlow medallist's career appeared at the crossroads when he missed six late-season games. But the Dogs resisted calls to put the 26-year-old out to pasture, and they knew best - Cooney played the last three games (the first as a sub) and was one of the club's best players in the final two games against Geelong (28 touches) and Brisbane Lions (a season-best 29). The old speed and penetration was back.

8. Griffen is the Rolls-Royce
If Ryan Griffen wasn't already an elite midfielder, he certainly is now. McCartney has added a harder edge to Griffen by making him more of an inside midfielder, and the 2010 best and fairest winner still managed to be his team's most damaging ball-carrier. He averaged 27 disposals a game and produced his top-three career efforts in disposals, including a club-record 47 touches in a losing side against the Sydney Swans in round 21 at Etihad Stadium.

9. Picken's a star-stopper
Liam Picken is perhaps the best stopper in the game. The tough tagger claimed numerous scalps this season and was rarely beaten in a contest, let alone for an entire match. But he does so much more than restrict his opponent - he gets plenty of the ball himself (he averaged 18 touches), risks life and limb without a second thought, selflessly creates space for teammates, and tackles with ferocity. McCartney wants his players to become good teammates, and Picken is one of the best.

10. Will develops some power
Will Minson can carry the Bulldogs' otherwise youthful ruck division on his broad shoulders. With Ben Hudson leaving the club last year, Minson carried the bulk of the load with assistance from youngsters Jordan Roughead, Ayce Cordy and Tom Campbell. He led the AFL in hit-outs with 667 - an even 500 more than last year, and also posted a career-best season average of 14 disposals a game. Minson returned strongly after serving a club-imposed, one-match suspension for sledging Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs