Easter Sunday afternoon will see two sides that were unable to register first-up wins in the opening round of the 2018 AFL season go head to head at Etihad Stadium in the first home game of the year for the Western Bulldogs.
Both the Bulldogs and this week's opposition, the West Coast Eagles have had differing weeks following their respective losses. The blowtorch has been on Luke Beveridge and the Western Bulldogs following an insipid performance against the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Canberra last weekend.
Whilst the Giants looked a couple of classes above the Doggies, experts and supporters have described the effort from the red, white and blues as 'embarrassing', 'listless' and 'appalling'. On top of all of that, there was the mistake that the Dogs made about letting Jack Redpath play in a VFL practice match, when he was still serving his suspension. He would've been available to play this week had he not played on the weekend.
It's been a tumultuous week for the Bulldogs, the Eagles have endured less criticism, despite allowing Sydney star Lance Franklin to kick eight goals, as the Swans secured an easy first-up win in the Eagles' first game at Optus Stadium. Whilst the Swans were too strong, the Eagles refused to let the margin get out of hand, so there is cause for optimism out West.
Remarkably, despite all that has happened this week, the Western Bulldogs have emerged as the favourites of this contest. These two sides met last year and the Eagles beat them on both occasions, albeit they were both under 10 points. It's a well known fact that the Eagles don't play Etihad Stadium particularly well. Their win against the Dogs at this particular stadium last year was their first victory over the Dogs at the ground since round one 2012.
One side will end the round win-less from their opening two games. It's going to be an interesting game – which of these two sides has the most drive to bounce back from their opening-round defeat?
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Lin Jong, Lukas Webb, Ed Richards, Caleb Daniel
OUT: Tom Liberatore (Knee), Hayden Crozier (Knee), Fletcher Roberts, Shane Biggs (Both Omitted)
B: Zaine Cordy, Jackson Trengove, Bailey Williams HB: Matthew Suckling, Aaron Naughton, Easton Wood C: Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale HF: Jason Johannisen, Tim English, Lin Jong F: Luke Dahlhaus, Marcus Bontempelli, Billy Gowers FOL: Jordan Roughead, Toby McLean, Josh Dunkley INT: Lukas Webb, Ed Richards, Mitch Honeychurch, Caleb Daniel EMG: Mitch Wallis, Tom Boyd, Shane Biggs, Tory Dickson The Western Bulldogs have made four changes to the side that got thumped by the GWS Giants last Sunday. Of these four changes, only two of them are unforced changes. Tom Liberatore's knee injury has been well documented over the past week, with the 2014 Charlie Sutton Medal winner gone for the year, rupturing his right ACL – just three years after rupturing his left ACL in the pre-season. Hayden Crozier is also set to spend a month on the sidelines, picking up a medial ligament strain on his left knee. Fletcher Roberts has been dropped completely out of the line-up, whilst Shane Biggs was also dropped when the final side was revealed on Friday.
Coming into the side sees premiership player Caleb Daniel, who will prove to be a valuable inclusion. Lin Jong plays his first game since suffering a season-ending knee injury midway through last year, Lukas Webb comes into the team for his first game of 2018, whilst young Ed Richards, taken with the 16th pick in last year's AFL Draft will make his debut on Sunday. Richards is described as a quick, rebounding defender with very neat foot skills.
Mitch Wallis and Tory Dickson are named emergencies for the second-straight week – I wonder what is keeping them from coming back into the side – Wallis in particular shapes as a more than adequate replacement for the fallen Tom Liberatore, whilst Dickson's penchant for straight shots on goal is always a good asset to have. West Coast Eagles IN: Willie Rioli OUT: Will Schofield (Omitted) B: Brad Sheppard, Tom Barrass, Shannon Hurn
HB: Liam Duggan, Jeremy McGovern, Lewis Jetta C: Chris Masten, Luke Shuey, Jack Redden HF: Mark LeCras, Jake Waterman, Willie Rioli F: Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Scott Lycett FOL: Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff INT: Liam Ryan, Dom Sheed, Daniel Venables, Jackson Nelson EMG: Will Schofield, Brayden Ainsworth, Mark Hutchings, Fraser McInnes
Only the one change to the West Coast side that went down to Sydney last Sunday evening, with Will Schofield making way for a player that has been hyped by the media since being drafted at the end of 2016. Taken by the Eagles with the 52nd pick of the 2016 AFL Draft, Rioli is the cousin of Hawthorn Norm Smith Medallist Cyril and 2017 Richmond premiership player Daniel. His upside is enormous, he is incredibly quick and skilful, much like his cousins, and he definitely adds another dimension to a forward line that's missing their best key forward but has been horribly hampered with injuries since being drafted – I'm very excited to see what this young man brings to the table on Sunday.
Recent History (Past 10 Meetings)
Round 15, 2017 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.14.80 def by West Coast 12.15.87
Round 8, 2017 – Domain Stadium: West Coast 9.15.69 def Western Bulldogs 8.13.61
Elimination Final, 2016 – Domain Stadium: West Coast 7.10.52 def by Western Bulldogs 14.15.99
Round 11, 2016 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 def West Coast 11.9.75
Round 21, 2015 – Domain Stadium: West Coast 25.12.162 def Western Bulldogs 13.7.85
Round 1, 2015 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.13.97 def West Coast 14.3.87
Round 1, 2014 – Domain Stadium: West Coast 21.8.134 def Western Bulldogs 11.3.69
Round 18, 2013 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 16.15.111 def West Coast 13.11.89
Round 6, 2013 – Domain Stadium: West Coast 21.11.137 def Western Bulldogs 10.7.67
Round 1, 2012 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 12.15.87 def by West Coast 21.10.136
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Marcus Bontempelli
A huge game for the Bont this week after an unusually quiet performance last Sunday. Whilst the Giants' midfielders were running rampant, they also checked their opposition out of the game and Bontempelli struggled to impact anywhere on the ground despite 18 disposals, five tackles and four clearances against the Giants. If the Dogs are to rebound this weekend, this man needs to be one to lead the way, his impact on games are so vital to this line-up and I don't think I've ever seen him have two bad games in a row.
Tim English
Absolutely loved the way this young man went about it last weekend against the Giants. Took six marks and had himself 12 hitouts and 13 disposals, but the thing that stood out last week, was that he was one of a handful of blokes in red, white and blue that actually put in a bit of effort. The way he was attacking the ball at times is exactly what you want your players to do in any sort of situation and the way he uses the ball as well is incredible given his size. Has a interesting battle with Nic Naitanui ahead of him.
West Coast Eagles
Jack Darling
With Josh Kennedy out of the team with an ankle injury momentarily, it opens the door for Jack Darling to stand up and be the go-to-forward inside West Coast's attacking 50. He had a decent game against the Swans last week, kicking three goals from 12 disposals and five marks. He doesn't mind playing this side, kicking a total 25.11 from 11 meetings with the Western Bulldogs. Will we see second-gamer Aaron Naughton go to him early? Will be one player that the Bulldogs do need to look after.
Andrew Gaff
Another player that the Western Bulldogs do have to keep a close eye on, because his last couple of games he has absolutely torched the Bulldogs as they have not given him any respect. 42 disposals and 10 inside 50s in the last meeting and 35 disposals, 15 marks and a goal in the round eight clash last year – both performances awarded with three votes in the Brownlow Medal. Doesn't need to win contested ball, but his ability to get himself into open space is remarkable and the Dogs can't afford that this weekend.
Final Verdict
If we are judging it from last weekend, I would be backing the West Coast Eagles for a convincing win, but a lot changes within a week of football.
The Bulldogs surely will be fired up after an intense week of scrutiny from the media and given that the game is at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, I'm going to pick them to win a scrappy match here. But they have to sort out their forward structure. Having Boyd left out of the final team is head-scratching given that they kinda need someone tall to kick to down there.
Watching how Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo operate in the middle is going to be fascinating to watch against the Bulldogs' midfield brigade, if the Eagles are to get up for a rare win in Victoria, they need guys like Chris Masten, Jack Redden and Dom Sheed to step up and give their stars a hand. On the flip-side of things, how will Bulldogs' skipper Easton Wood respond after Luke Beveridge conceded that he should stay down back rather than trial up forward.
Western Bulldogs By 9 Points