After a dismal performance against the Adelaide Crows, in which they could only muster up two goals in over two hours of football in a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval last Friday night, the Western Bulldogs are back in an environment that will suit their fast-paced, quick handball game plan – under the roof of Etihad Stadium, as they look to continue their string of wins against tonight's opposition, the Collingwood Magpies.
Collingwood's last defeat against the Dogs came nearly five years ago, in round 12 in the 2013 AFL season. Since then, the Western Bulldogs have won the past five encounters. But given the form of both sides, Collingwood are in a very good position to burst the streak tonight. Their form over the past couple of months have been remarkable, having won five of their last seven after starting the year losing their first two games.
Of those five wins, included impressive thumpings against Adelaide in Adelaide and against the Bombers on Anzac Day. However, the one thing that could see Dogs fans have hope is that they were very unconvincing against an out-of-form Saints last week, relying on a seven-goal third quarter to get the job done and a couple of weeks prior to that, it took them until the final 30 seconds of the game to eke out a win against a then-winless Brisbane Lions up at the Gabba.
Regardless of the results, there are a number of men wearing the black and white that are playing some very good football – some of them even playing career-best football, and as it stands at the moment, they are just percentage out of the eight, sitting in 10th spot. A win over the Bulldogs tonight will keep them in great touch with the eight, perhaps even nestling themselves in there at the conclusion of round 10, pending other results.
For the Bulldogs' last week's performance against the Crows isn't the be-all end-all in season 2018. For the most part of the contest, they were actually very competitive, but not only did they fail to adapt to the wet conditions with their over-use of the handball, but they lacked the polishers required to put sides away, as has often been the case this year. They broke the club record for tackles in a game last week, but one has to question whether or not they will be still feeling the effects of such a physical game tonight.
Despite being heavy underdogs in tonight's game, the Western Bulldogs still are in outside contention for a top-eight slot, sitting just a game and nearly 40 percent below Geelong, who currently occupies eighth on the ladder. A win, although probably unlikely at this point in time, will see them back on level terms at 5-5 and it could really set themselves up for a huge game against an in-form Melbourne side this week.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Josh Schache, Tory Dickson, Roarke Smith
OUT: Lukas Webb, Josh Dunkley, Mitch Wallis (All Omitted)
B: Matthew Suckling, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier
HB: Bailey Williams, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood
C: Jason Johannisen, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter HF: Caleb Daniel, Josh Schache, Tory Dickson F: Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Boyd, Billy Gowers FOL: Jordan Roughead, Toby McLean, Jack Macrae INT: Ed Richards, Patrick Lipinski, Bailey Dale, Roarke Smith EMG: Lewis Young, Mitch Honeychurch, Shane Biggs, Lin Jong
The Western Bulldogs have made three unforced changes following the loss to Adelaide last Friday night. The big headline from the inclusions this week is the inclusion of former Brisbane Lion Josh Schache, who has been named for his Bulldog debut tonight. The former number two draft selection back in the 2015 AFL Draft has been in good touch for Footscray in the VFL over the past few weeks, bagging nine goals in the past three games. Setting up an exciting evening as to whether or not he and Tom Boyd can work in tandem.
Also back in the side include Tory Dickson, who missed the past four weeks with a hamstring injury and will bring some goal-scoring presence up forward, whilst Roarke Smith, who hasn't played an AFL game in over 600 days, comes back into the team after suffering two knee reconstructions. Coming out of the side include Lukas Webb, who kicked one of their two goals last week, along with Josh Dunkley and Mitch Wallis, with the latter a surprise omission, as I thought he was one who battled hard last week. Collingwood
IN: Ben Reid, Josh Daicos, Levi Greenwood OUT: Alex Fasolo (Ankle), Daniel Wells (Managed), Sam Murray (Omitted) B: Flynn Appleby, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp HB: Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips HF: Jordan De Goey, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott F: Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson FOL: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar INT: Josh Daicos, Chris Mayne, Levi Greenwood, Tom Langdon EMG: Sam Murray, Ben Crocker, Brody Mihocek, Brayden Sier
Like the Bulldogs, Collingwood have made three changes to their team from last week's win over the Saints. Alex Fasolo will miss at least six weeks with an ankle syndesmosis injury in what was his first game of the year last week. Daniel Wells will not play either as the Pies will look to manage him after his lengthy history with injuries, whilst ex-Swan Sam Murray has been dropped after an impressive start to the year. They will bring back Ben Reid for his first game since round six as he missed through injury. Levi Greenwood will make his 2018 debut after he battled a knee injury over the pre-season, and could loom as the man to tag the in-form Jack Macrae in the middle, as will the son of the Macedonian Marvel – Josh Daicos will also make his 2018 debut after playing the final two games of last season.
Recent History (Last 10 Meetings)
Round 1, 2017 – MCG: Collingwood 12.14.86 def by Western Bulldogs 15.10.100
Round 21, 2016 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.11.95 def Collingwood 14.8.92
Round 10, 2016 – MCG: Collingwood 7.11.53 def by Western Bulldogs 11.8.74
Round 17, 2015 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 15.14.104 def Collingwood 13.8.86
Round 13, 2014 – Etihad Stadium: Collingwood 15.8.98 def by Western Bulldogs 16.10.106
Round 12, 2013 – Etihad Stadium: Collingwood 15.9.99 def Western Bulldogs 9.11.65
Round 6, 2012 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.11.77 def by Collingwood 15.8.98
Round 6, 2011 – MCG: Collingwood 15.15.105 def Western Bulldogs 8.9.57
Qualifying Final, 2010 – MCG: Collingwood 17.22.124 def Western Bulldogs 8.14.62
Round 11, 2010 – Etihad Stadium: Collingwood 17.11.113 def Western Bulldogs 16.7.103
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Luke Dahlhaus
The spotlight is back on Luke Dahlhaus this week after the out-of-contract midfielder has been on the wish-list of the Geelong Football Club. It comes as no surprise as Dahlhaus is originally from the Geelong area. We have established earlier in the year that he is having less of an impact on games than he has had in years past. His disposal by foot has been a concern at times this year, so it must be said that he needs a big game. Contract talks have stalled, but Dahlhaus has gone on the record saying that he loves this club and wants to be a one-club player. It's time to go out there and prove you can get the job done.
Ed Richards Game number nine in the short career of Ed Richards will be an important one, as this marks the first time he comes across the team that he supported growing up. Not only that, but the Richards' name has been one of the more famous names in the history of Collingwood football. He has shown promising signs so far in his eight games this year, averaging 14 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.1 tackles and 2.1 rebound 50s per game this year, and for an 18-year old half-back flanker, those are statistics that will build into something special the more games he gets into him. Nonetheless, tonight will be an interesting one. Collingwood Jordan De Goey
As late as February this year, I privately made some harsh comments towards Jordan De Goey after he was in trouble drink-driving. But since then, he's proven to be a valuable asset in this Collingwood team. Particularly up forward, where he has thrived over the past couple of weeks. Against Brisbane back in round seven, he kicked a then-career best of five goals in a match-winning performance. Last week against St. Kilda, he managed to break that personal best with a six-goal haul. Also out-of-contract and largely linked to North Melbourne, there's a lot of pressure on this young lad tonight to back up a big performance like last week.
Tom Phillips Collingwood's on-ball brigade has a multitude of star players. Among them are Steele Sidebottom and Adam Treloar – both arguably playing their career-best football. Captain Scott Pendlebury continues to do what Scott Pendlebury does and that's weave through traffic and create plays from the middle and Taylor Adams is just starting to get recognition he deserves. Spare a thought for Tom Phillips, who is also having a career year so far in 2018. Averaging 26.1 disposals, 5.9 marks, 2.3 tackles, 2.3 inside 50s, 2.1 clearances and 2.1 rebound 50s, Phillips has been remarkably overlooked so far this year and will be one to watch tonight.
Final Verdict
If the Western Bulldogs can bring that same intensity from their trip to Adelaide into this game tonight, then they are every chance to cause what I believe is a huge upset. Collingwood are perhaps one of the in-form teams right now, although their position won't reflect too kindly to their form. Credit to Nathan Buckley where it's due, he's getting the results that the team needs right now. The Bulldogs have to stop Collingwood's run if they are to win. The Pies are ranked first in the league for uncontested possession, meaning that they thrive on the uncontested ball, and if they can rely on matching the Pies' contested game (Pies ranked fifth, Dogs ranked third), then they can cause an upset.
An interesting statistic ahead of this match tonight is that these two sides are the top two teams in garnering disposals, with Collingwood sitting first averaging 411 disposals per game and the Dogs second, averaging 391. Jack Macrae is in blistering form, and given Collingwood's form of trying to keep star midfielders quiet (e.g Tom Mitchell's 54 disposals in round one) it could be another massive performance from him tonight unless Levi Greenwood can somehow manage to quell his influence
I think the Pies have more winners on the ground than the Bulldogs do right now and I believe they'll get the job done and break the Dogs' run of wins against the black and white. It's going to be tough for the Bulldog defence to contain the small forward group of De Goey, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Josh Thomas and Jaidyn Stephenson – the quartet kicking a combined 55 of the clubs 116 goals this year. Mason Cox will be a danger as well, as he monstered the defence in their practice game earlier this year. I'd love to see Jackson Trengove match-up on him to start with.
Collingwood By 21 Points
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