Just six weeks after the Western Bulldogs lost to the Melbourne Demons by 49 points, the two sides will square off again on Saturday evening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Last time these two sides met, the Demons were on somewhat of a hot-streak, having won six games in a row, but since then, they have been challenged mightily, but given the state the Bulldogs are in at the moment, this is a task that should sound relatively easy on paper.
Since their win over the Bulldogs earlier in the year, Melbourne have lost three of their last four games. They were comprehensively beaten by Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday, they lost to Port Adelaide in a game that statistics say they should have won, and even dropped a close one to a bottom-four team in St. Kilda. Last week’s win against Fremantle was just what they needed to get themselves back on track, although the score line will say they should’ve won by much more than 54 points.
Whilst the Demons are playing for Finals this year, the chances of the Bulldogs making September this year are pretty much finished. Whilst the last few weeks have been impressive, their result against Hawthorn was very disappointing. After a strong opening half, which saw them lead the Hawks by two points at the main break, their intensity dropped off significantly, allowing their opposition to run away with an easy 10-goal win.
It just hasn’t been the Bulldogs’ year as injuries have ravaged this side from the word go, but the one positive thing that can be said is that this season will benefit the likes of Ed Richards, Patrick Lipinski, Billy Gowers, Aaron Naughton and many others. Keep in mind that there will most likely be a top-five draft pick on the way at the end of the season and a kid who is a son of a Bulldog champion seemingly on the way also. The season may have been shot, but there’s still a bit to play out in season 2018 for the Bulldogs.
In what will be their first of two games at the MCG this year, the Western Bulldogs will be hoping to avoid dropping a third-straight game against Melbourne. The last time the Demons have won three in a row against the Bulldogs was in the 2004-05 seasons. We know from the past month that the Bulldogs, no matter who they have in the side, can still play decent football. It’s all about sustainability and how much they want the ball. Let’s just hope they turn up for a contest on Saturday.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Jack Macrae, Jordan Roughead, Mitch Honeychurch
OUT: Tom Boyd (Back), Hayden Crozier (Hamstring), Marcus Bontempelli (Appendix)
B: Marcus Adams, Jackson Trengove, Roarke Smith
HB: Dale Morris, Zaine Cordy, Jason Johannisen
C: Patrick Lipinski, Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter
HF: Ed Richards, Josh Schache, Josh Dunkley
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Aaron Naughton, Billy Gowers
FOL: Jordan Roughead, Toby McLean, Mitch Wallis
INT: Mitch Honeychurch, Shane Biggs, Caleb Daniel, Brad Lynch
EMG: Lewis Young, Tom Campbell, Fletcher Roberts, Fergus Greene
The Bulldogs have been forced to make three changes to the team that lost to Hawthorn last Saturday night. They will miss Marcus Bontempelli – who was set to play his 100th game this weekend – due to having appendicitis, requiring surgery to have his appendix removed. Tom Boyd has a sore back and won’t play this week, whilst Hayden Crozier suffered a tight hamstring at training during the week and will sit this week out after what has been an impressive month of football from the former Fremantle Docker.
Coming back into the team this week includes star midfielder Jack Macrae, who has missed three weeks with a hamstring injury, but one has to wonder if the return was too soon? It should be pointed out that Tory Dickson returned from a hamstring injury earlier in the year, and re-did the hamstring just weeks after his return. Jordan Roughead is back in the side after a lengthy stint in the VFL and will shoulder the majority of the ruck duties, whilst Mitch Honeychurch is also named in the team.
Melbourne
IN: Bernie Vince, Jay Kennedy-Harris
OUT: Joel Smith (Hip), Billy Stretch (Toe)
B: Michael Hibberd, Sam Frost, Neville Jetta
HB: Bernie Vince, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis
C: Tom McDonald, Clayton Oliver, Nathan Jones
HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Angus Brayshaw
F: Jeff Garlett, Bayley Fritsch, Jay Kennedy-Harris
FOL: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, James Harmes
INT: Christian Salem, Charlie Spargo, Jake Melksham, Alex Neal-Bullen
EMG: Dom Tyson, Mitch Hannan, Cameron Pedersen, Sam Weideman
The Demons have been forced to make two changes ahead of the clash with the Bulldogs, with Joel Smith set to miss with a hip complaint as well as Billy Stretch, who will miss with a toe injury. The Dees will be disappointed to lose both as Smith has been a solid player in defence in recent weeks, whilst Stretch had a really good game on his return last week.
They have recalled Bernie Vince, who has not played at AFL-level since the round 14 loss to Port Adelaide, whilst they have named the quick Jay Kennedy-Harris for his first game of 2018. After playing 14 games in his debut season of 2014, he has only played a further 14 games in his career, including six last year. He has had his share of injuries in the past few seasons, but has battled for consistency and form over the past few years. Out of contract at the end of the season, Kennedy-Harris will need to make the most of his opportunity here.
Recent History (Past 10 Meetings)
Round 11, 2018 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 7.9.51 def by Melbourne 15.10.100
Round 13, 2017 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 8.8.56 def by Melbourne 17.11.113
Round 8, 2016 – MCG: Melbourne 12.10.82 def by Western Bulldogs 17.12.114
Round 20, 2015 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 24.9.153 def Melbourne 8.7.55
Round 8, 2015 – MCG: Melbourne: 15.13.103 def Western Bulldogs 9.10.64
Round 15, 2014 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.7.91 def Melbourne 13.7.85
Round 8, 2014 – MCG: Melbourne 12.11.83 def by Western Bulldogs 15.9.99
Round 23, 2013 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 16.11.107 def Melbourne 13.9.87
Round 14, 2013 – MCG: Melbourne 15.13.103 def Western Bulldogs 15.10.100
Round 4, 2012 – MCG: Melbourne 9.13.67 def by Western Bulldogs 13.10.88
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Jason Johannisen
It’s a big weekend for the 2016 Norm Smith Medallist as not only will he lead the side out for the very first time, but he will play his 100th game, which is a great achievement given where he has come from – He moved to Australia from South Africa when he was eight and took up AFL late in his teens. He was rookie-listed by the Bulldogs at the end of 2010 and debuted in 2012. Since then he has experienced the highest of highs and some pretty miserable lows last year. Last week was his best game in a while and was a key reason why the Bulldogs were ahead last week until their capitulation.
Jordan Roughead
This is a big game for the premiership ruckman. He has been on the outer for a fair bit this year, is out-of-contract and quietly sussing out his options for next year. If he wants to prove his spot in the side beyond this year, then he needs to at least hold his own against one of the competition’s best ruckmen in Max Gawn, who is currently averaging 46 hitouts and 17 disposals per game. I’m certainly not expecting Roughead to dominate the hitouts, but he needs to try and limit his influence on the contest as much as possible.
Melbourne
Jesse Hogan
The first-half of the year from Jesse Hogan has been nothing short of first-class and it definitely had him in contention for a spot in the All-Australian side. Over the past month however, he has had two games in which he has gone goal-less and has only had five goals in his past four matches. Before this lean patch of form, he kicked five goals and had 20 disposals and 10 marks in an outstanding game against the Bulldogs. If the the Melbourne midfield are on top of their game, expect him and Tom McDonald to have field days again up forward.
Christian Petracca
I think everyone who knows a thing or two about AFL will agree when I say that Christian Petracca has the talent to be an elite player of this competition. What I will be keeping my eye on here is if whether or not he can tear this game apart. Last time these two sides met, he was okay without being a serious star. His performance last weekend against the Dockers was a step in the right direction, recording 29 disposals, but he has to hit the goal-kickers tally more often – he has only kicked 10 goals in 14 games this year as opposed to 26 last year.
Final Verdict
After last week’s performance against Hawthorn, I can’t see the Bulldogs getting close to the Demons here. I think the 49-point difference last time these two played is a pretty fair reflection of how far apart they are at the moment and I don’t think it will get any better here for the Western Bulldogs.
Melbourne are the number-one ranked team in contested possessions and also the highest-scoring team in the competition. They need to find a way to shut down the influences of Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver – both of whom starred in the middle back in round 11. I also wonder what will Jack Macrae’s influence on the game be like in his first game for nearly a month. Historically, people who come back from hamstring injuries have a pretty rough game or two before they get back to form.
They would also have to find a way to stop both Hogan and Tom McDonald up forward. Dale Morris and Marcus Adams have been very solid since they both returned to the side, but it will take more than that to stop them. McDonald’s 30 goals in just 10 games this year is worth something of note and he absolutely torched the Dogs back in round 11. All the signs point to an absolute demolition job, but if the Saints could topple them a couple of weeks ago, you may just never know.
Melbourne By 45 Points