The Western Bulldogs are back in Ballarat in search for their second win at Mars Stadium this year, as it hosts Port Adelaide in a rematch of their round 13 encounter earlier this year. The Power will be looking to make it two wins in two trips to Ballarat, after their win in the very first game for premiership points last year.
In terms of how this match will go, it sounds like a very straightforward game here for the Power, who took care of the Bulldogs easily just six weeks ago. Port destroyed them in the opening term, kicking 5.5 to just a solitary behind, and from there, the Dogs were always going to struggle to catch up – losing by 57 points. The Dogs have only won one match since and will go into this game once again as the underdogs.
However, this is a game that the Dogs can win as Port's form over the last few weeks has caused a bit of concern. In their past two matches, the Power have gone down to a Fremantle side that they should've taken care of and couldn't beat a GWS team that is mounting a serious charge for Finals. This may be a game that looks one-sided on paper, but for the Power, this is a game in which they cannot afford to drop.
Although they currently find themselves in the top four, the Power have been widely criticised for failing to produce results in really big games. We saw it all throughout the home and away season last year and we still find ourselves talking about their Elimination Final loss to a West Coast Eagles team that finished the year in eighth spot. Even with good victories against Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and reigning premiers Richmond, there are still question marks about this sides legitimacy in season 2018.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs IN: Marcus Bontempelli, Fergus Greene, Fletcher Roberts, Patrick Lipinski
OUT: Billy Gowers (Ankle), Luke Dahlhaus (Ankle), Tom Boyd (Back), Roarke Smith (Car Accident)
B: Marcus Adams, Jackson Trengove, Aaron Naughton
HB: Dale Morris, Zaine Cordy, Jason Johannisen
C: Hayden Crozier, Jack Macrae, Brad Lynch HF: Ed Richards, Josh Schache, Josh Dunkley F: Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Fergus Greene
FOL: Jordan Roughead, Toby McLean, Mitch Wallis
INT: Fletcher Roberts, Mitch Honeychurch, Patrick Lipinski, Caleb Daniel
EMG: Lewis Young, Shane Biggs, Callum Porter, Tim English
The Western Bulldogs have been forced to make four changes to the side that lost to West Coast by 54 points last Sunday. They'll miss Luke Dahlhaus for the rest of the season as it was revealed that he had suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury in a tackle with Elliot Yeo last weekend. It may possibly be the last game he has played for the red, white and blue as the out-of-contract midfielder is still a fair way away from securing a new deal with the Bulldogs.
Billy Gowers will also miss his first match of the year with a sore ankle,Tom Boyd will miss with a back complaint and Roarke Smith will sit out as he was involved in a minor car accident with teammate Kieran Collins – No major damage for either man, which is great news.
The club will name their fifth debutant of the year, as Fergus Greene has been rewarded for good form in the VFL with a spot in the team. He was taken with the 70th pick in the 2016 AFL Draft and has shown lots of promise in the VFL both last year and this year. Over the past couple of weeks, he has managed a bag of three against Williamstown and a bag of four against Casey. His endurance is elite and has a good knack for the goals. Joining Greene as the Ins this week include Fletcher Roberts, Patrick Lipinski and the returning Marcus Bontempelli, who will play his 100th game on Sunday.
Port Adelaide
IN: Tom Jonas, Paddy Ryder, Steven Motlop, Riley Bonner, Kane Farrell
OUT: Sam Gray, Jack Trengove, Lindsay Thomas (All Omitted), Dougal Howard (Hand), Karl Amon (Knee)
B: Jack Hombsch, Tom Clurey, Dan Houston
HB: Jasper Pittard, Tom Jonas, Darcy Byrne-Jones
C: Steven Motlop, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard
F: Tom Rockliff, Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray
FOL: Paddy Ryder, Sam Powell-Pepper, Brad Ebert
INT: Jarrod Lienert, Riley Bonner, Jack Watts, Kane Farrell
EMG: Billy Frampton, Aidyn Johnson, Jack Trengove, Sam Gray
Port Adelaide will bring back a host of names worthy of their best 22, as well as naming a second debutant in as many weeks. The inclusions of both ruckman Paddy Ryder and key defender Tom Jonas are crucial to this line-up and will be important to their run in the Finals. Steven Motlop is a very good player when he gets his hands on the ball and Riley Bonner is another handy running player – all four are back in the side for Sunday.
Whilst Kane Farrell, who was taken with the 51st pick in last year's AFL Draft will debut. Originally from Castlemaine in Victoria, Farrell has shown plenty of form in the SANFL this year, kicking 20 goals in 13 games for Port Adelaide this year. The Power will miss Dougal Howard and Karl Amon with injuries, and they have dropped veterans Lindsay Thomas, Jack Trengove and Sam Gray.
Recent History (Past 10 Meetings)
Round 13, 2018 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 20.12.132 def Western Bulldogs 11.9.75
Round 22, 2017 – Mars Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.13.79 def by Port Adelaide 14.12.96
Round 12, 2016 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 14.13.97 def by Western Bulldogs 15.10.100
Round 19, 2015 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 19.14.128 def Port Adelaide 9.10.64
Round 10, 2015 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 16.4.100 def Western Bulldogs 9.8.62
Round 14, 2014 – Adelaide Oval: Port Adelaide 19.14.128 def Western Bulldogs 8.8.56
Round 10, 2013 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 10.7.67 def Port Adelaide 8.10.58
Round 12, 2012 – Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.17.95 def Port Adelaide 8.9.57
Round 22, 2011 – AAMI Stadium: Port Adelaide 15.7.97 def by Western Bulldogs 24.13.157
Round 16, 2010 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 12.11.83 def Port Adelaide 7.5.47
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs
Ed Richards
Six weeks ago, Ed Richards produced a stellar game when he was switched from his usual position in defence to a role up forward and booted three stunning second-quarter goals on the Power. Since the round 15 game against Geelong, he has failed to kick a goal in each of the past three matches, with his game against the Eagles the first time he has been held to under 10 disposals, recording just seven touches. It's a little harsh to call out a first-year player, but I think I can speak for everyone when I say that he can do a lot better than that – perhaps he's fatiguing?
Josh Dunkley
The past month of Josh Dunkley has been something that has really impressed me, and I think that he should stay as a permanent midfielder, as opposed to a second ruck/ full-time forward. In the past month, he has averaged 27.2 disposals, 6.7 tackles, 4.2 marks and 3.5 clearances per game. He has also had some run-with jobs as well as of late. I would love to see him match up on Ollie Wines, who starred in the middle last time these two sides played.
Port Adelaide
Charlie Dixon
Big Charlie has enjoyed playing the Bulldogs as of late, kicking a bag of three last time they met, and having himself a bag of four in Ballarat last year. With Paddy Ryder back into the team this week, this will enable him to play more at home in the forward line, and will renew hostilities with old team mate Jackson Trengove. It's been a bit of a down year in terms of goals for Charlie Dixon, having slotted 20.21 in 17 games, but he has had to shoulder the ruck duties for a fair portion of the season, but this will be one of those matches where he can set himself up for a big one.
Jared Polec
There's a bit of intrigue surrounding the future of Jared Polec. Out-of-contract at the end of the season, there's been a big offer from North Melbourne to lure him out of South Australia. Whilst it's known North haven't been very successful at landing a big-name talent over the past year and a bit, it's interesting to hear that Polec hasn't put pen to paper yet in terms of staying at Port Adelaide, where he's enjoyed his best footy. Averages a career-high 24.8 disposals per game this year and has played every game. Watch this space.
Final Verdict
I have mixed feelings about this game. There's a part of me which believes that the Dogs can get up against Port Adelaide here. It was nearly 12 months ago that these two sides were quite even up until three-quarter time, before the Power ran away with a six-goal final quarter. Port's recent history against the Bulldogs says that they have won four of their last six, and there isn't much to suggest it can't be five wins from their last seven.
They're a lot better at winning the contested footy – averaging nine more contested possessions than the Bulldogs. They are a better tackling side – averaging eight more tackles and they had smashed them in nearly every statistic possible. If there's one thing that the Bulldogs have got going for them, is that they stuck it with the Power in the final three quarters last time they met. If they can string together a consistent four-quarter effort, then there is a slight chance that they can pinch this game, but until that happens, I'll back Port Adelaide in for this one.
Port Adelaide By 36 Points