The Western Bulldogs have not won their first three games of a season since 2009. On Sunday afternoon, they have a great chance to start three from three as they are back at Marvel Stadium, when they welcome the Gold Coast Suns. This will be the first time since their first meeting back in 2011 that the two sides have played at Docklands, having played games up in Darwin, Gold Coast, Cairns and Ballarat since.
Although the Bulldogs start as the favourites with the bookies, there's a lot of interest surrounding the Gold Coast Suns after two rounds of the 2019 season. In round one, they were very competitive against St. Kilda and fell just a point short. Last week, they sprung a surprise on most people by toppling Fremantle after their massive win in round one. Although they were incredibly inaccurate – kicking 7.19 – they still managed to get the job done. Not many games are considered certainties in the AFL these days, don't count the Suns out of this one after their first two weeks.
The Western Bulldogs have been fantastic in the opening two rounds of the season – dispatching of two sides that featured in last year's Finals Series. Last week's win against Hawthorn was one to remember, coming from 30 points down at three quarter time to kick nine final quarter goals to storm home with a 19-point win. For large portions of this game, the Bulldogs' harassed and tackled the Hawks and controlled the play.
Their third quarter was a let down, as basic skill errors led to conceding seven third-quarter goals and for all the inside 50 entries they had in the second quarter, they would've loved to have kicked more than just two goals. However, if they can maintain their current form, and continue to press and tackle, season 2019 is going to look very promising. The Dogs have won the last five games against the Gold Coast, but if they go into this game thinking this is a certainty, then there will be a rude awakening.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
No Change
B: Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Hayden Crozier HB: Caleb Daniel, Easton Wood, Matthew Suckling C: Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae HF: Billy Gowers, Josh Schache, Josh Dunkley F: Toby McLean, Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd FOL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis INT: Lewis Young, Bailey Smith, Ed Richards, Tory Dickson EMG: Patrick Lipinski, Fergus Greene, Bailey Williams, Jordon Sweet
For the second Friday in a row, the Western Bulldogs will go into this weekend with an unchanged line-up. Even with the late change last week that saw Lewis Young take Bailey Williams' spot in the side, the Bulldogs are travelling along quite nicely and it is such a relief that this team is getting through games without any major injuries, as it has been the constant in this side over the past few years.
Gold Coast Suns
No Change
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Sam Collins, Charlie Ballard HB: Jack Bowes, Jack Hombsch, Pearce Hanley C: Lachie Weller, Brayden Fiorini, Wil Powell HF: Alex Sexton, Peter Wright, Jordan Murdoch F: Jack Lukosius, Chris Burgess, Jack Martin FOL: Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, David Swallow INT: Nick Holman, Jesse Joyce, Darcy MacPherson, Anthony Miles EMG: Will Brodie, Sam Day, Brad Scheer, Aaron Young
Much like the Bulldogs, the Gold Coast Suns head into this match with an unchanged line-up. Leaving out a former first-round draft pick in Will Brodie and ex-Port player Aaron Young. Why change a winning formula? Not many of them expected to beat the Fremantle Dockers last week at Metricon Stadium, but even with poor kicking in front of goal, the Suns looked very promising and I couldn't blame Stuart Dew for not making any unforced changes here.
Recent History (Last 10 Meetings)
Round 7, 2018 – Mars Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.15.81 def Gold Coast 10.12.72
Round 18, 2017 – Cazaly's Stadum: Western Bulldogs 16.14.110 def Gold Coast 8.8.56 Round 17, 2016 – Cazaly's Stadium: Western Bulldogs 15.17.107 def Gold Coast 8.11.59
Round 15, 2015 – Cazaly's Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.11.95 def Gold Coast 11.7.73
Round 17, 2014 – Cazaly's Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.16.94 def Gold Coast 9.12.66
Round 10, 2014 – Metricon Stadium: Gold Coast 18.11.119 def Western Bulldogs 10.14.74
Round 8, 2013 – Metricon Stadium: Gold Coast 13.15.93 def Western Bulldogs 10.14.74
Round 8, 2012 – TIO Stadium: Western Bulldogs 9.18.72 def Gold Coast 4.10.34
Round 14, 2011 – Metricon Stadium: Gold Coast 13.10.88 def by Western Bulldogs 17.8.110
Round 3, 2011 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 18.14.122 def Gold Coast 7.9.51
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Jack Macrae
Following a best on ground effort against the Hawks last Sunday, Jack Macrae and his good history with the Gold Coast Suns has him on track for another big game this weekend. In his last game against the Suns, he polled the three votes, with a massive 40-possession game and recorded 12 clearances and a goal to boot. In his seven games against the Gold Coast in his career, he's averaged over 31 disposals, 6.2 marks and nearly four tackles per game. One to watch for me – his start to 2019 has picked up where his 2018 left off.
Gold Coast Suns – Alex Sexton
It's been a big week for this Gold Coast player and without question, is the one man who looms as the biggest threat if the Suns are to cause a boilover on Sunday. Against Fremantle last week, he was in the thick of everything, kicking a wayward 4.5 when it really should've been much more. Nonetheless, he leads the Coleman Medal after two rounds, averaging four goals per game and has just signed a new four-year deal, seeing him remain up at the Gold Coast until the end of 2023. Kicked 28.19 last year, but he looks set to demolish that this season.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 30 Points
I'm just quietly confident about this one. In the past, the Doggies have been susceptible to dropping the games that they were the short-priced favourites with the bookies. They should do it surely for Liam Picken, after the veteran announced his retirement during the week after ongoing concussion issues dating back to the start of last year. They need to honour a loyal servant to the club and a player who unquestionably bleeds red, white and blue.
I have no doubt that the Gold Coast Suns look a more improved unit so far in 2019, but there are still question marks hanging over how good St. Kilda and Fremantle really are. If the Bulldogs can continue to apply the pressure the same way they did against Sydney and Hawthorn in the opening two rounds, then they should go three from three here. But I did count the Suns out last week before the ball was bounced – anything can happen.