On the back of two consecutive wins, the Western Bulldogs face a massive task as they travel down the Princes Freeway to Kardinia Park to take on a Geelong Cats outfit that currently occupy the top spot on the ladder as we head into round nine. After a very disappointing finish to 2018, where they were bundled out by Melbourne in the first week of the Finals, Geelong have started out the 2019 season in fine style – winning seven of their first eight games and are firmly placed to make it eight of the first nine here.
They seemingly have all the bases covered around the ground. They are currently first in the AFL in both scoring and equal-first in the league for conceding points, averaging a score of 97.3 points per game and conceding an average of 66.8 points per game. The recruits of Gary Rohan and Luke Dahlhaus in the off-season have proven to have done wonders to the side and the inexperienced players such as Gryan Miers, Jordan Clark, Charlie Constable, Tom Atkins and others have been great finds so far this year.
A few weeks ago, this would've been considered an automatic four premiership points in the bank for Geelong, but after the Bulldogs' last two weeks, there is a little bit of uncertainty about this game. Also take into account that the Cats will have the last time these two sides met in the back of their minds as well. Round 15, 2018 was the first time in nearly a decade that the Bulldogs did beat Geelong.
The Bulldogs however, have not beaten Geelong at Kardinia Park since 2003, and beating them at their own home ground is easier said than done. However, on the back of two impressive wins against Richmond and Brisbane last week in Ballarat, maybe there is a sense of belief that is back in this team. Currently sitting in 10th – in the outskirts of the top eight. A win over Geelong can potentially propel them back into the top eight at the conclusion of the weekend. But, it's not going to come easy.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
No Change
B: Jason Johannisen, Fletcher Roberts, Hayden Crozier
HB: Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood
C: Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Ed Richards
HF: Billy Gowers, Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd
F: Toby McLean, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis
FOL: Jackson Trengove, Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae
INT: Matthew Suckling, Bailey Smith, Will Hayes, Lachie Young
EMG: Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Patrick Lipinski, Bailey Williams
The Western Bulldogs have gone into this game with the same line-up that beat Brisbane last Saturday afternoon. Tim English was a late out last weekend with soreness, but has not recovered in time for this game – good to see them giving him a chop out here. Jackson Trengove had a good game in his absence last week and Fletcher Roberts was alright as the key defender – he battled hard and it's good to see him get another crack at it this weekend.
Geelong
IN: Joel Selwood, Darcy Fort
OUT: Charlie Constable (Omitted), Esava Ratugolea (Managed)
B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Jack Henry, Tom Stewart HB: Mark Blicavs, Harry Taylor, Mark O'Connor
C: Tim Kelly, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
HF: Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers, Tom Hawkins
F: Gary Ablett, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Atkins
FOL: Rhys Stanley, Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood
INT: Zach Tuohy, Jordan Clark, Brandan Parfit, Darcy Fort
EMG: Esava Ratugolea, Ryan Abbott, James Parsons, Charlie Constable
Geelong have made two changes to the side that beat North Melbourne last week. I can complain that it should be three given that Gary Ablett blatantly elbowed a North player – but that won't change anything now. Both Esava Ratugolea and Charlie Constable have been dropped. But they will regain Joel Selwood after he missed last week's game in bizarre circumstances. Originally out, he was a late inclusion for Sam Menegola, and moments afterwards, he was pulled out of the Geelong line up.
The other inclusion is Darcy Fort, named for his first AFL game this weekend. The 25-year old from South Barwon has had a bit of a longer journey than most, having played state league with Werribee, Footscray and most recently at Central Districts at the SANFL. Fort can play both as a ruck and as a target up forward, kicking eight goals in four matches for Geelong's VFL side this year.
Recent History (Past 10 Matches)
Round 15, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 16.7.103 def Geelong 15.11.101
Round 9, 2017 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 16.8.104 def Western Bulldogs 12.9.81
Round 19, 2016 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 16.7.103 def Western Bulldogs 11.12.78
Round 13, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 5.13.43 def by Geelong 16.4.100
Round 16, 2015 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 10.12.72 def Western Bulldogs 9.10.64
Round 16, 2014 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 10.9.69 def Western Bulldogs 7.14.56
Round 5, 2013 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.8.86 def by Geelong 15.17.107
Round 22, 2012 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 16.11.107 def Western Bulldogs 11.7.73
Round 9, 2012 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.9.75 def by Geelong 14.11.95
Round 11, 2011 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 23.10.148 def Western Bulldogs 13.9.87
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Josh Dunkley
It's taken about six weeks, but it's so good to see Josh Dunkley play in his preferred position in the middle. The results have been as glowing as you can imagine. 35 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances against Richmond and last week against Brisbane, he had 36 disposals, 22 contested possessions and 11 clearances. Last time he played against Geelong, he had 27 disposals, two goals, seven tackles and took home the three Brownlow votes. Coincidentally, this was the game that started a run that featured him play some of his best footy at the tail-end of last year.
Geelong – Tim Kelly
After being one of the best recruits in 2018, there was always going to be a lot of intrigue about how Tim Kelly was going to approach his 2019 after his request to be traded to West Coast last year fell through in the last seconds of the Trade Period. So far, he's playing some bloody good football over the first part of the season. Last week he equalled his career-best in disposals with 36, along with 11 clearances, eight inside 50s, seven tackles and two goals in surely what was a best on ground performance. Against the Bulldogs last year, he had 34 disposals – 19 of those coming in the last quarter. He again looms as one of many danger men in this game.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 4 Points
Call me crazy, but what the hell – I'm backing them this week. Knowing me, I'll end up getting this one wrong, I've been that bad in the tipping this year. But n all seriousness, I think that the Bulldogs matched up extremely well with the Cats last year and I think even with Dahlhaus coming up against his old side for the first time, I don't know if it will help them get win number eight. I think he's had a great start to the year in his new colours, but how the team approach him will be interesting and I think both midfield groups are dead-even.
Geelong has been renowned for their stingy defence – Mark Blicavs is a very underrated defender, he has been hardly beaten this year, Tom Stewart is in All-Australian touch once again and guys like Jack Henry, Mark O'Connor and Jake Kolodjashnij do their role well. Who matches up on the in-form Aaron Naughton will be interesting – they can't afford to two or three defenders fly to him every time they go forward. Billy Gowers has been good as a negating-type player the past few weeks, but he'll need to kick some goals this week on top of what he has already been doing and Sam Lloyd and Mitch Wallis need to continue their good form in front of goal.