Round 10 is Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which recognises and celebrates the the indigenous culture and the indigenous players that we have been fortunate to watch play this great game. It is also this round that will see Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne renew hostilities for the first and only time this year.
Those that have been long-time readers of mine should know by now how much I like it when these two sides square off. The past four games between the two sides have seen results decided by under 10 points in each game – the aggregate margin for these four games is 13 points. The last time these two sides met, it was the Bulldogs that fought from 28 points down at half time to win by seven points. They met in a game earlier in the season, which saw North Melbourne kick winning goal in the last seconds.
Regardless of where the two teams stand on the ladder, you can just about lock in for these two sides to put in another belter of a contest this weekend. The Roos sit 17th on the ladder heading into this game, having won just two games from their nine starts – which is a bit of a far cry from there year last year, having won five games and sitting inside the top eight. However, the one thing they can take into this contest is that three of their four games have been competitive, which is a stark contrast to the start of the year, when they were handed beltings from Fremantle and Essendon and fell apart against Brisbane and Hawthorn in the opening five rounds.
However, they will find themselves up against a Western Bulldogs side that are finding some form. Despite a hefty loss to Geelong last week, there were plenty of signs then and in the previous two weeks before that, when they beat Richmond and Brisbane that they are on the right track once again. Against the Cats last week, they were competitive for three quarters before they were outclassed in the final quarter.
Going to be an exciting game of footy, with both sides desperate to get back into the winners list. The Bulldogs can keep in touch with the eight with a win, whilst North will want to stretch the gap between them and the 18th-placed Carlton with a win themselves.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Tim English, Bailey Dale, Bailey Williams, Patrick Lipinski
OUT: Billy Gowers, Fletcher Roberts, Will Hayes, Lachie Young (All Omitted)
B: Jason Johannisen, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier
HB: Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood
C: Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Dale
HF: Bailey Smith, Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd
F: Toby McLean, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis
FOL: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae
INT: Matthew Suckling, Ed Richards, Patrick Lipinski, Bailey Williams
EMG: Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Billy Gowers, Lachie Young
Luke Beveridge has swung the axe following their loss to Geelong last weekend – making four changes to the side, all of them unforced. Most notable of the exclusions is Billy Gowers, who has been in a bit of a slump over the past month and a bit. He'll join Fletcher Roberts, Will Hayes and Lachie Young as the omissions. Roberts will make way for the returning Tim English, who has missed the past couple of weeks with injury. Bailey Williams is back in the side, whilst Patrick Lipinski and Bailey Dale will make their season debuts on Saturday.
It's so good to see Lipinski finally rewarded for his form in the VFL, averaging 25 disposals, 5.8 marks and 4.6 tackles per game. It's also good to see Dale back in the team, making his first AFL appearance since round 10 last year – almost a full year since his last game. Injuries have kept him out of getting more game time, but most will agree when I say that he is a talented player and is a capable head in the best 22.
North Melbourne
IN: Luke Davies-Uniacke
OUT: Taylor Garner (Omitted)
B: Marley Williams, Scott Thompson, Jamie McMillan
HB: Shaun Atley, Robbie Tarrant, Jasper Pittard
C: Jy Simpkin, Trent Dumont, Jared Polec
HF: Jed Anderson, Nick Larkey, Cameron Zurhaar
F: Jack Ziebell, Ben Brown, Tarryn Thomas
FOL: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins
INT: Luke McDonald, Mason Wood, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Kayne Turner
EMG: Bailey Scott, Curtis Taylor, Aaron Hall, Tom Campbell
Just the one change from North Melbourne's team, with their top pick from the 2017 AFL Draft Luke Davies-Uniacke back into the line-up at the expense of Taylor Garner. It's been difficult to get a reading on LDU so far this year, having played the first six games for North in 2019, before being dropped the past three weeks. He is currently averaging 16.2 disposals, 3.6 marks, 3.3 inside 50s, 2.7 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game this year, which are solid numbers for a teenager.
Recent History (Past 10 Matches)
Round 21, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: North Melbourne 12.13.85 def by Western Bulldogs 13.14.92
Round 14, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 11.9.75 def by North Melbourne 12.5.77
Round 14, 2017 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 15.17.107 def North Melbourne 16.10.106
Round 4, 2017 – Marvel Stadium: North Melbourne 12.14.86 def by Western Bulldogs 12.17.89
Round 20, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 9.7.61 def North Melbourne 7.5.47
Round 6, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: North Melbourne 9.7.61 def Western Bulldogs 6.9.45
Round 22, 2015 – Marvel Stadium: North Melbourne 10.13.73 def by Western Bulldogs 14.12.96
Round 21, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: North Melbourne 17.9.111 def Western Bulldogs 8.13.61
Round 2, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 8.6.54 def by North Melbourne 12.11.83
Round 7, 2013 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 15.7.97 def by North Melbourne 22.19.151
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Lachie Hunter
Lachie Hunter doesn't mind playing against North Melbourne. Since 2016, the Bulldogs and North Melbourne have met six times. Hunter has averaged 30 disposals per game – this is including two games which saw him post 44 disposals against North Melbourne. One of those was the last time these two sides met. In terms of how is 2019 form is going – I think he's been decent, solid without playing a starring role. He's averaging 27.2 disposals, 7.4 marks and 4.3 inside 50s per game – the latter two being career-high averages.
North Melbourne – Ben Cunnington
Last couple of previews I've highlighted Ben Brown as North Melbourne's player to watch. Time to go a different avenue. Ben Cunnington's form against the Bulldogs is cause for concern. His last five games against the Bulldogs has seen him average 29.3 disposals, 6.2 clearances and 3.8 tackles per game. His form in 2019 reads career-high averages of 28.8 disposals and 7.9 clearances per game. In an age where contested footy can be very important in deciding games of footy, he's one that the Bulldogs need to limit on Saturday.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 6 Points
I'm going to call in another close one here for these two sides. My initial thoughts say the Bulldogs will win this game by a comfortable margin, but given the fact that they were favourites against Gold Coast and Carlton earlier in the year, it's fair to say that this is game on and I think North Melbourne have shown across the last month in particular that they can play far better than what their record of 2-7 shows.
Jackson Trengove will play a big role against Ben Brown, having kicked 15 goals against the Bulldogs in the past four games. Another bag from him could be a catalyst in North getting their third win of the season. I'd also keep an eye out for their younger players – Tarryn Thomas gets better with every game he plays, Cam Zurhaar kicked a bag of five goals the other week and Nick Larkey has shown glimpses of his potential as the second key forward behind Brown.