The Western Bulldogs are back under the Saturday night lights, but will have a hard time making it two on the trot this weekend as they come across the ladder-leading Geelong Cats in what will be their second encounter of the season. Surprisingly, the Bulldogs only sit a game outside the top eight, but percentage is sparse in comparison to teams above them.
The Dogs remain an outside chance for a finals berth, but every game is as big as the next from here on out. A win against the Cats here would make it just it’s second win since 2010 – it isn’t beyond them to do it. Last week they pulled out a very unlikely victory over Port Adelaide in the pouring rain over in Adelaide. The week before, Port handed Geelong just their second loss of the season. Anything is possible in the AFL, especially this season when it’s been tough to pick winners.
These two teams met back in round nine at Kardinia Park, and whilst Geelong led from start to finish, the Bulldogs gave them a run for their money, getting to within nine points early in the last quarter before the Cats flexed their premiership credentials with six unanswered goals to run out 44-point winners. It sounds like a smashing, but the Dogs showed plenty of signs that evening in Geelong, I think Luke Beveridge will be rallying his troops for a massive boilover under the roof of Marvel Stadium.
Since coming back from their bye, Geelong have lost one and although they got the win over Adelaide last Friday night, they had to overcome a sluggish start to do it. The punters may have the Cats as the favourites in the lead-up, but we’ll just have to wait and see what eventuates on Saturday night.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Toby McLean OUT: Caleb Daniel (Hamstring)
B: Jason Johannisen, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier HB: Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood C: Lachie Hunter, Bailey Smith, Patrick Lipinski HF: Matthew Suckling, Josh Schache, Sam Lloyd F: Aaron Naughton, Marcus Bontempelli, Tory Dickson FOL: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae INT: Toby McLean, Ed Richards, Bailey Williams, Roarke Smith EMG: Ben Cavarra, Bailey Dale, Lachie Young, Ryan Gardner
The Bulldogs have made one forced change to the side that got up in Adelaide last week. Caleb Daniel will miss the next 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury, which is a massive blow to the team’s structures in the back half. Daniel has averaged career-highs in disposal and rebound 50s this season, so his input will be missed across the next month. However, they get a good player back in the line-up in Toby McLean who played himself a blinder for Footscray in the VFL last week.
Geelong
No Change
B: Zach Tuohy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Gryan Miers HB: Jack Henry, Harry Taylor, Tom Stewart C: Patrick Dangerfield, Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Rhys Stanley, Tom Hawkins F: Gary Ablett, Jed Bews, Tom Atkins FOL: Mark Blicavs, Jordan Clark, Joel Selwood INT: Lachie Fogarty, Mark O’Connor, Cameron Guthrie, Brandan Parfitt EMG: Gary Rohan, Zac Smith, Scott Selwood, Darcy Fort
With their win last week against Adelaide, the Cats have gone into this game with an unchanged line-up. Fascinating to see that Gary Rohan has been left out of the 22, being named as an emergency for the moment. But the Cats have been susceptible to springing a late change or two this season. Rohan’s 2019 has been outstanding to say the least – and that’s saying something considering I’ve been one of his biggest detractors throughout his career – kicking 21.6 in 13 matches this year.
Recent History (Past 10 Matches)
Round 9, 2019 – Kardinia Park: Geelong 21.7.133 def Western Bulldogs 13.11.89 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
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Josh Schache
It’s been a very solid two weeks from the tall forward, and he has desperately needed them. With Aaron Naughton unable to make an impact on the scoreboard, Schache’s last two weeks have been important for both him and the team. He kicked three goals against the Pies in his return from his stint in the VFL and last week, backed it up with three goals in torrid conditions, which would be worth a bag of five or six in the dry conditions. Will be a good challenge for him this week as he will come across the best defence in the league.
Geelong – Luke Dahlhaus
There is going to be a bit of spotlight on the former Dog on Saturday night, because whilst he has had his first encounter against his old club, this one is going to matter a bit more because he’s back under the roof of Marvel Stadium and I have no doubt that he’ll face a fiery Bulldog crowd. His exit from Whitten Oval at the end of last year wasn’t exactly the most harmonious, given the fact that he had a bad season statistically among other things. He’s had his moments at his new club this year playing more as a pressure forward than a midfielder.
Final Verdict – Geelong By 20 Points
Last match preview I did with these two sides I backed the Doggies in for a massive upset – it was wishful thinking, but I have learned my lesson, I think the Cats have enough class around the ground to get their 13th win of the season. It’s always interesting to see how a team responds after a very tough slog in the wet, most teams struggle after a game like that. Can the Dogs do it? It’s anyone’s guess, but personally, I’m going to find it extremely unlikely that they’ll string another consistent effort like that – and I say that as politely as possible.
The midfield battle is going to be really fascinating to watch, Bontempelli thrived in the wet last week, whilst Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae have hit some really good form over the past month. Ditto goes to Patrick Lipinski – I think this is going to be his biggest test yet. The Bulldogs also need to find a way to stop Tom Hawkins. He kicked four on them last time they met and has been in good touch for most of the year. I keep referring to their encounter against Port, but Tom Clurey managed to keep him to just five disposals and zero impact. It’s a big job for Jackson Trengove, who I expect will get the job first-up. But they need to keep him out of it for as long as possible.