Usually, matches where it’s 12th vs 16th don’t carry much weight in terms of ‘must-win’ games, but on Sunday afternoon under the roof of Marvel Stadium, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Western Bulldogs. They’re flying now and have hit some very good form, defeating Port Adelaide in Adelaide and Geelong in the past fortnight of footy. The past fortnight brings the Bulldogs well and truly back into Finals contention.
However, their encounter against the 16th placed Melbourne Football Club on Sunday is as big of a game as any home and away game they have played this season. The Bulldogs’ inability to put away the lesser sides has been documented in the first half of 2019, with losses to Carlton, Gold Coast and North Melbourne before Rhyce Shaw took over. For the Bulldogs to be taken seriously, they really need to win this game and the two games that follow – they are a genuine chance to be 10-8 by the end of round 19.
Melbourne have been seriously disappointing in 2019. Less than 12 months ago this was the same Simon Goodwin-coached side that played off in a Preliminary Final. Today, they’re essentially cooked in terms of contending for Finals, loitering in 16th place, having won just five games in 15 starts. Injuries haven’t helped the cause one bit, but several Melbourne players have been down on form all throughout the year.
Still, Melbourne will be looking ahead to this match with some form, having won two of their last three games, most recently they overcame a very strong Carlton fightback, to hold on by five points. Their recent history against the Bulldogs has been solid, having won their last three games by an average margin of 52 points.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
No Change
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: Rhylee West, Bailey Dale, Dale Morris, Lachie Young
After a massive upset win over the Geelong Cats last Saturday night, the Bulldogs go in with an unchanged line-up, leaving veteran defender Dale Morris as an emergency after pulling together a couple of performances in the VFL. I also wonder when Rhylee West will get a debut? The Father/Son prospect has been listed as an emergency more often than not this season and has produced some solid numbers in the VFL this year.
Melbourne
IN: Jake Lever, Neville Jetta, Max Gawn OUT: Marty Hore (Collarbone), Tom McDonald (Knee), Sam Weideman (Calf)
B: Jake Lever, Steven May, Neville Jetta HB: Michael Hibberd, Sam Frost, Christian Salem C: Jayden Hunt, Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones HF: James Harmes, Christian Petracca, Bayley Fritsch F: Mitch Hannan, Braydon Preuss, Angus Brayshaw FOL: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver INT: Alex Neal-Bullen, Harrison Petty, Jay Lockhart, Kyle Dunkley EMG: Corey Wagner, Oscar McDonald, Josh Wagner, Jay Kennedy-Harris
Three big ins to the Melbourne side, but unfortunately, they’re going to miss some key players as through injury. Marty Hore has been a real find for Melbourne this season, but he’ll miss the rest of it with a broken Collarbone. Tom McDonald’s season is also done with a knee injury - a real shame as he was just finding form again, whilst Sam Weideman will also miss with a calf injury, meaning Melbourne will be short on tall options.
However, they get back Max Gawn, who has had some good history against the Bulldogs in recent time. Neville Jetta will come back into the side in a bid to boost their defensive stocks, and Jetta is arguably one of the best one-on-one mid-sized defenders in the game today, whilst Jake Lever will also return to the side, having suffered bone bruising to his knee back on Queen’s Birthday, which was his first game since rupturing his ACL last year.
Recent History (Last 10 Matches)
Round 17, 2018 – MCG: Melbourne 18.11.119 def Western Bulldogs 10.9.69 Round 11, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 7.9.51 def by Melbourne 15.10.100 Round 13, 2017 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 8.8.56 def by Melbourne 17.11.113 Round 8, 2016 – MCG: Melbourne 12.10.82 def by Western Bulldogs 17.12.114 Round 20, 2015 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 24.9.153 def Melbourne 8.7.55 Round 8, 2015 – MCG: Melbourne 15.13.103 def Western Bulldogs 9.10.64 Round 15, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.7.91 def Melbourne 13.7.85 Round 8, 2014 – MCG: Melbourne 12.11.83 def by Western Bulldogs 15.9.99 Round 23, 2013 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 16.11.107 def Melbourne 13.9.87 Round 14, 2013 – MCG: Melbourne 15.13.103 def Western Bulldogs 15.10.100
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Sam Lloyd
I think this man would have to be seriously up there in the recruit of the year sweepstakes, he’s been a very good addition to the Bulldogs’ side, particularly in the forward line, where the Dogs have struggled for a few years now. Sam Lloyd has not missed a game this season, and has kicked goals in all but two games, having kicked 25.18 this year, whilst averaging 15.6 disposals, 5.1 marks and three inside 50s per game.
Melbourne – Christian Petracca
When I think about Christian Petracca, there is no denying that he’s got talent, but it’s his consistency that bothers me the most here, and because the media hype him up a fair bit, he can tend to be a bit overrated. His 2019 has been solid without starring, averaging 17.8 disposals, 4.2 marks and 3.4 inside 50s per game, whilst kicking 17.10 this season after kicking 19.23 the season previous. With no Tom McDonald or Sam Weideman, the Demons will need a bag from Petracca on the weekend if they are a chance to pull off a shock win.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 22 Points
The fact that the Bulldogs don’t handle the favourite tag all too well concerns me very much. But, I will back them in here. I think that they have too much to play for now to be complacent with their efforts. We saw them last week against Geelong, the desire for the contest was there, they application defensively was there. They just need to work on their polish going forward and they could be as good as anyone.
I absolutely love seeing the fact that the Bulldogs are going to roll out in a Footscray-inspired guernsey on Sunday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fightback, which saw this club on its knees in 1989 and on the precipice of merging with the Fitzroy Football Club. Without question this is arguably one of the biggest moments in the history of the club, because without people like Peter Gordon, Irene Chatfield and the Footscray locals that love this club, the team wouldn’t be where they are today.
There would be no better way to commemorate such a moment than a big win on Sunday.