If the Western Bulldogs’ upcoming match with St. Kilda didn’t already carry the moniker of being a ‘danger game’ then it’s well and truly one now. The two sides are set to square off under the roof on the graveyard shift that is Sunday twilight football.
It’s been a rough 2019 for the Saints and this week has culminated in the vacation of Alan Richardson as head coach. Call it his resignation or call it that he’s been sacked from club, the facts are that he won’t be coaching St. Kilda this week or the remainder of the year. He makes it the third coach this season that has vacated his position, following the sackings of Brad Scott and Brendon Bolton. Caretaker coaches are two from this year, so there is a bit of interest in this game.
That said, the Saints have had a very rough time with injuries to key players. From the captain Jarryn Geary, to the promising players such as Josh Battle to the experienced campaigners such as Jack Steven and Dylan Roberton, the Saints have had more than their fair share of injuries this season, but credit to them, they’ve given some of the better sides a run for their money over the last few weeks.
But this week they run into a Western Bulldogs outfit that are just starting to get a roll going, having won four of their last five and are genuinely looking like a Finals team once again. It’s been a great news week for the Bulldogs, having signed Luke Beveridge to a three-year contract extension, seeing him at the Dogs until 2023. They pulled out a hard-fought scrap against the Demons last week, putting to bed the notion that this team can’t put away the bottom sides.
Nonetheless, they can’t afford to take the Saints lightly, despite all that has happened over the past month. The Dogs must keep winning and are a serious chance to have more wins than losses for the first time since round three.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Tom Liberatore, Caleb Daniel, Bailey Dale OUT: Bailey Williams (Omitted), Toby McLean (Hamstring), Ed Richards (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: Tom Liberatore, Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Roarke Smith EMG: Rhylee West, Will Hayes, Bailey Williams, Dale Morris
The Bulldogs have made three changes ahead of this game. They will lose Toby McLean and Ed Richards due to hamstring-related injuries. Whilst McLean will miss a few weeks with a hamstring injury, Richards was pulled from the squad due to hamstring tightness on Friday, whilst Bailey Williams has been dropped, perhaps a little stiff, but he has made way for a couple of good returns.
Caleb Daniel will play his first game in a few weeks after he missed the wins against Geelong and Melbourne with a hamstring injury. Tom Liberatore is also back and should fill the void left by McLean in the middle, whilst Bailey Dale has also been named to play after a couple of good weeks in the VFL.
St. Kilda
IN: Doulton Langlands, Matthew Parker OUT: Daniel McKenzie (Omitted), Ben Long (Rested)
B: Nick Coffield, Nathan Brown, Shane Savage HB: Callum Wilkie, Jake Carlisle, Hunter Clark C: Jack Billings, Seb Ross, Jack Newnes HF: Nick Hind, Josh Bruce, Luke Dunstan F: Jack Lonie, Tim Membrey, Doulton Langlands FOL: Rowan Marshall, Jade Gresham, Jack Steele INT: Blake Acres, Ben Paton, Matthew Parker, Jack Sinclair EMG: Daniel McKenzie, Bailey Rice, Darragh Joyce, Sam Rowe
The Saints have made two changes ahead of this game, dropping Daniel McKenzie from the side, whilst Ben Long has been rested. They have recalled mature-aged recruit Matthew Parker, who will add a bit of x-factor in the forward line and have handed 19-year old Doulton Langlands his debut. Langlands was taken with the eighth pick in the 2017 AFL Rookie Draft and possesses elite pace and has been working on his craft for Sandringham in the VFL the past couple of seasons.
Recent History (Past 10 Matches)
Round 20, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: St. Kilda 9.14.68 def by Western Bulldogs 15.13.103
Round 10, 2017 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.12.90 def St. Kilda 7.8.50
Round 18, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 9.6.60 def by St. Kilda 11.9.75
Round 2, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: St. Kilda 5.6.36 def by Western Bulldogs 13.15.93
Round 13, 2015 – Marvel Stadium: St. Kilda 7.14.56 def by Western Bulldogs 9.8.62
Round 6, 2015 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 13.9.87 def by St. Kilda 14.10.94
Round 20, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: St Kilda 15.9.99 def by Western Bulldogs 18.14.122
Round 9, 2013 – Marvel Stadium: St. Kilda 15.11.101 def by Western Bulldogs 17.8.110
Round 18, 2012 – Marvel Stadium: St. Kilda 16.22.118 def Western Bulldogs 6.6.42
Round 3, 2012 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 5.10.40 def by St. Kilda 15.13.103
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Jason Johannisen
Last time the Bulldogs met the Saints, it was the work of Jason Johannisen, along with Marcus Bontempelli’s bag of four in the third term, that was the difference in the end. Johannisen registered a career-best 42 disposals, 12 rebound 50s and polled the three Brownlow votes. His form in 2019 has been solid, but I think he can go another level in his game. He showed it a few years ago how dangerous he really can be. He’s averaging 22.1 disposals, 3.5 rebound 50s and 4.6 marks per game this year.
St. Kilda – Jack Steele
He has taken on some of the game’s biggest midfielders across the past couple of seasons, but St. Kilda face a big dilemma here with Jack Steele in terms of who he should run with, if Brett Ratten will allow it. The most logical one would be Josh Dunkley, who is one of the most in-form players in the side at the moment, he could definitely get the match-up against Marcus Bontempelli, and consider that his ankle may not still be 100 percent, he could really take him to task in the middle. Averages 7.8 tackles per game along with 22.2 disposals, 4.1 marks and 4.3 clearances, so he’s a guy that can play both ways.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 6 Points
I’m very nervous about what the Saints will bring to the table on Sunday evening, but the Bulldogs have shown across the past month that they are a side that can beat anyone, anywhere at any time. I am backing them in here, but I think it’s going to be a very close game. If the Saints get a chance to dictate the game on their terms, the Bulldogs; defence has been sensational, but they need to clamp down on Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey – both have been lively when the Saints are on.
Watching two of the league’s most promising ruckmen in the league in Rowan Marshall and Tim English is going to be exciting to watch, whilst the midfield battle in itself is going to be intriguing. Jack Billings has improved out of sight playing full-time as a midfielder, Seb Ross had 40 disposals last time he played against the Dogs and Jade Gresham has been solid as midfielder this year.