The loss to Brisbane did them no favours last week, but the Western Bulldogs remain an outside possibility to play Finals football this year. However, standing in their way the next three weeks are sides that sit in the bottom half of the top eight. This weekend, they take on a side that they’ve had good recent history against in the Essendon Bombers on Saturday night under the roof of Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs have won their last four games against the Dons by an average winning margin of 44 points. The last couple of years in particular, they have matched up well against them, when they have been in contention for a finals berth. Essendon are on track to play Finals for the second time in three years, currently sitting seventh and two games ahead of both Port and the Dogs who sit ninth and 10th respectively.
However, it is not assured yet that they will play Finals. Last week they were against the Power at Marvel Stadium and Port Adelaide had their way with them, en route to a 10-goal drubbing. A win against the Bulldogs nearly gets them there. A loss means that they will fall back a little into the pack of sides outside the eight. Although they’d be a game clear, they have games against Fremantle in Perth and Collingwood to come.
There’s still so much to play for and even though the Dogs cost themselves a very winnable game last week in Brisbane, they’re firmly poised to claim another top eight scalp this weekend and keep their bid for Finals alive.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
IN: Taylor Duryea, Will Hayes OUT: Tom Liberatore (Knee), Caleb Daniel (Hamstring)
B: Taylor Duryea, Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier HB: Jason Johannisen, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood C: Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Ed Richards HF: Bailey Dale, Josh Schache, Sam Lloyd F: Bailey Smith, Aaron Naughton, Tory Dickson FOL: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae INT: Matthew Suckling, Toby McLean, Patrick Lipinski, Will Hayes EMG: Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Roarke Smith, Lachie Young
Two forced changes for the Bulldogs ahead of this game. Caleb Daniel will miss at least the next couple of weeks as he suffered another hamstring injury during the week, whilst Tom Liberatore will also miss due to soreness in his knee. They do regain Taylor Duryea who has proven to be a key cog in defence this year. He missed last week due to groin soreness, whilst Will Hayes comes back into the side as well for his first game since round nine.
I didn’t get a chance to write it last week, but Rhylee West must be one of the unluckiest blokes, after being dropped for what I thought was a decent debut against Fremantle. However, I have confidence we’ll see him again before the season is over.
Essendon
IN: Ben McNiece, Shaun McKernan, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Josh Begley OUT: Will Snelling (Foot), Darcy Parish (Concussion), Adam Saad (Hamstring), Matt Guelfi (Knee), Aaron Francis (Injured), Michael Hartley (Omitted)
B: Mason Redman, Cale Hooker, Martin Gleeson HB: Conor McKenna, Patrick Ambrose, Ben McNiece C: Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, Orazio Fantasia HF: Dylan Shiel, Shaun McKernan, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti F: David Zaharakis, Mitch Brown, Jake Stringer FOL: Zac Clarke, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell INT: Dylan Clarke, David Myers, Kyle Langford, Josh Begley EMG: Michael Hartley, Tom Jok, Jake Long, Jayden Laverde
The Bombers have had to make six changes this week, with five of them coming from injuries. Will Snelling has been a good find from the mid-season draft, Adam Saad and Matt Guelfi are best 22 players, whilst Aaron Francis and Darcy Parish are starting to emerge as players and they will all miss such a big clash.
They do regain captain Dyson Heppell for this game, who should provide some grunt in the middle, and they do get back some more experience in David Myers and Mark Baguley. Shaun McKernan is also back after he missed last week with illness – he is a very important piece up forward, whilst Ben McNiece and Josh Begley have also been recalled.
Recent History (Past 10 Matches)
Round 3, 2018 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.20.104 def Essendon 12.11.83
Round 19, 2017 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 19.13.127 def Essendon 13.19.97
Round 22, 2016 – Marvel Stadium: Essendon 7.11.53 def by Western Bulldogs 14.9.93
Round 18, 2015 – Marvel Stadium: Essendon 5.10.40 def by Western Bulldogs 19.13.127
Round 18, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.10.94 def by Essendon 15.11.101
Round 7, 2014 – Marvel Stadium: Essendon 10.13.73 def Western Bulldogs 9.11.65
Round 16, 2013 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 14.6.90 def by Essendon 18.13.121
Round 14, 2012 – Marvel Stadium: Essendon 21.14.140 def Western Bulldogs 8.8.56
Round 21, 2011 – Marvel Stadium: Western Bulldogs 15.11.101 def by Essendon 23.12.150
Round 1, 2011 – Marvel Stadium: Essendon 16.17.113 def Western Bulldogs 8.10.58
Players To Watch
Western Bulldogs – Jack Macrae
Since the Western Bulldogs came back from the bye, Jack Macrae has been a man on a mission in the middle, racking up some absurd numbers most weeks. Since the bye, Macrae has averaged 36.8 disposals, 6.6 tackles and 5.8 clearances per game. This included a 45-possession, seven tackle and 12 clearance game against the Brisbane Lions last week. He is in ripping touch at the moment and the Bombers will have their work cut out if Macrae gets himself another 30-plus this week.
Essendon – Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
He is an individual that is garnering plenty of intrigue right now. After being a revelation in 2016 when the Bombers were depleted, AMT is out of contract and has picked up some interest from rival clubs beyond this year. The Bulldogs have been one side that have enquired about picking him up for 2020. It’s been an up and down year from him, kicking 26.10 from 19 games. His best is very good, see his seven-goal game against Brisbane earlier this year, but there are games that he has zero impact. One to watch on Saturday night.
Final Verdict – Western Bulldogs By 22 Points
The past few games against the Bombers and the form overall in the past couple of months have me very confident about the Bulldogs, so I’ll back them in here. Essendon have been playing some good footy themselves, but they have also had some very nervous moments throughout the past month. It also doesn’t help them that they have had to change five blokes out of the side due to injury.
With Essendon possessing a somewhat undersized backline – not sure how or why Hartley was dropped – I can sense a big game coming from Aaron Naughton or Josh Schache, whoever doesn’t match up with Cale Hooker, could have a big one from the Dogs. For Essendon to get up, they need the ex-Dog Jake Stringer to fire up like he did to the Gold Coast a couple of weeks ago, and perhaps players like McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia to have some influence.