1. The midfield mix

Last year, the Western Bulldogs had the luxury of star-studded midfielders Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Lachie Hunter playing every game.
This week, they’ll be without two – with the injured Dunkley joining Hunter on the sidelines.
Sydney’s midfield, led by milestone man Josh Kennedy and the ultra-consistent Luke Parker, will present a tough challenge.
And how the Bulldogs adapt to life without Dunkley and Hunter will be critical.
All Australian on-baller Jack Macrae has spent time on the ball and on a wing in 2020, while the likes of Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis and the returning Pat Lipinski could be set for bigger midfield roles this week.

2. The English game

After a tough start to 2020 against some of the best in the business, emerging ruckman Tim English found his feet against the GWS Giants.
And he’ll be hoping to carry that momentum with him up to Sydney.
Similar to a fortnight ago against St Kilda, the 22-year-old will need to contend with a multi-ruck set-up at the SCG.
The Swans have recalled Sam Naismith to partner Callum Sinclair, with Hayden McLean also available to step in.
It looms as another big challenge for English, who the Bulldogs hope will have a big impact around the ground.

3. The Butler, the SCG and the footy

No, that’s not a Cluedo accusation.
It’s our third AFL debutant for 2020.
Louis Butler will follow in the footsteps of fellow debutants Ben Cavarra and Laitham Vandermeer when he pulls on the red, white and blue for the first time on Thursday night.
Selected by the Bulldogs with pick 53 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, the 18-year-old is a half-back flanker known for his foot skills and decision-making.
Here’s hoping our Butler can deliver the forwards some… silver service. 

4. The small forwards

It’s a different challenge for the Dogs’ defence to deal with this week.
The Giants went in with a three-pronged tall forward attack last week – Jeremy Cameron, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson – and Alex Keath, Zaine Cordy and co. proved they were up to the task.
But their cross-town rivals have a very different set-up.
Without the injured Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and Tom McCartin, the Swans look set to utilize McLean and a resting ruckman as their tall forwards.
And it’s a very dynamic mix around them. Rising star Isaac Heeney and goal-sneak Tom Papley headline a group of dangerous smaller players – alongside the likes of Nick Blakey, Will Hayward and Lewis Taylor – the Bulldogs will need to keep a tight leash on.

A determined performance on the road has seen the Western Bulldogs claim a 28-point victory against the Sydney Swans.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli owned the big moments in a best on ground performance at the SCG on Thursday night, as an injury-depleted Bulldogs outfit made it back-to-back wins.

An ankle complaint saw Aaron Naughton’s night finished in the first quarter, while fellow forward Sam Lloyd (shoulder) played little part after half time.

But the Bulldogs matched their four-quarter effort from a week prior against the Giants, despite four goals to star Swan Tom Papley, to run out 10.7 (67) to 5.9 (39) victors.

Both sides wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence pre-game to honour Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend John Kennedy snr, the grandfather of Swans co-captain Josh Kennedy, who played his 250th AFL match.

The result gives the Bulldogs a 2-2 ledger, after starting 2020 with two losses.

It was all Bulldogs in the opening half.

The Swans went goalless in the opening term and could only manage one by half-time due to the Bulldogs’ fierce pressure, as majors to Bailey Dale, Naughton, Lloyd, Laitham Vandermeer and a pair to Bontempelli gave the visitors a five-goal lead at the major break.

There was a response from the home side in the third term, but they couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard.

Bontempelli had 12 disposals to go with the two majors at half-time, but a Callum Mills tag negated his impact in the third term. 

The Swans could only manage 1.5 for the term though, after Josh Bruce snagged the first goal after half-time.

From there, the Bulldogs found a response when the Swans pushed again in the final term. 

Goals to the returning Rhylee West, and an opportunistic Jack Macrae toe-poke gave the Bulldogs some breathing space.

MATCH CENTRE | For the full match recap, news, highlights, player stats and more from the Bulldogs' win in Sydney.

Ruckman Tim English capped off another strong performance with the final goal of the game, finishing with an equal team-high 22 disposals to go with 17 hit-outs and six marks.

Ball magnet Jack Macrae (22 disposals) was also prominent, while young midfielders Bailey Smith (20 disposals, five clearances) and Pat Lipinski (20 disposals) found plenty of the ball and debutant Louis Butler (14 disposals) looked at home. 

After three games in the past 12 days, the Bulldogs will now have a longer break ahead of a round five clash with North Melbourne next Saturday night.

SYDNEY                           0.1     1.3     2.8     5.9     (39)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.2     6.3     7.4     10.7     (67)

GOALS
Sydney: Papley 4, Kennedy
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 2, Dale, Naughton, Lloyd, Vandermeer, Bruce, West, Macrae, English

BEST
Sydney: Papley, Parker, Heeney, Kennedy, Lloyd
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Smith, Macrae, English, Daniel, Crozier 

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Naughton (ankle), Lloyd (shoulder)