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1. Brucey’s big week
It’s been a big week for Josh Bruce – and he hasn’t even played yet!
The first-year Bulldog and his wife Pip have welcomed son August into the world, a younger brother for daughter Poppy.
It meant he had to train away from the group for a couple of days, but he returned to main training on Wednesday and is raring to go.
For Bruce, it’s a first taste of AFL finals footy. And it’s against his old side.
And they got the chocolates earlier this year.
The stage is set for Bruce and the Bulldogs to turn the tables now, when it matters most.
2. Another tall order for Tim
Tim English has come on in leaps and bounds again this season.
And he’ll be looking to showcase all he has learned, when he comes up against Saints duo Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints’ ruck tag-team has been a successful feature of their game all season.
Marshall and Ryder have not only had an impact in the middle of the ground, but also pushing forward.
The Bulldogs will need to support English at times – as Luke Beveridge has acknowledged this week.
But English also brings his own strengths to the contest and could stretch the Saints’ duo with his ability to cover the ground and make an impact close to goal.
3. To tag, or not to tag
Employing a lockdown player, or two, is part of St Kilda’s style.
It has worked to great effect for the Saints this year and had an impact in round two when these sides last met.
Skipper Jarryn Geary is often the man the Saints turn to for a defensive forward role.
Will he go to Jason Johannisen again? Or potentially All Australian defender Caleb Daniel?
In the middle of the ground, will Seb Ross have a tagging role? And could it be Marcus Bontempelli he goes to? Or Jack Macrae? Or even Bailey Smith?
And will the Bulldogs employ a midfield tag of their own – a role that Toby McLean had performed admirably, prior to his season-ending knee injury.
How the sides line-up at the opening bounce will be fascinating.
4. Class of ‘16
There’s no doubt that when push comes to shove, big game experience counts.
The Bulldogs will certainly hope that gives them an advantage – however minimal – in the heat of battle this week.
St Kilda will be hungry for success, having not tasted finals footy since 2011. Geary is the only member of the Saints’ team who played in that game.
The Bulldogs have undergone plenty of change since 2016.
But nine players from that one day in October remain – including premiership skipper Easton Wood and current skipper Marcus Bontempelli – who will know all about delivering when the pressure is at its most intense.
