The Western Bulldogs have confirmed five inclusions for Friday night’s blockbuster clash with the GWS Giants at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Chasing a sixth consecutive win to start 2021, the ladder-leading Bulldogs have made a host of changes.

Only one of those is forced, with defender Bailey Williams ruled out due to a collarbone injury.

As confirmed by senior coach Luke Beveridge on Wednesday, reigning Charles Sutton Medallist Caleb Daniel (suspension) and ruckman Stefan Martin (managed) will return from one-week absences.

Speedster Laitham Vandermeer will also return, after being a late withdrawal last week due to back spasms.

Two experienced players will make their first AFL appearances for 2021 – Zaine Cordy and Lin Jong.

Jong, who has starred at VFL level over the past month, last featured at senior level in round five last year.

Making way from the team that defeated the Gold Coast Suns last week are debutant Jordon Sweet, Lewis Young, Pat Lipinski, Lachie McNeil and medical sub Ben Cavarra.

McNeil has been named as an emergency, alongside Josh Schache, Buku Khamis and Roarke Smith.

The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

Footscray’s VFL clash with the GWS Giants will also be broadcast live on Fox Footy, on Thursday night from 7pm – with the first bounce at 7.15pm. 

ROUND 6 TEAM

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs
Friday 23 April, 7.50pm AEST
Manuka Oval, Canberra

B: Taylor Duryea, Alex Keath, Easton Wood
HB: Laitham Vandermeer, Aaron Naughton, Lachie Hunter
C: Caleb Daniel, Bailey Smith, Bailey Dale
HF: Adam Treloar, Zaine Cordy, Josh Dunkley
F: Tim English, Josh Bruce, Marcus Bontempelli
R: Stefan Martin, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore
Int: Anthony Scott, Jason Johannisen, Hayden Crozier, Lin Jong
Emer: Josh Schache, Buku Khamis, Lachie McNeil, Roarke Smith

In: Stefan Martin, Zaine Cordy, Laitham Vandermeer, Caleb Daniel, Lin Jong
Out: Bailey Williams (collarbone), Lewis Young, Ben Cavarra, Pat Lipinski, Lachie McNeil, Jordon Sweet

The Western Bulldogs have fought off a determined GWS Giants to claim a 39-point win and continue their perfect start to 2021.

Little separated the sides for the first three quarters, before the Bulldogs stepped up the intensity in the final term.

A nine-goal, last quarter burst saw the Bulldogs take the game away from the Giants to seal a 15.14 (104) to 9.11 (65) victory.

It was a tough contest for the first three quarters, with the margin eight points in the Bulldogs’ favour at quarter time, eight at half-time and just three at three-quarter time.

But from there the Bulldogs took control.

A string of consecutive goals to Jason Johannisen, Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar saw the Bulldogs kick away early in the final quarter.

Toby Greene’s fourth major halted the Bulldogs’ momentum – briefly – as they found another flourish at the end.

Bailey Dale capped off a good night at the office with two late goals, while medical sub Lachie McNeil and key forwards Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce also chipped in with two goals each.

The Bulldogs finished the night with an extra 14 clearances and 68 disposals.

Star midfielders Jack Macrae and Adam Treloar were prolific, racking up 40 disposals and 35 disposals respectively, plus six clearances each.

Tom Liberatore (27 disposals, two goals) and Marcus Bontempelli (26 disposals, one goal) also played important hands in the midfield – as did Josh Dunkley (29 disposals) before coming off with a shoulder injury.

The Bulldogs’ win came at a cost – with injuries to Dunkley, Jong (hamstring) and Tim English (head knock) ahead of a big Friday night clash against Richmond at the MCG next week.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY            1.1       4.5       6.8       9.11 (65)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                        2.3       5.7       6.11      15.14 (104)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 4, Taranto, Himmelberg, Stone, Hopper, Ward
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 2, McNeil 2, Liberatore 2, Dale 2, Naughton 2, Hunter, Johannisen, Bontempelli, Treloar, Macrae

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Ash, Taranto, Hopper, Cumming, Taylor
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Treloar, Dunkley, Dale

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (hamstring), O'Halloran (shoulder)
Western Bulldogs: Jong (hamstring), English (head), Dunkley (shoulder)