AFL Round 6

Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
Sunday 20 April | 7:20pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri 
Broadcast: Channel 7/7Plus, Kayo/Foxtel

Tickets: Purchase here

NEED HELP ON MATCH DAY? 

The Bulldogs’ membership team will be at the match-day pavilion near Gate 1 (Barkly Street end). 

To contact us before match day:

• 📆 Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM
• 📧 membership@westernbulldogs.com.au
• 📞 1300 46 36 47

The Western Bulldogs have finalised its team for Wednesday night’s season opener against Melbourne at the MCG.

Twenty-one members of the grand final team will feature, seeing Ed Richards come into the side at the expense of retired Bulldog Easton Wood.

Tom Liberatore has recovered from AFL Health and Safety protocols to be named on the bench, while Alex Keath retains his place after a nasty knock to the shin in the AAMI Community Series clash.

Ryan Gardner, Hayden Crozier, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Robbie McComb have all been named as emergencies for the grand final re-match.

The Bulldogs will select one emergency to be the sub – which will be announced one hour prior to the game.

The clash will begin at 7.10pm, as the MCG welcomes back fans to the ground for the first time since July.

The match can be watched live via Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

ROUND 1 TEAM

Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Wednesday 16 March, 7.10pm AEDT
MCG

B: Ed Richards, Alex Keath, Bailey Williams
HB: Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Bailey Dale
C: Bailey Smith, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter
HF: Cody Weightman, Josh Schache, Adam Treloar
F: Laitham Vandermeer, Aaron Naughton, Jason Johannisen
R: Tim English, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli
Int: Stefan Martin, Tom Liberatore, Mitch Hannan, Roarke Smith
Emer: Ryan Gardner, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Robbie McComb, Hayden Crozier

In a tough contest, both sides wrestled with the momentum all night, with the Demons finishing the stronger to run out 14.13 (97) to 11.5 (71).

Bailey Smith fought hard all night with 33 disposals and 11 tackles, while Aaron Naughton was the chief destroyer forward, kicking four goals.

Vice-captain Jackson Macrae collected 39 touches in a strong showing.

Melbourne burst out of the blocks to kicking the opening four goals, before a Cody Weightman set shot on the siren kept the Dogs in the contest.

The Dogs would go on to kick the next eight majors in a stunning display, with Naughton causing havoc for the Demons defenders.

A nine-point lead for the Dogs at the break looked ominous, however the Demons pulled away in the second half, kicking eight goals to three.

Bontempelli also had injury concerns with an ankle problem, but played out the game.

A bumper crowd of 58,002 attended at the MCG on Wednesday night. 

The Dogs will next face Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, the first game in front of the red, white and blue army since July.

MELBOURNE                    4.5    6.6    10.8   14.13 (97)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     2.2    8.3     8.5     11.5 (71)

GOALS
Melbourne: Brown 3, Fritsch 2, Petracca 2, Langdon, Viney, Bowey, Jackson, Gawn, Harmes, Pickett
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Treloar 2, Crozier, Weightman, Dale, Hannan, Bontempelli

BEST
Melbourne: Petracca, Brown, Oliver, Fritsch, Viney, Langdon, Jordon
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Naughton, Smith, Dunkley, Dale, Treloar

INJURIES
Melbourne: Lever (foot) replaced in selected side by Tomlinson, Salem (knee)
Western Bulldogs: Martin (omitted) replaced in selected side by Gardner, Johannisen (leg soreness) replaced in selected side by Crozier

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Bedford (replaced Salem)
Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan (unused)

Crowd: 58,002 at the MCG