When and where: Sunday 24 March, 1pm AEDT, Mars Stadium (Wadawurrung)
Broadcast: Fox Footy/Kayo
Head to head: Played 16 (won 12, lost 4)  
Last time we met: Round 11 2023, WB 11.11 (77) def. by Gold Coast 13.6 (84)

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What it means

Returning to their second home in Ballarat, the Bulldogs will be keen to make amends for a disappointing season opener and square their win-loss ledger. The surging Suns under new coach Damien Hardwick will be no easy feat – but playing in front of a home red, white and blue crowd should fill the hosts with confidence.

Who to watch

Set to play his 100^th match as captain, all eyes will be on Marcus Bontempelli this Sunday. The skipper was a standout against the Dees last weekend and will be sure to inspire his teammates come match-day in Ballarat.

Doggy Deals

Western Bulldogs members and fans travelling to Mars Stadium this week can reap extra benefits at restaurants, cafes, eateries and distilleries thanks to a new initiative from the Western Bulldogs and Commerce Ballarat.

Click here to view all available offers.

Bulldogs Tipping

Bulldogs Tipping is back in 2024, and it’s not too late to sign up! Earn bragging rights over your family, friends or even colleagues by correctly tipping games, with a number of exciting Bulldogs prizes up for grabs too.

Register today at tipping.westernbulldogs.com.au and get your tips in now.

Getting to Mars Stadium

We encourage all patrons attending Sunday’s game to plan their travel ahead of time.

For all the latest information regarding driving, parking, public transport and shuttle services, please head to our Game-Day Guide and scroll down to the ‘Getting to Mars Stadium’ drop-down box to access all the latest information.

Cody Weightman has booted six goals to steer the Western Bulldogs to a 48-point triumph over Gold Coast for their first win of the season.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wanted a response to his side's round one capitulation to Melbourne – and he got it, as a nine-goal first quarter paved the way for the 18.7 (115) to 10.7 (67) victory.

The Bulldogs withstood multiple charges from the Suns to condemn them to their first defeat under Damien Hardwick.

Small forward Weightman was magnificent at Ballarat's Mars Stadium, booting four first-quarter majors to set the tone, then going on to equal his career-best haul.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli (31 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals) and Adam Treloar (27 touches) were typically prolific while Tom Liberatore had an entertaining battle with Matt Rowell.

Ed Richards was excellent off half-back but had to leave the fray with concussion after being collected high by David Swallow early in the final quarter.

Recalled young gun Sam Darcy (two goals) also impressed.

The Bulldogs' win was also soured by a first-quarter right shoulder injury to defender Nick Coffield – though his replacement Oskar Baker stepped up to kick three goals, including a wonderful snap from the boundary.

Noah Anderson (24 touches) and Touk Miller (30) were busy for the Suns while Sam Collins marshalled their defence and Ben King booted two goals.

Suns young gun Bailey Humphrey was a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury suffered in training and is awaiting scans to determine the timeline on his return.

Gold Coast was already without co-captain Jarrod Witts (groin).

With the breeze at their backs, the Bulldogs were red-hot, booting the first three goals.

Weightman kicked the opener, then took a huge hanger and converted the Bulldogs' second from the subsequent centre bounce.

Bontempelli goaled from long range on the siren to deliver a 41-point lead at the first change. 

Gold Coast reduced the deficit to 28 points at half-time, with Weightman's crumbed fifth goal the Bulldogs' only major for the second term.

In a see-sawing third quarter, the Bulldogs booted four goals in a row to stretch their lead to 46 points.

But Gold Coast booted the final three of the term, with two via Nick Holman, to cut the three-quarter time margin to 28 and remain in touching distance.

But early in the fourth, Weightman snapped his sixth to steady the Bulldogs before Bontempelli kicked the sealer.

The Bulldogs (1-1) return to Marvel Stadium to host battling West Coast next Sunday while Gold Coast (2-1) has the bye.


WESTERN BULLDOGS        9.1     10.3     14.4       18.7 (115)
GOLD COAST                       2.2      5.5        9.6      10.7 (67) 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Weightman 6, Baker 3, Naughton 2, Darcy 2, Bontempelli 2, Liberatore, Khamis, Ugle-Hagan
Gold Coast: King 2, Holman 2, Swallow, Moyle, Lukosius, Flanders, Berry, Ainsworth

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Weightman, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Jones, Dale, Johannisen, English
Gold Coast: Collins, Miller, Rowell, Flanders, Powell, Anderson

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Coffield (shoulder), Richards (concussion)
Gold Coast: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Gold Coast: Bailey Humphrey (shoulder) replaced by Rory Atkins

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Oskar Baker (replaced Nick Coffield in the first quarter)
Gold Coast: Rory Atkins (replaced Ben Long in the third quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Mars Stadium