AFL Round 10

Western Bulldogs v Essendon
Saturday 17 May | 7:35pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: 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

When and where: Friday 31 May, 7.40pm AEST, Marvel Stadium (Wurundjeri)
Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo
Head-to-head: Played 161 (won 49, drawn once, lost 111) 
Last time we met: Round 17 2023, WB 11.11 (77) def. by Collingwood 13.11 (89)

All Public GA and Reserved Seats for this match are now exhausted. If you have redeemed a Reserved Seat/GA Ticket or have a GA membership, you are still able to scan in but recommend arriving early.

Standing Room tickets are now available until the allocation is exhausted. Click here to purchase.

Unleash more in ’24 with a Bulldogs membership: SIGN UP TODAY

What it means

The Bulldogs will be keen to bounce back from a spirited loss to Sydney against the reigning premiers this Friday night. A three-game run at Marvel Stadium heading into the bye is a great opportunity for the Dogs to capitalise, hosting both Brisbane and Fremantle after tomorrow night’s clash. The Bulldogs currently sit 11^th on the ladder with five wins, two games outside the top eight.

Who to watch

As coach Luke Beveridge confirmed on Wednesday night, Rory Lobb will return to the line-up in replace of the injured Aaron Naughton. The 31-year-old forward-ruck will add plenty of experience to what is otherwise a young three-pronged attack (Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy) on Friday night. Lobb has managed three senior outings this season, otherwise making his presence felt in the undefeated Footscray side with seven majors in his past three games alone.

Finding the right blend

Naughton won’t be the only forced out this Friday night, with the Dogs also needing to find replacements for Ed Richards and Anthony Scott. The duo suffered concussions against the Swans and were subsequently placed into the protocols. As a result, Rhylee West, Riley Garcia and Ryley Sanders – ‘Triple R’ as Beveridge named them last week – were sent into the midfield.  The match committee will have some decisions to make again this week, but is likely the Dogs’ on-ball brigade will again look different come Friday night.

VFL curtain-raiser

Prior to the AFL clash, the VFL sides will do battle from 4.05pm at Marvel Stadium. Gates 5, 8 and 9 will open from 3.45pm AEST to accommodate patrons wishing to attend – but must hold a valid ticket/admission to the later AFL match. Footscray currently sit undefeated at the top of the ladder, while Collingwood sit 16^th with two wins.

Support the 'Scray with a VFL membership, giving you access to all Footscray Bulldogs home games at Mission Whitten Oval. 

Check before you travel

Avoid public transport and road disruptions this Friday night by checking before you travel.

Buses replace trains on sections of the Pakenham, Craigieburn, Lilydale, Seymour and Gippsland lines.

To plan your journey ahead of time, visit Victoria's Big Build website for more information.

The Western Bulldogs have handed Collingwood its first loss since round two, winning by 18 points on Friday night. 

Compounding last week's injury woes, the Dogs lost another two players to injury in the opening half, but fought on to run out 15.10 (100) to 12.10 (82) winners under the Marvel Stadium roof, soundtracked by a vocal Pies crowd.

Marcus Bontempelli's sheer will to keep his side motivated was enthralling, as the captain finished the game with 38 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals in an inspirational performance.

Meanwhile, Sam Darcy (three goals, five contested marks) was the star inside 50, dominating in the air in attack and doing the damage on the scoreboard.

Despite giving up four of the first five goals of the game, the Dogs kept the Pies within arm's reach for much of the game to be within striking distance late.

Their surge was also assisted by a lack of organisation in Collingwood's front half in the final term, with the Pies struggling to pick out options without the focal point of Brody Mihocek.

Both donning the bright orange boots, Nick Daicos and Jack Crisp started the game at a blistering pace, the pair combining for 15 disposals, 10 contested possessions, and two goals in the first quarter alone.

With those two leading the way, Collingwood looked like world beaters in that term. Exiting stoppages with ease, attacking directly, and neatly cutting through the Dogs' defence. But it couldn't put a gap on the scoreboard, converting only five goals from 12 scores.

As a result, the Dogs smelled blood in the water, and when they won control, they were deadly in front of goal. The Pies' kicking efficiency plummeted in the second term, and the Bulldogs capitalised on the turnover opportunities, enjoying a five-goal quarter of their own.

Adam Treloar (37 disposals, 11 clearances, one goal) continued to lead through action in the middle, and emerging Dog Riley Garcia (21 disposals, four tackles) offered a spark through the contest.

COLLINGWOOD                    5.7     8.8     12.9      12.10 (82)  
WESTERN BULLDOGS         3.2     8.5     10.9     15.10 (100)  

GOALS
Collingwood: Schultz 3, N.Daicos 2, J.Daicos 2, Maynard, Markov, Lipinski, Hill, Crisp
Western Bulldogs: Darcy 3, Ugle-Hagan 2, McNeil 2, Macrae 2, Bontempelli 2, West, Vandermeer, Treloar, Lobb

BEST
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Crisp, J.Daicos, Schultz, Sullivan
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Darcy, Garcia, Sanders

INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Harmes (hamstring), Vandermeer (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Wil Parker (replaced John Noble in the fourth quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachie McNeil (replaced James Harmes in the first quarter)

Crowd: 43,298 at Marvel Stadium