All the key talking points for the Western Bulldogs’ Round 3 match against the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
What’s in a start?
It’s been 10 years since the Bulldogs started a season with three consecutive wins. Do we dare to dream?
The year in question is 2009, when we won our first three, dropped the next three, and eventually lost in a preliminary final heart-breaker against the Saints.
For the record, we’ve gone two and zip in three of the last four seasons, only to lose the third one each time.
For all you history buffs out there, the last six times we’ve gone 3-0, we’ve made the finals.
ROUND 3 MATCH-DAY INFORMATION, LIAM PICKEN LAP OF HONOUR
No change!
Ok, so we might’ve made a sneaky change just before the Round 2 game against the Hawks, aftersaying this last week.
You can forgive us though – it doesn’t happen very often at all, Lewis Young put in a strong performance, Bailey Williams got a rest, and we got the four points. Everyone wins.
The Dogs had another smooth series of match committee meetings this week and entered an unchanged team for the clash against the Suns.
We guarantee there’ll be no late surprises*.
*We can’t guarantee it.
WATCH: LUKE BEVERIDGE’S ROUND 3 PRESS CONFERENCE
Shining Suns
Gold Coast will be right up and about for this Sunday. They’re winning, they’re playing for each other, and they’ll like their chances of coming to Melbourne and knocking us over.
They’re a young and exciting mob, with plenty of weapons, the Suns. Just ask Fremantle and St Kilda.
We got a decent look at them in the JLT Series in Mackay, when they got over the line in a tight one. This time, we’re playing for keeps, and we’ll need to scrap for every contest to get the W.
WATCH: MATCH PREVIEW WITH BOB MURPHY AND STEVE GRACE
Farewell, Mr September
Has there been a more courageous and humble almost-200 gamer to wear the famous red, white and blue?
They’ve been lining up this week to give Liam Picken the praise he so richly deserves, after the 32-year-old called and end to his career on Monday.
We’ve heard from Bob and his current team-mates, and probably watched this package more than a few times, so this column doesn’t need to remind you how special a player he was.
Whatever non-football plans you might’ve had for Sunday, cancel them, get to Marvel Stadium and get to your seat in time for 1.50pm, when Picken will ride around the boundary line in an X-Class ute doing what he does best – giving joy to the fans.
