Gold Coast Suns vs Western Bulldogs
Sunday 25 May 2014, 3:20pm
Venue: Metricon Stadium

Head-to-head:

Round 8, 2013: Gold Coast 13. 15. (93) defeat Western Bulldogs 8. 13. (61), Metricon Stadium
Round 8, 2012: Western Bulldogs 9. 18. (71) defeat Gold Coast 4. 10. (34), TIO Stadium
Round 14, 2011: Gold Coast Suns 13. 10. (88) defeated by Western Bulldogs 17. 8. (110), Metricon Stadium
Round 3, 2011: Western Bulldogs 18. 14. (112) defeat Gold Coast 7. 9. (51), Etihad Stadium

Last time they met:

  • Campbell Brown (Suns) and Jake Stringer (Bulldogs) led on the scoreboard with three goals apiece
  • Will Minson comprehensively won in the ruck to give his side an edge at the stoppages, with the Bulldogs finishing on 42 hitouts to the Suns 18
  • Brownlow votes: G Ablett 3, J O’Meara 2, C Brown 1
  • Matthew Boyd and Ryan Griffen together shared 58 disposals, 13 inside 50s and nine clearances, while Adam Cooney was the main ball winner for the Bulldogs amassing 31 touches

Recent form:

Western Bulldogs:

Getting a win before the bye round was a pleasing result for the Bulldogs but the aim will now to be to build on that foundation. The Bulldogs have competed strongly in a number of tightly fought contests this season, and are showing signs of improvement under pressure. While the Suns have enjoyed their best start to a year since inception, the Bulldogs will enter the game fresh off the bye and ready for a contest after a Club-record 108 tackles against Melbourne.

Gold Coast Suns:

The Suns may be downplaying talk of finals this week but their 6-2 win loss ratio shows they have taken another step forward in 2014.  Possessing  a more hardened edge, the Gold Coast side lead the competition in contested ball and are difficult to beat at their fortress, Metricon Stadium. Falling to only last year’s grand finalists Fremantle and Hawthorn so far this season, the Bulldogs will have a big task on Sunday.

Key matchups and gamebreakers:

  • Gary Ablett is the obvious threat in the Suns midfield and his ability to hit the scoreboard in recent weeks has made him even more dangerous – kicking eight goals in the past two games. But in 2014 the depth of talent across the Gold Coast side has also increased substantially, with Dion Prestia, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara equally capable of racking up big numbers.
  • The Bulldogs have the personnel capable of winning the contested ball and clearances but the Suns have risen in that area of the game this season and will provide a good test. Tom Liberatore, Matthew Boyd and Ryan Griffen are finding form as a group in recent weeks and that is expected to continue this week.
  • Tom Lynch has already surpassed his previous best goal tally in just eight games this season and will need to be contained. He will be expecting close attention from Dale Morris or Jordan Roughead on Sunday
  • At least two forced changes will be made to the Bulldogs side ahead of the Suns clash with both Liam Jones and Tory Dickson ruled out through suspension and injury respectively. A strong showing from Footscray in the VFL last fortnight, however, will work in Senior Coach Brendan McCartney’s favour with a number of players banging on the door for selection. Jarrad Grant could add a versatile edge to the tall forward stocks while Clay Smith, Koby Stevens, Mitch Wallis and Marcus Bontempelli were standout performers.