THE WESTERN Bulldogs have finally settled on their first-choice ruck combination, selecting 21-year-old Jordan Roughead to partner Will Minson against West Coast's much-vaunted big man division in Sunday's season opener at Etihad Stadium.


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There was some speculation that the Bulldogs might select three big men to take on West Coast double act Dean Cox and Nic Naitainui, but in the end the Roughead - Minson combination got the nod.

Dogs coach Brendan McCartney gave Roughead (named at full-forward) and another 21-year-old, chief forward hope Liam Jones (centre half-forward) a glowing endorsement.

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"(They're) two young players that we think are going to provide the spine that'll take us forward as an organisation, and we're really excited about giving these young boys opportunities," he told Bulldogs TV on Thursday.

As expected, the Bulldogs have also selected Clay Smith and Tory Dickson to make their AFL debuts. Both had been earmarked for round-one selection for several weeks and the Bulldogs have rewarded their efforts by naming Smith in the centre and dead-eye Dickson in a forward pocket.

The debutants have trod vastly different paths to the AFL.

Gippsland-raised Smith, 18, is a hard-nosed, left-footed midfielder who was an All Australian at under-18 level after starring for Vic Country, hence his first-round selection at No. 17 in last year's NAB AFL Draft.

From the outset, Smith was regarded as a long-term AFL prospect and a potential leader, with McCartney publicly declaring that Smith plays the game the way it should be played.

Dickson's journey hasn’t been so straightforward.

The 24-year-old, who grew up in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, is a medium-sized forward who took a circuitous route that eventually earned him notice at VFL club Bendigo Bombers. He kicked 48 goals in 19 games for the Bombers last year under the eye of current Bulldogs assistant coach Shannon Grant.

Dickson's previous two seasons had also been eye-catching. In 2009 he won the best and fairest award at VFL club Frankston, before tallying 112 goals for Noble Park in the Eastern Football League.

The No. 57 pick in last year's draft now finds himself at his fourth club in as many seasons.

Dickson underlined his potential when he slotted the match-winning goal - via an opportunistic left-foot snap - with a minute left in the thrilling NAB Cup win over Carlton.

The Bulldogs would be hoping Dickson can contribute 30-plus goals this season to become part of their forward solution post-Barry Hall.

McCartney said Dickson had served "a lengthy apprenticeship".

"He's had a terrific summer, and each game has seen him improve more and more," he said.

Two other young improvers at Whitten Oval have been Easton Wood and Christian Howard, who McCartney said would probably switch roles at times between a wing and a half-back flank respectively.

Two other notable selections in the Bulldogs' 25-man squad were Nathan Djerrkura for his first game back after recovering from a broken hand, and key-position utility Matthew Panos.

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