MATCH INFO
Round 12 v Geelong
Saturday 3 June
Marvel Stadium
7.25pm AEST
Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo Sports
Admission: Tickets on sale here.
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2022 SUMMARY
Western Bulldogs 8th 12-10 108.9%
Geelong 1st 18-4 144.2%
FUN FACTS
- The Bulldogs have won two of their last seven matches against Geelong, the last coming in Round 16, 2019
- Four matches between the Bulldogs and Cats have been decided with a kick after the siren, the most recent in Round 14, 2021
- Ryan Gardner is the only current player from both clubs to have been on both the Bulldogs and Cats lists
- The Dogs’ last home game against the Cats drew a crowd of 34,370 – their second-largest home crowd for the 2022 season
- Of the Bulldogs’ 57 triumphs over the Cats, their average winning margin is 22 points
LAST TIME THEY MET
Western Bulldogs 9.12 (66) def. by Geelong 14.10 (94)
The Bulldogs were unable to slow the momentum of the hosts last season, suffering a 28-point loss after an eight-goal to nothing run in the third quarter. The game started at a frenetic pace, with the Dogs kicking the first four goals of the contest to hold an early lead, but it was all the Cats after half-time in a dominant display. Ed Richards was a shining light for the Dogs, collecting 28 disposals and eleven marks in a strong performance. Bailey Dale and Marcus Bontempelli tried hard for the Dogs, while Tom Liberatore did his best to curtail the Geelong midfield. Cody Weightman kicked three goals and provided a spark for the red, white and blue.
TALKING POINTS
1. Bulldogs’ boost expected
The Western Bulldogs are likely to regain Adam Treloar for the Saturday night clash, which will be a welcome boost of experience.
The 30-year-old has missed the last three games with a hamstring strain, but Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell is optimistic he will return to availability this week.
“We have graduated Adam’s speed and training demands over the last few sessions, with him completing a game-like training session last Saturday,” Bell said.
“He still has one or two boxes to tick before we can confirm his availability, but at this stage he is on track to return to play this weekend.”
Roarke Smith (plantar fascia) and Sam Darcy (lung) will also be tested this week before their availability can be confirmed.
2. Test for Dogs’ defence
The Dogs’ defenders will be put to the ultimate test on Saturday night, as they do their best to limit the influence of Cats Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins.
Cameron currently sits second in the Coleman Medal race, and has won games off his own boot this season.
Hawkins isn’t far behind either – slotting 27 goals in his last eight matches.
The Cats have also kicked the second-highest score of the 2023 season so far – 1091 points for – so despite their 10th placed standing, are still adding plenty of scoreboard pressure.
Liam Jones looms as the likely match-up for one of the two, while fellow talls Ryan Gardner, Alex Keath and Josh Bruce could also be in the mix pending tonight’s team selection.
3. Returning to the winners’ list
Both the Bulldogs and Cats suffered losses in round 11, and keen to rectify their results on Saturday night.
Despite a spirited final-term fightback, the Dogs fell seven points short against the Suns at TIO Stadium, while the Cats were defeated by the Giants at GMHBA Stadium.
The Bulldogs missed an opportunity to jump into the top four last weekend, but a win against Geelong could move them up a spot into 5th and on the same points as Melbourne (pending it defeats Carlton) and Brisbane (bye this week).
The Bulldogs will next host Port Adelaide (R13) and meet North Melbourne at Marvel (R14) before enjoying the bye in round 15 – so banking as many wins as possible will be key to their run home in the second part of the season.
