MATCH INFO

Round 20 v GWS
Saturday 29 July
Mars Stadium
1.45pm AEST
Broadcast: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports
Admission: Please click here to purchase tickets.

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2022 SUMMARY

Western Bulldogs 8th 12-10 108.9%
GWS 16th 6-16 84.6%

FUN FACTS

  • This will be the first match played between the Bulldogs and Giants at Mars Stadium
  • The Giants enter this match with the highest current winning streak in the AFL, with a 6-0 record since round 13
  • The Bulldogs currently hold a five-match win streak against the Giants, with an average winning margin of 21 points
  • Jack Macrae needs 17 disposals to reach a career total of 6,500, becoming the 55th V/AFL player to reach the milestone
  • This will be Bailey Smith's 12th appearance against the Giants, the most of any opponent in his 100-game career

LAST TIME THEY MET

GWS Giants 10.11 (71) def. by Western Bulldogs 13.8 (86)

Marcus Bontempelli enjoyed a mammoth night against the Giants in Canberra earlier this season, helping his side crack the top eight for the first time with a 15-point win. An all-time Club record contested possessions (25) and career-high clearances (14) saw Bontempelli’s best on display, while power forward trio Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb found six goals between them. The hosts clawed back late to find themselves within 10 points halfway through the last term, almost setting up a grandstand finish before back-to-back majors from Naughton iced the game.

08:17

Match Highlights | RD8 v GWS

Catch the highlights from Bulldogs' win against the Giants

TALKING POINTS

1. Back in Ballarat

Saturday afternoon will see the Bulldogs return to Ballarat for the second time this season, last heading there in round 10 to host the Crows.

The Dogs will head into this weekend’s match with a 7-3 record at Mars Stadium, while the Giants have only ever played there once – during the 2021 season in a one-point loss to Gold Coast.

The Bulldogs relished their round 10 encounter in front of the Ballarat crowd, claiming a 45-point victory, and pleasingly have won six of their last seven over GWS.

With the forecast showing a high of 13 and partly cloudy, let’s hope this meeting is much drier than the last between these two sides.

00:55

Stay Close, Go Further | Handmade Arts in Ballarat

The boys paid a visit to Ivy & Coco in Ballarat to try their hand at painting handmade vases.

2. Baz raises the bat

The Bulldogs will celebrate their third 100-gamer in a fortnight, with Bailey Smith set to play his milestone match against GWS.

Taken with pick seven in the 2018 draft, Smith’s journey to the ton has been full of highlights already – most notably enjoying a breakout month throughout the 2021 finals series.  

He was judged best afield in the Dogs’ last match in Ballarat, earning 10 coaches’ votes after 37 disposals, seven tackles and six inside 50s.

Smith bounced back with a solid defensive display against Essendon, and will be keen to continue that trend this Saturday afternoon.

Go well, Baz.

Read More
Bontempelli praises Baz and Libba ahead of Ballarat clash

3. Snapping the Giants’ streak

The Bulldogs will have an opportunity to snap the league’s longest current winning streak this weekend.

The Giants have enjoyed a six-game winning streak under coach Adam Kingsley in his debut season at the helm, but have not beaten the Dogs since the 2019 Elimination Final.

Both before and after that match, there’s been a lot of fire when these two teams meet.

Expect Saturday to be no different.