MATCH INFO
Round 24 v Geelong
Saturday 26 August, 7.25pm AEST
GMHBA Stadium
Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo Sports
Admission: Please click here to purchase tickets.
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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 eight 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
- The Bulldogs have not beaten Geelong at GMHBA Stadium since 2003
- Tim English is only six hit-outs away from reaching 700 for the home-and-away season, which would make him just the third Bulldog to achieve his number
- Marcus Bontempelli is 12 tackles away from recording the most tackles ever by a Bulldog in a season
- Cody Weightman needs three goals to reach 100 career majors – making him the 47th player to kick a ton in the red, white and blue
LAST TIME THEY MET
Western Bulldogs 10.15 (75) def. by Geelong 15.7 (97)
The Bulldogs hosted the Cats in round 12 earlier this season, but could not withstand a second-half surge at Marvel Stadium. The contest started as a shootout, with a combined 10 goals kicked in the opening term and four lead changes in the five minutes before the first break.
The second quarter was much the same, with the Dogs narrowly holding onto a two-point buffer at half-time. Geelong snatched the lead early in the third, but the Bulldogs found a response – and regained the lead - before conceding the last three goals of that term, and another three in the final stanza, licking their wounds and ruing inaccuracy in front of goal.
Caleb Daniel finished with 35 disposals, six marks, five tackles and a goal, followed by Adam Treloar who claimed 31 touches, 11 tackles and four clearances. Bailey Dale (31 possessions, eight marks and 608 metres gained), Tom Liberatore (30 possessions, seven marks and nine tackles), and Tim English (27 possessions, 12 marks, eight tackles and 30 hit-outs) also battled hard.
TALKING POINTS
1. A Bulldogs win is half the equation
The Bulldogs must beat the Cats on Saturday night if they want to keep their finals hopes alive – but it is only half of the equation.
If the Dogs get the job done – breaking a 20-year record in the process – their destiny won’t be revealed until late Sunday night.
Carlton and GWS will go head-to-head from 6.10pm on Sunday, with the Dogs to then rely on a Blues-win to retain eighth spot on the ladder.
None of that will matter however if the Cats prevail – so let’s hope things go the red, white and blue way at GMHBA.
2. Jacko’s run comes to an end
After entering concussion protocols at the end of the West Coast match, vice-captain Jack Macrae has been ruled out of this weekend’s final-round clash.
Subsequently, it also means the durable ball magnet’s 119 consecutive-game streak will come to an end.
It was the third longest active streak behind Collingwood’s Jack Crisp (210) and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (129).
While Macrae will be a loss in the middle, pleasingly the Dogs look set to regain clearance specialist Tom Liberatore, pending he gets through training this week.
3. AFLW Dogs to follow suit
Exactly one week after their men’s counterparts go head-to-head in the final round of the AFL home-and-away season, the Dogs and Cats will kick off their 2023 AFLW campaigns at the same venue.
The Dogs will head to GMHBA Stadium on Saturday 2 September for their AFLW round one clash, with the first bounce at 5.05pm AEST.
It’s been a gruelling preseason for the Pups, who are ready to get into the season proper and seek redemption after going down to Geelong by one point in season seven.
Tickets for the match are on-sale now and can be purchased here.
