Lukas Webb will be the Western Bulldogs’ first debutant of season 2015, set to get his chance against Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon in Launceston.
Webb will come into the squad for Easton Wood, who will miss at least one week after injuring his hamstring at training on Thursday.
Recruited with the Dogs’ second selection (pick 27 overall) in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft from the Gippsland Power, Webb brings a neat left-foot kick and versatility across the ground.
Webb is joined by three other Dogs as inclusions in the squad for Sunday’s game, after Fletcher Roberts, Koby Stevens and Nathan Hrovat were named on an extended bench.
The trio have impressed with strong VFL form in recent weeks and Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King says all three have fought hard for their place in the squad.
“Fletch (Roberts) was flying through the pre-season, he reads the play so well for a defender… so to have him back in the squad’s really good.
“(Stevens and Hrovat) haven’t done much wrong, they’ve been playing good VFL footy… they’re doing everything right to force their way back in, it’s good to see them in the squad this week.”
After two consecutive wins, King said the Dogs would look to take the momentum from the opening weeks of the home and away season into their match against the reigning premiers.
“To get two wins on the board early is great for our players’ belief and us as a Club but to come up against Hawthorn, there’s not a better challenge to see where you’re at.”
Defence has been a highlight of the Dogs’ opening two rounds, with Marcus Bontempelli and Luke Dahlhaus leading the competition in tackles.
King emphasised that the Dogs would need to repeat the defensive efforts of recent weeks to be competitive with Hawthorn.
“They’re a skilled team that love keeping possession and they’re hard to get it off them once you give them a run at it so for us it’s important that we defend well, try and close down their time and space.
“It’s something that’s been a bit of a highlight of our first two games and we just have to make sure we bring that again and replicate it no matter who we’re playing against.”
ROUND 3 - Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn
Sunday 19 April 2015, 1:10pm
Venue: Aurora Stadium
| Full back | M Boyd | J Roughead | D Morris |
| Half back | R Murphy | M Talia | L Webb |
| Centreline | T Dickson | M Honeychurch | J Johannisen |
| Half forward | L Dahlhaus | A Cordy | J Macrae |
| Full forward | J Stringer | T Boyd | M Wallis |
| Followers | W Minson | L Jong | M Bontempelli |
| Interchange from | J Grant | S Crameri | N Hrovat |
| F Roberts | K Stevens | L Picken | |
| B Goodes |
In: N Hrovat, K Stevens, F Roberts, L Webb
Out: E Wood (hamstring)
New: L Webb (Gippsland Power - TAC Cup)
