The Western Bulldogs have made four changes to the side that went down to Geelong last Friday, with veterans Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris returning to face North Melbourne on Saturday night alongside youngsters Lukas Webb and Nathan Hrovat.
Speaking with westernbulldogs.com.au on Thursday afternoon, assistant coach Rohan Smith said that Lukas Webb had earnt his chance after averaging 34 disposals per game in the VFL over the past fortnight.
“He’s been playing some great footy at VFL level and he’ll get his opportunity this weekend which is fantastic for him,” Smith said.
And Nathan Hrovat will play his first game of the AFL season after recovering from a shoulder injury.
“We all watched on the weekend and saw Nathan Hrovat play really well - he used the ball really well as a mid, then went forward where he was really crafty, so he’ll be a welcome inclusion as well, he said.
“And then two of the old boys will come back in, Dale Morris and Matty Boyd.
“They bring a little bit of experience down back, we were a bit young last week, so with them coming back in, it just gives us that little bit of experience and little bit of surety.”
Smith said with final ladder positions still far from settled he expects a fierce battle on Saturday against the eighth-placed Roos.
“We don’t feel like we’ve been playing at our best that last couple of weeks and had a couple of losses, so we’re looking to turn that around, and what better way to do it than against North Melbourne, another top-eight team.
“We might play them again in four weeks-time so it’s a good experience for us to play against a really good, hardened team and it’ll be a great contest on Saturday.”
Toby McLean, Will Minsona and Bailey Dale been named as emergencies.
Saturday night's match will be broadcast no 7mate at 7:00pm due to coverage of the Olympics.
Round 20 – Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne
Saturday 6 August, 7:25pm
Venue: Etihad Stadium
| Full back | D Morris | F Roberts | E Wood |
| Half back | J Johannisen | J Hamling | M Boyd |
| Centreline | L Hunter | M Bontempelli | L Picken |
| Half forward | L Jong | J Stringer | C Smith |
| Full forward | T Dickson | T Boyd | C Daniel |
| Followers | J Roughead | L Dahlhaus | J Dunkley |
| Interchange | N Hrovat | Z Cordy | L Webb |
| S Biggs | |||
| Emergencies | T McLean | W Minson | B Dale |
In: M.Boyd, D.Morris, N.Hrovat, L.Webb
Out: J.Adcock (Omitted), K.Stevens (Omitted), T.Liberatore (Ankle), J.Macrae (Hamstring)
