The champ is here
We’ll know a lot more about this young Bulldogs team at 6pm on Sunday than we do now, that’s for sure. The Hawks may sit in seventh place on the ladder, but until someone other than Alistair Clarkson and Luke Hodge are holding up that cup on the last day in September, they’re still the competition benchmark and the team to beat.
It’s been six long years since a Bulldogs team have beaten the men in brown and gold and we all know that to be the best you have to beat the best. Is it Sunday yet?
Whose house II ?
The Dogs will be shooting for their 12th straight win on their home patch at Etihad Stadium, a formidable record. It’s even more impressive when you consider that they’ve won six of those by more than 50 points. Do you know who else plays well at Docklands? Hawthorn.
We haven't played the Hawks at Etihad since 2012, but they've won 13 of their last past 15 games there and six of them by more than.. you guessed it. 50 points.
Tag team
Is tagging a dying art? Maybe. It’s all about structure and team defence in the modern game but keep this in mind. Assistant Coach Daniel Giansiracusa told westernbulldogs.com.au that it’s important for coaches to be flexible in the box if someone gets off the leash, so watch this space.
The bigger issue here, of course, is that the Hawks have stars across the park and the Dogs will need to focus on more than one player to get the points on Sunday.
Bringing sexy back
There are only four clubs across the AFL that have recorded 400-plus disposals over the first two rounds, and the Bulldogs and Hawthorn are two of them. What does that mean? It means that both sides are used to dictating the terms, which should make Sunday interesting.
Each side employ an exciting, attacking, dare we say “sexy," style of football so you suspect that even the non-aligned fans will be settling in to watch this one.
