History will be made at Victoria University Whitten Oval on Saturday as the Footscray Bulldogs and Richmond go head to head in their first clash as stand-alone VFL sides.

The match is made more significant with football returning to Victoria University Whitten Oval for the first time since 1997.

16 AFL listed players have been named in the Footscray Bulldogs side that will be led by co-captains Nick Lower and Lukas Markovic.

In his first regular season match as a VFL coach, Chris Maple is keen for his team to make a statement.

But Maple said the Tigers pose as a strong challenge on Saturday after a win last weekend over a strong Essendon VFL outfit.

“I think the Richmond footy club will be coming here to get the four points and will be very aggressive and [will] be all over us early,” Maple said.

“We will be coming out with a strong intent, playing the Bulldogs brand of football and obviously [at] our home ground, we want to make sure we are having a good showing.

“I will be excited to see Footscray Bulldogs players outnumbering at the contest and defending well and we will score off the back of that.”

Western Bulldogs draftees Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Honeychurch and Matt Fuller are also set to play their first official match in Bulldogs colours after their first preseason 

The Footscray Bulldogs take on Richmond from 10:30am at VU Whitten Oval before their respective AFL sides face-off in the second match of the Saturday double header at Etihad Stadium from 1:45pm.

View the full Footscray Bulldogs extended squad ahead of their inaugural clash with Richmond VFL.