Former skipper Easton Wood headlines three inclusions for Saturday night’s match against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
The experienced defender has overcome a quad injury to take his place after missing the past three weeks and will be joined by key forward Josh Schache and midfielder Lin Jong.
Schache will make his first AFL appearance in 2020, while Jong returns after missing a week with Achilles soreness.
The Bulldogs have lost forwards Aaron Naughton (ankle) and Sam Lloyd (collarbone) to injury, while last week’s debutant Louis Butler has been omitted.
Butler has been named as an emergency, alongside forward Billy Gowers, defender Ryan Gardner and yet-to-debut ruckman Jordon Sweet.
Both sides enter the clash with two wins to their name this season.
The Kangaroos won their first two matches of 2020 and sit in ninth spot on the ladder, ahead of the 13th-placed Bulldogs who have hit form with wins in their past two outings – against the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants.
Recent clashes between the two sides have been tight, with four of the past five being decided by seven points or less.
The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, with radio coverage on Triple M, ABC Grandstand and AFL Nation.
ROUND 5 TEAM
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne
Saturday 4 July, 7.40pm AEST
Marvel Stadium
B: Bailey Williams, Alex Keath, Caleb Daniel
HB: Jason Johannisen, Zaine Cordy, Hayden Crozier
C: Ed Richards, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae
HF: Bailey Dale, Josh Schache, Toby McLean
F: Mitch Wallis, Josh Bruce, Rhylee West
Foll: Tim English, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Smith
Int: Easton Wood, Laitham Vandermeer, Pat Lipinski, Lin Jong
Emer: Louis Butler, Billy Gowers, Jordon Sweet, Ryan Gardner
IN: Easton Wood, Josh Schache, Lin Jong
OUT: Sam Lloyd (collarbone), Aaron Naughton (ankle), Louis Butler
