WESTERNBULLDOGS v CARLTON

TEAMS

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Jordan McMahon, Brian Harris, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Cameron Wight, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Scott West, JasonAkermanis
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Brad Johnson, AdamCooney
F: Matthew Robbins, Luke Darcy, Shaun Higgins
FOLL: PeterStreet, Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd
I/C (from): Dylan Addison, Ryan Griffen, Mitch Hahn,Jarrod Harbrow, Will Minson, Sam Power, Wayde Skipper
In: McMahon,Griffen, Harbrow, Minson, Skipper
Out: Cameron Faulkner,Farren Ray

CARLTON
B: RyanHoulihan, Setanta O’hAilpin, Andrew Walker
HB: BryceGibbs, Bret Thornton, Heath Scotland
C: KadeSimpson, Adam Bentick, Marc Murphy
HF: MatthewLappin, Lance Whitnall, Brad Fisher
F: LukeBlackwell, Brendan Fevola, Jarrad Waite
FOLL: CainAckland, Anthony Koutoufides, Andrew Carrazzo
I/C (from):Joe Anderson, Jordan Bannister, Adam Hartlett, Ryan Jackson, Josh Kennedy,Jason Saddington, Simon Wiggins
In: JordanBannister, Ryan Jackson, Simon Wiggins
Out: nil

WHEN& WHERE:  Sunday, June 3, 2:10pm at the MCG.

MEDIACOVERAGE: Television – Channel 7. Radio –afl.com.au, Triple M, 3AW, NIRS.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Played – 133, Bulldogs – 47, Carlton– 82, Drawn – 4.

LASTTIME: Round 15, 2006, Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) def Carlton 11.14 (80) at Telstra Dome.

TABSportsbet: Western Bulldogs - $1.38, Carlton - $3.07.

MILESTONES: Scott West is due to play his 100th consecutive matchfor the Bulldogs this weekend, while Ryan Griffen will play his 50thmatch if he can overcome hamstring soreness.

INJURIES: Western Bulldogs:Ryan Griffen (hamstring – test), Jordan McMahon (thigh – test), Robert Murphy(hamstring – test), Damian McCormack (knee – 1 week), Chris Grant (groin – 1-3weeks).

Carlton: ShaunGrigg (shoulder – 2 weeks), David Teague (wrist – 4 weeks), Eddie Betts(hamstring – 4-5 weeks), Dylan McLaren (knee – 4-5 weeks), Cameron Cloke(shoulder – season), Nick Stevens (neck – season).

RECENTHEAD TO HEAD HISTORY: In a quirk of the AFLfixture, these two teams have only played each other four times in the pastfour years with the Dogs winning on the past three occasions.

RECENTFORM:  TheDogs are coming off a 43-point loss to the Swans in Canberra, but prior to that had posted winsover Melbourne and Collingwood to be one of three teams on five wins and fourlosses. After two wins in the first three rounds, the Blues have endured asix-match losing streak that sees them lie in 14^th position on theladder.

REDHOT PLAYERS: He was slightly down against theSwans, but Daniel Cross has been in sizzling touch for the Dogs for most of theseason and should play a crucial role in the engine room on Sunday. Not afraidto get his hands dirty, Cross and partner-in-crime Scott West are prime moversfor their side, with Cross equal with superstar Chris Judd in most possessionsaveraged per game among players who have played three or more matches.

THEX-FACTOR: Brad Johnson is the Bulldogs’ leadinggoalkicker with 24 from his nine games and he could be due for a big haul afterreturning just three goals in his past two outings.

WHATTHE COACH SAYS:  “We've pored across a lot of areas and thoseareas are generally our strengths,” Eade said on the loss to Sydney. “So I'd like to think it's not goingto be a huge concern going forward.

"What we need to do is address it thenext time we play Sydneyrather than this week.

"We viewed it as a poor performanceacross the board. You're going to have them at times, but it's just unfortunateit occurred against a very good side. I don't think it's a reality check, butI'd like to think it's one that's not going to happen too often."

WHATTHE FAN SAYS: "Just when you canine enthusiasts thought it was safe to goback into the finals ticket queue after the powerhouse second half againstCollingwood... out lunges that ‘Jaws’ of the last couple of years, theSwannies, to put the Dogs firmly back into the hamster wheel of middle-rungcontenders.

"Not only that, but the ‘what went wrongs’ at Manuka were as confusing as aSalvador Dali painting. And for good measure, there appeared to be a blue moonout in Canberraas well: for once, more contested possessions and marks than our oppositenumbers. Still got smashed.

"Now of course, you wonder whether Rodney Eade might be entitled to be asnervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs ahead of apotentially tricky tie against the unpredictable, occasionally free-scoringBlues this Sunday.

"Come on, Rocket. Tell us it's just footy's version of the Truman Show and thatyou know how to find that escape door at the end of it all.

"Because I've run out of analogies and metaphors and want to rejoin one of thoselines that leads to a September turnstile." - John Skaro, 2007 Bulldogs member

The views in this story are those of theauthor and not necessarily those of the club.