Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Suns
Saturday 19th May, 2012, 7:10pm
Venue: TIO Stadium, Darwin
Team Line-up:
Western Bulldogs
IN: N Djerrkura, L Jones
OUT: J Roughead, P Veszpremi
To see the full team list, click here.
Gold Coast Suns
IN: Rory Thompson, Daniel Stanley, Matt Shaw, Jeremy Taylor, Alex Sexton, Andrew McQualter
OUT: Jared Brennan, Trent McKenzie, Josh Toy, Charlie Dixon, Michael Coad, David Swallow
Head-to-Head:
Round 14, 2011: Gold Coast Suns 13. 10. (88) defeated by Western Bulldogs 17. 8. (110)
Round 3, 2011: Western Bulldogs 18. 14. (122) defeats Gold Coast Suns 7. 9. (51)
To watch highlights from the Round 3 clash with the Gold Coast Suns click on the media player above.
Last time they met:
• While the Bulldogs took away the win, Gold Coast won the final quarter of football by 23 points.
• Daniel Giansiracusa and Ryan Griffen kicked three goals each while youngster Tom Lynch kicked three majors for the Suns.
• In round 14 last year they finished almost equal in contested possessions with the Dogs leading the count 140-139. In 2012 Gold Coast are still averaging 140 CP per game while the Dogs are now averaging 153 per game.
• The two teams were also evenly matched in clearances (WB 37, GC 38)
Recent Form:
Western Bulldogs (W W L W, 13th)
The Bulldogs hard work during the pre-season is starting to pay dividends under Senior Coach Brendan McCartney as they continue to win the contested ball and play a competitive brand of footy. While they didn’t get over the line against Collingwood, they proved they can match it against good opposition and followed it up with a solid four quarter effort against North Melbourne last weekend. The Dogs have won three of their last four outings shrugging off a less than desirable start to the season. In what will be Ryan Griffen’s 150th game, the Dogs will be looking to notch up their fourth victory of 2012.
Gold Coast Suns (L L L L, 17th)
Last weekend the two newest AFL franchises were pitted against one another with Gold Coast coming out second best. The Suns will be eager to put in a solid showing in Darwin, desperate to register their first win for the year. A mere seven point loss to sixth placed Fremantle proves they can’t be written off entirely and last week’s result will provide ample motivation to turn things around.
Key Players:
• Gary Ablett hasn’t registered less than 33 disposals in a game this season. His dominance around the clearances can’t be underestimated nor can his ability to feed the ball into the Suns’ forward line. His likely suitor, Bulldog Liam Picken, will face one of his greatest challenges of 2012 against the 2009 Brownlow Medallist.
• It is only suitable that Ryan Griffen is stunning form ahead of his 150th senior AFL appearance. Can he equal or break his career best 12 inside 50s for a third consecutive week? Averaging over 33 possessions, 5 marks, 6 clearances, 5 tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal on his past three outings expect a big game from the milestone man.
• One of the Sun’s young brigade to step up this year is Harley Bennell. Kicking 12 goals this season (ten of those in the past four weeks) he is one of their most dangerous offensive options. He will be one to watch through the midfield and into the Suns forward half.
• The Dogs ruck division has been influential at the stoppages in previous weeks helping the Bulldogs get first use of the ball. Will Minson has shouldered the bulk of the ruck duties this year with Jordan Roughead and Ayce Cordy predominantly playing forward. The flexibility of the Bulldogs’ ruck stocks will be a certain advantage against Gold Coast’s Zac Smith with the Suns second ruckman Charlie Dixon out through injury.
By the Numbers:
• The Bulldogs are ranked 2nd in contested possessions in the league while Gold Coast is ranked 14th
• The Dogs are also ranked 2nd in total clearances having amassed 279 so far this year while the Suns are ranked 18th on 254.
• Dogs are averaging more disposals (WB 389.3, GC 350.7), marks (WB 87.7, GC 77.4) and tackles (WB 65.6, GC 58.6)
• The two captains are going head to head in the disposal tally. Matthew Boyd is averaging 33.14 possessions per match while Gary Ablett is collecting an average of 38.6 touches each time he takes the field.
Injury List:
Western Bulldogs
Dale Morris (leg) - indefinite
Tom Williams (shoulder) - 6 weeks
Jason Tutt (knee) - 5 weeks
Jason Johannisen (knee) - 4 weeks
Lukas Markovic (hamstring) - 3 weeks
Easton Wood (hamstring) - 2 weeks
Lindsay Gilbee (knee) - 2 weeks
Adam Cooney (knee) - 1 week
Christian Howard (knee) - test
To see the full injury list, click here.
Gold Coast Suns
Nathan Bock (leg) - indefinite
Daniel Gorringe (achilles) - indefinite
David Swallow (knee) - TBA
Charlie Dixon (cheek) - TBA
Jarrod Harbrow (fractured elbow) - 5-6 weeks
Jack Hutchins (quad) - 2-3 weeks
Brandon Matera (foot) - 1-2 weeks
