1. Win it in the middle
No surprise here – this one will be won in the middle.
Both sides boast plenty of star power around the ball, with the contested ball kings set to get to work.
Marcus Bontempelli v Christian Petracca. Jack Macrae v Clayton Oliver. Tom Liberatore v Jack Viney.
Everywhere you look, there’s not just quality, but players who won’t give an inch.
The clearance battle will be critical in this one.
WHO YOU GOT? | ENTER THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF 10 MISSION FOODS BOBBLEHEADS BY PREDICTING WHO WILL TAKE THE MOST MARKS – EASTON WOOD OR JAKE LEVER – IN THE ROUND 13 MATCH BETWEEN THE BULLDOGS AND DEMONS.
2. Flying forwards
Josh Bruce, come on down.
The off-season acquisition returns after being managed for a week, joining Aaron Naughton who’s fresh from a six-goal haul against the Adelaide Crows.
They’ll have some big guns to contend with in the Dees’ defensive 50, in Steven May and Jake Lever.
Bruce and Naughton have yet to play a handful of games together.
And even when they did, Naughton was working his way into the early part of the season after an injury-interrupted pre-season.
Could this be the start of a fruitful forward partnership for the rest of 2020?
3. The big improver
We’ll have to start calling Bailey Williams ‘Mr 189 per cent’
Because that’s how much he’s improved this year, according to Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings system.
In fact, according to those ratings, he’s the most improved player in the AFL in 2020.
Williams has been a mainstay of the Bulldogs’ backline this season, providing plenty of rebound and an aerial presence. His 614 metres gained against the Crows were second only to Bailey Smith (813).
He’s fast become another threat for the Dogs, alongside the likes of Caleb Daniel and returning duo Hayden Crozier and Jason Johannisen.
4. Eight-point game
In the scheme of this season, this is a big game. A huge game.
Both teams have six wins to their name in 2020.
The Dees sit inside the top eight, just, on percentage. They’re two points behind seventh-placed Collingwood, and six points adrift of Richmond.
The Bulldogs sit outside the top eight, in 10th spot, with some costly margins in defeat impacting their percentage.
A win looms as crucial for the Bulldogs’ finals hopes, particularly with clashes against the third-placed Geelong Cats and fourth-placed West Coast Eagles to follow.
