1. All to play for
It’s all on the line for the Western Bulldogs this week.
Despite last week’s narrow loss to Geelong, the Bulldogs well and truly remain in the finals hunt.
A win against the Eagles could propel them back into the top eight with two rounds to play.
There’s a logjam around the bottom of the top eight, from sixth-placed Collingwood (34 points) through to 12th-placed Carlton (24 points). The Bulldogs sit in the middle of all of that, in 10th spot with 28 points.
It’s been a season like no other, with so many twists and turns… and if the Bulldogs can turn it on the next three weeks, starting with the Eagles, they give themselves every chance of being there at the pointy end of the year.
2. Eagles’ pillars
At both ends of the ground, the Eagles boast quality big men.
Up forward, it’s the likes of the returning Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling who lead the change – plus emerging talls Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman.
Plus Liam Ryan – who may only be 179cm tall, but has a leap which makes him just as dangerous as the others in the air.
At the other end of the ground, four-time All Australian star Jeremy McGovern leads the troops, with Tom Barrass his deputy.
If the Bulldogs are to overcome the Eagles, they’ll need to compete strongly in the air all night.
3. Ruck and role
Luke Beveridge has pulled some tricks in the ruck in recent weeks.
Against the Adelaide Crows and Melbourne it paid dividends, and until quarter time against the Geelong Cats.
But will a contest with the high-flying Nic Naitanui alter the Bulldogs’ thinking this week?
Midfielder Josh Dunkley – who stands at 190cm – has fought valiantly as an undersized ruckman around the ground in recent times. Tim English has been a match-winner around the ball at different times in 2020, and also offered a forward threat with Dunkley in the ruck.
But it will be interesting to see what cards Beveridge plays against Naitanui.
4. Winging it
Two of the competition’s premier wingmen look set to go head-to-head, in Lachie Hunter and Andrew Gaff.
Hunter has played just six games this season due to various reasons but has been among the Bulldogs’ leading ball-winners in all six of those games.
He’s averaging 25.8 disposals per game, which places him sixth in the AFL.
Gaff has been equally influential for the Eagles, with his 24.2 disposals per game seeing him sit 11th in the AFL.
The two left-footers both love to get the ball on the outside and drive their team into attack.
