Here's a couple of things to keep an eye on while watching the Dogs take on Essendon on Sunday afternoon.
1. Playing the kids
It’s that time of the year where you hear the old footy axiom, ‘we’re playing the kids’ a lot. Unless you’re the Western Bulldogs where you ARE the kids.
According to Champion Data, the Dogs trotted out one of the youngest sides in the competition last weekend, a side with significantly less cherries on the bat than this week’s opponent, and by a significant margin.
The Bulldogs have the fourth youngest side in the League by age (24.2), while the Bombers are 10th (24.9). And when it comes to games played the Dogs are again in fourth place (70) and Essendon sit in eighth (86).
If numbers are your thing, you’d agree that the future is bright at the Kennel.
2. Cooney 250
It’s been a bit odd seeing Adam Cooney run around in the red and black for the past two season after 219 games, 186 goals and a Brownlow Medal as a Bulldog. But that’s footy, and it’s fitting that he’ll bow out on Sunday afternoon against his old Club.
Luke Beveridge said on Tuesday that the Bulldogs will give him the attention he deserves after the game, win, lose or draw and no doubt Bulldogs fans will want to say goodbye in their own way too.
250 is a fine achievement, so here’s to Coons and a great career.
3. Roarke’s return
Roarke Smith plays football with a kind of reckless abandon which you can’t help but love.
Steven King describes the 19-year-old Smith as ‘fearless’ the way he regularly throws himself at marking contests.
If that’s not enough, the surfer from Sunbury is returning to the big league after missing 12-months following a knee injury suffered in Footscray’s final home and away match this season.
Any player returning to the big stage after a long term injury deserves a round of applause, so well done Roarkey, it’s good to see you back.
4. Battle of the Rising Stars
Between the Dogs and the Dons, they boast four of this year’s Rising Star nominations. Only Melbourne have had more.
But is it possible this year’s winner will be playing in this game on Sunday? We say yes.
Caleb Daniel has been consistently damaging all season for a side that’s been hovering around the top half of the ladder. His poise, decision making and ball use are the work of someone who’s played 127 games, not 27, and he deserves this year’s nod.
But we would say that In any case, Josh Dunkley, Darcy Parish, Orazio Fantasia are all loaded with potential and all are likely to suit up this weekend.
The future is now. Blink and you’’ll miss it.
