1. Martin’s date with old mates
Stefan Martin has been one of the recruits of the season to date.
The veteran ruckman has already added plenty for the Bulldogs across the opening three rounds, combining with emerging tall Tim English to have a big impact.
After eight seasons – and 113 AFL games – with the Lions, he’ll get to reunite with his old mates early into his journey as a Bulldog.
We can only hope he brings some inside information – and some more great form – to give the Bulldogs every chance of a 4-0 start to a season for the first time since 2008.
2. Libba the clearance king
Tom Liberatore is a star, even if he flies under the radar in a star-studded midfield.
The likes of Adam Treloar, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae have taken the headlines in the opening month – and all for good reason.
But Liberatore’s renaissance over the past 12 months has been a pleasure to watch.
He leads the competition for clearances – with 28 – after three rounds.
Having had more than his fair share of injury battles in recent years, ‘Libba’ will play a 20th consecutive AFL game this weekend. The last time he ticked that box was in 2014, when he won the Charles Sutton Medal.
Liberatore has a crucial role to play this week against a Lions midfield oozing with quality.
3. Life on Mars, again
AFL football is back in Ballarat, at Mars Stadium, for the first time since the final home-and-away round of 2019.
And the Bulldogs are thrilled to be back at their second home, after the Covid-impacted 2020 campaign.
The surface is widely acknowledged as among the very best in the competition – but more importantly, the Bulldogs put together some winning form at the venue in 2019.
One of those wins was against the Lions – a hard-fought 16-point game.
This weekend, a sold-out crowd should be treated to a similarly tough contest between two high-quality teams.
4. Containing Charlie
Who gets the job on livewire Lion Charlie Cameron?
The 26-year-old is one of the competition’s most dangerous small forwards and has kicked four goals in the past two weeks, working at the feet of Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood.
With his leg speed and ability to fly for marks, Cameron offers a threat in the air and at ground level.
Could it be Easton Wood who gets the job? Or maybe Bailey Williams?
That could depend on how the rest of the Lions’ forward line shapes up – and how the Bulldogs play the Daniher and Hipwood match-ups, with key defender Ryan Gardner sidelined by a shoulder injury.
