7.40pm, Saturday, July 21, Etihad Stadium
Last time we met: Western Bulldogs 14.12.96 def Carlton 9.15.69, Round 16 2011, Etihad Stadium
Possible Line-ups:
Western Bulldogs:
B: Gilbee, Lake, Murphy
HB: Djerrkura, Austin, Higgins
C: Cross, Boyd, Griffen
HF: Dickson, Williams, Howard
F: Dahlhaus, Cordy, Giansiracusa
Foll: Minson, Liberatore, Picken
I/C (from): Djerrkura, Tutt, Wallis, Smith, Grant, Sherman, Veszpremi, Pearce, Jones, Johannisen, Panos
Carlton:
B: Yarran, Jamieson, McInnes
HB: Armfield, Watson, Russell
C: Scotland, McLean, Gibbs
HF: Collins, Duigan, Robinson
F: Betts, Thornton, Garlett
Foll: Casboult, Murphy, Carazzo
I/C (from): Bell, Lucas, Curnow, Joseph, Bootsma, Ellard, Dale
Bulldogs Preview: This week we play host to an injury depleted Carlton side on Saturday night. After a dismal past 6 matches, the Bulldogs will want to turn their form around and the once premiership favourites look more vulnerable than ever at the moment.
At the Selector’s Table: Markovic will miss with a hamstring injury. Form wise, Sherman and Howard are perhaps first on the chopping block after both playing a couple of ordinary games in a row. Hargrave has been quiet and is struggling to get back to top form. Austin looks to be a likely replacement for Markovic, unless Williams is moved down back and Jones or Roughead come back in, although this is perhaps unlikely. Giansiracusa will return after a month out to provide some much needed experience forward. Pearce, Veszpremi, Johannisen, Panos and Grant are also potential selections. In: Austin, Giansiracusa, Pearce Out: Sherman, Markovic, Hargrave
The Game:Carlton will look a shadow of their best 22 this week. Missing from their best will potentially be captain Judd along with Waite, Simpson, Touhy, Walker, Laidler, Joseph, Henderson, Warnock, Kreuzer and Hampson. With Carlton’s best three ruckmen missing, the task will likely fall on the inexperienced Casboult, with Watson pinch-hitting. Minson should win this battle comfortably. Without Judd and Simpson, Carlton still possess some star-power in the midfield through Murphy (a likely target for Picken), Scotland, Carazzo, Robinson and Gibbs. Like Hawthorn, they can move the ball quickly and have some very clean ball users, although will not be particularly strong in tight. After a strong first half of the season, the Bulldogs have recently been beaten in the contested possession count and will want to rectify this. The Bulldogs will want some pace through the centre, which will likely see Tutt given a full game to help out Griffen and Dahlhaus. Carlton’s danger men up forward, in the absence of Walker, are Betts and Garlett (who is very much out of form). Without Wood or Addison, the Bulldogs may play Murphy and Djerrkura on these two to match them for pace. Carlton don’t have many tall options forward, which should give Lake free reign to take the game on as he loves to do. Yarran is Carlton’s danger man in defence, and the Dogs may need to apply a forward tag to curb his influence. Jamieson will run with Cordy whilst Watson will go to Williams if he starts at CHF
Players to watch:
Brian Lake: Without any high quality tall forwards to oppose, he has the chance to take the game on and could be vital if we have a chance.
Will Minson: Like Lake, will be up against weakened opposition and should be set for a big match.
Prediction:The game will be decided by which Carlton side turns up. Their best and worst are far apart. Having managed to easily beat Collingwood twice, they have not beaten any other team in the top 8, and have been shown up several times against weaker sides. Despite this, they should still start as strong favourites given the Bulldogs recent form. Expect the Dogs to come out firing this week, which should hopefully see them extremely competitive. If we can manage to kick a score, there is no reason why we can’t take the points and upset them for the second time in two years. Prediction: Bulldogs by 9 points.
