_Mike_
Super Moderator
- Aug 10, 2009
- 33,230
- 32,054
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- Western Bulldogs
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- Tottenham, Montreal Canadiens
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- #1
Summary
Min 1
Max 9
Shower or two clearing.
Possible rainfall: 0 to 0.4 mm
Chance of any rain: 70%
Partly cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. Winds southwesterly 20 to 25 km/h tending southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening.
Match Preview.
The players may need ski suits for this game, no kidding. It's going to be a massive afternoon for the Bulldogs, with the occasion just as important as the result. The premiers will unveil their new home away from home in Ballarat, Mars Stadium, while they'll need to win if they want to play in September and defend their flag. A wasteful performance in the loss to Greater Western Sydney last week will sting, but so will the loss of key forward Jack Redpath to suspension. Better use of the ball is what coach Luke Beveridge was asking for after the Dogs burned an abundance of chances against the Giants. The Power returned to the winners list week against Collingwood, but coach Ken Hinkley will be looking for more, if they're to snatch an unlikely top-four spot. With Dogs' backline undermanned, star forward Robbie Gray could provide the spark.
THE SIX POINTS
1. There is a big difference in scoring between the sides this season - the Power are ranked fifth kicking 96 points per game compared to the Bulldogs averaging 84 points.
2. Nothing separates the teams in 26 matches with 13 wins each. It’s been all the Bulldogs recently, winning nine of the last 11 including four by more than 50 points.
3. The Bulldogs continue to struggle defensively. In their premiership year they conceded 72 points per game while in 2017 it’s blown-out to 85.
4. This will be the first AFL match played at Eureka Stadium in Ballarat. The Bulldogs have won the last three clashes between the sides in Victoria.
5. The Dogs have struggled in both clearances and centre clearances this season, ranked equal 14th in the former and 17th in the latter. Port Adelaide is ranked second for clearances.
6. Robbie Gray is the Power's best performer in the Schick AFL Player Ratings with 555 points, putting him in seventh place. Marcus Bontempelli is the highest-ranked Bulldog, sitting eighth with 554.1 points.
PREDICTION: Port Adelaide by 8 points
