_Mike_
Super Moderator
- Aug 10, 2009
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Summary
Max 18
Mostly sunny.
Chance of any rain: 0%
Mostly sunny. Light winds.
Last time they played: 1st Preliminary Final 2016
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.1 5.2 9.7 12.11 (83)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 6.5 9.6 13.11 (89)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Patton 4, Greene 3, Lobb 3, D. Smith, Shaw
Western Bulldogs: C. Smith 4, Dickson 4,Cordy 2, Daniel, Bontempelli, Macrae
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Scully, Patton, Coniglio, Wilson, Greene
Western Bulldogs: C. Smith, Dahlhaus, Dickson, Morris, Wood, Johannisen, Macrae, Picken
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Ward (concussion)
Western Bulldogs: Roughead (eye)
THE WESTERN Bulldogs' fairytale continued with the sentimental favourites qualifying for their first Grand Final in over half a century after a nail-biting six-point win over Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium. In a pulsating, action-packed and nerve-racking preliminary final, the Bulldogs - who had lost nine of their 10 previous Grand Final qualifiers - edged the competition’s youngest club 13.11 (89) to 12.11 (83) to put themselves within one match of their first premiership since 1954.
http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2016/26/gws-v-wb
Match preview: Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs
The rematch of last year's epic preliminary final at Spotless Stadium has been given the big stage of Friday night footy, just reward for two of this season's flag favourites. The Giants head to Canberra with more momentum than the Bulldogs after winning their past four games, and they're playing a far more consistent brand of footy than the premiers, who have had to fight extremely hard for their wins. GWS forwards Toby Greene (17 goals) and Jeremy Cameron (16) have started the year brilliantly, with Steve Johnson, Jonathon Patton, Rory Lobb and Devon Smith adding even more firepower, and if Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly get too much room to move in the midfield, the Giants will be tough to beat. Their battle with Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae will be a beauty.
Last Friday night, after questioning on Twitter just how authentic was the feeling between the clubs, it didn't take long to receive plenty of answers. "It's big for Doggies fans. The team that got given everything, to the team that got given nothing." "Not a beat-up. Ask any Dogs fan who they enjoy beating the most." "I'm just salty about 'Griff'. Even though his departure started the chain reaction that resulted in a Bulldogs flag. We loved 'Griff'."
And GWS supporters? "Don't worry, there's no love lost." "Giants fans feel it too. It's a genuine rivalry, albeit a young one." It's the fans, ultimately, who determine which football enmities are real, and which are contrived. Perhaps this one now really is a match-up worthy of a spot in one of those "rivalry rounds". And for the AFL's newest club in particular, another leg up the climb to football legitimacy.
White Ribbon
While talk of on-field rivalries is all well and good, it's why we love the footy, Friday night is also a time where both clubs unite in an effort to stamp out the scourge that is domestic violence.
The Dogs wore White Ribbon themed guernsey's last season on two occasions, once on a Friday night against Geelong, and then again for the return match on Whiten Ribbon Night at Simonds Stadium.
This year, the Club will be working on building a long-term relationship with the Giants in support of this very important cause.
Also, keep an eye out for Angela Barker and Simone O'Brien, both domestic violence victims, who'll be tossing the coin ahead of the first bounce - they're two of the most courageous women you'll ever meet. Click here to learn more about White Ribbon and how you can help prevent men's violence against women.
Summary
Based on the numbers, the Dogs have the sixth best defence in the AFL going into Friday night’s game, allowing 87.6 points per game, while the Giants boast the third highest scoring offence at 115.4, so something has to give. After a 56-point loss to the Crows to open their season, GWS have been putting teams away to the tune of 54 points ever since, with Toby Greene (17 goals) and Jeremy Cameron (16 goals) the spearheads.
Prediction:
Lacking key defenders, fit forwards and a mobile ruck to run with Mumford who should be too strong for Tom Campbell, we'd expect to see GWS shut down scoring opportunities inside 50 for the Bulldogs. Key absentees from the Bulldogs defence including premiership players Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris might put too much of a load on Murphy, Wood and Adams to be able to stop Cameron, Patton and Johnson
GWS by 22 points
How the tipsters rate
GWS 22
W Bulldogs 2
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/expert-tipsters