The Thursday Team - Round 2

Round 2

Western Bulldogs v Sydney

7:50 PM, Friday, March 31

Etihad Stadium

It was a good start to the season last week, as the Western Bulldogs toppled Collingwood in the season opener at the MCG. Whilst it didn't always go our way, it still equated to four Premiership points; just the tonic that we would've been after.

The Sydney Swans, on the other hand, had an opening round to forget. They didn't play particularly badly in their loss to Port Adelaide, but the Power's pressure was particularly strong, and a host of injuries to some of the Swans best players saw them fall short in the end, despite playing on their home ground.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 22 (inclusions in BOLD)

B: Z.Cordy, F.Roberts, J.Johannisen

HB: E.Wood, M.Adams, R.Murphy

C: L.Hunter, L.Dahlhaus, M.Boyd

HF: J.Macrae, T.Boyd, J.Stringer

F: S.Crameri, T.Cloke, L.Picken

R: T.Campbell, M.Bontempelli, T.Liberatore

I/C: M.Suckling, S.Biggs, C.Daniel, L.Jong

EMG: C.Smith, T.McLean, J.Dunkley

IN: T. Campbell, M.Adams

OUT: T.McLean (omitted), D.Morris (leg)

Dale Morris was always going to miss this week, following his broken leg late in the game against Collingwood last week. There aren't many options in terms of key defenders in our side, but Marcus Adams was best on ground against Collingwood in the VFL last week, which all but guaranteed him a place in this weeks game. Tom Campbell also played well last week, and has been called into action to give Tom Boyd some assistance in the ruck department. Toby McLean has made way for Campbell.

Tom Campbell's inclusion into the Bulldogs team will make Tom Boyd a very relieved man. Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY SWANS 22 (inclusions in BOLD)

​B: N.Smith, H.Grundy, Z.Jones HB: J.Laidler, H.Marsh, C.Mills C: K.Jack, J.Kennedy, J.Lloyd HF: H.Cunningham, K.Tippett, G.Hewett F: S.Reid, L.Franklin, J.Foote R: S.Naismith, L.Parker, D.Hannebery, I/C: O.Florent, R.Fox, N.Newman, W.Hayward

Emg: A.Aliir, C. Sinclair, D.Towers

IN: R. Fox, N.Newman, W.Hayward OUT: D.Rampe (arm), D.Robinson (shoulder), D.Towers (omitted)

NEW: R. Fox, N.Newman, W.Hayward

The Swans have made three changes for tomorrow night's game, all three of which include introducing debutants. Robbie Fox, Nic Newman, and Will Hayward will all make their debut for the Swans on Friday. Two of those three changes were forced, with Dane Ramped (arm), and Dan Robinson (shoulder) both suffered injuries during the week, whilst Dean Towers was omitted. Sam Reid made a successful return to the side last week and has retained his spot, and will play his 100th game this week.