The Wednesday Warm-up - Round 2

ROUND 2

Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans 7:50 PM, Friday, March 31st Etihad Stadium

LAST TIME WE MET:

Grand Final, 2016

Western Bulldogs 13.11.89 d Sydney Swans 10.7.67

MCG

Not because you’ve forgotten what happened the last time we played Sydney, but more because you want to read about it again, the Bulldogs triumphed over the Swans in last year’s Grand Final by 22 points, to claim the clubs first Premiership in 62 years.

The pinnacle of the Bulldogs magical month-long run for the Premiership, the Grand Final as a contest will be most remembered as being one of the most fiercely competitive in recent memory, with many courageous acts standing out as highlights of the game.

The Western Bulldogs defied all odds last season to defeat Sydney in the Grand Final. Source: Getty Images.

For the Bulldogs, it was an even spread of contributors from the 22 players that clinched the Premiership, but Jason Johannisen’s Norm Smith Medal-winning performance, Tom Boyd’s coming of age, Dale Morris’ courage to play despite a broken back, Tory Dickson’s efficiency around goal, Joel Hamling’s shut-down role on the dangerous Lance Franklin, and Liam Picken’s class and composure in front of goal all stood out as noteworthy performances.

The Swans didn’t have as many contributors as the Bulldogs, but Josh Kennedy put together one of the great Grand Final performances, becoming just the third man to register both 30 disposals and 3 goals in a Grand Final, whilst Tom Mitchell’s 13-possesion, 2-goal effort in the second quarter was pivotal in helping the Swans get on a roll, and along with Kennedy was one Sydney’s best players. Trump card Lance Franklin rolled his ankle early on in the game, but was still well beaten by the much skinnier Hamling, who has since left for Fremantle.

INJURY LIST

Tory Dickson's three goals from just seven kicks was vital in last year's Grand Final but will be sorely missed on Friday night. Source: Getty Images

PREDICTED 22 (inclusions in BOLD):

B: S.Biggs, M.Adams, M.Boyd HB: E.Wood, F.Roberts, M.Suckling C: R.Murphy, M.Bontempelli, J.Johanissen HF: S.Crameri, T.Cloke, R.Murphy F: L.Dahlhaus, T.Boyd, J.Stringer R: T.Campbell, J.Macrae, T.Liberatore I/C: L.Hunter, L.Jong, C.Daniel, L.Picken

Dale Morris is already certainly out, after sustaining a leg injury in the dying seconds of Friday Night’s game. Given Sydney’s height in the forward line, a tall defender is going to come into the side, and Marcus Adams was close to best on ground in the VFL for Footscray, so he looms as the obvious candidate. Tom Boyd tried hard in the ruck by himself, but he needs more support and as a result we should see Tom Campbell play his first game of the season and assume the No.1 ruck role, and allow Boyd to play forward. Campbell is the big winner from the injuries to Jordan Roughead and Tim English, leaving him as the only genuine ruck option standing on two feet. It’s always difficult to drop players after Round 1, but I feel that the unlucky one will be either Toby McLean or Lin Jong, but I feel McLean will be the one who ultimately makes way. Clay Smith, Josh Dunkley, and Mitch Honeychurch all found plenty of the football at VFL level as well, but I just cannot find any room for them in this team at the present time.

Tom Campbell (C) will likely come into the side as our No.1 ruckman given our lack of fit options in that position. Source: Getty Images

OPPOSITION WATCH

Last Week: Sydney 12.10.82 def by Port Adelaide 17.8.110

The Swans will still be smarting following their shock loss to Port Adelaide last week. The Swans didn’t play badly, but the Power applied pressure so immense that the Swans weren’t able to deal with it.

Despite the loss, the Swans still had some very strong individual performers. Kennedy was at his industrious best with 28 disposals, with Luke Parker also crashed through and provided strong support. The Swans attack wasn’t to blame for the loss either, with Franklin (4.2) and the long-awaited return of Sam Reid (3.0) kicking accurately and providing many headaches for the Power defenders.

The injury ward, however, hasn’t been quite so kind to the Swans, and it will most likely mean that the side that faces us will be very different to the team we defeated in the Grand Final. Having already delisted Xavier Richards post-season, Dane Rampe went for a morning jog earlier in the week and proceeded to break his arm, ruling him out for at least a month. This comes after Dan Robinson broke his collarbone on the weekend, and various pre-season injuries to Isaac Heeney (glandular fever), Tom Papley (knee), Gary Rohan (back) and Jarrad McVeigh (calf) that will keep them all out of Sydney’s team this week. In better news for the Swans, last year’s Grand Final heartbreak story Aliir Aliir should come into the side this week, whilst promising tall Darcy Cameron should also be fit to play, but considering the success the Swans tall players had last week, a spell in the NEAFL appears more likely.

FUN FACT:

After going five matches without a win against the Swans, the Bulldogs have won their last three encounters against Sydney, including a pair of four-point wins at the SCG and last year's Grand Final triumph. That Grand Final was our fifth final against the Swans - a head-to-head record we lead 4-1. Our only defeat came in our first finals encounter against South Melbourne (and our second in VFL history). Our innacuracy (7.22.64 to 13.13.91) cost us dearly, with Norm Ware alone managed just 3.14 at Princes Park. Sydney emerged 63-point victors the last time these two teams clashed at Etihad Stadium (Round 22, 2014).