The Wednesday Warmup

Round 5

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions 1:45 PM, Saturday, April 22 Etihad Stadium

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 5, 2016

Western Bulldogs 17.18.120 d Brisbane Lions 10.7.67 Etihad Stadium

It will be almost a year to the day from when the Bulldogs last play Brisbane when the two teams line up on Saturday with the Bulldogs hoping to achieve a similar result to their 2016 encounter. After a slow start against the Lions, the Bulldogs took control of the game in the second term, kicking six-goals-to-two to eventually run out 53-point winners.

Jake Stringer kicked three goals for the winners whilst five other players each kicked two goals. Now-Saint Koby Stevens was awarded the 3 Brownlow votes that night.

INJURY LIST

Travis Cloke will definitely be out for the next 4 to 6 weeks after suffering broken ribs late in last week's game, whilst Tom Boyd will have to pass a concussion test in order to be declared fit to play this week, but is expected to play. A hip injury has forced Stewart Crameri to spend some weeks on the sidelines. In better news, Tory Dickson and Mitch Wallis Edge closer to a return to the VFL and should both be playing at that level within the next couple of weeks.

PREDICTED 22 (inclusions in BOLD):

B: M.Adams, F.Roberts, M.Boyd HB: R.Murphy, E. Wood, J.Johannisen

C: M.Suckling, L Hunter, J.Macrae

HF: L.Dahlhaus, J.Stringer, T.McLean

F: P.Lipinski, T.Boyd, C.Smith

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

I/C: J.Dunkley, M.Boyd, L.Jong, Z.Cordy

Luke Beverdige has developed a reputation for ringing in the changes at the selection table, even after a win, but I only anticipate that there will be one change this week, and I believe it will go to youngster Patrick Lipinski. The lifelong Bulldog fan had a day out in his VFL debut last week, kicking four goals in Footscray's narrow loss to Box Hill. Caleb Daniel and Shane Biggs might be considered being given a reprieve in the AFL team, but there aren't too many who they can feasibly replace this week. Beveridge's desire to reward strong performers in the VFL - especially young players - means that the likelihood of Lipinski being given his first game grows.

Easton Wood will be hoping for a return to form following a couple of quiet performances. Source: Getty Images

OPPOSITION WATCH

Last Week: Brisbane Lions 10.7.67 v Richmond 17.17.119

The Brisbane Lions have shown signs of improvement under new coach Chris Fagan, but have still lost their last three games in a row, including an eight-goal defeat at the hands of the undefeated Tigers last week.

The Lions injury list is minimal, but Allen Christensen has suffered a setback in his comeback from a shoulder injury. Christensen made his return to the NEAFL last weekend, but complications have arisen since then and he will be out for the remainder of the season. Tom Cutler suffered a hamstring injury early in last week's game, but whilst it isn't a serious one, it would be very surprising to see him play this week. Ryan Harwood and Rhys Matheison has recovered from an ankle injury and is a chance to return this week for the Lions as well.

THE KEY

Clearances. Brisbane are a side that certainly has their fair share of struggles at the moment, but one area in which they are very blessed is in the midfield. Names such as Tom Rockliff, Dayne Zorko and Dayne Beams are regarded as some of the very best midfielders in the competition, and when a ruckman like Stefan Martin is feeding the ball down to them at the stoppages, that represents a recipe for a very strong midfield combination. It's no surprise, as a result, that they rank seventh in the league for clearances, and fifth for centre clearances. The depth remains an issue, but if those four are capable of getting on top of a Bulldogs midfield that is ranked dead last in both clearances and centre clearances, then it will give the Lions a huge boost and present them with every opportunity of causing an upset.

FUN FACT

There are eight players who have played for both the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane - all but two of them played for the Lions first, however. Jason Akermanis, Jed Adcock, Justin Sherman, Travis Baird and Trent Bartlett all played with Brisbane before joining the Dogs, whilst Ben Hudson and Michael McLean both went in the opposite direction. Marty Pask and Marcus Picken (yes, the brother of Liam), both played games for Brisbane before joining the Dogs, but neither managed a senior game with the red, white and blue. Former champion centre-half forward Jonathan Brown is a cousin of the Picken family, and he and Marcus played eight games together during their time at the Lions, including one match against the Bulldogs when Bartlett was playing.

Jed Adcock (right) is one of 10 players who have been on the playing list at both Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images