Harmes In; Jones Out – The Western Bulldogs Team Luke Beveridge Might Pick V Hawthorn

Team Selection Nights don’t get much bigger than during the month of September.

For the past six months, the Western Bulldogs have made regular changes to its weekly side, all in the hopes of securing a spot in the finals series. It took until the final weekend of the home-and-away, but they secured their passage through nearly two weeks ago against the GWS Giants in Ballarat.

But now the ins and outs become particularly crucial, as the wrong move at the selection table could cost a club the entire season. The Western Bulldogs will clash with Hawthorn at the MCG tomorrow night, and with many decision to be made at the selection table, Matthew Donald has had a go at predicting who will run out for the Bulldogs tomorrow night.

Matthew Donald

The Western Bulldogs approach September with strong form at their backs, so finding anyone to drop on form is a difficult proposition, but there are players in the VFL who have mounted strong cases that will force selectors to make some tough decisions.

We know that there will be at least one change, with AFL.com.au’s Josh Gabelich reporting that James Harmes will come into the Bulldogs lineup for his first game since Round 12. Harmes was immense during Footscray’s Qualifying Final win last week, collecting 36 disposals and kicking a crucial goal in the final term.

There were some other strong performances to take note of. Arthur Jones led the way with three goals, and coupled with his crucial cameo in Ballarat, has made a very strong case to stay in the side. Riley Garcia (28 disposals), Caleb Poulter (24 disposals) and Ryley Sanders (21 disposals, 14 tackles) also produced strong performances, but it’s hard to see any of them being anything other than emergencies.

Rhylee West (12 disposals, 1.1) has played almost every game this season, and only missed the game in Ballarat due to injury. But his relatively quiet performance against the Lions, leaves me concerned that he will find himself out of the side. The inclusion of Harmes gives me further reason to suspect this, as to bring in both could upset the balance of the forward line.

The reason for this imbalance will be due to who comes out. I suspect it will come down to one of Jones or Laitham Vandermeer who makes way. Both possess a great amount of pace, and to bring both of them out for Harmes and West (two players who are not quick) will see the Bulldogs go into a big final with an unfamiliar forward mix. It’s unlikely that the selectors would want to make such a change ahead of an Elimination Final.

Vandermeer was subbed out early in the final game of the season due to hamstring awareness, and although he is listed as a ‘test’ on the club website, the expectation is that he will be available to play. As contradictory as this may sound given what I said earlier regarding West, I suspect that the club will keep with what has largely got them to this point, and keep Vandermeer in the side, and be forced to drop Jones.

As for the sub, Harvey Gallagher has only just come back into the side, and given his inexperience at the level, plus his capacity to player a number of different roles, he may be a better option coming off the bench later in the game.

CHANGES:

IN: James Harmes

OUT: Arthur Jones

SUB: Harvey Gallagher