Lobb In; Naughton Out - The Western Bulldogs Team Luke Beveridge Should Pick v Collingwood

After a performance against Sydney last week that was full of heart, the Western Bulldogs' attention turns to Collingwood under the Marvel Stadium lights on Friday night.

One thing that last week's match was also full of was injuries. The Bulldogs lost no fewer than three players to injury during the course of last week's match, after James O'Donnell was a late withdrawal due to illness.

With a number of changes expected, Matthew Donald and Nick Galea of The Salty Bulldog sat down to map out who comes in and out of the lineup, ahead of tomorrow's crucial clash

Matthew Donald

Over the past few weeks, it really does feel like the Western Bulldogs have turned a corner.

Taking advantage of a depleted Richmond outfit is one thing, but in the past fortnight they’ve defeated a Premiership contender in the Giants on the road, and then pushed ladder leaders Sydney all the way last week, despite a mounting in-game injury toll.

On form, it’s hard to find an argument for too many Bulldogs to be pushed out of the current 22, but given the aforementioned casualties the Bulldogs suffered last week, the club will have to make at least three changes for tomorrow night’s game against Collingwood, with Aaron Naughton (knee), Ed Richards and Anthony Scott (both concussion) all having to make way.

Rory Lobb coming in to replace Naughton is the obvious change that we can be most confident about. Positionally, it’s a like-for-like move, and Luke Beveridge has confirmed multiple times during the week that this move will likely be what unfolds. There is the added wrinkle of Lobb’s future at the Bulldogs beyond 2024, which has come into the spotlight this week, but Beveridge’s insistence that Lobb will still play despite all of that is good enough for me.

Who the Bulldogs use to replace Richards and Scott is where the intrigue begins. The Bulldogs’ midfield reserves were already being stretched pretty thin, and with another two midfield options gone, and not much to call upon from Footscray in the VFL, it’s forcing the club to dig deep until some of those high-profile options return.

One change that I’m expecting to see already took place during Thursday night’s match, with Ryley Sanders coming in to replace the concussed Anthony Scott. Starting as the sub, Sanders was introduced into the match only minutes in following Scott’s injury, and I suspect we’ll see that happen again when the teams are released. I appreciate the Dogs’ willingness to play Sanders in the VFL and allow him to learn some valuable lessons regarding what it takes to succeed as a midfielder at this level, but the Bulldogs simply don’t have the options to afford such a luxury right now. Sanders gave a good account of himself against the best team in the league last week, and one might argue deserves the opportunity against another high-profile opponent.

To replace Ed Richards in that other midfield spot, I’ve turned to Oskar Baker. While Baker doesn’t possess the same dynamism that Richards does, he does still bring great run-and-carry through the midfield, and has shown strong form in the VFL in recent weeks, averaging 20 disposals in the past three weeks.

As for the sub, two of the three emergencies that were named last week are already included in my predicted team in Sanders and Lobb, which just leaves Luke Cleary. Cleary was dropped for last Thursday’s game, and has shown encouraging form prior to that, so he may well be given another opportunity, albeit starting from the bench.

CHANGES (to the starting 22)

IN: Rory Lobb, Ryley Sanders, Oskar Baker

OUT: Aaron Naughton, Anthony Scott, Ed Richards

Nick Galea

Although it was a very promising performance against the Sydney Swans last Thursday, the Western Bulldogs have to count the cost of the defeat which not only left us short of the four premiership points but of three players in Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards and Anthony Scott who will come out of the team this week and will need to be duly replaced.

Aaron Naughton will be out for the short and medium future (four-six weeks) after he suffered a moderate grade medial ligament injury to his right knee while Ed Richards and Anthony Scott will miss due to being place in concussion protocols for 12 days. 

To replace the trio, I would be upgrading Riley Sanders who was the substitute last week to a spot in the starting 18 which will allow the Dogs to utilise Riley Garcia and Rhylee West closer to go and help lock the ball in our front half.

After appearing on “Talking Footy” last night, Luke Beveridge has confirmed that Rory Lobb will return to the senior side after impressive form in the VFL in recent weeks.

Lobb has been in the headlines throughout the week with speculation on his future but he has been a handy contributor to the club since his arrival and will play a role up forward so that Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy won’t need to carry the forward line at this stage of their young careers.

Our third inclusion will be Caleb Poulter. After attending the VFL last week, I was quite impressed with Poulter’s game as he displayed a fine balance playing inside and outside and with the Dogs short on natural wingers, this could also allow us with greater flexibility to provide Bailey Williams or Bailey Dale with more freedom around the ground.

It might seem harsh to name him as the substitute, but I can’t think of another candidate that would be appropriate on Marvel Stadium’s fast deck.

There are a number of things to factor with selection this week, notwithstanding the injury front as not only could our inclusions be like for like but we have to factor in the personnel who will be missing this week for Collingwood and how we can exploit it.

Considering that Collingwood won’t have a tall forward line with injuries to Brody Miochek and Mason Cox, it might not be the appropriate week for a recall for James O’Donnell even if he has returned to training after missing last round with illness. 

CHANGES (to the starting 22)

IN: Lobb, Sanders, Poulter

OUT: Naughton, Richards, Scott