TWO of the youngest sides in the competition will do battle on Sunday, when Carlton and the Western Bulldogs go head-to-head.
Here’s everything that Blues supporters need to know about the Dogs ahead of the Round 22 fixture.
OVERVIEW
Ladder position: 14th
Won: 7
Lost: 13
Form: LLLWW
Average points for: 71
Average points against: 95
Leading goalkickers: Marcus Bontempelli (22), Billy Gowers (22), Mitch Wallis (18), Josh Schache (15), Patrick Lipinski (12)
AGE BREAKDOWN FOR SUNDAY (CARLTON IN BRACKETS)
Players aged 18-21: 7 (10)
Players aged 22-25: 10 (4)
Players aged 26-29: 3 (4)
Players aged 30+: 2 (4)
FORM
The Bulldogs enter Sunday’s game in arguably their best form all season.
After one win from 10 games, the Dogs have emerged with victories against St Kilda and then North Melbourne.
It was the game against the Roos which arguably showcased their best form of the campaign.
Responding from a slow start, the Western Bulldogs piled on eight goals in the third quarter to set up the victory.
INJURY WATCH
The Dogs regained captain Easton Wood from a hamstring injury which has kept him out of action for the last two months. The All-Australian defender has played 10 of the opening 12 games before going down against Port Adelaide.
He replaces Zaine Cordy in the Western Bulldogs’ back six, who will miss after sustaining a small fracture to his sinus after a collision with Ben Brown.
Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Boyd, Tom Liberatore and Liam Picken are among the other names who will miss through injury.
GAME STYLE
The Dogs are at their best when they manage to share the ball around and get their key players into the game.
A feature of the Dogs’ seven victories in 2018 has been their ability to dominate possession thanks to the likes of Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae.
In their wins this year, the Dogs have averaged 418 disposals per game: 50 more than they do when they lose.
This was never more evident last weekend, collecting 444 disposals all-up against North Melbourne. Three players — Caleb Daniel, Hunter and Macrae — had 40 disposals or more, while Bontempelli chimed in with 35 disposals and two goals.
THE QUERY
While the Dogs’ second halves have been much-improved in recent weeks, their barren run earlier in the season was typified by other sides running over the top of them.
Additionally, the Western Bulldogs defence has struggled to contain opposition forwards when they’re on-song.
On 15 occasions this year has there been a player who has kicked four goals against the Dogs — 10 of those have been key forwards.
From a Carlton perspective, the Blues will be looking to utilise a young forward line of Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Harry McKay to full effect.
THE DANGERMEN
In the middle of the ground and up forward, the ability and danger of Marcus Bontempelli is evident.
His consistent season has been marked by only having three games under 20 disposals. Additionally, he’s registered multiple goals on eight occasions this year, including two bags of four.
Carlton will be fully aware of Bontempelli’s credentials, after a best-on-ground performance the last time these two sides played. He also recorded three votes last year in Round 17.
The Blues have struggled to stop Marcus Bontempelli in recent meetings. (Photo: AFL Media)
FINAL WORDS FROM THE OPPOSITION
Understandably, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is intent on finishing what’s been a topsy-turvy season on a high and continue the strong form shown in the last fortnight.
“It’d be great [to end the year with four wins]. Hopefully to beat the Blues and then to beat the premiership favourites the next week, that’d be terrific,” Beveridge said.
“We want to continue to play in the manner we have — linked to that is a real endeavour, and executing the defensive elements and at the source.
“If we can continue to gel in there and get our run from the back-end, it’ll give our forward line a lot more opportunities and we’ll be harder to play against.”
