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Western Bulldogs vs Essendon Bombers: AFL live scores, blog

Expert
20th July, 2014
Teams

Western Bulldogs
B: Liam Picken, Jordan Roughead, Jason Johannisen
HB: Robert Murphy, Dale Morris, Adam Cooney
C: Koby Stevens, Matthew Boyd, Jack Macrae
HF: Marcus Bontempelli, Stewart Crameri, Lachie Hunter
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Jake Stringer, Nathan Hrovat
Fol: Will Minson, Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore
I/C: Mitch Wallis, Easton Wood, Jack Redpath, Mark Austin

Essendon Bombers
B: Dustin Fletcher, Cale Hooker, Mark Baguley
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley, Jason Winderlich
C: Zach Merrett, David Zaharakis, Brendon Goddard
HF: Heath Hocking, Jake Carlisle, Brent Stanton
F: Paul Chapman, Joe Daniher, Patrick Ambrose
Fol: Patrick Ryder, David Myers, Dyson Heppell
I/C: Michael Hibberd, Jackson Merrett, Ben Howlett, Travis Colyer

Venue: Etihad Stadium
Bounce: 4:40 PM, AEST
TV: FoxFooty, Live
Betting: Western Bulldogs $3.25, Essendon $1.35
Head-to-Head: Western Bulldogs 59, Essendon 91, Drawn 2
Last 5: Western Bulldogs 0, Essendon 5
Expert
20th July, 2014
78
13596 Reads

A match that might have looked unappealing last week is now an exciting prospect after both the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers played some of the best footy in Round 17. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40 pm (AEST).

It’s often said in football you’re only as good as your last game, and if that’s the case then the Bulldogs are on fire.

An unexpected 28-point win over the Gold Coast Suns in Cairns was just what their season needed, and they’ve now won three of their last five.

The Bombers are also soaring if you judge them on their last week. They dismantled Collingwood last week, keeping the Magpies to their lowest score in 17 years, running out victors by 64 points. Essendon seem to have finally clicked under Mark Thompson – a scary prospect.

The Bombers comfortably have the wood over the Bulldogs at the moment, with five wins from their last five meetings, including an eight-point win in Round 7 this year. The Bulldogs’ last win over the Bombers was in Round 22, 2010.

Both teams are topped up with some of their best talent. The Bulldogs are bringing back experienced campaigners Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney, dropping Sam Darley and Mitch Honeychurch, and the Bombers are welcoming back Brendon Goddard and Michael Hibberd, with Cory Dell’olio and Jake Melksham making way.

After demolishing Collingwood with his marking abilities last week, Jake Carlisle will attract some attention from the Bulldogs defence. They are a bit short down back and he could again run rampant. If he does, lock Essendon in for another easy win.

Prediction
While the Bulldogs have come along in leaps and bounds this year they are still a primarily youthful team and inconsistent. The Bombers’ experience should see them through comfortably.

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Essendon by 24 points.

Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40 PM (AEST).

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