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The Western Bulldogs travel to the harbour city to play the Sydney Swans who are returning to their home ground after a loss to Fremantle. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:10pm (AEST).
Will the Bulldogs continue their fantastic start to the season or will the Swans flex their feathers and put the dogs back in their place?
Both clubs come to this match with three wins and one loss, with their only losses, both being interstate games. It’s for this reason the Swans will hold the advantage playing before their home crowd. The Swans have also won the last six meetings between the two.
Wet weather is again expected in Sydney and this should also favour the Swans.
The Swans strength is their great midfield. Dan Hanneberry, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker are three who have began the season in good form and they will not let the young Dogs run off and create as freely as they have been allowed to in previous weeks.
Then there is the ‘Buddy’ factor. The Bulldogs have struggled with tall forwards in the past and Franklin is in good touch and doesn’t need many opportunities to turn a match the Swans’ way.
The Bulldogs Michael Talia is a young defender making a name for himself and will most likely take on Franklin. Talia is showing he is as good as his Adelaide Crows brother Daniel and will be a key in keeping the Swans goal kicker in check.
The Bulldogs have several other youngsters coming to the fore. Luke Dahlhaus and Marcus Bontempelli are exciting to watch and will need to be locked down by the Swans. Bontempelli will possibly face Josh Kennedy in a mouth watering match up.
Jake Stringer is providing a great focal point up forward and their new Captain Bob Murphy has returned to the form of his career and is directing traffic from the back line.
The Swans have lost young gun Isaac Heeney to injury but Adam Goodes makes a welcome return.
Prediction
The Swans by 31 points.
They will give the Bulldogs a lesson in tough, uncompromising, in close football. The small SCG will not allow the Bulldogs to get their new game plan of fast running into play.
Will the Swans hit back after their loss in the West last week or will the young Bulldogs continue to improve with their run and carry and take the game from the Swans?
Join The Roar Saturday at 2:10pm for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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