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The Western Bulldogs have won an epic preliminary final against the GWS Giants, entering their first grand final in more than half a century.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
GWS Giants 12.11.83
Western Bulldogs 13.11.89
After beating the three-time reigning champions last week, the Western Bulldogs travel to New South Wales to challenge the heir apparent, the Greater Western Sydney Giants, in a historic preliminary final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:15pm (AEST).
With a dominant performance against the Sydney Swans in the qualifying final, GWS should be rested and primed to make a run at their first Grand Final in club history.
The Giants have nixed the thought that they are too inexperienced to advance deep in the finals and with a full complement of players to choose from – barring the suspended Steve Johnson – GWS will be expected to put in a strong performance on Saturday.
However as the Giants seem ready to embrace their status as the AFL’s new Goliath, the Bulldogs have captured the hearts of footy fans across the nation with an exciting game style and never-say-die attitude.
As has been the case in their two preceding games the Bulldogs will enter the twilight clash with underdog status, but as they have shown time and again this year it is unlikely to bother them.
Having overcome injuries to key players throughout the season, the Dogs have had a stellar finals series so far, beating both of last year’s grand finalists.
Unfortunately the Dogs will have to do it again, as Matt Suckling will miss on Saturday due to an Achilles injury. Suckling’s omission is a big one for the Dogs as the defender’s elite kicking skills would have helped their quick ball movement. He is to be replaced by Fletcher Roberts who comes in for his 17th game of the season.
The Giants have been forced to make a change to their side after Steve Johnson’s bump on Swans superstar Josh P Kennedy netted him a week on the sidelines. Former rising star winner Rhys Palmer will come in for his first final.
As with most of the Giants’ opponents, their recent history with the Dogs is likely to count for little on Saturday due to the infancy of the club. However the teams did meet earlier this season in Round 9, in a game which saw the Giants run out 25-point victors.
Tomorrow’s clash is set to boast some of the most talented young players in the AFL, who despite their relative inexperience can already be considered amongst the AFL’s elite.
After stamping his authority against an experienced Hawthorn midfield, Marcus Bontempelli will have to have another mammoth game as he lines up next to fellow young guns Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Shiel.
But the key matchup question for the Dogs this week will be how they combat a loaded Giants forward line.
Veteran Dale Morris is set to have his hands full again with the myriad of key forward options that GWS boast. However they have shown they are a more than capable unit throughout the season – the Bulldogs conceded the third least amount of points during the regular season – and also throughout the finals shutting down Coleman medalist Josh Kennedy.
Prediction
The Bulldogs have been the Cinderella story of the season, overcoming enormous odds to reach the preliminary final. Despite struggling to post big scores in the regular season, the Dogs have managed to fashion an attack capable of scoring a 100 points or more in the finals while maintaining their formidable defence.
But against a Giants line-up that seemingly has no weakness and the advantage of the home field, GWS are likely to extend the premiership drought for the Bulldogs for at least one more year.
Giants by 26 points.
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