The Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs will each look to keep their strong form going at the Gabba on Sunday. Join our live blog for scores and commentary from 4.40pm AEST.
Much has gone right for the Western Bulldogs in the second half of this season.
Their experienced players have led a stunning revival.
Ryan Griffen and Will Minson look sure things for the All-Australian team, a recently re-signed Adam Cooney is once again tearing it up in the midfield and old heads Dale Morris, Daniel Giansiracusa and Robert Murphy are playing stellar footy.
And the results have showed it in the last six weeks – three wins against West Coast, Carlton and Adelaide, while the losses were full of merit against Essendon (when they were playing better), Hawthorn and Sydney.
The marked improvement can be attributed to the emergence of the youth.
Despite promising youngsters Clay Smith, Jackson Macrae, Jake Stringer and Jason Johannisen missing games recently, plenty of others have stepped up for the team that’s ranked second in clearances and contested disposals and third in tackles.
Tom Liberatore is now an elite inside midfielder, Mitch Wallis has reinvented himself as a tagger while winning his own ball and Luke Dahlhaus is once again providing the excitement.
The forward line has seen the biggest reinvention.
Tom Campbell provides an imposing presence and can take a mark, Jarrad Grant makes his possessions count and Tory Dickson showed off his skills with six goals last week.
The challenge for the Dogs is to keep up their form against another promising team in Brisbane.
The Lions easily accounted for GWS in their first match since former coach Michael Voss’ sacking but this will be a much better test of Brisbane’s mental state.
Simon Black missing with suspension will be a huge blow considering the Lions are fourth-last in the league for contested possessions and fifth-last for clearances.
Daniel Merrett will most likely be forced to play up forward again with Jonathan Brown out injured.
That leaves Matt Maguire to man Tom Campbell, which could cause problems considering Campbell dominated Ben ‘Truck’ Rutten at times last week.
If Brisbane is to win, ruckman Matthew Leuenberger will have to play a huge role.
Leuenberger will need to be at his best to not only negate Minson in the ruck but also help the Lions take control in the middle.
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Brisbane 15.10.100 Western Bulldogs 13.15.93 Amazing game. Lions started on fire and got 50 points up at half time but the Doggies fought back in the second half. It was a grinding performance by the Dogs and ultimately they wasted a couple of opportunities and lacked a bit of class. The poor start would be the biggest concern for Brendan McCartney. Rich and Leuenberger were influential in the first half but went missing in the second. Liberatore produced another cracking game and must be in serious contention for an All-Australian guernsey
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Brisbane 15.10.100 Western Bulldogs 13.15.93 Lions win
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 1.00 Brisbane 15.10.100 Western Bulldogs 13.15.93 BEHIND WESTERN BULLDOGS Tutt has no-one in front of him and shoots from 50 but misses
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 1.15 Brisbane 15.10.100 Western Bulldogs 13.14.92 BEHIND BRISBANE McGrath hits Paparone with a perfect 50m kick. Paparone on the boundary kicks a point
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 2.04 Brisbane 15.9.99 Western Bulldogs 13.14.92 BEHIND BRISBANE The Dogs rush a behind. Interesting decision
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 2.41 Brisbane 15.8.98 Western Bulldogs 13.14.92 BEHIND BRISBANE Paparone with a contested mark over Dale Morris. Great effort from a young player. His set shot from outside 50m misses to the near side
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 3.43 Brisbane 15.7.97 Western Bulldogs 13.14.92 GOAL WESTERN BULLDOGS Picken does well to run through the middle. He finds Giansiracusa lace out and gets a 50m penalty against Patfull for running through the protected zone. Gia puts it through from the goalsquare and THE DOGS ARE WITHIN A KICK!
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 4.20 Brisbane 15.7.97 Western Bulldogs 12.14.86 BEHIND WESTERN BULLDOGS Dickson gets a bit of space and snaps but hits the post. Bad miss
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 5.00 Brisbane 15.7.97 Western Bulldogs 12.13.85 BEHIND BRISBANE Raines tackles Griffen as he tries to get his kick away and if forces the turnover. Brisbane kick towards Bewick and he takes a strong mark over Murphy. He misses another shot though
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 6.45 Brisbane 15.6.96 Western Bulldogs 12.13.85 BEHIND BRISBANE Brisbane win it back from the Dogs' kick-in and Rockliff hits Bewick on the lead. He hooks his kick
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 7.26 Brisbane 15.5.95 Western Bulldogs 12.13.85 BEHIND BRISBANE Free kick to Brisbane in the middle and then a 50m penalty against Cross. Zorko misses an easy shot
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 7.47 Brisbane 15.4.94 Western Bulldogs 12.13.85 GOAL WESTERN BULLDOGS Great clearance on the wing by Liberatore. Feigns a kick then sends it long to Campbell. No mark but Dahlhaus rectifies his earlier mistake and kicks the goal
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 8.15 Brisbane 15.4.94 Western Bulldogs 11.13.79 BEHIND WESTERN BULLDOGS Griffen gets the handball from Dickson and kicks long into the 50 towards Dahlhaus. Golby gives away a free. Dahlhaus misses a relatively easy set shot though
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 9.12 Brisbane 15.4.94 Western Bulldogs 11.12.78 GOAL BRISBANE Raines with the quick kick AND KICKS A GOAL FROM NOWHERE! Good clean pick-up from Raines
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 10.00 Brisbane 14.4.88 Western Bulldogs 11.12.78 Hanley gets a 50m penalty and is brought to within goalscoring distance. His shot from outside 50m misses everything
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 10.25 Brisbane 14.4.88 Western Bulldogs 11.12.78 Stevens subbed off for Tutt
Dinny Navaratnam
Guest
4th quarter 11.51 Brisbane 14.4.88 Western Bulldogs 11.12.78 BEHIND WESTERN BULLDOGS Docherty intercepts the Cross handball but misses with the kick
Dinny Navaratnam
Guest
4th quarter 14.23 Brisbane 14.3.87 Western Bulldogs 11.12.78 GOAL WESTERN BULLDOGS Minson taps down to Griffen who handballs to Murphy and HE SNAPS A GOAL! MURPHY WITH HIS LEFT!
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 15.02 Brisbane 14.3.87 Western Bulldogs 10.12.72 GOAL WESTERN BULLDOGS Throw-in in the Dogs' forward 50. Griffen wins a free for being held off the ball by Patfull. Blatant free. Griffen puts it through. THE DOGS ARE COMING!
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
4th quarter 16.00 Brisbane 14.3.87 Western Bulldogs 9.12.66 BEHIND WESTERN BULLDOGS Campbell gets a free on the boundary line in his forward line. He goes with the drop punt and misses