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The NAB Challenge steps up a few gears Saturday night when the Western Bulldogs take on Collingwood Magpies at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:00pm (AEDT).
The final week of official practice games will see most teams keen to give their best 22 a serious run before the opening round on Easter weekend.
The Bulldogs are coming off a seven-point loss to the Demons. A very poor first quarter was to blame, with the error-prone Bulldogs continually turning the ball over.
The Demons’ possession game saw them dominate the young pups, winning the possession count 128-42. The first quarter also saw the Dees win the uncontested marks 58-4.
However after the main break and facing a 45-point deficit, the Bulldogs, fielding a very young side, rebounded well against a near full-strength Melbourne team.
Led by Will Minson in the ruck and the young midfield brigade of Marcus Bontempelli and Mitch Honeychurch, the Bulldogs kicked seven goals to one in the second half to nearly snatch victory.
The Magpies also made a belated comeback last week against Carlton in Bendigo. The Blues led by 33 points early in the first quarter. The Magpies defence looked very shaky, with the Blues’ height and pace causing constant problems.
There were encouraging signs from the Magpies though. New recruits Levi Greenwood and former Lion Jack Crisp had 17 and 14 possessions respectively. The Pies will be hoping Greenwood in particular can help the Pies in contested possessions where the Pies ranked a lowly 13th last season.
The Pies will be strengthened this week by addition of Steele Sidebottom, Jamie Elliott, Jack Frost, Jesse White and Taylor Adams to their 27-man squad. Key big men Ben Reid and Jarrod Witts have not been named, both players coming back from long-term injuries.
The Bulldogs will also be strengthened with the return of captain Bob Murphy, vice-captain Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Jackson Macrae, Tom Boyd, Mitch Wallis and Liam Picken.
Prediction
These two teams put on a cracker in their only clash last season, when the young Bulldogs pulled off an eight-point upset. The Dogs’ pace may once again cause problems for the Pies.
But in a close encounter, the Pies’ edge in experience should be enough to hold on.
Collingwood by 6 points.
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