After a long 23 rounds of the home-and-away games, we have finally reached September – the business end of the season.
MORE AFL FINALS:
>> BUCKLAND: EACH TEAM UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
>> WEEK 1 EXPERT TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
The Saturday night thriller at the ‘G between the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide Crows will be a match to savour.
The game will have an added spice to it as both teams are playing to keep their September dreams alive. Whichever team loses will be knocked out of the finals series as the winning team will go on to face the loser of the game in Perth between West Coast Eagles and Hawthorn Hawks.
Adelaide will be looking for revenge after the last time they met, when danger man Jake Stringer kicked a bag of six goals to crush the Crows by 57 points in Round 4, underneath the roof of Etihad Stadium.
The Crows will be wary of the Dogs’ new run and gun style of gameplay with veterans Robert Murphy and Matthew Boyd, along with youngsters Jason Johannisen and Easton Wood’s run and marking power across half back.
Also their midfield will be a factor with Marcus Bontempelli and Luke Dahlhaus’ dangerous run and carry. The key will be matching up on a tough forward line containing Jake ‘The Package’ Stringer and Tom Boyd – the key to the Bulldogs’ success.
The Doggies need to be careful of the game-breakers that Adelaide have, the likes of Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Patrick Dangerfield, and Brodie Smith.
The two running teams will clash for a tantalising contest, a match that cannot be missed, even if you’re not a sports fan.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by nine points.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
The bont is a serious beast no doubt about it.
Captain Captain
Roar Rookie
Don't overlook Marcus Bontempelli. Still 19 yo and finished #13 on AFL player stats. By far the youngest player to reach top 20 AFL players (after Libba jnr IIRC). Future is very bright out west.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Hi Tom, I'm not sure it works that way, does it? (i.e. there must be one game in Melbourne each week during the finals, excluding the grand final). But yeah, I think the Doggies could beat any team in Melboure except Hawthorn.
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Playing in Perth is always hard for most teams so a loss against West Coast wouldn't worry me too much as in the finals there has to be at least one game at the MCG every finals round. It's likely that Fremantle will take the Perth game as they finished higher on the ladder, so if the doggies get west coast in Melbourne then i think they could get the win? what do you think?
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
Adelaide have played finals footy in the last couple of years but the doggies have not, in the end will the game be decided on cool heads and experience? Or will it be the ruthless running style of the two teams that will prevail do you think?
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
As a bombers fan I must admit that the doggies are my second favourite team. I love watching there style of play and the way they take the game on with the likes of Murphy and Johannisen running off half back. But my favourite player must go to Stringer, has to be one of the best talents in the AFL, he is still only 21! I just hope the Giants don't get real good at the same time though, those two going head to head in a couple of years should make for an awesome game.
Captain Captain
Roar Rookie
Saturday night should be a cracking game. 50k seats sold already according to AFL. Great experience for young pups. Think we will be seeing more of the Dogs over coming Septembers. Great young list and hopefully won't start drinking their bathwater over the next preseason. Don't think I've ever seen such a good spread of young talent as this current group at the kennel, in 50 years of supporting them.
BeMoreBulldog
Guest
And to say the Dogs' win over Richmond was because they were 'terrible' in the first 6 rounds is also a cop out...
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Anonymous, in regards to injries I was just stating facts and its incorrect to say that every team gets injuries mid-match. Against Hawthorn, we went into the game without Bontempelli, M.Boyd and Wood, and then lost Morris and Mitch Wallis in the first quarter (2 down for the rest of the game). That's pretty significant. I'm not suggesting we would have beaten them, I'm just saying the result wasn't a very good guide. Against West Coast the injuries were a lot less significant. Pre-game we were missing M.Boyd and Roughhead from our best 18 (plus of course Libber) and during the game we lost Morris and Grant. They're relevant facts when suggesting it was the ground size that influenced the results, rather than the opposition or injuries that unfolded. Granted, saying we didn't take Melbourne seriously is a copout. I'd say the same was true of Brisbane last weekend. It happens.
Anonymous
Roar Pro
There’s nothing worse than when a supporter makes a whole bunch of excuses for a loss. Every team gets injuries, and to say they simply took Melbourne “too easy” is a copout.
Anonymous
Roar Pro
I think Adelaide will have to much experience and really rattle the Dogs early. It will be crucial (and fascinating) to see how the Dogs respond. Will they be able to reassert themselves on the game or will Adelaide’s experience be telling? I can’t wait, I think Adelaide will have too much class in the end though and prevail.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
KiwiDave, the Doggies experienced multiple injuries during the Hawthorn and West Coast games which exposed the group horribly. Against West Coast, the game was really even until the injuries kicked-in. Both those teams are better than the Doggies this year, but I'm just saying I think the major factors in both results were: (a) the opposition was better; and (b) we played with 2 or 3 less players for most of the game - I don't think the large ground was really a factor (other than when you're playing with less men, you will get more tired trying to cover a bigger ground). With Melbourne, we simply took them too easy. The ground size won't be a factor, but the conditions will be, because the MCG turf will be softer, and more exposed to dew and wind, compared to Etihad where the conditions are perfect for the Doggies super-quick game plan. That said, I'm happy for our boys to experience playing on the 'G' in a final.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Doggies have fantastic form at Etihad and smaller grounds. However look at their record on big grounds this season Round 2 - Beat Richmond by 19 points at MCG (Richmond were terrible first 6 rounds) Round 3 - Lost to Hawthorn by 70 points at AU Round 8 - Lost to Melbourne by 39 points at MCG Round 10 - Lost to Port by 38 points at AO. Round 21 - Lost to West Coast by 77 points at DS. Their 4 worst losses this year have all been on larger grounds. They are one of the best teams around on small grounds but one of the worst on larger grounds. For this reason alone I reckon Adelaide are a good bet.
David
Guest
Doggies have gone off the boil a bet. Suspect they are happy with what they have achieved this year and maybe they are not hungry enough for this one. Crows by 20.