The Western Bulldogs have won an epic preliminary final against the GWS Giants, entering their first grand final in more than half a century.
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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.
D Fitz
Roar Rookie
Great call Prepsy. You are spot on. Great composure by Stringer instead of shooting for goal. Enabled the Dogs to ice the clock to the final siren.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Lloyd owen Actually 'Association Football' isn't "Played with the feet", it IS played "Not with the hands". This is an important distinction - as Association Football has very little in it's rules stipulating a requirement or reward associated with 'kicking' the ball. It DOES however have rules stipulating the use or non-use/touching of the hands. That's not to say soccer excludes usage of hands - clearly the two goalkeepers are exceptions as are the sideline throw in by players. The goal scoring of Association Football is interesting of course - no requirement to kick the ball, in fact no requirement to even propel it yourself - as, an own goal can be gifted by the opposition. It's purely quantitative - anything in the onion bag counts so long as not 'off-side' or 'off the hand'. Contrast to Australian football in which you can ONLY score a goal by - - good golly, wait for it - - KICKING it yourself. There is a qualitative measure in place here that stipulates a kick. Likewise in general play there is a reward associated with a clean kick in play that allows a free kick after a fair catch. There's actually more rules that isolate the value/reward/penalty of kicking in Australian Football than in Association Football. And the reality is - the 'header' is the ironic proof of the fact that Association Football only really says what you can't do - use the hands - and the header was a loophole - it was never in the rules but because it wasn't excluded it was therefore permitted and is retained to this day.
Don Freo
Guest
Nah soccer people just don't know skill. We all saw it.
JR Salazar
Guest
Of course I didn't recognize it. That's why they lost. It was nonexistent in the 4Q.
Lloyd owen
Guest
Actually, the game is called Association Football, and as the name suggests,its a game played with the feet,and not with the hands.
Donde es Fuss
Guest
I agree. Hopefully Australia can win the AFL world cup
Roger
Guest
What a sensational game of football and congrats to the Doggies! I gotta say that not often you see a side with so much heart and shear guts as this team has.....As a cats supporter, I am so happy for this club and its players. I love the way they go about it and from 7th spot! You guys deserve it, well done! And, all the the best for next week, as I feel you'll get your just deserts........ Go the Doggies!!!!!!!
Ac
Guest
I think what is seen is that the AFL are giving the frontier teams more assistance than older rust bucket teams in VICTORIA. As for manufacturing a result don't think they would do that.
anon
Guest
The VFL had a couple of experienced VFL campaigners in Simon Meredith and Matthew Nicholls. Not a single NSW umpire to be seen. These guys no which side their bread is buttered on. The VFL don't select (reward) you to umpire finals -- let alone the Grand Final -- unless you play the company game. GWS is supposed to be successful, but the VFL didn't want them so successful so soon. It's a PR nightmare for the VFL to have GWS with all their concessions and subsidies, to take all before them in only their 5th season. Especially when only 9k people in a city of 5 million could be bothered turning up to support the home team. GWS would have done the job on Sydney had they played in the GF. Not a good look for the league. Now, I don't completely believe this, but I do believe some umpires subconsciously have biases.
Don Freo
Guest
That probably explains why you don't recognize GWS' quality. Soccer players only use one skill at a time...and it's not much of a skill.
JR Salazar
Guest
Don't need them. I rest my case. This game was a bridge too far for GWS. They need to get some of the good players from the Bulldogs and keep their picks.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I had a feeling that the Bulldogs might get the better of things tonight. Reminiscent of the 2003 Finals series the Swans had. The Bulldogs were twelve months ahead in development (having made last year's finals) too. As long as the memories of this defeat sting, then it will be good for this team's future prospects.
JR Salazar
Guest
Don't bother. They aren't.
Kurt
Guest
But I thought the evil corrupt AFL was conspiring to get GWS into the GF, not keep them out of it? Wait, hang on, wasn't the AFL also engineering a fourth consecutive Hawthorn premiership? It's so complicated keeping track of all these AFL conspiracies, it's almost as if maybe they're not real.
Kurt
Guest
But I thought the evil corrupt AFL was conspiring to get GWS into the GF, not keep them out of it? Wait, hang on, wasn't the AFL also engineering a fourth consecutive Hawthorn premiership? It's so complicated keeping track of all these AFL conspiracies, it's almost as if maybe they're not real?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Somebody please give JR back his toys
anon
Guest
Free kicks 23-13. That non holding the ball awarded in front of goal in the first quarter was the difference. Congratulations to the VFL
JR Salazar
Guest
I prefer soccer.
JR Salazar
Guest
This Giants team just isn't that good.
Sammy
Guest
Hats off to both teams. Was a great prelim and as a crow supporter watching it with a neutral hat on, it was great to see the bulldogs win as it has been far too long for their supporters. GWS' time is coming and they were also fantastic. A very worthy prelim