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Preview: Western Bulldogs v Essendon
Ronny Lerner
VENUE & TIME: Telstra Dome, Friday 22 August, 7.40pm AEST
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 146, Western Bulldogs 57, Essendon 87, Draws 2
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128) def Essendon 14.14 (98), Round 4, 2008 at Telstra Dome
WALKING WOUNDED: The Bulldogs have very few worries with only Dylan Addison (knee - 4 weeks) and Tom Williams (shoulder - TBA) the major concerns. Conversely, the Bombers could assemble a decent team with the players who are currently on their injury list. David Hille (hand - season), Dustin Fletcher (groin - 1-2 weeks), Alwyn Davey (knee - season), Jason Laycock (ankle - 1-2), Kyle Reimers (hamstring - 1), Bachar Houli (groin - season), David Myers (foot - season), Jay Neagle (ankle - season), Jason Winderlich (back - season) and Courtenay Dempsey (leg - season) are all unavailable while Scott Lucas (back - test) is extremely unlikely. However, Mark McVeigh (knee - test) is a good chance of returning while Jason Johnson will make his long-awaited return from a calf injury.
FORM: Both sides have lost significant amounts of momentum in recent times with the Bulldogs losing four of their last five matches, following an opening 15-round period that yielded just the one defeat, while Essendon has lost its past two matches in unflattering fashion after a brilliant seven-week stretch that saw it beaten only once by Richmond by four points.
WHO'S HOT: Ryan Hargrave was the Bulldogs' best during their 11-point loss to the Brisbane Lions last week at the Gabba. The 27-year-old patrolled the defensive half with purpose and ended up accumulating 29 possessions. Veteran Bomber Damien Peverill returned to the line-up last week against Adelaide and picked up where he left off before he sat out Round 19 due to a glute injury as he helped himself to 33 touches, boosting his average to 25 in his last six matches in the process.
WE THINK: On paper, this match-up is as good as a 'no contest'. While the Bulldogs are enduring their worst period of form for the season, the sting has been well and truly taken out of the Bombers' year now. The fledgling side is officially out of finals contention and any faint chance it had of an upset win was dashed when it was further decimated by injury to key senior players on the weekend. Although the Bulldogs have little to play for, having sewn up a top-three spot and a showdown with Hawthorn in the first week of September, they're at full strength and will comfortably return to the winners' list on Friday night. Western Bulldogs by 55 points.
Preview: Western Bulldogs v Essendon
Ronny Lerner
VENUE & TIME: Telstra Dome, Friday 22 August, 7.40pm AEST
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 146, Western Bulldogs 57, Essendon 87, Draws 2
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128) def Essendon 14.14 (98), Round 4, 2008 at Telstra Dome
WALKING WOUNDED: The Bulldogs have very few worries with only Dylan Addison (knee - 4 weeks) and Tom Williams (shoulder - TBA) the major concerns. Conversely, the Bombers could assemble a decent team with the players who are currently on their injury list. David Hille (hand - season), Dustin Fletcher (groin - 1-2 weeks), Alwyn Davey (knee - season), Jason Laycock (ankle - 1-2), Kyle Reimers (hamstring - 1), Bachar Houli (groin - season), David Myers (foot - season), Jay Neagle (ankle - season), Jason Winderlich (back - season) and Courtenay Dempsey (leg - season) are all unavailable while Scott Lucas (back - test) is extremely unlikely. However, Mark McVeigh (knee - test) is a good chance of returning while Jason Johnson will make his long-awaited return from a calf injury.
FORM: Both sides have lost significant amounts of momentum in recent times with the Bulldogs losing four of their last five matches, following an opening 15-round period that yielded just the one defeat, while Essendon has lost its past two matches in unflattering fashion after a brilliant seven-week stretch that saw it beaten only once by Richmond by four points.
WHO'S HOT: Ryan Hargrave was the Bulldogs' best during their 11-point loss to the Brisbane Lions last week at the Gabba. The 27-year-old patrolled the defensive half with purpose and ended up accumulating 29 possessions. Veteran Bomber Damien Peverill returned to the line-up last week against Adelaide and picked up where he left off before he sat out Round 19 due to a glute injury as he helped himself to 33 touches, boosting his average to 25 in his last six matches in the process.
WE THINK: On paper, this match-up is as good as a 'no contest'. While the Bulldogs are enduring their worst period of form for the season, the sting has been well and truly taken out of the Bombers' year now. The fledgling side is officially out of finals contention and any faint chance it had of an upset win was dashed when it was further decimated by injury to key senior players on the weekend. Although the Bulldogs have little to play for, having sewn up a top-three spot and a showdown with Hawthorn in the first week of September, they're at full strength and will comfortably return to the winners' list on Friday night. Western Bulldogs by 55 points.
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