Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne Round 20

[Barra13]

HISTORY TALKS ... by The Oracle

History says that Melbourne has no chance whatsoever of beating the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

This is despite the fact that when the two clubs locked horns about 12 weeks ago, the Demons had an emphatic 39 point win.

However, that result came at the end of the Doggies' three game losing streak - their lowest ebb for the year to date - and the landscape has changed dramatically since then. In fact, the Western Bulldogs have rewritten their history in that short space of time.

Today it's unanimous among most pundits that the Dishlickers under Luke Beveridge are the feel good story of the season having recently pushed aside the Tigers from that mantle before sneaking ahead of the Swans to snatch a place in the top four.

There's also the matter of the venue for this meeting. The Westen Bulldogs have a sensational record against Melbourne at Etihad Stadium with eight wins from nine games while the place is a "bogey" ground for the Demons whose only win over the Dogs there was in in round 19, 2007 - a game that marks the historic (or should I say prehistoric?) occasion of their last win at the Docklands.

Since then, Melbourne has been involved in the AFL's biggest venue hoodoo losing 21 games in a row at Etihad. Their last trip there would still be causing them nightmares after conceding a hard fought lead in the last twenty seconds against St. Kilda to go down in embarrassing fashion by 2 points.

What this means is that a Demon win will not only defy history; it will be a major upset and in order to achieve that, it will require a supreme effort from the team leaders and the younger brigade like Jesse Hogan, James Brayshaw and up and comers in Max Gawn and Jack Viney. And even then ...

THE GAME Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday 16 August 2015 at 3.20pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Western Bulldogs 74 wins Melbourne 85 wins 1 draw

At Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 8 wins Melbourne 1 win

Last Five Meetings: Western Bulldogs 3 wins Melbourne 2 wins

The Coaches: Beveridge 0 wins Roos 1 win

MEDIA

TV - Fox Sports 3 @ 3.00pm (live)

Radio - Triple M 3AW

THE BETTING

Western Bulldogs $1.22 to win Melbourne $4.25 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 15.13.103 defeated Western Bulldogs 9.10.64 at the MCG in Round 8, 2015

After a slow start the Demons took control and made a statement to the rest of the football world that they wouldn't be pushed around any more. They led at every change to win by 39 points with key positions Jesse Hogan and Cam Pedersen kicking three goals each.

TEAMS
WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Dale Morris, Michael Talia, Matthew Boyd
HB: Robert Murphy, Joel Hamling, Easton Wood
C: Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Shane Biggs
HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Tory Dickson, Stewart Crameri
F: Lachie Hunter, Jack Redpath, Jake Stringer
FOLL: Tom Campbell, Mitch Wallis, Liam Picken
I/C: Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel, Sam Darley, Jarrad Grant, Lin Jong, Daniel Pearce,
EMG: Tom Boyd, Daniel Pearce, Josh Prudden

IN: Robert Murphy

OUT: Bailey Dale (omitted)

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
HB: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C: Jack Grimes, Angus Brayshaw, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Matt Jones, Chris Dawes, Bernie Vince
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C: James Harmes, Viv Michie, Alex Neal-Bullen, Christian Salem
EMG: Rohan Bail, Mark Jamar, Billy Stretch

IN: Christian Salem

OUT: Dom Tyson (hamstring)

[Purple 77]

James Brayshaw

Oh come on Demonlander... lift your game!

Always appreciate these thread btw barra :)

[Barra13]

Haha, I should actually read it before I post it :P

[Barra13]

Updated!

[Purple 77]

SALEM!

Michie, Stretch, Russian emergencies?

[Big Mac]

SALEM!

Michie, Stretch, Russian emergencies?

Yes pls

[Barra13]

SALEM!

Michie, Stretch, Russian emergencies?

Hmm. Maybe switch Stretch for Harmes and make Stretch sub. Give Harmes a taste and leave him wanting more.

They may even give Jamar a run to take a little load off the beard. He was absolutely buggered last weekend from Goldy.

[Barra13]

Tom Mcdonald did his ankle this morning at training and looks to be in serious doubt this weekend.

[Purple 77]

Tom Mcdonald did his ankle this morning at training and looks to be in serious doubt this weekend.

:(

[Barra13]

Dom Tyson is also out with a hamstring injury. Rohan Bail into the 25. Final 22 determined later today.

[Big Mac]

Not looking good :(

[Barra13]

I was at training so I can give an eyewitness account.During a match simulation the ball was kicked wide towards the boundary and Hogan and McDonald were both going for the mark.They both went to ground with McDonald underneath Hogan.McDonald didn't get up and called for assistance.His boot came off and was looked at then he walked off the track with just a slight limp.After about ten minutes he came back on and did a bit of light jogging and agility exercises and continued with the rest of the team.From what I could see it didn't look too bad.I was at training last week and vandenberg looked a lot worse.

[Big Mac]

 So who took the mark?  :P

[Barra13]

Melb/WB; Brayshaw into 18 from Thursday bench. Int; Salem, Michie, Neal-Bullen, Harmes. Emerg; Stretch, Jamar, Bail. Salem in 22 for Tyson

[Purple 77]

At least Jesse kicked 3... I love you Jesse.