WESTERN Bulldogs midfield ace Marcus Bontempelli is locked in for his first game of the pre-season after being named in the final 24 to play Gold Coast on Thursday night.
Bontempelli has been rested in the opening two rounds of the JLT Community Series, which resulted in losses against Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions.
Gold Coast will have its own superstar returning, with former skipper Gary Ablett also making the Suns' final cut for the match at Metricon Stadium.
Co-captain Steven May is nursing a head cold and may be forced to play fewer minutes in the final pre-season hit-out for both clubs.
GOLD COAST v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Metricon Stadium, 4.50pm AEST, March 9
GOLD COAST
Out: Jarrad Grant, Dan Currie, Josh Schoenfeld
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Out: Josh Dunkley, Bailey Dale, Bailey Williams
GOLD COAST
1. Pearce Hanley, 3. Matt Rosa, 4. Jack Martin, 6. Alex Sexton, 8. Brayden Fiorini, 9. Gary Ablett, 10. Kade Kolodjashnij, 11. Touk Miller, 13. Callum AhChee, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Steven May, 19. Tom Lynch, 20. Michael Barlow, 21. Jack Leslie, 24. David Swallow, 25. Jarryd Lyons, 27. Ben Ainsworth, 28. Jarrod Witts, 29. Jack Bowes, 30. Peter Wright, 33. Aaron Hall, 38. Jesse Joyce, 41. Will Brodie, 42. Adam Saad
Notable absentees: Jarrod Harbrow, Jesse Lonergan, Sam Day, Trent McKenzie, Tom Nicholls, Brandon Matera, Michael Rischitelli, Jarrad Grant
WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. Matthew Suckling, 2. Robert Murphy, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 6. Luke Dahlhaus, 7. Lachlan Hunter, 8. Stewart Crameri, 9. Jake Stringer, 10. Easton Wood, 11. Jackson Macrae, 12. Zaine Cordy, 13. Travis Cloke, 14. Clay Smith, 16. Toby Mclean, 17. Tom Boyd, 18. Fletcher Roberts, 21. Tom Liberatore, 24. Shane Biggs, 25. Marcus Adams, 35. Caleb Daniel, 39. Jason Johannisen, 42. Liam Picken, 44. Tim English, 46. Lin Jong
Notable absentees: Mitch Wallis, Tom Campbell, Jordan Roughead, Tory Dickson, Dale Morris, Josh Dunkley
