FB: Morris Lake Hargrave
HB: Murphy Williams Wood
C: Gilbee Boyd Griffen
HF: Cross Grant Giansiracusa
FF: Higgins Hall Veszpremi
FOLL: Hudson Cooney Picken
I/C: Roughead Ward Sherman
SUB: Moles
Injury list
Brian Lake (knee/hip/shoulder) - 1-2 weeks
Ryan Hargrave (ankle) - 5-7 weeks
Most valuable player
Given the injury to Hargrave and departure of Jarrod Harbrow, the Dogs' backline will initially show a few differences to last year. Given Lukas Markovic and James Mulligan - both untried at AFL level - are the only other true full back options, Brian Lake's experience and size in the backline, as well as versatility to occasionally push forward, is vital.
Track specialist
Shaun Higgins is due for a change in luck after his most recent season was ruined by a thyroid condition. Has trained well all summer after getting a month's start on his teammates and is in prime condition to push into the elite bracket this year.
Dream Team special
High-leaping Territorian Zephaniah Skinner could prove to be the bargain of the 2010 NAB AFL Draft given the Dogs snared him with pick No.88. Caught the eye in the third round of the NAB Challenge against Fremantle when he booted four goals in just over a half. Is pushing for early selection.
Pivotal match View the full Bulldogs fixture here
With winnable games against Essendon, the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast - plus another trip to Perth to meet pre-season battlers Fremantle - in the first five rounds (with a bye in round four), the Dogs could face Collingwood in round six unbeaten. Last year, it was their inability to knock off top sides that raised eyebrows, and this will be the first chance they get to show if anything's changed.
Draftee watch
You could flip a coin between Mitch Wallis and his best mate Tom Liberatore for this section, but Wallis might just have his nose in front for a senior debut after impressing with his composure and ball-winning ability this pre-season.
The Bulldogs will have a good year if …
… they don't have half their team go into the finals affected by injury or illness, they can get goals from outside Barry Hall, recruits Justin Sherman, Patrick Veszpremi and Nathan Djerrkura can get into and then stay in the side and add pace, and the back six stands strong despite limited pre-seasons to Lake and Hargrave with Easton Wood to take on more responsibility.
The big issues
Can the Bulldogs match it with the big boys? After falling at the preliminary final hurdle the past three years, it's make or break time for the side to stand up to Collingwood, St Kilda and Geelong - all of which it failed to beat in 2010.
Will restricted pre-seasons to Hargrave, Lake, Adam Cooney and Robert Murphy play a part in their durability later in the year, or will careful management and the byes help them through?
Can Hall get through his 16th season without injury - and if he can't, who will kick the goals? Hall, who was easily the Dogs' highest goal kicker last year with 80 from Daniel Giansiracusa (35), is a picture of fitness now but the reality remains - he turned 34 last month and a 24-week season looms.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
