Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn at the MCG, Friday September 5 at 7.50pm
FORECAST
Fine, Min 7, Max 18
BETTING
Western Bulldogs $3.20, Hawthorn $1.36
LAST TIME THEY MET
Western Bulldogs 15.16 (106) def Hawthorn 12.2 (74), round 10, 2008 at Aurora Stadium
FORM GUIDE
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs lost a thriller to the Crows in wet conditions at AAMI Stadium last week. Nathan Eagleton was a key contributor with 29 possessions, 11 marks and seven inside 50's as were Daniel Giansiracusa (32 touches) and Lindsay Gilbee (31).
Hawthorn
The Hawks have won four of their last five matches and finished the regular season with a 78-point drubbing of Carlton at Telstra Dome. Jordan Lewis was outstanding with 35 possessions and Jarryd Roughead booted five goals to eclipse Lance Franklin who kicked four to reach his ton.
MEDICAL ROOMThe Dogs lost a thriller to the Crows in wet conditions at AAMI Stadium last week. Nathan Eagleton was a key contributor with 29 possessions, 11 marks and seven inside 50's as were Daniel Giansiracusa (32 touches) and Lindsay Gilbee (31).
Hawthorn
The Hawks have won four of their last five matches and finished the regular season with a 78-point drubbing of Carlton at Telstra Dome. Jordan Lewis was outstanding with 35 possessions and Jarryd Roughead booted five goals to eclipse Lance Franklin who kicked four to reach his ton.
Western Bulldogs
Ben Hudson is the major worry for the Dogs with the big ruckman missing last week due to a hamstring strain. Dylan Addison continues to battle to be a part of the finals campaign with his medial ligament injury to be assessed.
Hawthorn
Campbell Brown is the Hawks' only injury concern ahead of the match with an ankle injury sustained in round 22. He will be named in the squad and given until the last minute to prove his fitness. Shane Crawford missed last week, but will return against the Dogs in place of Xavier Ellis.
RANDOM FACTS
The Bulldogs have beaten the Hawks four times in the past five matches.
Hawthorn ruckman Robert Campbell will play his 100th AFL match.
KEY MATCH UPS
Brian Lake v Lance Franklin
Tom Williams took on Buddy in Tasmania and did a good job, but he's unavailable this time around. Lake will get either Franklin or Jarryd Roughead and his ability to curb either one's influence will be crucial. It wouldn't surprise to see Dale Morris get the other.
Ben Hudson v Robert Campbell
Both sides have class midfield units and giving either one of them first use will be crucial. Dogs fans will have their fingers crossed that Hudson is right to go after a hamstring strain ruled him out last week with his ability at ground level equally important.
Robert Murphy v Trent Croad
Murphy's run and link play will be vital as always and Croad looms as the likely minder. Look for Murphy to test his endurance at every opportunity.
WHAT THE CLUBS SAY
Western Bulldogs
"The confidence levels have been great – we've trained really well all year. Now the focus is on Friday night … everyone's bubbly and ready to go, as you'd expect come finals time.
"We're just excited to be amongst it, and looking forward to it.
"We've matured as a group – obviously a couple of years older, and that experience... we didn't have anything going into last time.
"We've probably got the best of both worlds – we played pretty well in the first final, and were terrible in the next.
"So we know what not to do, and we know what to do. We're going to enjoy it, take it on, and see how we go." – Daniel Giansiracusa
Hawthorn
"The home-and-away season is run over 22 rounds and both Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs have won enough games to qualify to play in this game, so it's really who applies themselves the best tomorrow night who's going to win the game of footy.
"We acknowledge that they've had a tremendous season, the Dogs, and when they're at their best they can beat any team in the competition." – coach Alastair Clarkson
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
