They’ve been one of the AFL’s most in-form teams for months but the Western Bulldogs still need to beat a red-hot GWS today to clinch a finals spot, as the Giants aim for the top two.
The Bulldogs (13-9, 123.8%) can still miss the top eight if they lose, followed by wins for Carlton and Fremantle later today.
The Giants (15-7, 111.7%) have won seven straight games and with a win, will put the pressure on Port Adelaide to win later today, as the teams battle for second spot on the ladder.
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The Bulldogs have shockingly welcomed back Tim English from an ankle injury that looked almost certain to see him ruled out until September – if they make it that far – while Arthur Jones is set to play his first game of 2024.
Rhylee West will miss the clash after undergoing jaw surgery, while Buku Khamis was dropped.
Harvey Thomas has come in for the suspended Lachie Ash as the sole change for GWS.
The match gets underway at 12:30pm from Mars Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo and via Hubbl from 12pm.
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GWS have swung three late changes for the in Ballarat, with all of Conor Stone (illness), Toby Bedford (calf soreness) and Brent Daniels (lower back) out for the visitors.
They’ve been replaced by Nick Haynes, Xavier O’Halloran and Callum Brown.
The Dogs haven’t made any late changes, with ruck Tim English locked in to return from his ankle injury.
Arthur Jones (Bulldogs) and Callum Brown (Giants) are the substitutes for each side.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley spoke to Fox Footy on the back of those changes, and stated that even if today was a final, the trio of late outs “probably wouldn’t” have played.
“Stone was sick all night last night … he’s not well enough to play, Daniels had a sore back so we’re just a little bit precautionary with him, and then Toby Bedford’s calf was a bit tight throughout the week, so we weren’t prepared to risk that one either,” Kingsley said before the opening bounce.
The match got off to a fiery start, with Aaron Cadman kicking the game’s first goal courtesy of a free kick handed his way for a dangerous Liam Jones tackle.
The tackle had eery similarities to that of GWS’ Lachie Ash last week, who was suspended for one game and subsequently missed today’s clash for it.
Cody Weightman received a free kick for high contact at the other end of the ground almost instantly afterwards, and made sure to kick true in response amid windy Ballarat conditions.
Jesse Hogan kicked goal 68 six minutes into the clash to give the Giants back an early lead, with the 29-year-old having sown up the Coleman Medal – now 10 ahead of the next closest forward this season.
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Source Agencies
