When debutant Patrick Lipinski runs out alongside retiring club greats Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd on Friday night the symbolism will be unavoidable.

While Murphy and Boyd have played over 600 games between them, 19-year-old Lipinski, a Bulldog fan growing up, will be playing his first.

Speaking at VU Whitten Oval on Thursday, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said that he’s hoping the mix will spark his side into finishing the home and away season on the highest of notes.

“[it’s] a bit of a changing of the guard, Patty represents the new blood, the new life in our football club, and Boydy and Bob some significant history," he said.

“When the two come together on Friday night, hopefully it explodes into an exciting performance by the Western Bulldogs.”

Beveridge acknowledged that with his side unlikely to play finals, Friday night’s game will be especially significant for the Club as they farewell Boyd and Murphy.

“I don’t usually leverage milestone games or sentiment around individuals, we play a team based sport where there’s a lot more to it than that but this week there’s room to build that emotion around Bob and around Matty Boyd,” he said.

“Ultimately we go out every week trying to win the game of football and I think there’s a little bit of stimulus there because there’s a romance with both boys.

“Both Matty and Bob have obviously dreamt to play the game as young kids and it’s all going to possibly finish on Friday night and as a group we’ll be well aware of that. 

“Whether that gives us a spike in our performance, who knows but it’s worth while acknowledging it.”

Patrick Lipinski will be the 1000^th Bulldog to play for the club.

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