The Western Bulldogs have made two changes for the Kick for the Kids clash against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Experienced duo Easton Wood and Jason Johannisen will make their first AFL appearances for 2021.

Johannisen was the – unused – medical sub last week, while Wood has spent the past fortnight proving his fitness in the VFL after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Making way from the team that defeated the West Coast Eagles are vice-captain Mitch Wallis and emerging midfielder Pat Lipinski.

Lipinski has been named as an emergency, alongside Lewis Young, Rhylee West and Lin Jong.

The Bulldogs will be out to maintain their perfect start to the season after wins against the Eagles and Collingwood in opening two rounds.

It was 2009 when the Bulldogs last started a season with three consecutive wins.

The match will also mark emerging ruckman Tim English’s 50^th game at AFL level.

English joined the Bulldogs with pick 19 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft and the 23-year-old has formed a potent ruck combination with Stefan Martin in 2021.

The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy.

A VFL practice match will also be played on Friday, with Footscray hosting North Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval.

Off-season recruit Mitch Hannan and Riley Garcia will return from injury for the ‘Scray, with the match to kick off at 11.30am.

ROUND 3 TEAM

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Friday 2 April, 4.20pm AEDT
Marvel Stadium

B: Bailey Williams, Ryan Gardner, Caleb Daniel
HB: Taylor Duryea, Alex Keath, Bailey Dale
C: Laitham Vandermeer, Bailey Smith, Lachie Hunter
HF: Adam Treloar, Aaron Naughton, Josh Dunkley
F: Tim English, Josh Bruce, Marcus Bontempelli
R: Stefan Martin, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore
Int: Easton Wood, Anthony Scott, Lachie McNeil, Jason Johannisen
Emer: Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Pat Lipinski, Lin Jong

The Western Bulldogs will be doing its part to raise money for the Good Friday Appeal, which does a remarkable job to support the monumental work of the Royal Children's Hospital. 

You can donate to the Club’s Good Friday Appeal fundraising page here.

The Western Bulldogs have taken home the chocolates in Good Friday’s ‘Kick for the Kids’ match against North Melbourne, running out 128-point winners at Marvel Stadium.

The Bulldogs managed to keep the Kangaroos to just two goals after half-time, adding 12 unanswered majors of their own in the process to record a 25.17 (167) to 5.9 (39) demolition.

The triumph takes the Bulldogs to 3-0 this season, the first time they have done so since 2009, while also breaking the record as the biggest win in the Club's history.

After going into the first break with just a two-goal advantage, the Dogs put their foot on the gas in the second and didn't take it off until the final siren. 

Even going into the final quarter 74 points up, when the game was more than won, the Bulldogs continued to bring the pressure.

Josh Bruce starred with a career-best 10 majors – four of which came in the final quarter alone – while Adam Treloar (27 disposals, nine inside-50s) and 50-gamer Tim English contributed with a trio of goals each.

On-ballers Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae both finished with 33 touches apiece, while veteran defender Easton Wood (22 disposals, eight marks) made a successful return from a hamstring injury.

The only sour note was losing emerging defender Ryan Gardner to an AC joint shoulder injury in the first minute of play, forcing the Bulldogs to activate their medical sub in Pat Lipinski.

The Western Bulldogs will now have an eight-day break before hosting the Brisbane Lions at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

NORTH MELBOURNE              2.2       3.4       3.8       5.9 (39)
WESTERN BULLDOGS             4.2       9.6       15.10   25.17 (167)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Stephenson 2, Hall, Larkey, Lazzaro
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 10, Treloar 3, English 3, Naughton 2, Dale 2, Lipinski, McNeil, Dunkley, Bontempelli, Scott

BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Simpkin, Stephenson, Hall
Western Bulldogs: Bruce, Treloar, Dunkley, Smith, English, Macrae, Daniel

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Polec (hamstring), Anderson (ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Gardner (shoulder)