The Western Bulldogs will unleash their first debutant of season 2022 in Saturday’s Ballarat fixture against Adelaide.

Mature-age recruit Robbie McComb will don the red, white and blue for the first time, given the nod after a dominant start to the VFL season for Footscray.

The 26-year-old was selected at Pick 23 in the 2021 Rookie Draft, showing persistence pays off after spending four years on the Club’s VFL list.

A career-best season skyrocketed the proven ball-winner into AFL calculations, averaging 26 touches a game, winning the Footscray fairest and best and making the VFL Team of the Year.

Veteran ruckman Stefan Martin will play his 200^th game of AFL after being named to replace Tim English.

The 35-year-old has played at both Melbourne and Brisbane previously to the Bulldogs, racking up nine games in his first season at Whitten Oval in 2021.

English will miss the clash against the Crows after sustaining a hamstring injury during training this week.

Josh Schache returns to the line-up and will add flexibility to the side, while Riley Garcia is set to spend time on the sidelines, injuring his knee against North Melbourne last week.

Lachie Hunter and Mitch Wallis come out of the side for personal reasons.

Hayden Crozier, Rhylee West, Buku Khamis and Jordon Sweet are the emergencies for Saturday’s clash.

A player will be confirmed as the medical sub an hour before the first bounce. 

Fox Footy will broadcast the game live.

ROUND 6 TEAM
Western Bulldogs v Adelaide
Saturday 23 April, 1.45pm EST
Mars Stadium

B: Ed Richards, Ryan Gardner, Taylor Duryea
HB: Caleb Daniel, Tim O’Brien, Bailey Dale
C: Lachlan McNeil Jack Macrae, Anthony Scott
HF: Tom Liberatore, Zaine Cordy, Adam Treloar
F: Marcus Bontempelli Aaron Naughton, Cody Weightman
R: Stefan Martin, Bailey Smith, Josh Dunkley
Int: Robbie McComb, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Josh Schache, Bailey Williams
Emer: Hayden Crozier, Rhylee West, Buku Khamis, Jordon Sweet

In: Stefan Martin, Robbie McComb, Josh Schache
Out: Tim English (hamstring), Lachie Hunter (personal reasons), Riley Garcia (knee), Mitch Wallis (personal reasons)

Last week’s sub: M. Wallis (replaced R. Garcia)

The Western Bulldogs have fallen agonisingly short to Adelaide at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.

A frenetic final quarter saw the two sides exchange goals early, before back-to-back Bulldog majors through Josh Schache and Josh Dunkley saw them snatch a two-point lead.

But 11 minutes left to play was more than enough time for the Crows to execute their comeback, producing the next four scoring opportunities to leave the hosts chasing a seven-point margin in the dying minutes.

A captain’s goal from Marcus Bontempelli closed the gap to a single point, but with seven seconds left on the clock there was nothing else the Dogs could do in the 9.8 (62) to 8.15 (63) affair.

A somewhat sluggish start saw the visitors control the opening 10 minutes, before the Bulldogs started to find their groove.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked the Dogs’ first after a couple of early behinds, with Adam Treloar and Aaron Naughton contributing one each not long after to establish an early lead.

The second quarter was more congested, as both sides wrestled for the footy with little reward on the scoreboard.

The Bulldogs found a way forward in the third through Naughton and Schache, but still found themselves trailing by three at the final break.

What ensued was a rollercoaster of emotions for Dogs’ fans, as they watched the Crows run away with the slimmest of margins.

Tom Liberatore led the stats sheets with 33 disposals, nine tackles and 10 clearances, while Bailey Dale provided flair off the half-backline with 32 touches and 790 metres gained.  

Josh Dunkley (28, 10 tackles, six clearances) and Bailey Smith (29, six inside 50s) contributed well in the midfield, supported by Jack Macrae (25, six clearances).

Adam Treloar finished with two goals to his name, while Anthony Scott and Ryan Gardner impressed.

The Bulldogs will next turn their attention to Essendon on Sunday 1 May at Marvel Stadium.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     3.5     3.7     5.8     9.8     (62)
ADELAIDE                      2.4     3.7     5.11     8.15     (63)

GOALS  
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Treloar 2, Schache 2, Ugle-Hagan, Dunkley, Bontempelli
Adelaide: Walker 3, McAdam 2, Sholl, Gollant, McHenry

BEST   
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Dale, Macrae, Smith, Treloar
Adelaide: Laird, Frampton, Keays, O'Brien, Crouch

INJURIES  
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Adelaide: Gollant (nose), McAdam (knee, calf)

SUBSTITUTES  
Western Bulldogs: Rhylee West (unused)
Adelaide: Will Hamill (unused)