The Western Bulldogs have finalised its line-up for a crunch clash with Hawthorn in Tasmania on Sunday.

Josh Bruce returns to the team after being managed in the victory over GWS, while winger Roarke Smith finds his way into the 22 after being an unused sub last week.

Veteran Taylor Duryea is the other inclusion, recovering from a knee injury to take his place in the backline.

Stefan Martin, Rhylee West and Lachlan McNeil have been omitted.

Martin, West, Tim O’Brien and Robbie McComb are the emergencies for the trip to Launceston.

One of four emergencies will be confirmed as this week’s medical substitute an hour before the first bounce.

Fox Footy will broadcast the game live.  

ROUND 23 TEAM 
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Sunday 21 August, 1.10pm AEST
UTAS

B: Ed Richards, Ryan Gardner, Zaine Cordy
HB: Caleb Daniel, Sam Darcy, Bailey Dale
C: Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Smith
HF: Laitham Vandermeer, Aaron Naughton, Josh Dunkley 
F: Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Josh Bruce
R: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar
Int: Taylor Duryea, Lachie Hunter, Bailey Williams, Roarke Smith
Emg: Rhylee West, Stefan Martin, Tim O’Brien, Robbie McComb

In: Josh Bruce, Taylor Duryea, Roarke Smith
Out: Lachlan McNeil (omitted), Rhylee West (omitted), Stefan Martin (omitted)

The Western Bulldogs have finished the 2022 home and away season with 12 wins, after a nervy 23-point victory over Hawthorn in Launceston.

The triumph was enough to catapult the Dogs into the top eight momentarily, while the team’s finals hopes hinged on the result between Carlton and Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs were dominant throughout the contest with the Hawks, despite surrendering a three-goal lead during the second stanza, and couldn’t kick clear until late in the final term.

Hawthorn drew to within a goal in the first minute of the final term, but the Dogs finished with the final three majors – including two to Roarke Smith, who booted three for the day.

Aaron Naughton also kicked three to take his tally to 51 for the campaign (a career-high), while Jack Gunston was a handful with four goals in a losing side.

The Bulldogs put on a midfield masterclass, winning the clearances by 27 and the contested possessions by 25, which led to a whopping 71 inside 50s.

Josh Dunkley led the way, winning 29 disposals (17 contested), nine tackles and eight clearances, while Adam Treloar finished with a game-high 10 tackles to go with 25 touches.

The Bulldogs’ running defenders were a constant throughout, led by Ed Richards, Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel.

Sam Darcy showed flashes of brilliance in a switch to the forward line, taking two towering marks in a second quarter burst which each led to goals.

Tim English won the ruck battle against the retiring Ben McEvoy, winning 28 hitouts, 17 disposals and eight marks.

The Bulldogs finished the home-and-away season with two straight wins, and four from their last six games.

MATCH DETAILS
HAWTHORN                      4.1          8.1          9.2          10.4 (64)
WESTERN BULLDOGS     2.1          8.4          9.12        12.15 (87)

GOALS
Hawthorn:  Gunston 4, McEvoy 2, Moore 2, Morrison, Saunders
Western Bulldogs:  Naughton 3, R.Smith 3, Darcy 2, Bontempelli, Treloar, Weightman, Hunter

BEST
Hawthorn: Sicily, Gunston, Hardwick, Moore
Western Bulldogs: Dunkley, Darcy, Hunter, Daniel, R Smith, English

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (knee)

SUBSTITUTES 
Hawthorn: Jai Serong (unused)
Western Bulldogs: Robbie McComb (replaced Vandermeer in the fourth quarter)