St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Sunday 21 June | 3:15pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: 7AFL/7Plus, Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 14, 2025 
St Kilda 8.12 (60) def. by Western Bulldogs 20.12 (132)

The Bulldogs cruised to a 72-point win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, improving on their previous 71-point victory over the Saints earlier in the season.

The Dogs' ability to release the ball to a runner from the contest was a significant factor in the result. While the Saints went with them in terms of clearance numbers, winning the metric 40-39, it was the Dogs' second layer release that gave them the upper hand.

In partnership with that contested nous, the hard-running efforts of the Dogs on the wing and across half-back was exceptional. Sam Davidson and Ryley Sanders never stopped moving, while Bailey Dale's efforts out of defence were a constant issue for the Saints.

Dale (36 disposals, 10 marks) was afforded plenty of space and time coming off the half-back line, while Bailey Williams' (17 marks, three contested) aerial intercept game was impressive early.

THE LINE-UP

Check back on Thurdsay at 6:20pm for the squad announcement, and Friday at 5pm for final teams!

WHAT IT MEANS

by Martin Pagan/AFL.com.au

Western Bulldogs (8-6) slipped out of the top six when their run of three thrilling victories on the trot was abruptly ended when they were blown away in the opening term against Adelaide at Marvel Stadium. The defeat pushed the Dogs out of the top six again though they can turn to an imposing record against the Saints with five wins in their past six meetings coming by an average 69 points. 

GAME SHAPER

Arty Jones has been made to bide his time before earning a regular spot in the Bulldogs line-up but has gone a long way to cementing a place in their attack over the past seven games. The 22-year-old remains a livewire in the forward half and already has a career-high 11 goals for the season but is now also adding a spark further up the field with intense pressure and silky delivery inside 50.

It's a game the Western Bulldogs simply had to win.

And it might have taken them until deep in the last quarter to secure it, but secure the victory they did, running out 12.11 (83) to 8.13 (61) winners over St Kilda under the Marvel Stadium roof on Sunday afternoon.

Marcus Bontempelli (34 disposals, 13 clearances, one goal) was wilful, including a stunning roving goal in the second quarter to wow the crowd, while the return of Tom Liberatore (23 disposals, five clearances) was welcomed by the Dogs.

Will Lewis (two goals) proved an early wildcard, and Luke Kennedy bagged his first career AFL goal to get things off to a strong start, while Lachie McNeil (18 disposals, one goal) was everywhere early in the piece.

As Luke Beveridge is known to do, some little tactical surprises were thrown up throughout the match. Bailey Dale and Rhylee West shared a specific wing role, starting deep on the defensive corner of the square, they dropped into defence once the ball was thrown in the air to generate an extra behind the ball. This repeatedly allowed the Bulldogs to intercept attacking centre clearances from St Kilda, and generated a repelling kick.

Meanwhile, Bontempelli and Matt Kennedy offered ruck support to Tim English.

There was a sense that no side really took its opportunities when they were created, as the Dogs peppered the goals with little reward through the third term, the Saints having done the same across the first half.

The Bulldogs head into the bye with a 9-6 record, ahead of a round 17 clash with the Sydney Swans at the SCG.

Bont, the ruck?

In recent weeks, Luke Beveridge has opted to use Tim English and Rory Lobb in the ruck, sharing duties and resting forward. On Sunday afternoon, however, Lobb played just 67 per cent of game time, with minimal time at stoppage, and midfielders Marcus Bontempelli and Matt Kennedy supported English in the ruck. It was a curious look from the Dogs – particularly with captain Bontempelli having carried injuries throughout the year – but a tactic evidently focused on minimising the dominance of St Kilda duo Rowan Marshall and Tom De Koning.

ST KILDA                          3.4    4.7    6.8   8.13 (61)
WESTERN BULLDOGS         3.2    7.5    8.10   12.11 (83)

GOALS 
St Kilda: De Koning, Sharman, Higgins, Wilson, Wanganeen-Milera, Lake, Garcia, Byrnes
Western Bulldogs: Lewis 2, Lobb 2, Naughton 2, L.Kennedy, Hynes, Bontempelli, M.Kennedy, McNeil, Jones

BEST 
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Silvagni, Windhager, Garcia, Wilkie, Hill
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, O'Donnell, Dale, Richards, Liberatore , Khamis

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Sinclair (right calf), De Koning (ribs), Marshall (left shoulder)
Western Bulldogs: Nil

Crowd: 30,194 at Marvel Stadium