Here are four things to keep an eye on when the Western Bulldogs take on North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
1. The Bailey Alliance
Not one, not two, but three Baileys will line-up in the red, white and blue on Saturday.
Round nine Rising Star nominee Bailey Smith will be joined by Bailey Williams and Bailey Dale, both promoted on the back of strong VFL form.
If you missed it, here’s our team to take on North.
Has there ever been more Baileys in one team?
And – if Bailey Scott is a late inclusion for the Roos after being name as an emergency, that makes four on the field.
2. Ben Brown
The big Roo doesn’t mind coming up against the Bulldogs, if recent form is anything to go by.
Ben Brown slotted nine goals in the sides’ two clashes last year, five in a round 14 win and four in a round 21 defeat.
With full-back Fletcher Roberts making way for ruckman Tim English, Jackson Trengove looks likely to return to defence.
If he gets the match-up, Bulldogs fans will be hoping he can do a similar number on Brown as he did on Richmond star Tom Lynch a few weeks ago.
3. Nothing in it
Seven or less points have decided contests between the Bulldogs and Roos in their past four outings.
The Bulldogs have won three of those, including the most recent, where they came from five goals down at half-time at the back of last season.
And it’s not just the results that have been close.
Historically, the sides have gone neck and neck… with the win-loss ledger sitting at 80-78 in the Bulldogs favour, plus three draws.
4. In the contest
Like most weeks, it’s likely to be won and lost in the contest.
The Bulldogs and Roos both average 143 contested possessions per game in 2019.
Ben Cunnington is ranked third in the competition for contested possessions (154), while the Bulldogs have three players in the top 20 in Jack Macrae (10th, 121), Marcus Bontempelli (15th, 113) and Tom Liberatore (16th, 112).
In the Bulldogs four wins this season, they’ve led the clearance and contested ball counts at the final siren.
