• ANALYSIS

When North Melbourne beat the Western Bulldogs in a top-of-the-table clash back in round six, it was the Roos who looked the harder outfit, applying a defensive squeeze so tight the Dogs managed just six goals for the entire game.

By Rob Forsaith

Mitch Wallis hasn't been able to watch the vision of his horrendous leg break almost two weeks ago.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says his club will attempt to lure suspended Essendon star Michael Hurley should he decide to leave the Bombers.

Banned ex-Bomber Stewart Crameri is in training and ready to make a last-minute return to the Western Bulldogs if the Essendon appeal to a Swiss court is successful in time.

Will Minson may be recalled from the VFL for only the second time this year as the Western Bulldogs prepare to take on North Melbourne.

Luke Beveridge has signed a contract extension that will see him coach the Western Bulldogs until at least the end of the 2020 season.

Premiership aspirants Adelaide, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are all sweating on the results of scans as Fremantle get set to welcome back Aaron Sandilands.

North Melbourne forward Majak Daw is in line for another senior recall against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, after impressing for Werribee in their 63-point win over the Northern Blues at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday. 

The Western Bulldogs' heartbreaking injuries have helped them to gel together as a group and tough out each game until the end, Liam Picken said.

If you don't laugh, you cry, says a philosophical Luke Beveridge after a brave but costly loss to Geelong.

If you were to take a friend to their first AFL match, you would be hoping it would look something like this one.

• Live

Huge night looms for Geelong with Corey Enright (club games record) and premiership teammate Jimmy Bartel (300 games) posting major milestones.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews has been left baffled by the Western Bulldogs' preparation for their Friday night blockbuster with Geelong at Simonds Stadium.

The luckless Western Bulldogs have been dealt further blows ahead of their Friday night blockbuster in Geelong, with defenders Matt Suckling and Matthew Boyd added to a lengthy injury list.

Focusing on the team's best wins has helped Western Bulldogs players recover from the trauma of Saturday's injuries, Luke Beveridge said.

Despite admitting that he did not "fill the dance card" at the Western Bulldogs, outgoing CEO David Stevenson insisted the time was right to depart the club.

With six teams in the top eight all equal on 12 wins, the final finishing order is anyone's guess. But we've decided to give it a try and work out just what the final eight might look like.

Chairman Peter Gordon names finance director Gary Kent as club's third club CEO in 18 months after sudden resignation of David Stevenson barely a year into the job.