Western Bulldogs recall Jake Stringer, Easton Wood, Jordan Roughead, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae
DUMPED forward Jake Stringer has been handed a finals reprieve as the Western Bulldogs gambled on the fitness of its returning stars, making five changes for Thursday’s sudden-death final against West Coast at Subiaco.
Stringer returns to the side after two games in the VFL, with coach Luke Beveridge hopeful he can prove the X-factor for the Bulldogs and boost their scoring capabilities.
HUGE CLASH: DOGS AGAINST THE WORLD OUT WEST
RISING STAR: MILLS TAKES OUT TOP AWARD
Last year’s All-Australian joins acting skipper Easton Wood (ankle), Tom Liberatore (ankle), Jack Macrae (hamstring) and Jordan Roughead (calf) in what looks, on paper, to be the Bulldogs’ strongest team since the first month of the season.
Will Minson, Koby Stevens, Nathan Hrovat and Bailey Williams were dropped, along with the surprise omission of defender Fletcher Roberts, who had been a contender to take on Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy.
West Coast made one change, losing speedster Lewis Jetta to a calf injury, while bringing back big man Mitch Brown. The Eagles will closely monitor ruckman Scott Lycett in the lead-up, as he has battled a knee injury.
The Bulldogs kicked only six goals against Fremantle at Subiaco a fortnight ago, and desperately need more avenues to goal if they are to bring about a finals upset.
Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King said Stringer could be critical to this, saying he was a “big game player.”
“We’re really happy with the way (Stringer) has gone back and worked, and if you get a few back at the right time, it can just be great timing,” King said of the changes. “I think everyone comes across here now with great confidence.”
But AFL coaching great Mick Malthouse questioned whether making so many changes heading in a final would leave the Bulldogs vulnerable, given Liberatore and Macrae haven’t played in six weeks, and Wood has made a quicker than expected recovery to his ankle issue.
“Some of those blokes who haven’t played for a long time, their mindset will be ‘can I get through the game’, Malthouse said on SEN. “Make no mistake about it, West Coast ... will be pushing the button as hard as they possibly can to sort them out.”
YOUNG GUNS: YOUR CLUB’S BEST FIRST-YEAR PLAYER
FEATURE: KOUTA REMEMBERS THE MAGIC OF PRINCES PARK
“Finals football, if you have an injury ... there is nowhere to hide. I think it is a big ask to bring a lot of players back into that side.”
However, Beveridge has boldly backed his players and his medical staff in an effort to win the club’s first interstate final, against the in-form Eagles, who have downed three legitimate contenders in their past three matches.
WEST COAST EAGLES v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Thursday 8 September, 8.10pm, Subiaco
EAGLES
B: B. Sheppard, W. Schofield, T. Barrass
HB: S. Hurn, J. McGovern, S. Wellingham
C: E. Yeo, M. Priddis, J. Cripps
HF: M. LeCras, J. Darling, C. Masten
F: J. Giles, J. Kennedy, J. Hill
R: S. Lycett, A. Gaff, L. Shuey,
I/C: M. Brown, D. Sheed, S. Butler, M. Hutchings
EMG: J. Redden, L. Duggan, J. Nelson
IN: M. Brown
OUT: L. Jetta (calf)
BULLDOGS
B: S. Biggs, J. Hamling, M. Boyd
HB: J. Johannisen, D. Morris, E. Wood
C: L. Hunter, M. Bontempelli, L. Picken
HF: L. Jong, Z. Cordy, J. Stringer
F: T. Dickson, T. Boyd, C. Daniel
R: J. Roughead, L. Dahlhaus, J. Dunkley
I/C: M. Suckling, J. Macrae, C. Smith, T. Liberatore
EMG: T. Campbell, T. McLean, F. Roberts
IN: J. Roughead, E. Wood, T. Liberatore, J. Stringer, J. Macrae
OUT: W. Minson (Omitted), K. Stevens (Omitted), F. Roberts (Omitted), N. Hrovat (Omitted), B. Williams (Omitted)