The Western Bulldogs have won the past six matches against North Melbourne, including a 17-point victory back in round 16 this season in what was a defence first performance from the Dogs.
The 77-60 win for the Bulldogs was the first time a game between the pair has gone under the game total in the past seven matches.
Western Bulldogs Form
The Bulldogs were their worst enemies having one more scoring shot than Adelaide in the match last week, however, the goals to behinds ratio was flipped.
The Bulldogs kicked nine majors and 18 behinds and were incredibly inefficient and wasteful inside their forward 50.
Luke Beveridge’s men have now missed a golden opportunity to snag a top four finish and will now be fighting to stay in the finals bracket, likely needing two wins from two to safely secure finals footy in 2024.
Western Bulldogs Team News
Coach Luke Beveridge has dropped Riley Garcia and Nick Coffield with the injured 5-year man Tim English also missing the contest.
‘Western Bulldogs Team List
B: T.Duryea, L.Jones, B.Khamis
HB: L.Bramble, R.Lobb, B.Dale
C: J.Freijah, A.Treloar, B.Williams
HF: E.Richards, A.Naughton, L.McNeil
F: C.Weightman, J.Ugle-Hagan, L.Vandermeer
FOLL: S.Darcy, M.Bontempelli – C, T.Liberatore
I/C (FROM): C.Daniel, H.Gallagher, A.Jones, A.Keath, J.Macrae, C.Poulter, R.West
IN: J.Freijah, H.Gallagher, A.Jones, A.Keath, J.Macrae, J.O’Donnell
OUT: N.Coffield (Omitted), T.English (Injured), R.Garcia (Omitted)
North Melbourne Form
The Kangaroos squandered a 35-point third quarter lead that would have likely lifted them past West Coast on the ladder if they would have followed through. However, they bombed hard and have now locked in a no better finish than 17th in 2024.
West Coast kicked four straight goals in the third term and also kicked another four straight to close out the fourth which saw a late 19-point lead by the Kangas also diminish.
Such is North Melbourne’s season, where they just haven’t been able to put together four quarters to give themselves a chance.
North Melbourne Team News
Star young gun Harry Sheezel has been ruled out of the contest and will likely not play again in 2024 after suffering an ankle injury last weekend.
George Wardlaw has cleared concussion protocols and will feature in the match.
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