LIVE AFL: Dogs aim to secure a finals berth while Roos lose a crucial component early in a vicious clash
The Western Bulldogs under Luke Beveridge have a must-win match against the humble North Melbourne, but it might not be as simple as it seems.
After losing to Adelaide on Sunday night, the Bulldogs (12-9, 118.5%) are once again in the heart of things when it comes to the playoffs, and they cannot afford to lose another game if they hope to play in September.
The Kangaroos (3-18, 68.3%) will play for pride since they are almost guaranteed to finish the 2024 season in 17th place.
Aside from Tim English’s absence due to an ankle injury, Luke Beveridge made unexpected cuts at the selection table, dropping Riley Garcia, Caleb Poulter, and Nick Coffield.
On the strength of some incredible VFL form, out-of-favour premiership player Jack Macrae returns, along with Harvey Gallagher, James O’Donnell, and James Freijah.
In addition, North has made four changes: the recalls of Dylan Stephens, Kallan Dawson, George Wardlaw, and Zac Fisher.
Zane Duursma has been managed, Will Phillips and Toby Pink have been dropped, and Harry Sheezel (ankle) will miss time due to injury.
The game kicks off from Marvel Stadium at 1:10 p.m.
Watch it live at 12:30 p.m. on Fox Footy (channel 504), or stream it on Kayo and Hubbl.
Jack Macrae of the Bulldogs and Miller Bergman of the Kangaroos are the respective substitutes; neither club has any late teams.
Following a pair of early behinds, full forward Nick Larkey of the Roos marked in the goal square and then walked into an open goal to score the opening major of the match.
Soon after, however, the Dogs responded, with young gun Sam Darcy—who is currently playing full-time ruck in lieu of the injured Tim English—converting from a set shot following a strongly contested mark.
Surprisingly, just sixty seconds later, his direct opponent Tristan Xerri accomplished the same thing at the opposite end of the field, with the talls having a significant influence early on.
Once more, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan walked into an open goal without
Charlie Comben of North was substituted out early and sent to the hospital with a head and calf injury. Miller Bergman entered the game as Comben’s replacement.
At the half, North Melbourne’s 3.4 (22) was trailed by Western Bulldogs’ 5.3 (33) on the scorecard.
Taylor Duryea of the Bogs had eight touches and six marks, while Zac Fisher of the Kangaroos had eleven disposals out of defense.
In the second term, it took 13 minutes for a major to be scored by either team, but two quick buckets from Darcy and Ugle-Hagan gave the Bulldogs a 25-point lead.
Before the half, Ugle-Hagan scored his third goal, really putting the Roos under pressure, and the Dogs showed no signs of slowing down.
Darcy placed his third as well.
Wearing the Liam Shiels contact, Rory Lobb hobbled out of a contest early in the third after taking too long to get boot to ball.
And the hard hits persisted until a rough collision between teammates Dylan Stephens and Miller Bergman ended the game.
Bergman’s concussion later caused him to be ruled out.
However, it was young Dog Sam Darcy’s term as he added a career-best sixth goal and extended the lead to more over sixty points in the third quarter.
Three-time champion Tiger Jack Riewoldt described Darcy as “an absolute weapon for the Bulldogs going into finals.”
“This young man is capable of completely ruining a game.”
“Good luck when he jumps at the ball and catches it at his highest point!
“more than 200
By the time of the last change, the Dogs were ahead 111-29.
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Two and a half minutes into the last quarter, Darcy scored his seventh goal of the game, followed by Naughton’s second.
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With 12 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs led by 95 points after goals from Jack Macrae and Robert Hansen Jr.
