Essendon will take a settled line-up into the match against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The Bulldogs lost key position players Dale Morris and Jack Redpath with Travis Cloke and Tory Dickson called into the side.
The Bombers have won their last three matches, while the Dogs have won their last two.
Read Robert Shaw's preview here.
The History
R22, 2016, Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) d Essendon 7.11 (53) at Etihad Stadium
R18, 2015, Western Bulldogs 19.13 (127) d Essendon 5.10 (40) at Etihad Stadium
R18, 2014, Essendon 15.11 (101) d Western Bulldogs 14.10 (94) at Etihad Stadium
RR7, 2014, Essendon 10.13 (73) d Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2013, Essendon 18.13 (121) d Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) at Etihad Stadium
Sidenote
The Bombers will celebrate two milestones against the Bulldogs.
Cale Hooker will play his 150th game, while Mark Baguley will play his 100th match.
Hooker has become an All Australian and Crichton Medal winner, while Baguley is a two-time winner of the Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player award and was appointed Vice-Captain in 2016.
The Teams
Western Bulldogs
In: Tory Dickson, Travis Cloke, Lukas Webb
Out: Jack Redpath (Suspension), Dale Morris (Arm), Mitch Honeychurch (Injured)
B: Shane Biggs, Zaine Cordy, Jason Johannisen
HB: Easton Wood, Lewis Young, Matthew Suckling
C: Lachie Hunter, Mitch Wallis, Bailey Dale
HF: Toby McLean, Liam Picken, Tory Dickson
F: Robert Murphy, Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus
R: Jordan Roughead, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae
I: Travis Cloke, Bailey Williams, Caleb Daniel, Lukas Webb
E: Fletcher Roberts, Tim English, Matthew Boyd
Essendon
No change
Milestones: Cale Hooker (150 games), Mark Baguley (100 games)
B: Andrew McGrath, Michael Hartley, James Kelly
HB: Martin Gleeson, Michael Hurley, Mark Baguley
C: Zach Merrett, Brendon Goddard, Darcy Parish
HF: Jobe Watson, Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell
F: Orazio Fantasia, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Tom Bellchambers, David Zaharakis, Travis Colyer
I: James Stewart, David Myers, Jayden Laverde, Conor McKenna
E: Josh Begley, Kyle Langford, Matt Dea
Key notes:
- The Bombers have lost their last two games against the Bulldogs, but previous to that the Dons won seven out of eight clashes between 2010 and 2014.
- Essendon is ranked fourth for scoring this season and has kicked more than 100 points on ten occasions. The Dogs have passed 100 five times. The Bombers average 98 points per game, while the Bulldogs average 82 points.
- It will be a battle of contrasting forward set ups when the game gets underway. Tall targets Cale Hooker and Joe Daniher will play key roles for the Bombers, while the Bulldogs will rely on smaller players inside 50. Liam Picken kicked six goals last week for the Bulldogs and Martin Gleeson shapes as a potential match up.
- The Bulldogs can produce some dynamic rebound from half back. The forward pressure Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and the other Bombers are able to provide will be crucial.
