TWO REBUILDING sides with some great young talent go head-to-head under lights at Whitten Oval when the Western Bulldogs take on Collingwood tonight. We preview the big game that promises to have plenty of exciting moments.

NEED TO KNOW

Date: Friday, September 26
Venue: Whitten Oval
Time: 7:15pm local

TEAMS

Western Bulldogs:

Collingwood:

CHANGES

The Western Bulldogs have rotated their young key forwards with their first selection of last year’s draft Emma McDonald replacing their first selection of the previous year’s draft, Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner. Collingwood is without the injured Kalinda Howarth whose knee was fortunately not as serious as first thought, while bringing in Annie Lee and Grace Campbell. Muireann Atkinson is the other omission.

MISSING IN ACTION

Collingwood will be relieved Howarth’s knee was only minor and therefore hopefully only a one-week absence. Former captain Brianna Davey is still recovering from an ankle injury, while Kellyann Hogan and Charlotte Taylor are only a week or two off with shoulder and hamstring complaints respectively.

By comparison, the Western Bulldogs almost have a clean bill of health, with Cleo Buttifant (hamstring, two weeks) the only current casualty in the injury ward.

WHERE IT’S WON

Both these sides are still very much building, with Collingwood having post two wins, and the Bulldogs only one in season 2025. At times they can fail to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal, but restricting the opposition will be key to maintaining time in forward half.

Last year’s number one pick Ash Centra has just continued to grow since moving into the midfield and is a real danger to the Dogs, while Ruby Schleicher and Brittany Bonnici can go toe-for-toe with the best and the Dogs do have talent in there in the form of Isabelle Pritchard, Jessica Fitzgerald and of course skipper Ellie Blackburn.

Offensively the Magpies have looked better this season, but the loss of Howarth hurst, with the likes of Grace Campbell and Nell Morris-Dalton needing to stand up and fill that void, while Mikayla Hyde is the dangerous small at ground level. The Bulldogs have experience in the back half in Lauren Ahrens and Elle Bennetts, while Elisabeth Georgostathis can play a variety of roles.

Up front for the Dogs, Sarah Hartwig will always compete in the air and loom as a serious danger, while the two-prong experience of Deanna Berry and Louise Stephenson will hold them in good stead. Young tall defender Lucy Cronin has been in great form and can be thrown forward like she was last week, while Lauren Butler and Jordyn Allen have bled black and white and will also put their bodies on the line.

PREDICTION

The Collingwood pressure this season has been immense, and even the very top teams have commented on how relentless it is, and the way the Magpies can take away the opposition’s weapons. Western Bulldogs have to be up for the fight, and mist capitalise on opportunities, as in the past inaccuracy or fundamentals here or there has been their undoing. The Magpies deserve to be favourites in this one, but it shapes up as a really good game. Collingwood by 8 points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Friday’s action all kicks off at Casey Fields when Melbourne plays host to Gold Coast from 1:05pm today. The two sides are at opposite ends of the ladder, though the Suns have improved and even had the Crows on the ropes at three quarter time last week. Expect the Dees to be too strong through.

Essendon is next up in the challenge to find a chink in North Melbourne’s seemingly impenetrable armour. The Bombers welcome back Georgia Gee, while Roos tall Emma King returns for the huge clash at Windy Hill.

Finally, Carlton hosts Fremantle in what promises to be a ripping contest. The Dockers are staying the two weeks with a fortnight in Melbourne, but now face a Blues side that has been able to bring back key midfielder Keeley Skepper.