The injury-ravaged Bulldogs host the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Best Bet
This line has tightened from 30+ points to 20.5 as the Bulldogs’ injury list piled up over the pre-season, but it still looks too high.
The Dogs will be without a host of star players, including Bontempelli, Jones, Weightman, Treloar, and possibly Richards and Dale, depending on fitness tests. Meanwhile, North will be close to full strength, with young gun George Wardlaw the only notable absence.
The Roos finished last season on a far more competitive note, particularly at Marvel, where they covered in six of their last seven games. Their final pre-season hit-out against West Coast was better than the scoreboard suggested too, with North kicking 9.15 to the Eagles’ 11.5 in blustery conditions.
North’s midfield looks capable of matching the depleted Dogs, so if they can contain Darcy and Naughton, this could go right down to the wire.
Same Game Multi
Sam Darcy booted seven against the Roos last year and could go big again, with North’s shaky key defenders also coming off limited pre-seasons.
The half-back ball pig has been a strong role to target under Clarkson, and this year, Caleb Daniel takes on that position. He racked up 26 disposals in North’s practice match against West Coast, despite limited kick-in opportunities with the Eagles registering just five behinds.
Bont’s absence should open up more midfield time for Ryley Sanders, who collected 22 touches in the Dogs’ final pre-season hit-out.
Value Bet
They couldn’t, could they? Clarko will be desperate to see a better start for his team this year and they won’t get a better time to play this Dogs team with their injury troubles.
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