This top-of-the-table clash is being talked up as the Bulldogs' opportunity to test themselves against us, but we see it as an opportunity to play against one of the form teams in the competition.
If the wintery conditions eventuate, it'll suit us because we back our body strength and skills in close against anyone.
We know the Dogs are fast, fit and skilful and have added a hard edge to their game, and we will need to perform at our best to get the result.
We are improving every week but, unlike the press, we haven't made any assumptions about our 2008 season <0x2014> we'll just continue to work hard and see where that takes us.
With Gary Ablett and Cameron Ling out, we are missing our best-performed players in the ball-getting and stopping roles. We see this as an opportunity to test our depth, which is one of the reasons for our successes in the past 18 months.
MIDFIELD
Plan A: The major focus of our midfield planning was to assess whether we replace Ling's role with Max Rooke as a tagger on Adam Cooney or go head-to-head with the Dogs through the midfield and back our defensive mechanisms. We'll give Rooke first crack and back him to reduce Cooney's effectiveness at the stoppages, at which we rate our rucks to give us at least a 50/50 at ground level. Joel Selwood is the logical replacement in the centre for Ablett as his ball-getting and use has continued to blossom with added responsibility. James Bartel and Joel Corey will play on all-comers and James Kelly and Brent Prismall will be heavily involved in rotations.
Plan B: If Cooney gets away from Rooke, we'll give Corey the run-with role. He has the ability to close opponents down yet gather his share of the football. If they tag any of our players effectively, we can put them on the half-back flank and let them get involved in our rebound from defence. Corey Enright has been in great form and could go into the middle from down back or Paul Chapman or Steve Johnson could come up into a midfield role without effecting our balance at either end too much.
ATTACK
Plan A: We've got skill and flair to burn forward of the ball but few realise that it's our work-rate that sets us up every week. The constant movement of Johnson, Chapman and Matthew Stokes through the forward half creates space and opportunity for each other. The Bulldogs have dangerous rebounding players in Lindsay Gilbee, Ryan Hargreaves and Ryan Griffen (if he plays across half-back). We'll try to get all three of those players on dangerous forwards so they spend more time defending and less time running off. Tom Lonergan has done the job as the second tall to complement Cam Mooney and we'll give him every chance to play that role again. Travis Varcoe and Stokes will be crucial for forward pressure on the Bulldogs backs.
Plan B: Our flexibility in the forward half comes from a multitude of players that can play small and tall. If we want to go three talls up forward, we know that we'll stretch them in the air as they are a tall back short without Tom Williams. I'm expecting Dale Morris to go with Steve Johnson and I'm keen to throw Brad Ottens forward at some stage to see whether the Bulldogs will stay with that match-up.
DEFENCE
Plan A: Our defence can match up on all manner of forward structures and we know we'll see this from the Dogs. Matthew Scarlett is our best defensive 50 player and he will more than likely get Scott Welsh or Will Minson; whoever plays closer to goal. We don't want him drawn out of that zone like he was by Anthony Rocca against Collingwood. Tom Harley will take the other and get involved, third man up, as much as possible. We'll give Josh Hunt first crack at Brad Johnson after his effort last year. Andrew Mackie will line up on Robert Murphy and if it's wet, we might make a late change and bring in David Johnson for Harry Taylor and have him sit on Jason Akermanis.
Plan B: Our plan B is simply to throw our back line around until we have the right balance to stop and run off. If the Dogs are getting the ball quickly through our midfield, we'll modify our positioning and be happy in one-on-one contests in our defensive half. If Aka gets away from us at any stage, we can use Enright on him in a more traditional defensive role.
THE WILDCARD
In a wet, physical struggle, the strongest, smartest players thrive and Jimmy Bartel is exactly that. He has a massive record against the Dogs and is strong in the air and on the ground. His game sense assists in our pace of attack and in our solidity in defence. Has snuck forward in tight games for multiple goals in recent times and could do so again. He's likely to go head-to-head with Matthew Boyd. Their match-up looks to be a battle of similar-type players and will be pivotal in the result.
WHY WE'LL WIN
Our ability to win the hard ball and use it effectively in the most intense contests is our key attribute. We pride ourselves on first hands and contested possession in close and know that our high work-rate and effective ball use makes it hard to get the ball back off us. We'll start there and the rest will look after itself.
LEADING PLAYERS (Competition rankings)
GEELONG
* Joel Corey (1), Jimmy Bartel (3) and Gary Ablett (5) rank in the top five for total disposals.
* Corey ranks No.1 in uncontested possessions and handball receives and second in handballs.
* Ablett (out injured) ranks 2nd in contested possessions and 4th in hard ball-gets
* Mark Blake ranks 4th in hitouts and 3rd in hitouts-to-advantage.
* Corey and Ablett rank equal-4th in inside 50s.
* Cameron Mooney leads the competition in goal assists and Steve Johnson is 2nd.
*Tom Harley ranks No. 1 in marks from opposition kicks and Josh Hunt ranks fourth.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
* Adam Cooney ranks 4th in disposals and Daniel Cross 6th.
* Cross ranks 1st in handballs, sixth in contested possessions.
* Robert Murphy ranks equal-2nd in inside 50s and equal fourth in marks and uncontested marks.
* Lindsay Gilbee ranks 3rd in effective kicks and short kicks and 4th in rebound 50s.
* Brian Lake is 2nd in short kicks and equal 2nd in marks from opposition kicks.
* Ben Hudson is 7th in hard ball-gets.
* Cooney ranks equal-5th in loose ball-gets and equal 7th in clearances.
* Daniel Giansiracusa ranks equal-3rd in score assists.
Keep up to date with the latest AFL news.