The Western Bulldogs host the Sydney Swans at their Whitten Oval headquarters in the clubs’ unofficial match simulation clash on Thursday afternoon.
The Dogs enter undermanned with six Origin players absent, while superstar recruit Charlie Curnow has been unveiled in a Swans guernsey for the first time.
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The only place to watch the Bulldogs and Sydney live on Thursday is on Fox Footy, via Foxtel on Channel 504 and streaming on Kayo Sports.
Follow Foxfooty.com.au’s in-game and post-match coverage of Dogs-Swans in the live blog below!
‘LICKING THEIR LIPS’: SWANS’ TANTALISING GLIMPSE AT RECRUITS
Charlie Curnow has slotted into Sydney’s forward line with aplomb, booting two first-half goals against the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Just 12 minutes into match simulation play, Curnow got free to mark a beautiful Errol Gulden exit kick after bursting away from stoppage.
“That’s the combination they’ve been talking about all summer; Charlie’s eyes would have lit up just then, a sensational kick from Gulden,” former Swans star Dan Hannebery said on the Kayo Sports broadcast.
“That’s the combination that all Swans fans and coaches will be licking their lips over.”
Curnow had his second major halfway through the second term, and it came via another direct goal assist from Errol Gulden, who this time exploded through the corridor and delivered long to the ex-Blue, who’d created space in the pocket.
“Gulden’s hit him up twice now, so he’s licking his lips anytime Errol is shoulders-out and facing goals,” Hannebery said.
And while he had two goals to his name at the main change, it could have been more, with a few ‘almost’ moments not quite going his way at Whitten Oval.
“(He) looks primed; he looks like he’s got a point to prove, doesn’t he?” said Kayo caller Damian Watson.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Rosas, another of the Swans’ off-season recruits, was also impressive up forward.
The ex-Sun kicked his first goal in Swans colours within minutes of the game beginning, pouncing in the goalsquare after a great piece of forward pressure.
“How lively; he’s exactly what they’ve lacked a bit at times,” Hannebery said.
“They’ve had Papley and Hayward, but Paps has always needed an extra sort of support down there to crumb and create.
“His liveliness up forward, it’s got other players into the game. Charlie and Logan have worked really well together, creating a great contest; their pressure is up forward of centre.”
Rosas also had two majors by half-time, bringing a truly exciting small forward element in Papley’s absence.
WESTERN BULLDOGS SQUAD
5. Jedd Busslinger, 6. Cooper Hynes, 8. Matthew Kennedy, 9. Ryley Sanders, 11. Lachie Jaques, 12. Harvey Gallagher, 13. Oskar Baker, 14. Rhylee West, 15. Will Darcy, 16. Jordan Croft, 17. Nick Coffield, 18. James O’Donnell, 19. Connor Budarick, 21. Tom Liberatore, 24. Buku Khamis, 25. Louis Emmett, 27. Joel Freijah, 28. Will Lewis, 29. Lachlan Bramble, 30. Lachlan McNeil, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Arthur Jones, 34. Bailey Williams, 35. Luke Kennedy, 36. Luke Cleary, 37. Michael Sellwood, 40. Lachlan Smith, 41. Zac Walker, 42. Sam Davidson, 43. Ryan Gardner
Absent: Rory Lobb*, Aaron Naughton*, Tim English*, Marcus Bontempelli*, Sam Darcy*, Ed Richards*, Adam Treloar, Lachie Carmichael, Cody Weightman, Laitham Vandermeer, Josh Dolan, Riley Garcia
Asterisk denotes Origin players.
SYDNEY SQUAD
2. Hayden McLean, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Logan McDonald, 8. James Rowbottom, 10. Malcolm Rosas, 12. Angus Sheldrick, 13. Jai Serong, 14. Callum Mills, 15. Sam Wicks, 16. Braeden Campbell, 17. James Jordon, 19. Peter Ladhams, 21. Errol Gulden, 22. Nick Blakey, 24. Dane Rampe, 26. Riley Bice, 29. Joel Hamling, 30. Tom McCartin, 33. Caiden Cleary, 34. Matt Roberts, 35. Charlie Curnow, 36. Joel Amartey, 37. Corey Warner, 43. Lewis Melican, 44. Jake Lloyd
Absent: Chad Warner*, Jesse Dattoli, Tom Papley, Jevan Phillipou, Riak Andrew, Ned Bowman, Billy Cootee, Justin McInerney, Will Edwards, Max King, Harry Kyle
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