AFL 2022: Western Bulldogs warm up for grand final rematch against Demons with narrow loss to Lions

As a prelude to their grand final rematch in 12 days’ time, Friday night’s six-point loss to the Lions had plenty of positives. But the Bulldogs will be holding their breath over one key incident.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 04: Hayden Crozier of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the AFL AAMI Community Series match between Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium on March 04, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Western Bulldogs’ preparations for their highly-anticipated grudge match against Melbourne in the AFL season opener have hit a snag.

Key defender Alex Keath injured his lower leg during his team’s six-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in their practice match on Friday night and could now be in a race against time to feature in the grand final rematch in 12 days’ time.

Keath got hurt in the first half at Marvel Stadium when he clashed shins with Brisbane’s Lincoln McCarthy. Despite his attempts to play on, after being assessed in the rooms, Keath took no part in the second half.

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The Dogs had plenty to bark about in their final tune-up before the season starts.

The Lions didn’t escape unscathed either with Keidean Coleman spending the second half on the bench with an ice pack strapped to his hamstring.

The impressive young defender would appear to be up against it to participate in Brisbane’s first-up blockbuster meeting with fellow heavyweights Port Adelaide at the Gabba on March 19.

Coleman’s young teammates Deven Robertson and James Madden also left the ground in the second half with what appeared to be hamstring and shin injuries respectively.

The contest was quite even aside from a 26-minute period in the second quarter which saw the Lions kick six out of eight goals, including four in a row.

It was a hot run that ultimately proved decisive as the visitors ran out 12.14 (86) to 11.14 (80) winners against the Bulldogs who finished with a wet sail, but could only manage five consecutive behinds late.

The Bulldogs were missing Tom Liberatore, Taylor Duryea, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Tim O’Brien and Mitch Wallis as well as Josh Bruce and Toby McLean who are both going to miss the majority of the season with ACL injuries.

Brisbane took on the Dogs without captain Dayne Zorko, Cam Rayner, Darcy Gardiner, Jaxon Prior, Ryan Lester, and Eric Hipwood (ACL) who isn’t expected to be available until later in the year.

Lachie Neale looked in superb form.

NEALE LOOKING GOOD

Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale’s preparations for the new season were finetuned with 30 touches and a goal and Charlie Cameron (20 disposals) was dangerous in attack with two goals.

Daniel McStay (2.3) could have had a big bag, but inaccuracy plagued him.

Coach Chris Fagan would’ve been happy with his new ruck combination Oscar McInerney and ex-Cat Darcy Fort combining for 46 hitouts.

BULLDOGS TUNE UP

Star Bulldogs Josh Dunkley (one goal) and Jack Macrae found a mountain of the ball, combining for 65 disposals, and Aaron Naughton (three goals) was a constant menace in attack, taking six marks, but failing to complete about six others.

Adam Treloar was also impressive with 29 touches and two goals, while Josh Schache did a good job in defence on Joe Daniher.

Hugh McCluggage benefited from a great tap down to score for the Lions.

‘BIG O’ IMPROVISES

Sensing Tim English was hot on his hammer, Oscar McInerney intelligently opted to tap the ball to Hugh McCluggage running past as if it were a ruck contest, instead of taking the mark and slowing down play.

From 25m out on the run, the usually inaccurate McCluggage made no mistake to extend Brisbane’s lead to 18 points late in the second quarter.

BULLDOGS 3.4, 6.7, 9.7, 11.14 (80)

LIONS 3.2, 9.8, 12.12, 12.14 (86)

LERNER’S BEST Bulldogs: Dunkley, Macrae, Treloar, Naughton, Schache, English. Lions: Neale, Cameron, McStay, Bailey, McCluggage, Lyons, Fort.

GOALS Bulldogs: Naughton 3, Treloar 2, Dale, Dunkley, Bontempelli, Johannisen, Crozier, Williams. Lions: McStay 2, Cameron 2, Bailey 2, Robertson, Cockatoo, Rich, McCarthy, McCluggage, Neale.

INJURIES Bulldogs: Keath (lower leg). Lions: K.Coleman (hamstring), Madden (shin), Robertson (hamstring).

UMPIRES Rosebury, Howorth, Findlay

VENUE Marvel Stadium

The Schache dilemma - What will Beveridge do in the GF rematch

- Scott Gullan

Was it only a September dalliance with Josh Schache as a defensive forward?

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wasn’t playing his hand in his team’s final hit-out before the grand final re-match against Melbourne in 12 days time.

Josh Schache tries to get the better of Joe Daniher.

Schache’s career resurrection in the unusual role during the Dogs stunning finals run was one of the stories of September.

The much-maligned No.2 draft pick has had his battles at the Whitten Oval and midway through last year it was thought the regular key forward had found a niche as a defender.

After just two games in 2020 and one prior to Round 19 in 2021, Schache came back into the side against Melbourne and impressed Beveridge as a makeshift defender.

But in the preliminary final, the Dogs coach pulled a rabbit out of his hat and pushed Schache forward with one simple instruction - don’t let Port Adelaide’s All-Australian defender Aliir Aliir take a mark.

It was an inspired move with Aliir’s impact dramatically restricted while Schache kicked 1.3 and took six marks.

Then in the grand final Beveridge went with it again, this time sending him to Melbourne’s intercept marking king Jake Lever.

As we all know most things the Dogs did in that game worked for two-and-a-half quarters before the Demons went on that devastating premiership run.

So where will Schache be in Round 1?

On Friday night against Brisbane he didn’t venture anywhere near the forward line, instead playing quite impressively as a defender on Joe Daniher.

Schache and Alex Keath started as the Dogs key defenders with regular backman Zaine Cordy up the other end alongside Aaron Naughton.

The mix changed in the second half when Keath was benched with soreness but Schache remained alongside the Lions main man.

The fitness of Alex Keath will be closely monitored over the next few days.

Unfortunately the Dogs didn’t get a chance to have a look at ex-Hawk Tim O’Brien, who they recruited to play as a floating tall defender given he’s had an injury-interrupted pre-season.

There will be no surprises with what the Demons go with in the rematch with Ben Brown and Luke Jackson as the two tall forwards around grand final hero Bailey Fritsch.

Whether Beveridge resumes his dalliance with Schache will be one of the more intriguing discussions leading up to the mouth-watering season opener.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Western Bulldogs warm up for grand final rematch against Demons with narrow loss to Lions