SUMMARY
The re-match of last year's epic preliminary final at Spotless Stadium has been given the big stage of Friday night footy, just reward for two of this season's flag favourites.
The GIANTS head to Canberra with more momentum than the Bulldogs after winning their past four games, and they're playing a far more consistent brand of footy than the premiers, who have had to fight extremely hard for their wins.
GWS forwards Toby Greene (17 goals) and Jeremy Cameron (16) have started the year brilliantly, with Steve Johnson, Jonathon Patton, Rory Lobb and Devon Smith adding even more firepower, and if Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly get too much room to move in the midfield, the GIANTS will be tough to beat.
Their battle with Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae will be a beauty.
WHERE AND WHEN: UNSW Canberra Oval, Friday, April 28, 7.50pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
1PF, 2016, Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89) d GWS 12.11 (83) at Spotless Stadium
R9, 2016, GWS 15.8 (98) d Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73) at Spotless Stadium
R9, 2015, Western Bulldogs 16.17 (113) d GWS 11.2 (68) at Etihad Stadium
R23, 2014, GWS 18.7 (115) d Western Bulldogs 15.19 (109) at Etihad Stadium
R4, 2014, Western Bulldogs 17.8 (110) d GWS 12.11 (83) at UNSW Canberra Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Bulldogs were the better side in most categories in last year's preliminary final. They won the disposal count 392-359, had 17 more inside 50s, and won the clearances 53-38. Luke Dahlhaus was best on ground with 32 touches, six inside 50s and six clearances.
2. GWS has been a strong scoring side so far in 2017, ranked third with 115 points per game, ahead of the Bulldogs' 98 points per game, up from 86 in 2016.
3. The GIANTS and Bulldogs meet for the eight time, with the Dogs holding the advantage, winning five games to two.
4. GWS continues to be the best clearance team in 2017, averaging 43.6 per game, an area in which the Bulldogs have really struggled so far. They're ranked second last, with an average of 34.4.
5. This is the GIANTS' second game at UNSW Canberra Oval in 2017 and their recent record in the ACT is impressive, winning six of their last seven at the venue. The Bulldogs have played nine times in the nation's capital for seven wins.
6. Dogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli (fourth) is the only player in this clash ranked inside the top 20 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings, with GWS star Dylan Shiel (22nd) his side's highest ranked player.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR … Tom Boyd
The former GIANT has kicked just three goals from five matches this year and must start to have an influence inside 50 and in the ruck, where he'll have to contend with Shane Mumford, who dominated the Swans last week to win the Brett Kirk Medal.
PREDICTION: GIANTS by 21 points
