DOGS VS DOCKERS TEAMS

By MICK JEFFREY
May 8 2003

Another week, another Sunday game at the dome. Plenty of room this week and the queues will be slightly shorter, as the Fremantle Dockers take on the Bulldogs at the ground where they last won an away game.

It's certainly a crisis time at the Western bulldogs, with finances low, membership not as good as it could be and the fallout from last week's fight. Even worse is that there are 28 fit players to choose from this week.

2 changes are already enforced. Of course, Ryan Hargrave's right cross to Heath Black earned him a 3 match suspension, and further weakens the defence. Another youngster in Daniel Cross has a hand injury and joins the mounting injury list.

Some good news though for our only rookie listed player. Matthew Boyd has been showing some good form in the VFL with Werribee, who are also being hit by the injury crisis. With Mark Alvey placed on the Long Term Injury List, Boyd is now a fully fledged member of the list and is guaranteed a game on Sunday.

4 other players have been added to the squad. Nathan Eagleton seems to be in the ins for every Sunday game, but then again there's nobody else to name that has experience. Brian Harris joins him on the "we'll include you but not play you" category.

The back half is strengthened by the return of Steven Kretiuk from injury, while solid form in the VFL has seen former Brisbane Lion Marcus Picken come into contention for his 1st senior appearance in 2 years. Picken may be confirmed is Mattthew Croft fails to overcome a knee injury.

TEAMS
BULLDOGS:
B: Harris, Croft, Gilbee
HB: Smith, Bassett, R.Murphy
C: Boyd, West, Dimattina
HF: Bowden, Bandy, Skipper
F: Harrison, Brown, Garlick
R: Darcy, Hahn, Johnson
INT: Kretiuk, Power, McGuinness, Picken, Eagleton, McMahon, Giansiracusa

DOCKERS:
B: Hayden, Polak, Parker
HB: Woods, Haddrill, Carr
C: McManus, Pavlich, Headland
HF: Haselby, Croad, Farmer
F: Waterhouse, Medhurst, J.Longmuir
R: Simmonds, Cook, Bell
INT: Grover, Koops, Haines, Sandilands, Walker, Schammer, Browne