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'Defence wins premierships': Dogs ready for wildcard
Young Carlton and Melbourne stars return as the Blues start slight favourites and the Demons lean on Max Gawn in knockout finals.
- The MCG will host AFL wildcard matches this weekend, with the Western Bulldogs facing Collingwood on Friday night and Carlton playing Melbourne on Saturday night.
- Coach Luke Beveridge's Bulldogs secured momentum with an impressive win over the Demons last week, seeking their first finals victory since 2021 after a rollercoaster season.
- Demons coach Steven King recalled Jack Viney, Jake Melksham, and Xavier Taylor, while Carlton coach Josh Fraser confirmed Nick Haynes returns to bolster the Blues' backline; the Demons remain without Jake Lever and Matt Jefferson due to injury.
- Marc Pittonet will attempt to nullify Max Gawn's influence, Fraser said, while Nick Daicos and Marcus Bontempelli headline Friday's encounter as opposing captains following Darcy Moore's season-ending injury.
- Bulldogs midfielder Matt Kennedy told AAP, "defence wins premierships," emphasizing that the team's balance of offence and defence has arrived just in time for the five-week finals series.
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10 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 29%
R 28%
Factuality
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