VENUE & TIME: Etihad Stadium, Friday July 17, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, Essendon 87, Western Bulldogs 58, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 23.13 (151) d Essendon 15.15 (105) , Round 21 2008 at the MCG

WALKING WOUNDED: Bombers midfielder Angus Monfries (hamstring) will miss a fortnight. Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is five weeks away from resuming while Ayce Cordy (back) is likely to miss another week.

FORM: The Bulldogs may be coming off a one-point loss to Collingwood but they remain one of the competition’s hottest teams, having won seven of their past nine games. Their six-goal-to-one last term against the Magpies highlighted this. The Bombers have won three of their past four games, including a hard-nosed performance against Sydney last weekend. Since Round 11, they have averaged the third-most disposals of any side.

WHO'S HOT: Robert Murphy has been excellent in defence but it was when he was pushed forward in the last quarter against the Magpies that the Bulldogs rediscovered their mojo. Murphy had 10 touches in the final term and played a key role in the late surge. Shaun Higgins has become one of the premier small forwards in the business, while Brian Lake has been superb. He not only held Magpie Jack Anthony kick-less but his counter-attacking has been pivotal. Liam Picken has emerged as the Dogs’ master tagger. For the Bombers, fullback Tate Pears continues to impress. He is not only solid in the back-half but is prepared to run and carry the ball through the midfield. Scott Lucas kicked three against the Swans and has helped ease the burden on Matthew Lloyd since his return from a spell in the VFL. Jobe Watson is enjoying a career season, while Jason Winderlich is in great form.

WE THINK: The Bombers haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since Round 10, 2005, but this looms as their best chance to end that streak. The Bulldogs have been one of the slowest starting teams, regularly falling behind by four goals within the opening 20 minutes. That was the case against the Magpies, and the Bombers have the pace and weapons to inflict pain if this happens again. The Bombers’ tactics will be to force the Bulldogs to kick long to contests as they don’t have a major marking target. That may work for a while, but the Bulldogs should have enough bite and class to post their 11th win of the season. The Bulldogs by 15 points.