DROUGHT TO END

WHAT TO EXPECT

A PHYSICAL and brutal start. It’s got to come from Stefan Martin as an aggressive ruckman and Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore in the middle.

The centre bounce crew must set the scene. Winning territory and playing a strong forward-half game is the Bulldogs’ way and that’s when they play their best.

The Bulldogs have a capacity to generate scores from inside-50s better than any other team so supply is the key.

Defending scores from stoppages will be a focus for the Bulldogs, who can’t allow Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca to latch on to Max Gawn’s ruck work and charge out of stoppages like they did against Geelong.

The Bulldogs will most likely want to saturate the stoppages with extra numbers to help out their defence and kickstart their attack.

THE KEY

The Bulldogs’ ball movement against Melbourne’s measly defensive set-up.

The Demons have been a great pressure team all year but their tackle efficiency during finals has gone through the roof to 69.2 per cent.

Without the ball, they are a tough team to play against. That is going to test the Bulldogs’ ball movement and in big games effective ball use is a critical element.

The Bulldogs will need to ensure they get the ball in the hands of their best ball users and decision makers at every opportunity to kickstart their offence – whether it be Marcus Bontempelli, Caleb Daniel (pictured) or Bailey Dale.

Lacking courage or conviction with ball movement will play into the hands of the Melbourne defenders.

Time to be daring.

THE CHALLENGE

Mastering inside-50 efficiency.

How the Bulldogs kick inside-50 will determine the result. When Luke Beveridge’s team has kicked 85 points or more this year they have a 15-0 record.

When they beat Melbourne in round 19, they reached that 85-point mark. When they lost to the Demons in round 11, they managed only 59 points and recorded their thirdlowest inside-50 efficiency of the year.

The Bulldogs have got to isolate and separate and create one-on-ones with space to lead into. Aaron Naughton needs to test Steven May’s hamstring with his explosive leading and the Bulldogs’ ball carriers need to lower the eyes and look for short hit-up targets. It’s no point bombing in high balls for May and Jake Lever to pick off.

THE CONCERN

Max Gawn. Both at stoppages and in general play. Martin and Tim English must play out of their skins to nullify the Demons’ captain. Gawn is matchhardened, fit and healthy.

By comparison, an undersized Martin has had limited preparation after playing his first game since round 12 in the preliminary final.

Martin is strong around stoppages, but is he match-fit to go with Gawn when he decides to push hard forward?

A disclaimer also remains on English and whether he can be a ruthless competitor on the big stage.

THE THEME

Bring the ball to ground, especially inside forward 50.

You have to take away Melbourne’s intercept prowess, which includes keeping Lever honest.

It also works into the hands of the Bulldogs, who won the ground ball count by 37 against Port Adelaide in their preliminary final.

Every time the ball hit the ground in that game, there were Bulldogs players ready to pounce.

The Bulldogs key forwards simply have to either mark the ball or bring it to ground to invite their small forwards like Mitch Hannan and Cody Weightman into the game.

X-FACTOR

Mitch Hannan. The medium-size forward gives the Bulldogs’ attack a point of difference and he has kicked six goals in an exceptional finals campaign so far.

He is competitive, gives 100 per cent effort, is good in the air, hits the ground ball contest with great intensity and instinctively applies pressure.

Will he become Melbourne’s ghost, as a player they let go last year?

IF I WERE DOGS

Keath to Ben Brown. Zaine Cordy to Tom McDonald. Bailey Williams and Easton Wood as a combination will have to spend time on Bayley Fritsch.

Start Martin in the ruck to provide strong competition against Max Gawn.