DOGS MUST TURN HEAT UP ON ALIIR

WESTERN Bulldogs great Brad Johnson believes the key to blunting Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir In Saturday’s preliminary final might be pressuring the defenders around him.

The former Sydney Swan, an All-Australian this year in his first season with the Power, looms as one of the major obstacles in the Bulldogs’ pursuit of a grand final berth.

With Josh Bruce recovering from an ACL rupture, Aaron Naughton and Tim English will be responsible for engaging Port defenders Aliir, Tom Jonas, Trent McKenzie and Ryan Burton.

Naughton and English spent a combined 93 minutes on Aliir in the clubs’ round 23 clash.

Another option could be for coach Luke Beveridge to recall No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to add more marking power in attack, with lively forward Cody Weightman (concussion) ruled out.

The Dogs are already considering bringing back veteran ruckman Stefan Martin.

The Bulldogs-Power clash looms as another blockbuster, after the Dogs’ one-point semi-final triumph over Brisbane proved to be the most-watched Foxtel game ever.

Fox Footy’s Johnson, who played 364 games and in five preliminary finals for the Bulldogs, described Aliir’s season as “sensational”, particularly the second half.

Aliir ranks third among qualifying players with his 3.8 intercept marks and 8.5 intercept possessions.

“He’s always had that ability, and now (Port coach) Ken Hinkley’s got him playing the perfect position and playing the way that suits his game,” Johnson said. “The defenders around him are doing some great jobs as well, in terms of locking away their direct opponents, so he can float and have the impact he is at the minute.

“The Bulldogs need to not only focus on the impact of what Aliir can do, in terms of the intercepts – and they do transition a lot of play from him – but also trying to get on top of a couple of other key defenders they do have.

“That would put more pressure on Aliir, so he might have to change his approach.”

Last week’s two semifinals also delivered Foxtel the highest-rating week-two finals audience for them.

“It was fantastic to be a part of it, and the intensity, emotion and passion that was shared between Jonathan Brown and myself went right down to the wire,” Johnson said.

“It was just a great game of footy, so you can understand why so many people sat down to have a look at it, because the level of performance was outstanding.”