Can the Bulldogs stop Sam Mitchell?
Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell has racked up 33 or more disposals in each of his past seven games.
But if reports from this week are anything to go by, the Bulldogs will back in their team defence rather than enforce a hard tag on the midfield magnet from the outset.
Mitchell has been pivotal to the Hawks in the first two matches this season – leading the competition for disposals (73) but has only faced the Dogs twice in the past four seasons, having missed matches in 2013 and 2014.
If Mitchell finds plenty of the ball early, the Dogs could turn to the likes of Liam Picken or Mitch Wallis for a run-with role.
Who will control the ball?
Both sides will want to control the ball, and it’s been a major asset for the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
The Bulldogs lead the competitions for disposals – averaging 490 per game – and disposal efficiency – 78.7 per cent after the opening two rounds.
But when the Hawks are at their best, these two areas are also where they excel.
The Bulldogs and Hawks rank one and two respectively for handballs, signalling that both sides will look to run the ball and move it quickly.
Who marks Cyril Rioli/Jake Stringer?
They’re two of the most of the dangerous forwards in the game.
So who looks after Cyril Rioli and Jake Stringer?
The Hawks could look to mid-sized defenders Ben Stratton or Angus Litherland to look after the 192-centimetre Stringer, or will the job fall to key defenders James Frawley or Josh Gibson?
For Rioli, the Dogs have no shortage of mid-sized defenders, but may be forced to sacrifice some rebound to try to close him down.
Jason Johannisen could be the man for the job, or it could be a task for Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd or Shane Biggs.
Can the Hawks negate the Dogs’ rebounders?
Defensive rebound has been a key to the Dogs’ fast start to 2016.
Four of the Dogs defenders are averaging more than 25 disposals per game – Jason Johannisen (31), Robert Murphy (29.5), Shane Biggs (29.5) and Matthew Boyd (25.5) – with all four disposing of the ball at better than 80 per cent efficiency.
Add to those four the likes of Dale Morris, Easton Wood and Marcus Adams – who also dispose of the ball at greater than 80 per cent efficiency – and the likes of Paul Puopolo, Luke Breust and Rioli will have to bring plenty of forward pressure.
Which record means more?
The Hawks have won their past seven matches against the Dogs – with the Dogs last win against the Hawks coming in Round 3, 2010.
But, the Dogs have won their past 11 at Etihad Stadium, a ground that suits their fast-paced, end-to-end brand of footy.
So which record counts for more? We’ll find out on Sunday.
