NAB Challenge: GWS v Western Bulldogs DFS preview

Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs have named their squads for Thursday Nights NAB Challenge match. Read our DFS preview below.

Greater Western Sydney v Western Bulldogs
Thursday, 25 February, 7.10pm AEDT at StarTrack Oval (Canberra)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

1. Phil Davis, 2. Jacob Hopper, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 5. Dylan Shiel, 6. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 9. Tom Scully, 11. Jack Steele, 12. Jonathon Patton , 14. Jarrod Pickett, 15. Matthew Kennedy, 16. Nathan Wilson, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 22. Josh Kelly, 24. Joel Patfull, 26. Dawson Simpson, 27. Harrison Himmelberg, 28. Jake Barrett, 29. Zac Williams,, 31. Jeremy Finlayson, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 34. Caleb Marchbank, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 40. Adam Kennedy, 42. Pat McKenna, 50. Sam J. Reid

Notable absentees: Toby Greene, Callan Ward, Ryan Griffen, Jeremy Cameron, Heath Shaw, Shane Mumford

WESTERN BULLDOGS

1. Matthew Suckling, 2. Robert Murphy, 3. Mitch Wallis, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 6. Luke Dahlhaus, 7. Lachie Hunter, 9. Jake Stringer, 10. Easton Wood, 11. Jack Macrae, 13. Nathan Hrovat, 15. Tom Campbell, 16. Toby McLean, 19. Lukas Webb, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 23. Jordan Roughead, 24. Shane Biggs, 25. Koby Stevens, 26. Declan Hamilton, 27. Will Minson, 29. Tory Dickson, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Kieran Collins, 33. Marcus Adams, 35. Caleb Daniel, 38. Dale Morris, 39. Jason Johannisen, 42. Liam Picken, 44. Jed Adcock

Notable absentees: Tom Liberatore, Tom Boyd, Stewart Crameri, Lin Jong

Five talking points

1. No Libba – Coach Luke Beveridge said the 23-year-old ball hawk had “copped a knock or two” recently and will join key forward Tom Boyd on the sidelines for the Dogs.
2. GWS stars to miss – Greene, Ward, Griffen, Cameron and Shaw all will miss the clash for the Giants offering up further opportunities for young players to accumulate points
3. Jonathan Patton watch – The former #1 draft pick is doing all the right thing in his return from his second knee reconstruction after impressing in last weeks intra-club practise match. “I’m the fittest I’ve been and I’m not cramping in games like I used to which is good” Patton said. He also got the tick from Coach Leon Cameron “I thought his (Jon Patton) first half was more outstanding than his second half, but he’s definitely starting to realise that ‘I can play this game again’,” Cameron said.
4. New Dogs at the Kennel – The Bulldogs got their man last October when they lured Hawthorn premiership Matt Suckling ($6500 on Moneyball) away from Glenferrie Oval. Suckling has a lethal left boot and no doubt they’ve spent the preseason working out ways they can get the ball into his hands as often as they can. Ex-Lion Jed Adcock ($4900 on Moneyball) also will have a point to prove and some faith to repay the Bulldogs management who gave the 30 year old utility another shot at the big time. Adcock averaged 61.7 AFL Fantasy points in season 2015.
5. Where’s Stevie J? – Ex-Cat Steve Johnson will not make his debut for the Giants against the Bulldogs. We still anticipate he is in the plans to be there in Round 1 however after looking fit and well in the intra-club last weekend. At this stage the Giants are sitting approximately eight of their best 22 players so it should be no surprise that the 253 veteran is having the week off.

Consider these guys in your Moneyball DFS contests

Tom Scully (Greater Western Sydney) $7000
Tom Scully is a thorough professional who no doubt will hit the ground running and be in great shape for this contest. The Giants will be without midfield ball winners Griffin, Greene and Ward so there will be footy to be one and Scully looks to be in a prime position to have a big game. The former number one draft pick has been somewhat of a disappointment during his 103 game career thus far you could argue. He’s a solid player but is yet to take that real leap and turn into a match winner or a consistent difference maker. Now is the time Tom!

Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) $5900
Stringer is a beast and he’s still only 21 years old! No Crameri means he will be the focal point for the Dogs up forward in this clash and will have every chance to hit the scoreboard plenty of times. For a young forward he’s actually a very consistent player and only had less than 10 possessions in a game once last year.

Dawson Simpson (Greater Western Sydney) $3500
Big Dawson is the logical play with no Shane Mumford in the squad for the Giants and at the bargain basement price. The advantage with playing him also is that he’s AFL ready and experienced (28 AFL games). The ruck stocks for this game look awfully light so we suggest starting Simpson and hunting for the higher priced studs elsewhere.