AFL teams: GWS v Western Bulldogs full teams
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is willing to risk exposing his defence by rotating Rory Lobb through the ruck in a season-defining clash against GWS on Thursday night.
Beveridge tweaked Lobb's role so he could spare Sam Darcy the second ruck duties and keep him forward alongside Aaron Naughton for longer in the crushing win over Essendon.
Darcy was able to increase his game time from the previous week by 10 per cent as he and Naughton piled on 13.3 in the 93-point win last week.
The coach said he would revisit the aggressive move again despite the size and power of the GWS forward line, which will boast five players taller than 188cm including in-form premiership Bulldog Jake Stringer.
The Bulldogs will go into the game unchanged, while GWS have made three forced changes.
Leek Aleer, Harvey Thomas and Harry Rowston will come in for injured duo Jack Buckley and Josh Kelly, and the suspended captain Toby Greene.
James O'Donnell (44 games), Luke Cleary (19) and Jedd Busslinger (three) would be left with the responsibility for Stringer, Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman should Lobb go into the ruck.
'The knock-on effect (of moving Lobb) was we were able to keep Sam (Darcy) and Aaron (Naughton) out on the ground a little bit longer,' Beveridge said.
'That was between 20 and 30 minutes longer … it makes a difference.
'It depends how the game is playing out, but it's definitely something that worked for us last week.
'So if you're going to guess at how we might start the game, it'll be in a similar vein.'
Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy ripped the Bombers to shreds last week. Picture: Michael Klein
Beveridge conceded settling down his back seven was the 'last piece of the puzzle' as the Bulldogs prepared for the first of four cutthroat games in the finals qualification battle.
He confirmed Busslinger would get another chance ahead of veteran key back Liam Jones and Ryan Gardner after a 'pretty encouraging game' on return against the Bombers.
'We're trying to do different things with different personnel through some of the roles closer to the opposition's goals,' he said.
'Not necessarily the higher defenders and the playmakers – I think Bailey Dale, JJ (Jason Johannisen) and Lachie Bramble, they've been pretty solid in their affairs.'
Originally published as The latest team news ahead of round 21 of the AFL season
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