The Western Bulldogs and Adelaide locked in their final teams for Thursday night’s round 14 opener at Marvel Stadium, with Luke Kennedy set for his AFL debut and Adelaide bringing back three key players for a match that could shuffle the top six.
The Bulldogs entered at 8-5 and on a three-game winning streak, but Adelaide’s 7-5 record and six wins from its past eight matches made this more than a routine night game. Adelaide could leapfrog the Bulldogs with a win, even though the Bulldogs edged the Crows by six points when the sides met in round two at Adelaide Oval.
For Adelaide, Riley Thilthorpe returned from suspension, while Nick Murray and Luke Pedlar were also back in the side. Taylor Walker was out suspended, Callum Ah Chee missed with a hamstring injury and Jordon Butts was sidelined by a calf injury, forcing the Crows to adjust around a spine that had helped them stay in touch with the top six.
The Bulldogs made one change, with Kennedy coming in for Lachie McNeil, who was ruled out with concussion. The No. 62 pick in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft now gets his first chance on a stage that has been kind to Adelaide, which had been undefeated at Marvel Stadium since 2023.
That record gives the Crows a genuine foothold, but the Bulldogs have been winning in the tight ones all season, taking six of their eight victories by a goal or less. The combination points to a game likely decided by composure as much as momentum, with both sides already knowing how little separated them in round two.
The next answer comes under lights, with the first bounce set for 7.30pm AEST. If Adelaide can repeat its recent form and hold its nerve at Marvel Stadium, it will not only protect its own top-six push but also pass a Bulldogs side that has spent much of the season learning to survive close finishes.
