The Bulldogs and Sydney will have a different look when they face off in Friday’s AFL grand final replay at Etihad Stadium.
More than a third of the players who lined up in last year’s premiership decider have been replaced, with injuries, trades and form all forcing changes.
The Swans will be missing eight members of their grand final team as they seek revenge against the Bulldogs and their first win of the season after a shock loss to Port Adelaide last week.
Dane Rampe broke his arm in a freak running incident after the Power game and has joined Jarrad McVeigh (calf), Tom Papley (knee), Isaac Heeney (glandular fever) and Gary Rohan (back) on the injury list.
Tom Mitchell is plying his trade with Hawthorn, veteran forward Ben McGlynn has retired and Xavier Richards’ career is effectively over after his unsuccessful bid to find a new home during the off-season trade period.
Their absence has paved the way for Harry Cunningham, Harrison Marsh, Jordan Foote, second-gamer Oliver Florent and big man Sam Reid, whose 2016 campaign was ruined by injuries.
Coach John Longmire has shown no hesitation to bring in young blood with Nic Newman, Robbie Fox and Will Hayward all set to debut against the Bulldogs.
The Dogs have made seven changes from last year’s premiership team and opened their 2017 campaign with a narrow win over Collingwood.
Veteran defender Dale Morris (broken leg), ruckman Jordan Roughead (hamstring) and forward Tory Dickson (groin) are unavailable, while Joel Hamling was traded to Fremantle during the off-season.
Three others – Clay Smith, Toby McLean and Josh Dunkley – have found themselves on the outer, with coach Luke Beveridge welcoming back some key soldiers and signalling a renewed focus on skills.
Speedster Lin Jong and veteran defender Matthew Suckling have fought their way into the best 22 alongside former Collingwood recruit Travis Cloke, while skipper Bob Murphy and Stewart Crameri have both returned.
Ruckman Tom Campbell and key defender Marcus Adams have replaced McLean and Morris from the side that faced Collingwood last week.
Beveridge suggested the change in personnel on both sides meant the much-hyped rematch would be just another game for the Bulldogs but admitted it loomed as a danger match after the Swans’ opening-round capitulation.
“Port were quite outstanding and we know that Sydney will be keen to bounce back and we’ve got to be prepared for that,” he said.
“It’s not often that Sydney drop two in a row and I’m sure they will be looking to claw their way back on to the winning side of things.”
