The Bulldogs will look to make it three wins on the trot this season against the Kangaroos when the sides meet in a round 15 AFL North West clash at Wolseley Oval on Saturday.
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On the back of a hard-fought 48-point victory against the Inverell Saints last week, the Dogs will be keen to make it three out of three against Tamworth and extend their winning streak to 10 matches.
Gunnedah coach Greg Piggott is expecting another tough battle between the sides.
He cited the likes of Matt Hodge, Daniel Johnson and Beau Gilmore as key men for his side to shut down.
“They have some dangerous playmakers in Hodgey and Disco [Johnson],” Piggott said. “It’ll be good to test ourselves against a top-four opposition again.
”Hopefully we can showcase some good football at home, where we haven’t been beaten yet [this season].”
Notable absentees for the Dogs this week are forwards Matt Pengilly and Scott Hardy. Both men have hamstring tears from the last round.
Although losing them is a massive blow for the Dogs, the side have the luxury of depth.
That fact was illustrated last week when captain Andrew George and vice captain Brad Jenkinson both filled in down back. They could, however, move up the ground.
The Dogs welcome back several players this weekend, including regular backmen Ryan Cooper, Danny Johnstone and Pat Higgins.
Another key contributor throughout the season for the Dogs is wingman and midfield tagger Ollie Neader, who is also returning to the fold.
In the last match against the Kangaroos, Neader started on the wing.
But he moved into a tagging shutdown role on Hodge, which he met head on.
He may assume the same role this time around.
The dogs have already secured a top-two spot on the ladder.
However, they are eager to register another win as they are due to meet competition leaders New England Nomads in two weeks.
The Kangaroos are coming off a 138-point win over Moree last start.
Warwick Gilmour booted six goals in the match at No.1 Oval.
Gilmore was supported by Ben Mitchell and Carl Frazier, who both kicked four goals, and Matty Hodge, who kicked three.
The final score was 26.16-172 to 4.10-34.
Tamworth blew the Suns away in an eight-goal to none first quarter, and kicked 16 goals to one by halftime to lead 104 to 10.