The Bulldogs vs sydney contest is set for Thursday night at Marvel Stadium, with the Western Bulldogs confirming five changes for their ANZAC Appeal Round clash. The match will begin at 7. 30pm AEST, with the club also marking the 10-year anniversary of its 2016 premiership-winning season.
Ryan Gardner and Jedd Busslinger come into the side in place of injured pair Rory Lobb and James O’Donnell. Adam Treloar returns for his first game of the 2026 campaign after posting 41 touches in the VFL last week, while Lachie Smith is set for his debut in the ruck and Josh Dolan returns after his three-goal outing in the VFL.
Sam Darcy and Tom Liberatore will miss due to injury, while Jordan Croft has been omitted. The Bulldogs vs sydney fixture is also being treated as a club occasion, with a special on-ground ceremony scheduled before the Bulldogs run out and the majority of the 2016 premiership-winning team in attendance.
Bulldogs Vs Sydney: team changes and selection calls
The five changes give the Bulldogs a noticeably different look for a game that comes with both football and ceremonial weight. Defensive reinforcements Gardner and Busslinger are the direct replacements for Lobb and O’Donnell, while Treloar’s return adds experience after his strong VFL outing.
Lachie Smith’s debut is another key talking point. He has been selected in the ruck, adding a fresh face to a side already juggling injury absences and a busy week of selection movement. Josh Dolan’s recall follows his three-goal performance in the VFL, strengthening the club’s options ahead of the Bulldogs vs sydney meeting.
Reunion night at Marvel Stadium
The club will use the night to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership-winning season. All 22 players from that premiership team will come together on Thursday night for the reunion, and a special on-ground ceremony will take place before the teams are underway.
The majority of the 2016 premiership-winning team will be in attendance, including current-day players and coaches. The game is also being framed as part of ANZAC Appeal Round, giving the Bulldogs vs sydney clash a wider club and community significance beyond the four points on offer.
What the Bulldogs vs sydney matchup now looks like
With Darcy, Liberatore and Croft unavailable, the Bulldogs head into the contest with a reshaped lineup and a few fresh selection storylines. The confirmed five changes show how quickly the side has had to adjust for injuries while still leaning on returning experience and new opportunity.
All attention now turns to Thursday night at Marvel Stadium, where the Bulldogs vs sydney game will combine team changes, a debut, a return, and a reunion that puts the club’s 2016 history front and center.
