<p>It’s down to nine teams with four weeks remaining in the home-and-away season, and two of them, the Western Bulldogs and the GWS Giants, face off in a finals-shaping clash to kick off Round 21.&nbsp;</p> <p>Finally, a good Thursday night game worth watching!</p> <p>The Dogs did what they usually do to Essendon, thoroughly defeating them on their way to a 93-point win. Despite another large percentage-boosting victory, they still find themselves on the outside looking in as the odd team out.</p> <p>At 11-8, the Dogs are one win behind the eighth-placed Suns and two games behind the five teams from third to seventh, all with 13 wins. All this means a final month of the season where they can ill afford to slip up if they want to make it to September.&nbsp;</p> <p>The first roadblock to reaching that goal comes in the form of their newest bitter rival, the GWS Giants.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Giants extended their winning streak to six matches last Friday night, not only claiming state bragging rights but also ending the Swans' season officially as they came from 34 points down at one stage to win by 44 points.</p> <p>Heading into the round, the Giants are sixth and among those five teams with 13 wins. A victory here would nearly guarantee a spot in September, but the fight for position becomes crucial.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ultimately, much depends on this game for the Western Bulldogs. Despite a favorable final three-week schedule, having the largest percentage in the league won’t matter if they keep beating only weaker teams.&nbsp;</p> <p>They’ll have a big opportunity to take a scalp as the Giants will need to replace injured veterans Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley, who suffered injuries in the derby. They will also be without their captain, Toby Greene, who got suspended again. He could be replaced by promising forward Max Gruzewski, who kicked five goals in the VFL to press his claim for an immediate recall. James Leake might fill Buckley's defensive role, while AFL regular Harvey Thomas, who performed well at the lower level, could return straight to the main squad.\</p> <p>For the Bulldogs, they came out of Friday night’s game with no new injuries, but several senior players put their hands up for finals selection. Sam Davidson, James Harmes, and Buku Khamis all performed strongly, while small forward Arty Jones continued his recovery from injury.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Dogs vs Giants prediction and preview below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Western Bulldogs Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: James O’Donnell, Jedd Busslinger, Jason Johannisen</p> <p>HB: Bailey Williams, Rory Lobb, Bailey Dale</p> <p>C:&nbsp; Joel Freijah, Ed Richards, Luke Cleary</p> <p>HF: Mathew Kennedy, Aaron Naughton,&nbsp;</p> <p>F: Rhylee West, Sam Darcy, Laitham Vandermeer</p> <p>Foll: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore</p> <p>Int: Oskar Baker, Lachie Bramble, Ryley Sanders, Lachie McNeil, Riley Garcia</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>GWS Giants Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, Harry Himmelberg</p> <p>HB: Lachie Whitfield, Leek Aleer, Lachie Ash</p> <p>C: Xavier O’Halloran, Tom Green, Joe Fonti</p> <p>HF: Toby Bedford, Aaron Cadman, Toby McMullin</p> <p>F: Callum Brown, Jesse Hogan, Darcy Jones</p> <p>Foll: Kieren Briggs, Finn Callaghan, Jake Stringer</p> <p>Int: Ryan Angwin, Jake Riccardi, Stephen Coniglio, Harvey Thomas, James Leake</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The Dogs have dominated this matchup of recent times, saluting in eight of the past 10 head-to-head battles.</p> <p>Earlier this year, it was a midfield ambush from the Dogs in Canberra, while it was the lesser lights of the Dogs forward line that did the damage.</p> <p>Both Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy filled their boots last week against the Dons, but perhaps more important than the bags of goals they kicked, they found some needed cohesion and connection in the front half.</p> <p>While the Giants got the defensive boost last week with the return of Taylor, it’s offset this week by the injury to his key defensive partner, Buckley. Which means, while he’s capable of doing the job, it’s a tall order for Leek Aleer.</p> <p>The midfield battle looms as a battle between the young bulls on the Giants' side and the old bulls at the Dogs. Who will have more tricks up their sleeve?</p> <p>This is simply must-win territory for the Dogs. With the Giants' availabilities this week, you imagine they get it done.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-gws-giants-9433209">Dogs</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>Former Bulldog Jake Stringer faces his former club again… this time fronting up to play them in a Giants jumper….. I wonder what the reception might be in front of the Dogs' faithful?</p> <p>Regardless of the jeers that may come, ‘The Package’ has been delivering for the Giants with 13 goals from the past five matches. He’s our pick to hit the board first in this one and silence the crowd.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-gws-giants-9433209">Jake Stringer</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>The Dogs' on-ball brigade will need to be busy and lead the way if they want the result they desperately crave here.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bont continues to lead the way, but it was the guys around him that did the maximum damage last time out against the Giants.</p> <p>Ed Richards was one of those. He’s had a fair share of the ball in his last five outings against the Giants, averaging 25.6 disposals per game. We’re backing him for a big one here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-gws-giants-9433209">Ed Richards 30+ disposals</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, July 31, 2025</p> <p><strong>First Bounce: </strong>7:30pm - AEST</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Marvel Stadium, Melbourne</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo Sports</p>