AFL / David Murdoch / 18 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

On last week's form, David Murdoch finds it hard to see the Suns getting within 10 goals of the Western Bulldogs in their Saturday AFL match-up.

The Dogs were outstanding against a North Melbourne side aspiring to play finals football in 2012, dismantling their midfield and stifling their running game through tackling pressure.

Since dropping their first three games, the Dogs have regained their bite, winning three of their last four matches, and they will be heavy favourites against a Suns outfit still hurting after going down to Greater Western Sydney.

These are troubling time for the Gold Coast Suns. Their young list was exposed by an even younger one against the Giants and they will need a dramatic improvement if the current program is going to remain intact on the holiday strip beyond this year.

* Gold Coast have lost their last seven matches by an average of 44 points
* Western Bulldogs have lost five of their last six matches at home
* Gold Coast have lost eight of their last nine matches playing away

The Dogs have enjoyed their trips to Darwin's TIO Stadium in the past, winning their last four matches there; and a win over the struggling Suns will deliver them to within striking distance of the top eight.

This should be motivation enough. Complacency will be their only real enemy.

The Suns will be desperate to give Bluey McKenna something to go to the board with as he fights to save his job. Their midfield will need to stand-up alongside Gary Ablett, as they did without him in their matches against North Melbourne and Fremantle, if they are any hope of shutting down the likes of Boyd and Griffen.

The Dogs will also have more firepower up forward with Liam Jones returning to the side and the Suns will need to be at their absolute best to stop him coming back with a bang.

Given they are likely to win by about 40 points, take the Western Bulldogs at the line of 33.5 points.