FORM GUIDE
The Lions were the form side of the pre-season competition – remaining undefeated across five practice matches on their way to a maiden NAB Cup triumph.

It continued on the team’s good finish to 2012, when they closed out the season with three consecutive wins.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, lost their last 11 matches of 2012 to finish 15th by season’s end – two spots below the Lions.  

They have since faced some stiff competition throughout the NAB Cup against Finals fancies Essendon, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Fremantle and Richmond, with a one-point win over the Hawks proving the highlight.

But be wary of taking too much notice of pre-season form guides, because once the regular season starts, it’s a whole new ball game.

KEY MATCH-UPS
After dusting out the cobwebs in his first pre-season hitout against Collingwood, Co-Captain Jonathan Brown found touch quickly the following week with five goals against the Blues in the NAB Cup Grand Final.

Former Bulldog Brian Lake was generally the man to match-up on Brown, but his move to Hawthorn during the off-season means that responsibility will likely fall to Jordan Roughead.

Roughead’s height and athletic ability has seen him trialled both up forward and in the ruck throughout his young career, but he seems to have found his niche in defence.

Meanwhile, stand-in Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy has been played more regularly as a forward this pre-season and will require some serious attention.

Murphy presents a difficult match-up as he is just as adept in the air as he is on the ground.

Reigning Lions Club Champion Joel Patfull seems the most obvious match-up given his unique ability to play on both ‘talls’ and ‘smalls’.  
 
SELECTION TABLE
Sam Docherty and Andrew Raines were the unlucky pair from the Lions’ NAB Cup Grand Final side to miss out on Round One selection.

Docherty is edging closer to making his AFL debut, while Raines would have been strongly considered for his ability to shut-down opposition midfielders.

Otherwise, the Lions’ line-up has been quite consistent throughout the NAB Cup with a relatively settled midfield, defence, and forward line.

The Bulldogs look built for speed, with their four-man interchange bench all capable of rotating through the midfield.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Daniel Rich was a standout for the Lions throughout the NAB Cup, averaging close to 120 ranking points per game, and taking home the Michael Tuck Medal as the best afield in the NAB Cup.

Rich also terrorised the Bulldogs when the teams most recently met in Round 23 last year. He collected 25 disposals and booted four goals in a performance which earned him three votes at the Brownlow Medal.

The 22 year-old can probably expect a bit more attention from the Bulldogs this time around.

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney seems to have overcome a debilitating knee injury and looks set to reclaim the form that made him one of the most explosive players in the AFL competition.

Cooney was one of the Bulldogs’ best against the Lions in Round 23 last year, and is coming off a successful NAB Cup campaign.  

He is a proven match-winner given his ability to both win the ball and impact the scoreboard.

NEW FACES
The Brisbane Lions’ side boasts two new faces – with off-season recruits Brent Moloney and Stefan Martin lining up for their first official matches in the maroon, blue and gold.

Moloney and Martin, both of whom were acquired from Melbourne, seem to have adapted quickly to their new environment.

The Western Bulldogs will introduce four new players – three of which have come from other clubs over the off-season.

Nick Lower (Fremantle), Koby Stevens (West Coast) and Tom Young (Collingwood) will  feature in their first AFL match with the Dogs, while mature-age rookie Brett Goodes – the brother of Sydney’s Adam – will line-up for his first senior AFL match at the ripe age of 29.

MISSING IN ACTION
The Lions will be without first choice ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and classy midfielder Simon Black against the Bulldogs, while Brent Staker remains a month away from returning from an off-season knee clean-up.

The loss of Captain Matthew Boyd with a calf injury proved a huge blow for the Bulldogs, who had already ruled out defender Tom Williams.

RECENT HISTORY
The Lions have had the upper hand against the Bulldogs in the past 12 months, winning their past two encounters by 67 and 58 points.

However prior to 2012, the Bulldogs had won four of their past five meetings with the Lions by an average margin of 53 points.

The Bulldogs also thwarted the Lions’ last Finals campaign in 2009, with a resounding 51-point win in the Semi Final at the MCG.

DID YOU KNOW…
Aaron Cornelius, who arrived at the Club via the 2008 AFL National Draft, is set to line-up for his first ever Round One AFL match.

Cornelius earned his spot after being the Club’s leading goal-kicker throughout the NAB Cup.  
 
Teammates Billy Longer, Elliot Yeo, Patrick Karnezis and Josh Green will also appear in their first ever season-opener.