For all the talk following the disappointing Round 24 loss to the Roosters, Bulldogs boss Cameron Ciraldo has announced an unchanged line-up for Friday night’s blockbuster with the Storm at AAMI Park.
With the starting seventeen remaining in tact, the only additions are winger Marcelo Montoya and forward Sitili Tupouniua, both named on an extended bench for the Bulldogs.
Speculation was high that Jake Turpin could return to the side for the first time since Round 18—particularly given Ciraldo mentioned the hooker himself following the Roosters match—while Reed Mahoney was also considered a strong chance of shifting back into the starting thirteen.
But as official team lists were announced, it became clear neither switch has eventuated, for now anyway.
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The lack of changes was surprising given the strong language used by Ciraldo after the Roosters loss, suggesting several Bulldogs players may now be on their last warnings ahead of the Storm clash.
“When the intensity went up, a few of our guys didn’t want to go with it,” Ciraldo lamented after Round 24.
“If we don’t want to prepare to win I’ll put someone in who does.”
The Bulldogs face the second-placed Storm for the first time since losing 16-14 in Round 6 of 2024, needing a victory to stay in the race for a top two finish.
Since 2015 the two sides have met on ten occasions in Melbourne, with the Storm holding an 8-2 advantage.