Saturday, October 1Western Bulldogs ($2.40) vs Sydney Swans ($1.60), MCG at 2:30pmTeam news:The Bulldogs head into the grand final off the back of a much more ferocious and energy-sapping preliminary final than their Sydney rivals who breezed past a lacklustre Geelong on Friday night. The Dogs also have to front up with one days less rest, having defeated the Giants on Saturday evening.Lots of talk surrounds Lin Jong and whether the midfield will be selected. Three weeks ago against the Eagles, Jong suffered a broken collarbone, but miraculously recovered quicker than expected to lead the VFL side to premiership glory last Sunday -- claiming best on ground honours in the process. Luke Beveridge has a massive call to make.For the Swans, skipper Jarrad McVeigh is still a 50-50 and no certainty to play after failing to overcome a calf injury he picked up in the qualifying final loss to GWS.Exciting 13-gamer Aliir Aliir has been ruled out through injury, which is a huge blow for their defence. Hamstrung Rising Star winner Callum Mills is also expected to miss out, but Gary Rohan -- who played a key role in last weeks win -- looks a certain starter.Key head-to-head: Marcus Bontempelli vs. Luke ParkerThroughout this finals series, just about every AFL pundit has claimed that if the Bont can have a big impact, the Bulldogs might just win. Hes three out of three and the Dogs find themselves in a grand final -- another big effort and they may be premiers.It wont be easy against the star-studded Sydney midfield, particularly in his head-to-head battle with Luke Parker.Parker -- who finished second in Monday nights Brownlow Medal -- has been a match-winner for the Swans all year and will spend time throughout the day against Bontempelli.Both stars will have a huge impact on the match and are likely to feature in Norm Smith Medal calculations late in the final term.Teams:Bulldogs: B Jason Johannisen, Joel Hamling, Matthew Boyd HB Shane Biggs, Dale Morris, Easton Wood C Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Liam Picken HF Jack Macrae, Zaine Cordy, Jake Stringer F Tory Dickson, Tom Boyd, Clay Smith FOL Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore I/C Toby McLean, Fletcher Roberts, Josh Dunkley, Caleb DanielSwans: B Jake Lloyd, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith HB Callum Mills, Jeremy Laidler, Dane Rampe C Kieren Jack, Josh P. Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh HF Tom Mitchell, Lance Franklin, Luke Parker F Tom Papley, Kurt Tippett, Ben McGlynn FOL Sam Naismith, Dan Hannebery, Isaac Heeney I/C Gary Rohan, Zak Jones, George Hewett, Xavier RichardsField umpires:?Scott Jeffery, Matt Stevic, Simon MeredithBoundary umpires: Ian Burrows, Chris Bull, Rob Haala, Michael MarantelliGoal umpires: Chris Appleton, Adam WojcikGrand Final stats:The Bulldogs have won the past two clashes against the Swans - both at the SCG and by under a goal.This is the sixth grand final since 2007 that features a Victorian-based club and an interstate team. Victorian-based clubs have a superior 4-1 record.Stuart Dew has been involved in every leap year premiership since 2004. He is the Swans assistant coach in 2016.Every leap year since 2000, the side on top of the ladder after Round 1 has won the grand final. The Bulldogs topped the table after Round 1 this year.UBET verdict:Sydney have the upper hand when it comes to grand final experience, but the Bulldogs are brimming with belief after their six-point win over GWS. So, where does the all-important money trail point? Well, predictably perhaps, the early cash has come for the feel-good team, the Bulldogs, who are into their first decider in 55-years.Footy fans everywhere are buying into the Bulldogs fairy tale, with Luke Beveridges team capturing three quarters of the bets and two thirds of the money in the initial outright betting skirmish. Line money is also running in their favour at a 2:1 ratio.Sydneys certainly flying under the radar at this stage, but we fully expect the big money punters to step in closer to game day and smash the Swans, who are into their third decider since 2012.Norm Smith Medal betting will no doubt be huge. As it stands, veteran Josh Kennedy is the favourite at $7.00, followed by a few players who polled well on Brownlow Medal night in Luke Parker at $8.00 and Marcus Bontempelli and Dan Hannebery at $9.00. $10 million man Lance Franklin is a popular pick at $11, while $21 chance Caleb Daniel has been earmarked as value. As we have done in previous years, UBET will be trading live on the Norm Smith throughout the game.Weather: Mostly cloudy day with a top of 17 degrees. Possibly early showers which will clear by the first bounce.?Prediction:?Two very contrasting sides that rightfully deserve their place on the AFLs grandest stage.The Swans have been prolific in attack this year, averaging 100 points per match, while the Bulldogs have become the leagues stingiest defence, coughing up just 73 points per game.As much as everyone would love to see the Dogs fairytale continue, its hard to look past the seasoned Swans stars, particularly their midfield brigade. Throw in the ultimate X-factor in Franklin and its no surprise Sydney start favourite.However, if anyone can, the Bulldogs can.Tip: Swans by 10 pointsNorm Smith Medal: Tom MitchellEnter your ESPNfootytips AFL selections Discount Vans Shoes Australia . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Vans Shoes Australia Sale . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.vansaustraliawholesale.com/ . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Vans Shoes Online Australia Sale . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Vans Outlet Australia .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark has rewarded Washington for returning him to the starting rotation this season and hell go for his 13th win when the Nationals and Braves close out their three-game series on Sunday.After posting a 15-10 mark as a starter in 2014, Roark was shuffled back and forth between starting and relieving a year ago. This year, hes become a vital part of the rotation.Roark (12-6, 2.88 ERA) has won his last three starts and has allowed one earned run or less in four of six. Last time out, he went seven innings in a 1-0 win over the Giants.On Sunday, hell face an Atlanta lineup thats scored 14 runs in the first two games of this series, including Saturday nights 7-6 loss, when they rallied for four runs in the ninth but fell just short.We kind of put ourselves in a hole so we had nothing to lose, Freddie Freeman said. We came out swinging and put together a rally and came up a little too short.Freeman homered for the second straight game, matching his career high of 23.Washington built a 7-1 lead behind rookie starter Reynaldo Lopez, who picked up his first win.As an offense, we grinded out some at-bats tonight, got traffic on the base paths and kept pressure on the Braves, said Daniel Murphy, who hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs.Roark is 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 13 games, including eight starts, against the Braves. Hes allowed one run or fewer in six of those starts.Freeman is hitting .360 against Roark in 36 at-bats. A.J. Pierzynski is 7-for-10 with two homers and five RBI, while Mattt Kemp is 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBI, and Nick Markakis is 1-for-10.dddddddddddd.Atlanta right hander Tyrell Jenkins (2-2, 3.92 ERA) looks for his third straight win when he makes his first career start against the Nationals.In his last three starts, Jenkins, 24, has given up three runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits over 18 innings. His control has been a problem as hes walked 11 and struck out nine in that span.Washington picked up 11 hits, including three triples and two homers off Atlanta pitching Saturday night.Twenty-three year-old second baseman Trea Turner finished a double short of the cycle. Along with Murphy and Ben Revere (two triples), the first three hitters in the lineup finished 6-for-12.Just put the ball in play, get on base and let the guys behind you have some success and we did that tonight, Turner said.Washington got some good news on right fielder Bryce Harper on Saturday. Though he missed his fifth straight game with a stiff neck, an MRI came up clean so he hasnt been placed on the disabled list and remains day-to-day.Atlanta, which continues to do more than just play out the string, has won five of its last eight.Thats kind of what weve been doing. Were never out of the game, Snitker said after watching his club battle back on Saturday night. It was a really good rally. A lot of really good at-bats. Guys battling to the very end as they always do. ' ' '