“It will be hard to push Tom out”: The Dogs’ midfield squeeze

Joel Freijah has trained and played in the midfield throughout the pre-season but will he be at the first centre bounce for the Western Bulldogs against Brisbane in opening round?

It's an obvious question and one Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli can't answer.

"I couldn't tell you right now," Bontempelli told Zero Hanger ahead of Friday night's practice hit out against Hawthorn.

"Joel (Freijah) will definitely play a significant role for us.

"It will be hard to push Tom out."

Bontempelli, obviously, was talking about Tom Liberatore - a fixture at the coalface who once again made the All-Australian extended squad last season.

For Freijah to come in, it is Liberatore that must come out. Bontempelli himself and Ed Richards are locks for that first bounce.

The squeeze for spots in the midfield is one of the big watches at the Bulldogs. They also have Matthew Kennedy, Adam Treloar and Ryley Sanders in their weaponry.

"We will bat deep again," Bontempelli said.

"It will be more 2016-esque where we had six or seven midfielders stretched across the field. 

"If you look at Brisbane that's pretty much the way they roll. They've got a deep midfield... they play wing, forward and a bit back even."

Liberatore has spent some time at half-back in match simulation, but is such a natural ball hunter. How the Dogs manage the emergence of Freijah will be an interesting watch.