How to watch Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22?

You can watch the Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22?

To buy tickets to the Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 game check the AFL website or the official Western Bulldogs site.

Home
AFL

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL Round 22 Tips - Richards Set to Cash In as Desperate Roos Open It Up

Ryan Tucker

Editor

Last updated: Tue 04 Aug 2026 19:08

Ryan Tucker 1 hour ago

Share this article

Bulldogs welcome key forwards Naughton & Weightman after last round’s loss.
North Melbourne have lost five straight and are out of finals contention.
Experts tip Bulldogs -18.5, over 94.5 points, and Ed Richards for a big game.
The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Thursday, 6th August, with the bounce at 7:30 PM (AEST)

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne, Round 22 2026 - Expert Prediction

The Western Bulldogs come off the back of a rare shocker, managing just 41 points in a 37-point loss to Fremantle last week, their lowest score in over three years. Coach Luke Beveridge pointed squarely at an "unstable" forward mix with Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman both managed out of that trip west. Both are expected straight back in for this one, which should fix the exact problem that cost them against the Dockers.

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne, Round 22 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head Stats
Western Bulldogs Form Analysis
North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Team List & News
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 FAQ's

North Melbourne have nothing to play for but pride at this point. They've now dropped five in a row, and with three rounds left and finals essentially out of reach, the pressure is off in the way that can either see a team fold or throw everything at a bigger opponent with nothing to lose. History says this fixture rarely stays close either way with the Bulldogs having won all five of the last five meetings between these two by an average of almost 40 points.

North Melbourne's disposal and clearance work has actually held up reasonably well relative to the Bulldogs this season and a side desperate to avoid another blowout tends to commit more bodies forward and take more risk in transition. But that kind of approach leaks easy scoring opportunities against a Bulldogs midfield built to punish exactly that.

Take the Western Bulldogs -18.5, the Dogs' own total over 94.5, and Ed Richards in a multi with a goal and 25+ disposals as the plays for Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.

The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings with North Melbourne by an average of 39.8 points
Western Bulldogs are averaging 72.8 points a game over their last five outings even including last week's 41-point dud.
Ed Richards has gone for 26 and 30 disposals in his last two meetings with North Melbourne, and a game state that opens up in the Bulldogs' favour should feed him even more of the ball.
North Melbourne have lost five straight and are without a genuine incentive to play conservatively, a combination that tends to open games up rather than shut them down.

Head to Head Stats

The Western Bulldogs hold a comfortable edge in this rivalry, leading the all-time series 89 wins to 79 and the venue record at Marvel Stadium 21-14. Recent form has been even more one-sided with the Dogs having won all of the last five meetings and 9 of the last 10. Ed Richards has been a standout in this fixture specifically, racking up 30 disposals in round 1 this year and 26 in last year's round 17 meeting.

Western Bulldogs Form Analysis

The Bulldogs' 37-point loss to Fremantle was as much about personnel as form. Cooper Hynes was their best with two first-half goals and 22 disposals, while Rory Lobb fought hard for a target against his former side, but the Dogs managed under 40 forward entries and went goalless for nearly 53 minutes across the middle of the game.

Coach Luke Beveridge was blunt afterwards, saying the forward-line mix was "quite unstable" without Naughton and Weightman, who were both managed for the trip west rather than injured. No new injury concerns came out of the loss, and both managed players are expected back in for this one.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis

North Melbourne pushed Hawthorn hard before going down by 16 points, 14.15 (99) to 12.11 (83), with skipper Nick Larkey putting them a point up at three-quarter time before the Hawks kicked away in the final term. Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher, Jackson Archer, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Toby Pink were among their best in defeat.

Charlie Comben played after being cleared following a scary hospitalisation the previous week (coughing up blood after a heavy collision), needing to travel by ferry and car instead of flying as a precaution but no other injury concerns were reported. It's North Melbourne's fifth straight loss.

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Team List & News

Western Bulldogs Team News: Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman, both managed out of last week's trip to Perth, are expected to return straight back into the side for this one.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Team News: No injuries or outs have been flagged out of the Hawthorn loss. Charlie Comben played through last week after being cleared post-hospitalisation and should again be available.

(Full 22-man team lists to be added once officially confirmed by both clubs ahead of Thursday's game.)

Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 FAQ's

How to watch Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22?
You can watch the Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.
How to buy tickets to Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22?
To buy tickets to the Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne AFL 2026 Round 22 game check the AFL website or the official Western Bulldogs site.

Verdict

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne

Take the Western Bulldogs -18.5, the Dogs' own total over 94.5, and Ed Richards in a multi with a goal and 25+ disposals as the plays for Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.