CARLTON returns to the big stage tonight in its clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

After an improved performance against the Eagles, will the Blues find their breakthrough win of the season against the 16th-placed Bulldogs?

Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s opponents…

OVERVIEW

Ladder position: 16th

Won: 1

Lost: 4

Form: LLWLL

Average points for: 72

Average points against: 106

Leading goalkickers: Billy Gowers, Marcus Bontempelli (6), Josh Dunkley (5), Bailey Dale (4)

AGE BREAKDOWN FOR FRIDAY NIGHT (CARLTON IN BRACKETS)

Players aged 18-21: 10 (9)

Players aged 22-25: 10 (3)

Players aged 26-29: 2 (7)

Players aged 30+: 0 (3)

FORM

After losing a nail-biter against Sydney at Etihad Stadium in Round 4, a young Bulldogs outfit proved no match for Fremantle at Optus Stadium last week, going down by 54 points.

The 2016 premiers have lost four of their opening five games, with their sole victory coming against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in Round 3.

TEAM SELECTION

The Dogs will be without forward Tory Dickson tonight, who succumbed to a hamstring injury against Fremantle.

Mitch Honeychurch and Lukas Webb have been omitted, with tough midfielder Lachie Hunter, former Docker Hayden Crozier and young utility Bailey Williams coming into the side.

WHO THEY’RE MISSING

Like the Blues, the Dogs have a handful of regulars missing through injury.

Joining Dickson on the sidelines are fellow 2016 premiership players Tom Liberatore, Liam Picken, Dale Morris and Clay Smith.

Key forwards Jack Redpath (knee) and Josh Schache (ankle) are also unavailable, leaving Tom Boyd as the Dogs’ only bona-fide tall forward tonight.

GAME STYLE

The Dogs favour an uncontested, possession-based style, ranking first for marks, third for uncontested possessions and last for contested possessions.

Building a reputation for ferocious pressure in 2016, they sit last this season for tackles.

If granted space, however, the Dogs can hurt their opponents, ranking second for marks inside 50 despite having the sixth-least inside 50s.

THE QUERY

The Blues have fielded considerably younger sides than North Melbourne and West Coast in recent weeks, but the Dogs are even younger tonight.

They’ll have 10 players under the age of 22 to Carlton’s nine, and 10 aged 22-25 to the Blues’ three.

Matthew Suckling will be their oldest player at 29, while the Blues will field three players above 29 – Dale Thomas, Sam Rowe and Kade Simpson.

The Dogs are also yet to win a final quarter this season and will be coming off a six-day break and a trip to Perth.

THE DANGERMEN

When Marcus Bontempelli fires, the Dogs are hard to contain.

Though he’s been down on his usual output in recent weeks, the star midfielder is the Dogs’ equal leading goalkicker and can’t be left unchecked inside 50.

The Blues will also need to pay close attention to the returning Hunter, who ranks second at the Dogs for effective disposals per game (22).

FINAL WORDS FROM THE OPPOSITION

Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his side would look to put the Blues’ defence under pressure.

“Over the journey we’ve created a lot of inside-50s and haven’t necessarily capitalised, so we’ll be planning on doing that on Friday night and trying to score,” Beveridge said.

“We need a good balance between that uncontested-mark approach and knowing when to go quick, so that’s always a challenge for players to work their way through during a game.”