Western Bulldogs' coach Rodney Eade has taken a refreshing approach to Saturday night's NAB Cup decider in embracing the hype that's come with the club's first grand final appearance in 40 years, rather than shying away from it. While it has become fashionable for clubs to play down the pre-season competition at every opportunity - with the Dogs' opponents on Saturday night in St Kilda having long taken that path - Eade said on Wednesday he can understand why the club's fans are so excited at seeing their team in their first grand final since winning the old night series in 1970.

After playing more games for his club than any player in history, Western Bullldogs captain Brad Johnson has been heartbreakingly ruled out of the club's first grand final appearance in 40 years against St Kilda in Saturday night's NAB Cup decider. The 33-year-old is still struggling to overcome an Achilles injury that has prevented him from playing throughout the pre-season and has also been ruled out of the Dogs' opening game of the home and away season against Collingwood. That match against the Magpies would have been Johnson's 350th game but instead his milestone match is likely to be delayed until Round 2 or even Round 3.

Richmond defender Jake King will risk missing the first three rounds of the AFL season after deciding to contest the striking charge handed down to him by the match review panel. King was charged with striking Collingwood's Travis Cloke in last week's NAB Challenge match at Visy Park. With inconclusive video footage, the match review panel interviewed Cloke and based on his evidence charged King with a level three striking offence. The charge drew 225 demerit points but due to his poor record and carry over points, his total ballooned up to 309.06 and a three-match ban.

Dynamic Melbourne forward Liam Jurrah will undergo a shoulder reconstruction on Wednesday and will be sidelined for four months, continuing the Demons' injury-ravaged preparations for the premiership season. Jurrah injured the joint when he fell awkwardly in a practice match against Adelaide on Saturday and after meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday it was confirmed he would require surgery. The 21-year-old is the latest pre-season casualty for Melbourne with Cale Morton (knee) and Daniel Bell (AC joint) both expected to be sidelined for as much as nine and eight weeks respectively.

St Kilda is not prepared to flirt with its form even in the pre-season, according to utility Jason Blake, and will play to win in Saturday's NAB Cup grand final against the Western Bulldogs. "At St Kilda we don't want to pick and choose, we want to remain consistent with our effort the whole way through," said Blake ahead of training at Moorabbin on Tuesday. "The NAB Cup is all about preparing ourselves for Round 1 and for the season." "We want to practice excellence.