GVGjr
29-03-2007, 04:53 AM
Murphy and Darcy back, but Grant in doubt (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21465746%255E19775,00.html)
WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says games record-holder Chris Grant is less than a 50-50 chance of playing against Geelong on Sunday.
With full-back Brian Harris also missing until Round 3 because of suspension, the Dogs lack height and look vulnerable in defence.
But Eade is confident the height issue will not be a factor against the Cats.
"West Coast had a pretty tall forward line in our last practice match and our players coped reasonably well," Eade said. "And I think our defence has coped reasonably well in the past.
"People talk about tall forward lines . . . (Brad) Ottens has had a good pre-season, so has (Cameron) Mooney, so they've got some talent down there.
"We would prefer to have another tall, but if we haven't, we haven't. We've just got to get on with it."
The Dogs will welcome back former skipper Luke Darcy and fellow knee reconstruction victim Robert Murphy, and will have the experienced Jason Akermanis and West Coast recruit Andrew McDougall as the only new faces in the line-up.
Murphy said he would feel like a debutant when he ran out on Sunday.
The 110-gamer, who has been out of action with a knee injury since Round 9 last year, is excited to finally be back playing again.
Eade will use Murphy in a variety of positions.
"It sort of feels like my career is going to be in two parts now, what happened then and now post (the injury)," Murphy said yesterday.
"It's been a pretty long road to get here."
Some solid full-contact work at training and three practice games has convinced Murphy the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee has fully recovered and is ready for AFL rigours. But Eade said it would take time before Murphy and Darcy were back to their best.
"Coming back from a knee operation . . . it takes a good 12 to 15 months until they are 100 per cent fully able to play at the level that they were before," Eade said.
"People have just got to bide a bit of time before they get back to where they were."
Eade said he expected the Dogs' main improvement to come from the side's younger players.
"The players that are 24-25, I think they've got a lot of improvement left in them . . . (Lindsay) Gilbee, (Ryan) Hargrave, (Jordan) McMahon, (Ryan) Griffen, (Adam) Cooney obviously, (Shaun) Higgins as well," he said.
"I think Aker and McDougall will help us as well and maybe the cream on the top mid-season will be Murphy, Darcy and (Mitch) Hahn."
WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says games record-holder Chris Grant is less than a 50-50 chance of playing against Geelong on Sunday.
With full-back Brian Harris also missing until Round 3 because of suspension, the Dogs lack height and look vulnerable in defence.
But Eade is confident the height issue will not be a factor against the Cats.
"West Coast had a pretty tall forward line in our last practice match and our players coped reasonably well," Eade said. "And I think our defence has coped reasonably well in the past.
"People talk about tall forward lines . . . (Brad) Ottens has had a good pre-season, so has (Cameron) Mooney, so they've got some talent down there.
"We would prefer to have another tall, but if we haven't, we haven't. We've just got to get on with it."
The Dogs will welcome back former skipper Luke Darcy and fellow knee reconstruction victim Robert Murphy, and will have the experienced Jason Akermanis and West Coast recruit Andrew McDougall as the only new faces in the line-up.
Murphy said he would feel like a debutant when he ran out on Sunday.
The 110-gamer, who has been out of action with a knee injury since Round 9 last year, is excited to finally be back playing again.
Eade will use Murphy in a variety of positions.
"It sort of feels like my career is going to be in two parts now, what happened then and now post (the injury)," Murphy said yesterday.
"It's been a pretty long road to get here."
Some solid full-contact work at training and three practice games has convinced Murphy the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee has fully recovered and is ready for AFL rigours. But Eade said it would take time before Murphy and Darcy were back to their best.
"Coming back from a knee operation . . . it takes a good 12 to 15 months until they are 100 per cent fully able to play at the level that they were before," Eade said.
"People have just got to bide a bit of time before they get back to where they were."
Eade said he expected the Dogs' main improvement to come from the side's younger players.
"The players that are 24-25, I think they've got a lot of improvement left in them . . . (Lindsay) Gilbee, (Ryan) Hargrave, (Jordan) McMahon, (Ryan) Griffen, (Adam) Cooney obviously, (Shaun) Higgins as well," he said.
"I think Aker and McDougall will help us as well and maybe the cream on the top mid-season will be Murphy, Darcy and (Mitch) Hahn."