Round 14 match preview Bulldogs V Port Power

[Twodogs]

Last Time Out

Round 8, 2007
Western Bulldogs 20.13-133
Port Adelaide 17.11-113



Attendance: Attendance: 22691 at TD.

Leading Goalkickers B. Johnson 5, J. Akermanis 3, M. Robbins 3.

Brownlow Votes M. Boyd 3 D. Cassisi 2 C. Cornes 1

After a slow first half the Bulldogs broke the shackles to kick 14 goals to 9 in the second half to have a seemingly comfortable 20 point win. It was the Bulldogs more accurate conversion rate after half time, 77.5% to 60% that masked the rouble they had shaking off Port. As was the case a year ago Johnson kicked 5 and was the main man to go to with support form Robbins and Akermanis. Boyd, Cooney, Harris and Darcy were the best for The Bulldogs while Cassisi, Chad Cornes and The Burgoyne boys had plenty of it for The Power.

Form
What can you say about the Bulldogs form this year? It’s been either excellent or ordinary while still finding a way to win. Port have been all over the shop with some good wins and some confusing losses against sides they were expected to perform well against. It’s significant that Mark Williams virtually wrote 2008 off in his presser after the weekends game. Not that I doubt Choco’s word but his actions at the selection table on Thursday will tell us how serious he was. The Bulldogs are full steam ahead and wont want to drop this one-especially in front of their Darwin Diaspora.
Notable absentees

Williams hurt a shoulder V Collingwood and while it was feared it might have been a dislocation at first he returned to the field until late in the last quarter. When he left the field the last time he was having trouble lifting his left arm but didn’t seem in significant trouble-I expect him to play. Aker seems to be troubled by a groin/upper leg problem which is limiting his mobility. Other than that it’s the usual suspects missing-West and Higgins

Chad Cornes has some ligament damage to his knee and problems with his finger, calf and other knee but is expected to play. Salopek (archilles) and Peter Burgoyne (hamsring) are expected to miss and Matt Thomas is suspensded. Williams has indicated that a few young players will come into the lineup to see wheteher they are up to AFL standard.

Up forward

Our forward line has many options and it’s difficult to see where Port have the defensive options to cover them all.

In the Midfield

Hudson and Minson will have Brogan and Lade basically fighting for their career. Expect it to be their most searching physical examination for some time. Peter Burgoyne missing is a huge blow to Port although with Cassisi on board who always performs well against us we’ll need to pay them plenty of respect.

Down Back

In the past Port’s tall and small forwards have bothered us but with the inclusion of Williams and the release of Hargrave and Morris to stand players more their size this should be less of a problem. Harris/Tredrea should be a great match up, while Morris gets Rodan and Hargrave Burgoyne.
The X-Factor
Dominic Cassisi. Hard working midfileder in good form. We’ve not given him the respect he deserves in the past and if we make the same mistake again we’ll pay the penatly. Maybe Matty Boyd couldrun with him with Nathan Eagleton as a back up.

The verdict

Simply speaking we cant afford to slip up. We must win this one if we are to be a serious contender. This is the sort of game that in the past we’d typically drop after a run of good form-in front of a national audience, slipped a bit in form last week and against a side that all but written the year off. This time around I’m very confident we will win

Dogs by 35.

[G-Mo77]

I did read somewhere that Cornes was expected to miss 2 - 3 weeks.

[craigsahibee]

I did read somewhere that Cornes was expected to miss 2 - 3 weeks.

Popped his calf last week. I would be very suprised if he made the trip north.

[Twodogs]

I did read somewhere that Cornes was expected to miss 2 - 3 weeks.

i was relying on this;

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/New...x?newsId=62044


Weird thing for Williams to say if they've put the cue in the rack but Choco is, well, a weirdo.

[The Coon Dog]

Traditionally Port's strength has been their speed. Very handy in Darwin where it's humid & the ball slips about all over the place.

I'm not so sure they are as nippy this season as they have been previously.

Not a game to be taken for granted.

[bornadog]

A must win up there. I was there two years ago and Port were not fancied at all and they came out and beat us.

Really, on form we should give them a great big belting and really stick the boot in.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Morris to Motlop. He's the only Port guy who seemingly can kick a goal. The Glove will do the business as usual and Port might not score at all.

[Go_Dogs]

Good call on Cassisi for the X-Factor, been a good player over the past few years, and perhaps along with Rodan, one of few blokes actually pulling his weight in the midfield at the moment.

[The Coon Dog]

If Tom Williams is injured, who replaces him? Can't recall the Port forward set up off hand, but they did drop Westhoff for the Richmond game, so they may only have Tredrea as the forward tall. I would assume Lake takes him. Maybe then Tiller comes in as he can play on a medium forward or go forward himself.

[Mantis]

The long range forecast is for a hot & humid night.

With Williams a definite out (so says the injury update) is there a need to replace him with a tall especially with Port having a fairly small forward line? I would like to see Harbrow given an opportunity, his ball handling in Darwin in the past has been pretty good and he adds another runner to the mix.

[LostDoggy]

Dom Cassisi the X FACTOR??? Not sure about that. Dont think Rocket Eade will lose any sleep over Cassisi. And Boyd to run with him and Eagleton to be a back up. Wow.. he must of gained 5 yards of pace and added 15m to his kicks since i last saw him play. He is just a good AFL player who should be shown the same respect as the other 21 Port players. The reason why he wasnt given respect in the past is because we had the most unaccountable midfield in the comp.

[craigsahibee]

Don't really see enough of Port to make a judgement here. They have always been one of those sides that I find boring and unwatchable.

As TCD mentioned in another thread Tiller may come in for Tommy as Port don't have a tall down forward other than Tredrea. Lade is capable as a forward and Brogan has been known to go forward also when not on the ball. The may try and stretch us in that regard so we may have to include Doogs or Cam Wight in the 25 as a precaution.

If we can stop the supply into their F50 Tredrea may work up the ground. His possesions outside of the F50 wont hurt us. One of the mobile defenders can run with him while Lake can float across half back.

Kane Cornes will be confused without Westy to hang on to.

Expected forecast 31. Take your shorts, thongs and stubby holders.

[Twodogs]

Dom Cassisi the X FACTOR??? Not sure about that. Dont think Rocket Eade will lose any sleep over Cassisi. And Boyd to run with him and Eagleton to be a back up. Wow.. he must of gained 5 yards of pace and added 15m to his kicks since i last saw him play. He is just a good AFL player who should be shown the same respect as the other 21 Port players. The reason why he wasnt given respect in the past is because we had the most unaccountable midfield in the comp.

Who would it be for you Jerry?

[Mofra]

Kane Cornes will be confused without Westy to hang on to.

He'd be running pretty close with Cooney all night I'd think.

[hujsh]

Just got thinking how unlucky Stack is to be under an injury cloud. Would almost be odds on to replace Williams for a match.

Need a defender, good matchups for him with mostly small forwards, in Darwin. The stars were almost aligned.

Then would likely be dropped after the bye.