Twodogs
24-06-2008, 04:02 PM
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.
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.