Cyberdoggie
01-07-2009, 05:49 PM
This weeks Opposition Player Profile is Hawthorn's Lance Franklin:
Personal Details
#23 Hawthorn Hawks
Age: 22yr 5mth Games: 94 Born: January 30, 1987
Height: 196cm Weight: 101kg Position: Forward
Last Drafted: Round 1, Pick #5 2004 National Draft
Season Highlights
*17 disps (12 kicks 5 hballs), 9 marks and 3 goals in Rd 11 11-pt win over Sydney at the MCG (7 Jun 2009)
*19 disps (9 kicks 10 hballs), 8 marks and 3 goals in Rd 4 30-pt loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG (18 Apr 2009)
*13 disps (12 kicks 1 hballs), 8 marks, 5 tackles and 5 goals in Rd 1 8-pt loss to Geelong at the MCG (27 Mar 2009)
Season Averages
Kicks: 8.2
Handballs: 4.5
Disposals: 12.6
Tackles: 2.1
Goals 3.2
Why Lance Franklin?
Lance Franklin was chosen for two basic reasons. The first is that he is one of the most talented and damaging forwards in the AFL. The second and most importantly is because he absolutely destoroyed us in the Second Qualifying final last year. In that match Lance kicked 8 goals. The majority of which were kicked on Dale Morris, before Brian Lake was eventually sent to Franklin, but by that time the game was as good as over.
Buddy is a strong, leading forward with outstanding athletic ability for a tall player. Lance is also a proven match winner and can do freakish things with the football.
2008 was a career best year for the Hawthorn forward, in which he amassed 113 goals for the season and was a key player in the Hawks premiership campaign.
While Hawthorn has a few other stars in Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell. Franklin, despite his slightly less impressive season so far looms as the danger man for the dogs due to previous encounters and possible match up's.
Possible Match up's?
In the qualifying final last year Dale Morris started the game on Franklin, although it was soon very clear that his lack of agility, height, and strength compared to Franklin were key factors in the miss match. While the Dogs appeared to have stage fright and were poor all around, the inability to control Lance Franklin quickly turned the game to the Hawks.
Brian Lake eventually went to Franklin and seemed to match him better for strength and marking ability in the contests, however the damage was done.
The previous meeting to this the Dogs had a strong win down at Aurora stadium. A key component of this victory was the game of Tom Williams on Lance Franklin. Williams kept Franklin to 5 goals, however Tom was quite successful in the contests, beating him on several occasions.
This week's game finds the two teams in different situations to last year.
The Bulldogs are flying in 3rd spot, while the Hawks have struggled and are in 9th and on a 2 game losing streak.
For the match up's this week the Western Bulldogs have a few options.
Brian Lake: Possible first choice. Seemed better suited than Dale Morris in the Qualifying final, however Brian likes to play out of the goal square and generally play's poorly on the leading forwards. If Lake goes to Franklin expect to see Buddy draw him out to the 50 and then they will look for Roughead in the goals square.
Dale Morris: Was well beaten as the first choice on Buddy last time they met. Dale Doesn't have the height or agility to match it. It would be a brave move by Eade to assign the job to Dale this time around, even if he did just have a bad night out last time they met.
Ryan Hargrave: Ryan can play on just about anyone. His strength is his ability to pressure his opponent with his proximity and his spoiling ability. Ryan is not the strongest backman in marking contests and isn't the quickest but he's a good all-rounder. In terms of a potential match up with Franklin, you would have to say it is less likely as Ryan tends to play better on the smaller to mid sized forwards and may struggle for strength.
Tom Williams: Tom is the player with the attributes that is best suited to play on the Hawks danger forward. He has shown previously that he can perform on Franklin, however his injuries, form and absence from the team make it less likely that he will play.
Tom played his first game back from injury last week with Williamstown, unfortunately it may not be enough for him to find his way back in the side.
Damage Control
What will be our plan to stop Buddy and who will match up on him?
Theoretically there has been nothing wrong with our plans on previously encounters.
Our basic plan is to use Morris or Williams on Franklin and have them try and compete with him on the leads and hope that he gets most of his marks well outside 50. Around the goal square Lake will assist as the loose man and 3rd in the contest to help out our other defenders. This plan is satisfactorily sound, unfortunately Roughead and Franklin are that good that if they get enough opportunities and the ball fed well enough to them then they will ultimately succeed.
Conclusion
The key for us isn't so much on the match ups on Buddy, rather the pressure upfield. As we showed in Tasmania, if we win most of the ball and put significant pressure on the hawk ball movers we will limit their supply and the quality to Franklin and we will win the game. If we play this way it won't matter so much even if Franklin kicks 5 odd goals, we should still outscore them.
For me it's a simple equation. If we run and tackle, take risks and play on quickly we win games. If we hesitate, play backwards and second guess our selves, we make mistakes and lose.
Personal Details
#23 Hawthorn Hawks
Age: 22yr 5mth Games: 94 Born: January 30, 1987
Height: 196cm Weight: 101kg Position: Forward
Last Drafted: Round 1, Pick #5 2004 National Draft
Season Highlights
*17 disps (12 kicks 5 hballs), 9 marks and 3 goals in Rd 11 11-pt win over Sydney at the MCG (7 Jun 2009)
*19 disps (9 kicks 10 hballs), 8 marks and 3 goals in Rd 4 30-pt loss to Port Adelaide at the MCG (18 Apr 2009)
*13 disps (12 kicks 1 hballs), 8 marks, 5 tackles and 5 goals in Rd 1 8-pt loss to Geelong at the MCG (27 Mar 2009)
Season Averages
Kicks: 8.2
Handballs: 4.5
Disposals: 12.6
Tackles: 2.1
Goals 3.2
Why Lance Franklin?
Lance Franklin was chosen for two basic reasons. The first is that he is one of the most talented and damaging forwards in the AFL. The second and most importantly is because he absolutely destoroyed us in the Second Qualifying final last year. In that match Lance kicked 8 goals. The majority of which were kicked on Dale Morris, before Brian Lake was eventually sent to Franklin, but by that time the game was as good as over.
Buddy is a strong, leading forward with outstanding athletic ability for a tall player. Lance is also a proven match winner and can do freakish things with the football.
2008 was a career best year for the Hawthorn forward, in which he amassed 113 goals for the season and was a key player in the Hawks premiership campaign.
While Hawthorn has a few other stars in Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell. Franklin, despite his slightly less impressive season so far looms as the danger man for the dogs due to previous encounters and possible match up's.
Possible Match up's?
In the qualifying final last year Dale Morris started the game on Franklin, although it was soon very clear that his lack of agility, height, and strength compared to Franklin were key factors in the miss match. While the Dogs appeared to have stage fright and were poor all around, the inability to control Lance Franklin quickly turned the game to the Hawks.
Brian Lake eventually went to Franklin and seemed to match him better for strength and marking ability in the contests, however the damage was done.
The previous meeting to this the Dogs had a strong win down at Aurora stadium. A key component of this victory was the game of Tom Williams on Lance Franklin. Williams kept Franklin to 5 goals, however Tom was quite successful in the contests, beating him on several occasions.
This week's game finds the two teams in different situations to last year.
The Bulldogs are flying in 3rd spot, while the Hawks have struggled and are in 9th and on a 2 game losing streak.
For the match up's this week the Western Bulldogs have a few options.
Brian Lake: Possible first choice. Seemed better suited than Dale Morris in the Qualifying final, however Brian likes to play out of the goal square and generally play's poorly on the leading forwards. If Lake goes to Franklin expect to see Buddy draw him out to the 50 and then they will look for Roughead in the goals square.
Dale Morris: Was well beaten as the first choice on Buddy last time they met. Dale Doesn't have the height or agility to match it. It would be a brave move by Eade to assign the job to Dale this time around, even if he did just have a bad night out last time they met.
Ryan Hargrave: Ryan can play on just about anyone. His strength is his ability to pressure his opponent with his proximity and his spoiling ability. Ryan is not the strongest backman in marking contests and isn't the quickest but he's a good all-rounder. In terms of a potential match up with Franklin, you would have to say it is less likely as Ryan tends to play better on the smaller to mid sized forwards and may struggle for strength.
Tom Williams: Tom is the player with the attributes that is best suited to play on the Hawks danger forward. He has shown previously that he can perform on Franklin, however his injuries, form and absence from the team make it less likely that he will play.
Tom played his first game back from injury last week with Williamstown, unfortunately it may not be enough for him to find his way back in the side.
Damage Control
What will be our plan to stop Buddy and who will match up on him?
Theoretically there has been nothing wrong with our plans on previously encounters.
Our basic plan is to use Morris or Williams on Franklin and have them try and compete with him on the leads and hope that he gets most of his marks well outside 50. Around the goal square Lake will assist as the loose man and 3rd in the contest to help out our other defenders. This plan is satisfactorily sound, unfortunately Roughead and Franklin are that good that if they get enough opportunities and the ball fed well enough to them then they will ultimately succeed.
Conclusion
The key for us isn't so much on the match ups on Buddy, rather the pressure upfield. As we showed in Tasmania, if we win most of the ball and put significant pressure on the hawk ball movers we will limit their supply and the quality to Franklin and we will win the game. If we play this way it won't matter so much even if Franklin kicks 5 odd goals, we should still outscore them.
For me it's a simple equation. If we run and tackle, take risks and play on quickly we win games. If we hesitate, play backwards and second guess our selves, we make mistakes and lose.