bulldogtragic
03-08-2009, 05:22 PM
Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles, Docklands, Saturday 8 August 2009, 2.10pm
Last Time They Met – Round 4 2009, Subiaco – WCE 17.14.116 def WB 12.11.83
A very disappointing game for the WBFC, in their defence was the fact this was the second WA trip in 4 weeks. In the match WCE gained momentum, got the crowd behind them and never looked back. These factors will not be relevant this week, especially if only 19,000 turn up again this week.
Recent Form:
WB: L, W, L, W – Need to work up a head of steam coming into the finals
WCE: L, L, L, W – Need to keep winning and build momentum and confidence for 2010 now the PP is off the table
Ladder:
WB – 3rd
WCE – 13th
The Run Home:
WB: Brisbane (Gabba), Geelong (ES) and Collingwood (ES)
WCE: Kangas (Subi), Adelaide (AAMI) and Richmond (Subi)
Injuries of note:
WB – Higgins, Murphy, Giansiracusa, Welsh
WCE – Cox, Kerr, Nikoski, Waters
Big name outs for both teams, but the depth of the dogs can cover better than the inexperienced kids WCE having running around.
At the selection Table:
WB – I think we need to make sure the fitness of injured players is 100%, so I wouldn’t be rushing any of them back. Welsh needs time to be cherry-ripe, otherwise he can be a liability, while Murphy is simply too important to risk for a game against a bottom team.
Eagleton hasn’t been giving enough, but at 198 games for the club and favouritism with the coaches I can’t see him being dropped. Last week’s pups in’s of Stack and Everitt need more time and this game gives them the valuable experience of AFL game time.
Therefore, I think the only potential for a change should be Hudson if he wants a rest. In that case I’d give Skipper a run to see if he can generate any trade value.
WCE – A good win against an insipid Essendon was premised on a solid team effort. Without injuries it would be tough to drop any players, but you would think for matchups they might need an extra small defender if they believe, like me, that Welsh and Murphy will do another week on the sidelines. That being the case, perhaps McKenzie could make way for Ryan Davis.
Key Match-ups:
Embley v Griffen: Embley is a quality player and over the past few weeks has been running his guts out. Griffen for me hasn’t taken the next step this year and another run with role with a very good athlete and footballer is in order. Griffen will have to be on his game, but has the skills to do the stopping job on Embley and do significant damage the other way. With so much inexperience in the WCE midfield, stopping one of their senior runners would be a good step with the designated stopped to pick up Priddis or Swift.
Akermanis v Wirrpanda: Last week was vintage Aker, and the left foot swinging goal brought back memories of broken hearted Collingwood supporters. Aker’s form has been very good this year and when we need a lift, Aker has been producing. The intention for WCE will then be to stop the play maker and goal scorer. Who better to get the job on an agile wiley veteran, than an agile wiley veteran in David Wirrpanda. Wirrpanda has made a career of doing the big jobs on very good forwards and this is a delicious matchup.
Kennedy v Morris: I really like the look of young Kennedy. The forgotten man of the Judd trade has put together a solid year. A tallish forward option and a hard running player, Kennedy has many strings to his bow to make his the subject of a good defender. No better WB defender is better than Dale Morris. Tall, yet fast and agile with a good motor, the glove is the man for the job. While Tommy and Lake will destroy the hap-hazard Lynch and young NikNat, Kennedy could be a key part of their forward set-up. So I say give Kennedy one of the hardest roles in footy and shut them down.
Lecras v Harbrow: I’d like to see Harbrow pick Lecras up. Lecras can be a very, very dangerous forward. However, Harbrow has the speed to go with Lecras on the lead, and last week against Essendon, Lecras worked up the ground a bit more trying to play further up like Brad Johnson has been playing. Harbrow has the speed and skills to stay with Lecras both in deep defence and up the ground. If Lecras wants to play further up Harbrow can wander up too, and add his dash and foot skills towards the midfield. For mine, Harbrow offers a good defensive option on Lecras and a very good counter attacking option.
Stack v 22 WCE players: Who can stop Brennan? No one. I think we’re all looking forward to him running amok with opposition players who don’t have the right to be on the same field as Brennan.
Where the game will be won or lost:
At the risk of sounding a little arrogant, it will be won or lost in the heads of the players. The WB players have had a horrid run of shocking first quarters and first halves. If the players can come out switched on and put scoreboard pressure on from the get-go, then the dogs should win. Unlike last week against Fremantle, a doggies member would hope that the pressure of the players last 4 quarters and is ruthless. While the dogs walked away with 4 premiership points last week, the performance didn’t inspire the minds of those that watched the game. With 22 switched on players putting together 4 quarters of high pressure footy, the dogs should win, and win comfortably.
Final Summary:
This is a not negotiable ‘must win’ game for the bulldogs. With a tough run home for the dogs this is needed to keep the gap on the competition, and with Collingwood under 7%, some more percentage would be nice too. Although injuries to big name players, the WBFC has good depth and has good kids coming through, Stack’s game last week is a sign of things to come. While WCE also have big injuries but don’t yet quite have the depth to cover the quality players out. With that in mind and that the WB players have an enormous amount on the line, and WCE’s horrific away record over the past few years; you would expect a healthy win to the WBFC.
WB to win by 53 points.
Go dogs!!!
Last Time They Met – Round 4 2009, Subiaco – WCE 17.14.116 def WB 12.11.83
A very disappointing game for the WBFC, in their defence was the fact this was the second WA trip in 4 weeks. In the match WCE gained momentum, got the crowd behind them and never looked back. These factors will not be relevant this week, especially if only 19,000 turn up again this week.
Recent Form:
WB: L, W, L, W – Need to work up a head of steam coming into the finals
WCE: L, L, L, W – Need to keep winning and build momentum and confidence for 2010 now the PP is off the table
Ladder:
WB – 3rd
WCE – 13th
The Run Home:
WB: Brisbane (Gabba), Geelong (ES) and Collingwood (ES)
WCE: Kangas (Subi), Adelaide (AAMI) and Richmond (Subi)
Injuries of note:
WB – Higgins, Murphy, Giansiracusa, Welsh
WCE – Cox, Kerr, Nikoski, Waters
Big name outs for both teams, but the depth of the dogs can cover better than the inexperienced kids WCE having running around.
At the selection Table:
WB – I think we need to make sure the fitness of injured players is 100%, so I wouldn’t be rushing any of them back. Welsh needs time to be cherry-ripe, otherwise he can be a liability, while Murphy is simply too important to risk for a game against a bottom team.
Eagleton hasn’t been giving enough, but at 198 games for the club and favouritism with the coaches I can’t see him being dropped. Last week’s pups in’s of Stack and Everitt need more time and this game gives them the valuable experience of AFL game time.
Therefore, I think the only potential for a change should be Hudson if he wants a rest. In that case I’d give Skipper a run to see if he can generate any trade value.
WCE – A good win against an insipid Essendon was premised on a solid team effort. Without injuries it would be tough to drop any players, but you would think for matchups they might need an extra small defender if they believe, like me, that Welsh and Murphy will do another week on the sidelines. That being the case, perhaps McKenzie could make way for Ryan Davis.
Key Match-ups:
Embley v Griffen: Embley is a quality player and over the past few weeks has been running his guts out. Griffen for me hasn’t taken the next step this year and another run with role with a very good athlete and footballer is in order. Griffen will have to be on his game, but has the skills to do the stopping job on Embley and do significant damage the other way. With so much inexperience in the WCE midfield, stopping one of their senior runners would be a good step with the designated stopped to pick up Priddis or Swift.
Akermanis v Wirrpanda: Last week was vintage Aker, and the left foot swinging goal brought back memories of broken hearted Collingwood supporters. Aker’s form has been very good this year and when we need a lift, Aker has been producing. The intention for WCE will then be to stop the play maker and goal scorer. Who better to get the job on an agile wiley veteran, than an agile wiley veteran in David Wirrpanda. Wirrpanda has made a career of doing the big jobs on very good forwards and this is a delicious matchup.
Kennedy v Morris: I really like the look of young Kennedy. The forgotten man of the Judd trade has put together a solid year. A tallish forward option and a hard running player, Kennedy has many strings to his bow to make his the subject of a good defender. No better WB defender is better than Dale Morris. Tall, yet fast and agile with a good motor, the glove is the man for the job. While Tommy and Lake will destroy the hap-hazard Lynch and young NikNat, Kennedy could be a key part of their forward set-up. So I say give Kennedy one of the hardest roles in footy and shut them down.
Lecras v Harbrow: I’d like to see Harbrow pick Lecras up. Lecras can be a very, very dangerous forward. However, Harbrow has the speed to go with Lecras on the lead, and last week against Essendon, Lecras worked up the ground a bit more trying to play further up like Brad Johnson has been playing. Harbrow has the speed and skills to stay with Lecras both in deep defence and up the ground. If Lecras wants to play further up Harbrow can wander up too, and add his dash and foot skills towards the midfield. For mine, Harbrow offers a good defensive option on Lecras and a very good counter attacking option.
Stack v 22 WCE players: Who can stop Brennan? No one. I think we’re all looking forward to him running amok with opposition players who don’t have the right to be on the same field as Brennan.
Where the game will be won or lost:
At the risk of sounding a little arrogant, it will be won or lost in the heads of the players. The WB players have had a horrid run of shocking first quarters and first halves. If the players can come out switched on and put scoreboard pressure on from the get-go, then the dogs should win. Unlike last week against Fremantle, a doggies member would hope that the pressure of the players last 4 quarters and is ruthless. While the dogs walked away with 4 premiership points last week, the performance didn’t inspire the minds of those that watched the game. With 22 switched on players putting together 4 quarters of high pressure footy, the dogs should win, and win comfortably.
Final Summary:
This is a not negotiable ‘must win’ game for the bulldogs. With a tough run home for the dogs this is needed to keep the gap on the competition, and with Collingwood under 7%, some more percentage would be nice too. Although injuries to big name players, the WBFC has good depth and has good kids coming through, Stack’s game last week is a sign of things to come. While WCE also have big injuries but don’t yet quite have the depth to cover the quality players out. With that in mind and that the WB players have an enormous amount on the line, and WCE’s horrific away record over the past few years; you would expect a healthy win to the WBFC.
WB to win by 53 points.
Go dogs!!!