The Coon Dog
21-07-2010, 10:36 PM
Where: Sunday 25 July
Where: Etihad Stadium
Time: 1.10pm (AET)
The Aker Impact
Let's be honest, between now & Sunday all we're going to see & hear about is Aker. How will it affect the Bulldogs? That's anyone's guess, but if the suggestion that the playing group had had enough of him, I think it will galvanise them.
What's At Stake?
The much vaunted 4th position! Conventional wisdom suggests that teams finishing outside the top 4 cannot win the premiership. Why I also think its important to finish 4th (& above Fremantle) is not having to play outside Victoria in the finals.
Last 5 Meetings
R18 2009 - WB 111 d FR 70 (ES)
R1 2009 - WB 157 d FR 88 (S)
R8 2008 - WB 114 d FR 111 (S)
R12 2007 - WB 141 d FR 115 (DAR)
R11 2006 - WB 100 d FR 86 (ES)
The Bulldogs have won the last 5 meetings between these 2 teams so there would be a bit of confidence going in, having said that Fremantle would think they're due, plus Fremantle are a much better team this year.
Selection
Barry Hall & Jordan Roughead will return (but not you know who, remember him?), but at who's expense?
Personally I'd go with Williams & Everitt, but I reckon 10 people could nominate 2 players & they might not get the same combination.
I just think you have to run, run & run more against Fremantle, as Melbourne (nearly) proved last week.
Despite injury concerns to Matthew Pavlich, I don't think there's a snowballs hope in hell that he'll miss this week. Alex Silvagni will miss with a groin injury & Antoni Grover will replace him. There is a doubt on Ryan Crowley. If he misses it would be a blow for the Dockers as he's an irritating so & so & who would annoy whoever he tagged. Tarrant may return from injury.
Key Areas
As I see it, there are 3 major areas on the ground; our forward line, our backline & the bit in the middle (sounds so FDOTM, doesn't it?).
- Our Backline
One of our major strengths this season, with the side now ranked 2nd in points conceded. Obviously a greater emphasis this season has seen our defence much more difficult to score against, conceding just 74 points per game.
Obviously the cornerstone of our backline is Brian Lake, who is in career best form. If Matthew Pavlich plays up forward for Freo (as I expect him to), I would imagine the purists would lick their lips in anticipation of a Lake/Pavlich match up, much the same as they did 3 weeks ago when Brian & Buddy went head to head.
Under the old Freo, if you stopped Pavlich you generally won, but this season they are much more rounded & share the load. Hayden Ballantyne proved to be the difference up forward last week for Fremantle, so Jarrod Harbrow will have to be on his guard, as he's a sneaky little bugger is Ballantyne.
Hopefully the midfielders exert as much pressure on the Freo mids as is possible, forcing them to kick indiscriminately into their forward line. If that happens then Hargrave & Gilbee will have a field day bringing the ball out of defence.
- Our Forwardline
Bazza's back! Be interesting to see who takes him. I haven't seen Freo alot this season (which makes this preview somewhat challenging - where are you Scraggers???), but I'm guessing McPharlane, Johnson or Tarrant could try their luck. Someone needs to be at Bazza's feet (without getting in his way) to pick up anything that spills. A Ballantyne type in our forward line would be handy!
For his confidence more than anything Shaun Higgins needs a big game.
- The Bit In The Middle
This is where the game will be won & lost. Whoever wins the midfield battle will win the match & with the injury to Michael Barlow, I just see that as a huge out for Freo.
Against Carlton a few weeks back Nanny McPhee tagged Judd & drove him mad by all accounts, so I'd expect him to have first crack at Cooney. If Crowley does play he'll probably take Griff. Both of these two, need much more assistance from their team mates, particularly if the checking is tight. Boyd & Cross (playing his 150th game) particularly have to be prepared to block & get between Coons/Griff & the leeches that hang off them.
Sandilands has been a giant for Fremantle in more ways than one this year. Hudson has to get in as close as possible making it body on body. To use a cricket term, he can't allow Sandilands to get his arms free. When Bradley takes a turn I'd let Roughead to go head to head. Hopefully Sandilands will rest on the bench & not up forward, he could be dangerous if he does, so Brain needs to look out for that (not that he could miss him, but it is Brain we're talking about).
Stephen Hill is a little beauty & I'd love to see Callan Ward go to him & really give it to him. I' love Callan's physicality & he's seriously going to hurt someone soon (legitimately I might add).
You can see just by looking at him that Morabito's been well coached & he links up nicely going forward. Gotta stop Palmer getting his hands on it & feeding it out to Morabito, Hill, Mundy & de Boer.
I just feel that our midfield will be too physical for Freo & as I said earlier, that's where the game's result will hinge.
My Predictions
Western Bulldogs: 4.1 - 7.5 - 12.9 - 17.12.114
Fremantle: 3.4 - 6.4 - 9.9 - 13.11.89
Dogs to win by 25 points.
Brownlow Votes: 3/ Adam Cooney 2/ Matthew Boyd 1/ Aaron Sandilands.
Supercoach Top 5: Brian Lake 133, Adam Cooney 126, Aaron Sandilands 123, Daniel Cross 120, Matthew Boyd 118.
Crowd: 22,689 (WB 22,411, FR 278)
Umpires: Green, Red or Yellow (it's like guessing what colour clinker you'll get when you bite through the chocolate). I'll go with Red.
Amusing Incident: Hadyen Ballantyne trying to get under Brian Lake's skin & Brian looking at him as though he's a complete idiot.
Where: Etihad Stadium
Time: 1.10pm (AET)
The Aker Impact
Let's be honest, between now & Sunday all we're going to see & hear about is Aker. How will it affect the Bulldogs? That's anyone's guess, but if the suggestion that the playing group had had enough of him, I think it will galvanise them.
What's At Stake?
The much vaunted 4th position! Conventional wisdom suggests that teams finishing outside the top 4 cannot win the premiership. Why I also think its important to finish 4th (& above Fremantle) is not having to play outside Victoria in the finals.
Last 5 Meetings
R18 2009 - WB 111 d FR 70 (ES)
R1 2009 - WB 157 d FR 88 (S)
R8 2008 - WB 114 d FR 111 (S)
R12 2007 - WB 141 d FR 115 (DAR)
R11 2006 - WB 100 d FR 86 (ES)
The Bulldogs have won the last 5 meetings between these 2 teams so there would be a bit of confidence going in, having said that Fremantle would think they're due, plus Fremantle are a much better team this year.
Selection
Barry Hall & Jordan Roughead will return (but not you know who, remember him?), but at who's expense?
Personally I'd go with Williams & Everitt, but I reckon 10 people could nominate 2 players & they might not get the same combination.
I just think you have to run, run & run more against Fremantle, as Melbourne (nearly) proved last week.
Despite injury concerns to Matthew Pavlich, I don't think there's a snowballs hope in hell that he'll miss this week. Alex Silvagni will miss with a groin injury & Antoni Grover will replace him. There is a doubt on Ryan Crowley. If he misses it would be a blow for the Dockers as he's an irritating so & so & who would annoy whoever he tagged. Tarrant may return from injury.
Key Areas
As I see it, there are 3 major areas on the ground; our forward line, our backline & the bit in the middle (sounds so FDOTM, doesn't it?).
- Our Backline
One of our major strengths this season, with the side now ranked 2nd in points conceded. Obviously a greater emphasis this season has seen our defence much more difficult to score against, conceding just 74 points per game.
Obviously the cornerstone of our backline is Brian Lake, who is in career best form. If Matthew Pavlich plays up forward for Freo (as I expect him to), I would imagine the purists would lick their lips in anticipation of a Lake/Pavlich match up, much the same as they did 3 weeks ago when Brian & Buddy went head to head.
Under the old Freo, if you stopped Pavlich you generally won, but this season they are much more rounded & share the load. Hayden Ballantyne proved to be the difference up forward last week for Fremantle, so Jarrod Harbrow will have to be on his guard, as he's a sneaky little bugger is Ballantyne.
Hopefully the midfielders exert as much pressure on the Freo mids as is possible, forcing them to kick indiscriminately into their forward line. If that happens then Hargrave & Gilbee will have a field day bringing the ball out of defence.
- Our Forwardline
Bazza's back! Be interesting to see who takes him. I haven't seen Freo alot this season (which makes this preview somewhat challenging - where are you Scraggers???), but I'm guessing McPharlane, Johnson or Tarrant could try their luck. Someone needs to be at Bazza's feet (without getting in his way) to pick up anything that spills. A Ballantyne type in our forward line would be handy!
For his confidence more than anything Shaun Higgins needs a big game.
- The Bit In The Middle
This is where the game will be won & lost. Whoever wins the midfield battle will win the match & with the injury to Michael Barlow, I just see that as a huge out for Freo.
Against Carlton a few weeks back Nanny McPhee tagged Judd & drove him mad by all accounts, so I'd expect him to have first crack at Cooney. If Crowley does play he'll probably take Griff. Both of these two, need much more assistance from their team mates, particularly if the checking is tight. Boyd & Cross (playing his 150th game) particularly have to be prepared to block & get between Coons/Griff & the leeches that hang off them.
Sandilands has been a giant for Fremantle in more ways than one this year. Hudson has to get in as close as possible making it body on body. To use a cricket term, he can't allow Sandilands to get his arms free. When Bradley takes a turn I'd let Roughead to go head to head. Hopefully Sandilands will rest on the bench & not up forward, he could be dangerous if he does, so Brain needs to look out for that (not that he could miss him, but it is Brain we're talking about).
Stephen Hill is a little beauty & I'd love to see Callan Ward go to him & really give it to him. I' love Callan's physicality & he's seriously going to hurt someone soon (legitimately I might add).
You can see just by looking at him that Morabito's been well coached & he links up nicely going forward. Gotta stop Palmer getting his hands on it & feeding it out to Morabito, Hill, Mundy & de Boer.
I just feel that our midfield will be too physical for Freo & as I said earlier, that's where the game's result will hinge.
My Predictions
Western Bulldogs: 4.1 - 7.5 - 12.9 - 17.12.114
Fremantle: 3.4 - 6.4 - 9.9 - 13.11.89
Dogs to win by 25 points.
Brownlow Votes: 3/ Adam Cooney 2/ Matthew Boyd 1/ Aaron Sandilands.
Supercoach Top 5: Brian Lake 133, Adam Cooney 126, Aaron Sandilands 123, Daniel Cross 120, Matthew Boyd 118.
Crowd: 22,689 (WB 22,411, FR 278)
Umpires: Green, Red or Yellow (it's like guessing what colour clinker you'll get when you bite through the chocolate). I'll go with Red.
Amusing Incident: Hadyen Ballantyne trying to get under Brian Lake's skin & Brian looking at him as though he's a complete idiot.