GVGjr
26-08-2010, 07:17 AM
Well the end of a long home and away season is upon us and our round 22 clash is against the very inconsistent Essendon Bombers.
Form
Bulldogs W, W, W, L, L (The last two loses have been humiliating)
Bombers W, W, L, L, L
Last Time We Met
Dons won by 9 points – in Round 10 this season. Barry Hall bagged 5 goals along with Hill who kicked 3 goals. Best players on this occasion for the Bulldogs were Hudson, Hall, Lake, Picken, Boyd and Morris (who will not be taking part this week due to injury)
Previous Games
Dogs have won the past 6 out of 7 matches against the Bombers by an average of 29 points, hopefully we can get that winning streak starting again this Saturday night and try and regain our form heading into the finals.
Key injuries
Bulldogs
Adam Cooney with a hamstring 5-6 weeks
Dale Morris with a shoulder injury and will miss the balance of the season
Brad Johnson with the Achilles injury 2 weeks
Easton Wood another week
Bombers
Jobe Watson has an ankle injury not a certain starter.
Patrick Ryder was out of the selected side against Brisbane with a virus may miss again.
Ricky Dyson - (knee) season
Bachar Houli - (knee) test
Jason Winderlich - (hand) test
Andrew Welsh - (groin) season
Scott Gumbleton - (fractured ribs) season
Key Players for the Bulldogs
Barry Hall - 2nd on the goal kicking ladder and we need him to stand up with a decent contribution.
Ryan Griffen - With Cooney out we need Griffen to provide a lot of run and dash.
Key Players for the Bombers
David Hille - Terrific ruckman who can push forward and kick a much needed goal.
Dustin Fletcher - Evergreen defender who can still shutdown good players.
The Coaches
Rodney Eade - Some fans are starting to question if the results Eade is producing are good enough and he must be happy to have Knights consuming the bulk of the scrutiny at the moment. A loss this week against the embattled Bombers however, could refocus the media.
Likely Tactics - Eade's main aim this week is to reinvigorate an under performing playing group so expect Eade to set an attacking line-up.
Matthew Knights - Simply needs a win to hopefully keep the media and the supporters at bay.
Likely Tactics - With the Bulldogs not noted for the pace the message from Knights to his players will be to Attack, attack , attack. It's just too late in the season for Knights to try anything else.
Selection table conundrums
Just how many changes will the Bulldogs make with so many injured players and question marks on forum with a few others?
Roughead, Everitt and Addison will be right in the mix and the match committee might have to play a couple of other guys that haven't earned their spot. Could Hooper be given his first game?
Potential Match-ups
Fletcher/Hurley vs Hall
Hille vs Hudson - Pivotal duel
Slattery vs Griffen - With Cooney out Slattery will most likely be asked to curb Griffen's influence on the game.
Habrow vs Jetta - Would be an intriguing battle.
Where the game can be Won and Lost?
Skill execution - Both sides enjoy space to work in and the team that uses the ball the best should get the points.
Expect the Dogs back half to control the game and chip the ball around before quickly moving it forward.
Summary
Both teams are desperate for a win in a game that won't do anything positive for either sides ladder position.
With the finals just a week away the Dogs just have a bit more to play for and will win by 24 points plus.
Form
Bulldogs W, W, W, L, L (The last two loses have been humiliating)
Bombers W, W, L, L, L
Last Time We Met
Dons won by 9 points – in Round 10 this season. Barry Hall bagged 5 goals along with Hill who kicked 3 goals. Best players on this occasion for the Bulldogs were Hudson, Hall, Lake, Picken, Boyd and Morris (who will not be taking part this week due to injury)
Previous Games
Dogs have won the past 6 out of 7 matches against the Bombers by an average of 29 points, hopefully we can get that winning streak starting again this Saturday night and try and regain our form heading into the finals.
Key injuries
Bulldogs
Adam Cooney with a hamstring 5-6 weeks
Dale Morris with a shoulder injury and will miss the balance of the season
Brad Johnson with the Achilles injury 2 weeks
Easton Wood another week
Bombers
Jobe Watson has an ankle injury not a certain starter.
Patrick Ryder was out of the selected side against Brisbane with a virus may miss again.
Ricky Dyson - (knee) season
Bachar Houli - (knee) test
Jason Winderlich - (hand) test
Andrew Welsh - (groin) season
Scott Gumbleton - (fractured ribs) season
Key Players for the Bulldogs
Barry Hall - 2nd on the goal kicking ladder and we need him to stand up with a decent contribution.
Ryan Griffen - With Cooney out we need Griffen to provide a lot of run and dash.
Key Players for the Bombers
David Hille - Terrific ruckman who can push forward and kick a much needed goal.
Dustin Fletcher - Evergreen defender who can still shutdown good players.
The Coaches
Rodney Eade - Some fans are starting to question if the results Eade is producing are good enough and he must be happy to have Knights consuming the bulk of the scrutiny at the moment. A loss this week against the embattled Bombers however, could refocus the media.
Likely Tactics - Eade's main aim this week is to reinvigorate an under performing playing group so expect Eade to set an attacking line-up.
Matthew Knights - Simply needs a win to hopefully keep the media and the supporters at bay.
Likely Tactics - With the Bulldogs not noted for the pace the message from Knights to his players will be to Attack, attack , attack. It's just too late in the season for Knights to try anything else.
Selection table conundrums
Just how many changes will the Bulldogs make with so many injured players and question marks on forum with a few others?
Roughead, Everitt and Addison will be right in the mix and the match committee might have to play a couple of other guys that haven't earned their spot. Could Hooper be given his first game?
Potential Match-ups
Fletcher/Hurley vs Hall
Hille vs Hudson - Pivotal duel
Slattery vs Griffen - With Cooney out Slattery will most likely be asked to curb Griffen's influence on the game.
Habrow vs Jetta - Would be an intriguing battle.
Where the game can be Won and Lost?
Skill execution - Both sides enjoy space to work in and the team that uses the ball the best should get the points.
Expect the Dogs back half to control the game and chip the ball around before quickly moving it forward.
Summary
Both teams are desperate for a win in a game that won't do anything positive for either sides ladder position.
With the finals just a week away the Dogs just have a bit more to play for and will win by 24 points plus.