aker39
07-04-2011, 12:23 PM
When and Where
Saturday April 9
2.10 pm
Etihad Stadium
Form leading in
Western Bulldogs
After a very disappointing start to the season, and if you believe what you read, a fairly heated review of that game, the Dogs came out against the Lions and showed a lot more effort and intensity. This was reflected in the number of tackles laid, led by 2nd gamer Tom Liberatore.
Although the improved performance, until we play against one of the top sides, we will not get a true indication of where we are at, and this weeks game will not clear up any of our doubts.
Gold Coast Suns
I don't think the Suns could have scripted a worse start to their history. 5 goals down after 9 minutes, totally non competitive, and a final result of a 20 goals loss.
With them having 12 first gamers, they were always going to struggle, but when the "experienced" players failed to fire, it was a receipe for disaster. I read a tweet that said that a few of their uncontracted players probably shouldn't have played due to a lack of preparation, but they had to play them to balance the ledger.
The only concern for us is that they can't get any worse then the were on Saturday night. The more they play together, the better they will get.
Potential Line Ups
Western Bulldogs
B: Hill, Lake, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Gilbee
C: Griffen, Boyd, Picken
HF: Higgins, Grant, Ward
F: Giansiracusa, Hall, Cooney
Foll: Hudson, Cross, Liberatore
I/C: Markovic, Roughhead, Stack, Sherman
Emg: Wallis, Jones, Djerrkura
Gold Coast Suns
B: Seb Tape, Nathan Bock, Campbell Brown
HB: Jarrod Harbrow, Karmichael Hunt, Nathan Krakouer
C: Trent McKenzie, Daniel Harris, Michael Rischitelli
HF: Danny Stanley, Jared Brennan, Alik Magin
F: Dion Prestia, Charlie Dixon, Brandon Matera
Foll: Zac Smith, David Swallow, Gary Ablett (c)
Int: Marc Lock, Harley Bennell, Josn Fraser, Josh Toy
Key Match ups
Hudson/Roughhead v Fraser/Smith
Last weeks games showed that we really do need to play 2 ruckman. As good has Huddo has been he can't go it alone, and taking Williams out of the backline to ruck did not work in round 1.
If their 1st game is anything to go by, Zac Smith is already ahead of Josh Fraser with TOG of 91% & 78% respectively. Smith was of one of few positives for the Suns and I expect Roughhead maybe to play against him and Huddo take on Fraser, who didn't look very good last week.
Williams v Dixon
The other shining light for the Suns was Charlie Dixon, and at 200cm and 100kg, he is an imposing figure. I think Tom Williams will get the job on Dixon, and at 196cm and 100kg, he matches up well in the size stakes.
Boyd v Ablett
Boyd has been the player to take Ablett in the past. Ablett will be keen to do better this week and Boyd will need to show him a lot more respect than he has in the past.
Libba v Swallow
All preseason the talk has been about Swallow and how he was the standout No.1 draft pick. If you saw the bare chested photo of him last week, you would have seen a body ready for the rigors of AFL footy.
But we have our own 1st year player ready for AFL footy and I'm sure he is loking forward to the challenge of taking on Swallow. Libba has been the standout of the 1st two rounds and this is another good challenge for him.
Picken v Harbrow
Couldn't forget our former player in Harbrow. In his last few years at the Dogs he became one of our most important and favourite players with his run off the backline. He was one of the very poor players for the Suns last week and speaking to the media this week he has said that he let his team down and is looking for redemption this week.
The man to put him in his place and let him know what he will miss out on later this year is Picken. Picken gives 100% every week and with the added motivation of playing on a former team mate, he will relish the opportunity.
Where the game will be won and lost
The Suns will enter this game with their confidence absolutely smashed. We have been notourious slow starters, but must come out firing and set the scence early on. Don't give them a sniff.
Assuming Hall is fit to play, he could have a field day. Bock looks like his likely opponent, but he was seriously underdone last week and looked a little over weight. If their is no pressure in the midfield, I would expect better delivery to Hall than he has got in the first 2 rounds. If their is any doubt on Hall during the game and he is subbed again, than Lake can go forward.
Where do the Suns get their goals from? Well other than Charlie Dixon, the only other forward who showed any thing was Brandon Matera. Jared Brennan is very unpredictable, but at his best, he can score from anywhere.
Rischitelli is a very good player and Daniel Harris is serviceable, but our midfield should be far too good.
The Suns have suggested that they will go in unchanged.
Verdict
The only thing the Dogs can get out of this game is percentage. We are expected to win and win easily. After increasing our percentage from 53% to 114% last week, another healthy rise should be on the cards.
Stack and Hill should get some more confidence and Lake and Gilbee some match fitness.
The Suns can't get any worse than last week but I can't see the Dogs having any trouble covering the line of 65 points.
Saturday April 9
2.10 pm
Etihad Stadium
Form leading in
Western Bulldogs
After a very disappointing start to the season, and if you believe what you read, a fairly heated review of that game, the Dogs came out against the Lions and showed a lot more effort and intensity. This was reflected in the number of tackles laid, led by 2nd gamer Tom Liberatore.
Although the improved performance, until we play against one of the top sides, we will not get a true indication of where we are at, and this weeks game will not clear up any of our doubts.
Gold Coast Suns
I don't think the Suns could have scripted a worse start to their history. 5 goals down after 9 minutes, totally non competitive, and a final result of a 20 goals loss.
With them having 12 first gamers, they were always going to struggle, but when the "experienced" players failed to fire, it was a receipe for disaster. I read a tweet that said that a few of their uncontracted players probably shouldn't have played due to a lack of preparation, but they had to play them to balance the ledger.
The only concern for us is that they can't get any worse then the were on Saturday night. The more they play together, the better they will get.
Potential Line Ups
Western Bulldogs
B: Hill, Lake, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Gilbee
C: Griffen, Boyd, Picken
HF: Higgins, Grant, Ward
F: Giansiracusa, Hall, Cooney
Foll: Hudson, Cross, Liberatore
I/C: Markovic, Roughhead, Stack, Sherman
Emg: Wallis, Jones, Djerrkura
Gold Coast Suns
B: Seb Tape, Nathan Bock, Campbell Brown
HB: Jarrod Harbrow, Karmichael Hunt, Nathan Krakouer
C: Trent McKenzie, Daniel Harris, Michael Rischitelli
HF: Danny Stanley, Jared Brennan, Alik Magin
F: Dion Prestia, Charlie Dixon, Brandon Matera
Foll: Zac Smith, David Swallow, Gary Ablett (c)
Int: Marc Lock, Harley Bennell, Josn Fraser, Josh Toy
Key Match ups
Hudson/Roughhead v Fraser/Smith
Last weeks games showed that we really do need to play 2 ruckman. As good has Huddo has been he can't go it alone, and taking Williams out of the backline to ruck did not work in round 1.
If their 1st game is anything to go by, Zac Smith is already ahead of Josh Fraser with TOG of 91% & 78% respectively. Smith was of one of few positives for the Suns and I expect Roughhead maybe to play against him and Huddo take on Fraser, who didn't look very good last week.
Williams v Dixon
The other shining light for the Suns was Charlie Dixon, and at 200cm and 100kg, he is an imposing figure. I think Tom Williams will get the job on Dixon, and at 196cm and 100kg, he matches up well in the size stakes.
Boyd v Ablett
Boyd has been the player to take Ablett in the past. Ablett will be keen to do better this week and Boyd will need to show him a lot more respect than he has in the past.
Libba v Swallow
All preseason the talk has been about Swallow and how he was the standout No.1 draft pick. If you saw the bare chested photo of him last week, you would have seen a body ready for the rigors of AFL footy.
But we have our own 1st year player ready for AFL footy and I'm sure he is loking forward to the challenge of taking on Swallow. Libba has been the standout of the 1st two rounds and this is another good challenge for him.
Picken v Harbrow
Couldn't forget our former player in Harbrow. In his last few years at the Dogs he became one of our most important and favourite players with his run off the backline. He was one of the very poor players for the Suns last week and speaking to the media this week he has said that he let his team down and is looking for redemption this week.
The man to put him in his place and let him know what he will miss out on later this year is Picken. Picken gives 100% every week and with the added motivation of playing on a former team mate, he will relish the opportunity.
Where the game will be won and lost
The Suns will enter this game with their confidence absolutely smashed. We have been notourious slow starters, but must come out firing and set the scence early on. Don't give them a sniff.
Assuming Hall is fit to play, he could have a field day. Bock looks like his likely opponent, but he was seriously underdone last week and looked a little over weight. If their is no pressure in the midfield, I would expect better delivery to Hall than he has got in the first 2 rounds. If their is any doubt on Hall during the game and he is subbed again, than Lake can go forward.
Where do the Suns get their goals from? Well other than Charlie Dixon, the only other forward who showed any thing was Brandon Matera. Jared Brennan is very unpredictable, but at his best, he can score from anywhere.
Rischitelli is a very good player and Daniel Harris is serviceable, but our midfield should be far too good.
The Suns have suggested that they will go in unchanged.
Verdict
The only thing the Dogs can get out of this game is percentage. We are expected to win and win easily. After increasing our percentage from 53% to 114% last week, another healthy rise should be on the cards.
Stack and Hill should get some more confidence and Lake and Gilbee some match fitness.
The Suns can't get any worse than last week but I can't see the Dogs having any trouble covering the line of 65 points.