comrade
08-07-2011, 07:50 AM
Match details
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Sunday 10 July 2011, 4:40pm, Etihad Stadium
Intro
Let me be up front. I hate Carlton. I haven’t watched as much footy this year as previously but I’ve seen Carlton play. Prior to last week I was convinced they were a bunch of over-hyped prima donnas, beating up on lowly teams and getting the rub of the green by facing out of form opposition. Then they go and win by 100 points and Lygon St is buzzing. Every Carlton supporter has the same arrogance, a sense of entitlement. The polar opposite of a Doggies fan.
I hate them.
So, we go to battle with a flicker of momentum and happy memories of our last meeting - a 68 point destruction on the back of polished performances from Hall (6 goals), Boyd (33 disposals), Cooney (33 disposals) and Lake (28 disposals and 10 marks).
Only Lake isn’t around this time.
Can we muster up a performance to stop the boys from Princes Park? Let’s take a look...
This Week's Teams
Western Bulldogs
B: Robert Murphy, Tom L. Williams, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Easton Wood, Shaun Higgins
C: Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Liam Picken
HF: Callan Ward, Liam Jones, Luke Dahlhaus
F: Jarrad Grant, Barry Hall, Daniel Giansiracusa
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: William Minson, Josh Hill, Brennan Stack, Sam Reid, Lukas Markovic, Andrew Hooper, Nathan Djerrkura
In: William Minson, Josh Hill, Brennan Stack, Nathan Djerrkura
Out: Ed Barlow (hand)
Carlton
B: Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton, Lachlan Henderson
HB: Nick Duigan, Jeremy Laidler, Chris Yarran
C: Kade Simpson, Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs
HF: Jeffrey Garlett, Jarrad Waite, Ryan Houlihan
F: Eddie Betts, Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Walker
Foll: Robert Warnock, Marc Murphy, Mitch Robinson
I/C: Paul Bower, Andrew Carrazzo, Heath Scotland, David Ellard, Aaron Joseph, Brock McLean, Zach Tuohy
In: Paul Bower, Aaron Joseph, Brock McLean, Nick Duigan
Out: Simon White (hamstring)
Milestones
Lindsay Gilbee - 200 games
Key Match ups
Forward Half
Hall vs Henderson
Henderson took Riewoldt last week and was probably beaten in a team that won by 100 points. Hall looked up and about against Melbourne, kicking a couple early but chasing more than previous weeks.
Even as he nears the end, he is still one of the better leading forwards in the competition. IF we can win enough clean ball from the middle, his smarts should be too much for Henderson.
Gia vs Duigan / Laidler / Yarran
I expect Gia to have a few mid sized opponents rotate on him during the game. He has proven all his knockers wrong over the past 6 weeks with a sparkling patch of quality football and on-field leadership, just when we needed it most.
Melbourne made a blunder by leaving Garland on Gia for too long last week. Yes, he is much taller but Gia is just too smart in 1 on 1 marking contests. His favourite trick of using the hip to push off under the ball worked multiple times which I’m sure the Carlton defensive group are well aware of. Gia will need to keep his opponent accountable - Carlton have been very good at setting up off half back and probably fancy themselves to play off Gia. If he can get on the scoreboard early, it’ll tighten things up.
Midfield
Boyd vs Judd
With Cooney coming in to some good form, the pressure valve has released somewhat for Boydy. By his standards, he had a quiet game last week (especially in my SC team!). This year, that would generally mean we lost but with Cooney back, Boyd was able to play a more defensive game, eschewing the role of out and out ball winner and putting time into stopping his opponent. It’s an understatement, but we need that to continue this week. Against Richmond, Judd looked like he shrugged off any niggles with 31 disposals and 2 goals. Boyd needs to negate Judd’s influence at the stoppages by winning his fair share of clearances. He’s not going to be able to tag Judd out, but at least breaking even and allowing Cooney and Griffen to break away should be the goal.
Picken vs Murphy
Murphy is in scintillating form this year and has really gone to the next level as a game breaking midfielder. Picko eats game breaking midfielders for breakfast and looks hungry for more! Murphy has cut us up in previous years so Liam needs to sit in his back pocket, just like he did with Ablett and Scully. If he can curb Murphy’s influence, they lose a lot of their attacking drive. With a defensive group missing their best player (Lake), this would be a godsend.
Defensive half
Morris vs Betts / Garlett
Three cheers for Dale Morris. Due to our form, he won’t get any accolades but in my opinion, he’s having a better year than 2010. I don’t even want to think what we’d do without him and I’m sure his teammates feel the same way.
He once again has to do battle with the most dangerous opposition forward. Depending how the day turns out, this might be Betts or Garlett (or even Walker). I’m happy with either match up and would back Morris in to, at worst, break even. I should note that if Morris takes Betts, Murphy will take Garlett. Again, that’s a nice match up for us. Murphy toyed with Jurrah last week. Of course, it won’t be as simple against Carlton and Garlett’s defensive pressure is immense.
Wood vs Walker
A huge test for Wood. Walker is another Carlton player who has gone to the next level this year. Easton definitely has the physical tools to match up with Walker. Whether he has the defensive nous is a big question mark. With creative players like Murphy, Higgins and Gilbee down back, Wood’s objective must be to shut down Walker. He’s been criticised for not winning enough ball or breaking the lines. I don’t care about that stuff this week. First job - stop Walker. Second job - stop Walker. Third job - win some ball.
How do we win?
It’s not going to be easy. Our defensive intensity last week was the best we’d displayed all year and I think Melbourne realised it, hence the white flag going up pretty early. At a minimum, we need to maintain that level just to have a sniff. If we drop off we’re dead. To win, we need to go to another level. The match ups above are all critical to our success but Rocket needs to create mismatches like he did against Melbourne where we can push our advantage.
Our midfield is undeniably slower than Carlton’s so let’s turn it to our advantage and grind them into the ground. If we can curtail Judd and Murphy, we go a long way to winning this game and so Boyd and Picken are in the spotlight. A captain’s game is needed.
Questions to discuss
1. What is the key to beating Carlton?
2. How does our defensive group structure up against Carlton’s talls? Who takes Waite (if he plays) and Kreuzer?
3. Are we exposed in the ruck by playing Hudson and Minson?
4. Who should be the sub and why?
My Verdict
It’s tradition for the pre-match reviewer to go the optimistic route and always pick a Bulldog victory. So, who I am to fight tradition?
I think we genuinely have a shot but it is dependent on our best players standing up and performing well, just like last week. If after the game, our bests read:
Cooney, Griffen, Hall, Murphy, Ward, Higgins
then we’ve probably won. The result will be known at quarter time. If we come out snarling and gang tackling and grinding Carlton down from the first siren, we’re in it up to our eyeballs. Let’s rain on Lygon St’s parade.
Dogs by 16 points. :D
Western Bulldogs v Carlton, Sunday 10 July 2011, 4:40pm, Etihad Stadium
Intro
Let me be up front. I hate Carlton. I haven’t watched as much footy this year as previously but I’ve seen Carlton play. Prior to last week I was convinced they were a bunch of over-hyped prima donnas, beating up on lowly teams and getting the rub of the green by facing out of form opposition. Then they go and win by 100 points and Lygon St is buzzing. Every Carlton supporter has the same arrogance, a sense of entitlement. The polar opposite of a Doggies fan.
I hate them.
So, we go to battle with a flicker of momentum and happy memories of our last meeting - a 68 point destruction on the back of polished performances from Hall (6 goals), Boyd (33 disposals), Cooney (33 disposals) and Lake (28 disposals and 10 marks).
Only Lake isn’t around this time.
Can we muster up a performance to stop the boys from Princes Park? Let’s take a look...
This Week's Teams
Western Bulldogs
B: Robert Murphy, Tom L. Williams, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Easton Wood, Shaun Higgins
C: Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Liam Picken
HF: Callan Ward, Liam Jones, Luke Dahlhaus
F: Jarrad Grant, Barry Hall, Daniel Giansiracusa
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: William Minson, Josh Hill, Brennan Stack, Sam Reid, Lukas Markovic, Andrew Hooper, Nathan Djerrkura
In: William Minson, Josh Hill, Brennan Stack, Nathan Djerrkura
Out: Ed Barlow (hand)
Carlton
B: Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton, Lachlan Henderson
HB: Nick Duigan, Jeremy Laidler, Chris Yarran
C: Kade Simpson, Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs
HF: Jeffrey Garlett, Jarrad Waite, Ryan Houlihan
F: Eddie Betts, Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Walker
Foll: Robert Warnock, Marc Murphy, Mitch Robinson
I/C: Paul Bower, Andrew Carrazzo, Heath Scotland, David Ellard, Aaron Joseph, Brock McLean, Zach Tuohy
In: Paul Bower, Aaron Joseph, Brock McLean, Nick Duigan
Out: Simon White (hamstring)
Milestones
Lindsay Gilbee - 200 games
Key Match ups
Forward Half
Hall vs Henderson
Henderson took Riewoldt last week and was probably beaten in a team that won by 100 points. Hall looked up and about against Melbourne, kicking a couple early but chasing more than previous weeks.
Even as he nears the end, he is still one of the better leading forwards in the competition. IF we can win enough clean ball from the middle, his smarts should be too much for Henderson.
Gia vs Duigan / Laidler / Yarran
I expect Gia to have a few mid sized opponents rotate on him during the game. He has proven all his knockers wrong over the past 6 weeks with a sparkling patch of quality football and on-field leadership, just when we needed it most.
Melbourne made a blunder by leaving Garland on Gia for too long last week. Yes, he is much taller but Gia is just too smart in 1 on 1 marking contests. His favourite trick of using the hip to push off under the ball worked multiple times which I’m sure the Carlton defensive group are well aware of. Gia will need to keep his opponent accountable - Carlton have been very good at setting up off half back and probably fancy themselves to play off Gia. If he can get on the scoreboard early, it’ll tighten things up.
Midfield
Boyd vs Judd
With Cooney coming in to some good form, the pressure valve has released somewhat for Boydy. By his standards, he had a quiet game last week (especially in my SC team!). This year, that would generally mean we lost but with Cooney back, Boyd was able to play a more defensive game, eschewing the role of out and out ball winner and putting time into stopping his opponent. It’s an understatement, but we need that to continue this week. Against Richmond, Judd looked like he shrugged off any niggles with 31 disposals and 2 goals. Boyd needs to negate Judd’s influence at the stoppages by winning his fair share of clearances. He’s not going to be able to tag Judd out, but at least breaking even and allowing Cooney and Griffen to break away should be the goal.
Picken vs Murphy
Murphy is in scintillating form this year and has really gone to the next level as a game breaking midfielder. Picko eats game breaking midfielders for breakfast and looks hungry for more! Murphy has cut us up in previous years so Liam needs to sit in his back pocket, just like he did with Ablett and Scully. If he can curb Murphy’s influence, they lose a lot of their attacking drive. With a defensive group missing their best player (Lake), this would be a godsend.
Defensive half
Morris vs Betts / Garlett
Three cheers for Dale Morris. Due to our form, he won’t get any accolades but in my opinion, he’s having a better year than 2010. I don’t even want to think what we’d do without him and I’m sure his teammates feel the same way.
He once again has to do battle with the most dangerous opposition forward. Depending how the day turns out, this might be Betts or Garlett (or even Walker). I’m happy with either match up and would back Morris in to, at worst, break even. I should note that if Morris takes Betts, Murphy will take Garlett. Again, that’s a nice match up for us. Murphy toyed with Jurrah last week. Of course, it won’t be as simple against Carlton and Garlett’s defensive pressure is immense.
Wood vs Walker
A huge test for Wood. Walker is another Carlton player who has gone to the next level this year. Easton definitely has the physical tools to match up with Walker. Whether he has the defensive nous is a big question mark. With creative players like Murphy, Higgins and Gilbee down back, Wood’s objective must be to shut down Walker. He’s been criticised for not winning enough ball or breaking the lines. I don’t care about that stuff this week. First job - stop Walker. Second job - stop Walker. Third job - win some ball.
How do we win?
It’s not going to be easy. Our defensive intensity last week was the best we’d displayed all year and I think Melbourne realised it, hence the white flag going up pretty early. At a minimum, we need to maintain that level just to have a sniff. If we drop off we’re dead. To win, we need to go to another level. The match ups above are all critical to our success but Rocket needs to create mismatches like he did against Melbourne where we can push our advantage.
Our midfield is undeniably slower than Carlton’s so let’s turn it to our advantage and grind them into the ground. If we can curtail Judd and Murphy, we go a long way to winning this game and so Boyd and Picken are in the spotlight. A captain’s game is needed.
Questions to discuss
1. What is the key to beating Carlton?
2. How does our defensive group structure up against Carlton’s talls? Who takes Waite (if he plays) and Kreuzer?
3. Are we exposed in the ruck by playing Hudson and Minson?
4. Who should be the sub and why?
My Verdict
It’s tradition for the pre-match reviewer to go the optimistic route and always pick a Bulldog victory. So, who I am to fight tradition?
I think we genuinely have a shot but it is dependent on our best players standing up and performing well, just like last week. If after the game, our bests read:
Cooney, Griffen, Hall, Murphy, Ward, Higgins
then we’ve probably won. The result will be known at quarter time. If we come out snarling and gang tackling and grinding Carlton down from the first siren, we’re in it up to our eyeballs. Let’s rain on Lygon St’s parade.
Dogs by 16 points. :D