Always Right Match Committee Thread - 2021 AFL Grand Final vs Melbourne

Welcome to the Always Right Match Committee Thread. The Match Committee threads has been named after long time WOOF member Always Right who tragically passed away in March 2018.

If you were on the Western Bulldogs match committee what changes would you make after our epic Preliminary Final win against against Port Adelaide for the Grand Final against Melbourne?

For those new to these threads, please give a brief explanation for your changes ... this would add a lot of value to the discussion.

In:

Weightman, Keath

Out:

VDM, Cordy


Sub From: Scott, VDM, Richards



Notes: Keath is confirmed as fit. Martin only played 68% so the week off should be enough to recharge his batteries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

In:

Weightman, Keath

Out:

VDM, Cordy


Sub From: Scott, VDM, Richards

Notes: Keath is confirmed as fit. Martin only played 68% so the week off should be enough to recharge his batteries.

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Agree completely BDT.

B: Duryea Keath Wood
HB: Dale Gardner Williams
C: Hunter Bonts B. Smith
HF: JJ Schache Treloar
F: Hannan Naughton Weightman
R: Martin Libba Macrae
Int: English, Daniel, Dunkley, R. Smith
Sub from: VDM, Scott, Richards


9 Premiership Players: Duryea, Wood, Hunter, Bontempelli, JJ, Libba, Macrae, Daniel, Dunkley
1 GF Experience: Treloar

Melbourne: 0

VDM only tightness isn't it?

I thought he was excellent. Geez it's a hard decision to make. JJ played his best game since the GF too.

It’s brutal. No one deserves to be out after that performance. Thought Cordy was great but reality is, Weightman and Keath come in. I think it’s Cordy and Smith/VDM out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Bulldogs Bite

VDM only tightness isn't it?

I thought he was excellent. Geez it's a hard decision to make. JJ played his best game since the GF too.

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Tough decisions. Keath & Weightman are no brainders.

Cordy probably out with Gardner’s height for Ben Brown.

I think a Weightman comes in for either VDM and JJ. The only other potential is R. Smith and he plays a very different role.

This is brutality..
Cordy was rock solid tonight..but he's not Keath.

Weightman is in, but wow. JJ and VDM they had some stellar moments tonight.
I reckon VDM makes way. so stiff.

Just out of interest … anyone notice the time this thread was created?
#confidence :cool:

I genuinely feel for the match committee this week. There will be at least two heartbreaks, made even harder by the performance across the board tonight.

Not one player who is in the gun to make way for Keath or Weightman played a bad game tonight.

It's going to be cruel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scraggers

Just out of interest … anyone notice the time this thread was created?
#confidence :cool:

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Cheeky bugger.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

Tough decisions. Keath & Weightman are no brainders.

Cordy probably out with Gardner’s height for Ben Brown.

I think a Weightman comes in for either VDM and JJ. The only other potential is R. Smith and he plays a very different role.

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Yep, Weightman in for VDM, with VDM pushing out to medical sub. Unfortunately Anthony Scott misses.

The tough one really is between Zaine and Roarke. One will be very very unlucky. To not go with Roarke would mean we’re sacrificing an important role player, whereas Cordy’s experience and hardness would be an asset, not to mention a back up if Keath goes down.

Maybe Cordy becomes the medical sub in place of VDM?

Cordy is a no brainer. Played well tonight.

Both Laith and JJ played but would leave JJ in mainly due to his experience but also because he has regained his swagger.

Thought Cordy was really good tonight but he'd be my pick to make way for Keath.

At the other end as others have stated it's a fight between JJ and Vandermeer for who has to be sub. I was super happy with Vandermeers game tonight so probably relegate JJ, but he was really good and has performed pretty well in past GFs so it's a real toss of the coin.

The curve ball. Last time we played them at the MCG, we went in with Keath, Cordy & Schache as defenders for McDonald, Brown and Jackson/Gawn. So we though we needed three KPDs. Then Keath got injured and it was just Schache & Cordy. Then we won. So the question I guess is do we NEED a third KPD?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

The curve ball. Last time we played them at the MCG, we went in with Keath, Cordy & Schache as defenders for McDonald, Brown and Jackson/Gawn. So we though we needed three KPDs. Then Keath got injured and it was just Schache & Cordy. Then we won. So the question I guess is do we NEED a third KPD?

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Port had the three tonight

So are we wearing the white strip?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

The curve ball. Last time we played them at the MCG, we went in with Keath, Cordy & Schache as defenders for McDonald, Brown and Jackson/Gawn. So we though we needed three KPDs. Then Keath got injured and it was just Schache & Cordy. Then we won. So the question I guess is do we NEED a third KPD?

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If we were were to go in with 3 talls who slides out?
I think it will be Keath for Cordy but I do like the idea of the 3rd tall

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

If we were were to go in with 3 talls who slides out?
I think it will be Keath for Cordy but I do like the idea of the 3rd tall

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I think Roarke is the next most vulnerable. One of JJ and Vandermeer will be demoted to sub but not both.

Everyone else in the side is decidedly not fringe or plays a specific role (Schache) and has been doing it well. Wood is probably the most likely I guess but has been really good this finals series and was good tonight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soupman

I think Roarke is the next most vulnerable. One of JJ and Vandermeer will be demoted to sub but not both.

Everyone else in the side is decidedly not fringe or plays a specific role (Schache) and has been doing it well. Wood is probably the most likely I guess but has been really good this finals series and was good tonight.

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So we would go into the game with 8 defenders in Keath, Gardner, Cordy, Wood, Dale, Williams, Duryea and Daniel? I know we can move Daniel into other roles but it looks just a bit unbalanced.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soupman

I think Roarke is the next most vulnerable. One of JJ and Vandermeer will be demoted to sub but not both.

Everyone else in the side is decidedly not fringe or plays a specific role (Schache) and has been doing it well. Wood is probably the most likely I guess but has been really good this finals series and was good tonight.

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It's tough but I'd actually be dropping Roake for Weightman and leaving VDM / JJ in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

So we would go into the game with 8 defenders in Keath, Gardner, Cordy, Wood, Dale, Williams, Duryea and Daniel? I know we can move Daniel into other roles but it looks just a bit unbalanced.

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Basically I don't see it happening. If you wanted to maintain a bit of balance it's Wood, but no way is he being dropped. If you are bringing Keath in and want to play three tall defenders then that leaves you with Wood, Dale, Williams, Duryea and Daniel from that list. No chance any of them gets omitted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vred

It's tough but I'd actually be dropping Roake for Weightman and leaving VDM / JJ in.

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I'd be open to that, but there is a role for him on Langdon (and from recollection he did a good job there last time round).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GVGjr

If we were were to go in with 3 talls who slides out?
I think it will be Keath for Cordy but I do like the idea of the 3rd tall

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A hypothetical for a third tall.

This was my side from the last page with Keath & Cody for Cordy & VDM. Amended now with another tall, in Cordy. Who has Grand Final experience. The 7th defender is Wood as I just don’t see him being dropped. Daniel plays wherever he wants. Roarke Smith is the one that possibly becomes the sub. In 2016 we had Morris, Hamling & Roberts as three KPDs.


B: Duryea Keath Cordy
HB: Dale Gardner Williams
C: Hunter Bonts B. Smith
HF: JJ Schache Treloar
F: Hannan Naughton Weightman
R: Martin Libba Macrae
Int: English, Daniel, Dunkley, Wood
Sub from: R. Smith, VDM, Scott, Richards


10 Premiership Players: Duryea, Wood, Hunter, Bontempelli, JJ, Libba, Macrae, Daniel, Dunkley, Cordy
1 GF Experience: Treloar

Melbourne: 0

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vred

It's tough but I'd actually be dropping Roake for Weightman and leaving VDM / JJ in.

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From Bevo’s presser VDM is doubtful. Also if we bring Keath back in doubt we’d have 2 players with recent hamstrings in team.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grantysghost

So are we wearing the white strip?

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When we have played Melbourne as the away team we have worn our white strip. My guess is yes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by josie

From Bevo’s presser VDM is doubtful. Also if we bring Keath back in doubt we’d have 2 players with recent hamstrings in team.

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Chris Grant told Tom Morris that another day and Keath would’ve played. And Keath is certain for the GF.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bulldogtragic

The curve ball. Last time we played them at the MCG, we went in with Keath, Cordy & Schache as defenders for McDonald, Brown and Jackson/Gawn. So we though we needed three KPDs. Then Keath got injured and it was just Schache & Cordy. Then we won. So the question I guess is do we NEED a third KPD?

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We go with our best defencive set up, and don't give a shit about whether they play one or two more whatevers or one or two less.

Keath in, Cordy out.
Cody in, Latham out.

I love Latham but I can't trust him and his legs. It's just been too much disruption this season. On the other hand JJ was just too good to ignore tonight. If BOG was awarded on roles he would be in the top ten on the ground for the evening.

Gee this is where it gets tricky. Every dynasty has a story or two of players missing out and no doubt we will have a few examples this time around too.

Questions:
Will Martin recover well and be better for the run? Hope so
Will VDM recover, or become to great a risk? Really hard to know but the way it was positioned with his soft tissue history and the type of role we ask him to play, it may make it tough.
How many tall defenders do we need? In some ways it may depend on the weather. 3 key defenders seems sensible but would not drop one of our small / medium defenders.
How many tall forwards do we need? With Lever and May I think 3 talls at most stages will give us the right look. Gee the forwards worked incredibly well together last night. More of that.


I’ll hold off for a week or so before having a go at a best 23.

At this stage, Keath and Weightman in.

Martin injured ankle, VDM Hammy. Bevo said that VDM is doubtful but seemed more confident with Martin.

My gut says VDM our for Weightman. Someone is going to be very unlucky for Keath to come in.

Dixon is a good match up for Cordy so I wasn't surprised that he played well but he will surely make way for Keath.

It is a really tough decision.

I see Vandemeer out for Weightman and probably Cordy for Keath

Realistically the whole list of the winning team deserve medals as it takes more than the GF day to win a flag.

At the very least everyone who has played game time throughout the year has contributed to being in the GF.

Roarke will tag Langdon

So-
In: Weightman and Keath
Out- Cordy, Scott, Vanders

Vanders or scott to be Sub

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bulldog Joe

It is a really tough decision.

I see Vandemeer out for Weightman and probably Cordy for Keath

Realistically the whole list of the winning team deserve medals as it takes more than the GF day to win a flag.

At the very least everyone who has played game time throughout the year has contributed to being in the GF.

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Agree. I’ve always found it ridiculous only the players on the day get a medal. Everyone who plays a game for the year should get one. I actually think all players in the list should get one as it takes a village, but minimum one game is a nice compromise if it’s needed. While we’re at it, scrap the suspension ruling you out of the Brownlow rule.

Melbourne strength is their midfield and defence.

I agree Roarke Smith is in the discussion of being dropped but I don't think Melbourne in is the team we take a midfielder out and bring in a forward.

Both JJ and VDM deserve their spot but I think one of them will make way for Weightman.

Keath in for Cordy.

I'm sure this will change 29 times between now and Saturday week.

We're going in to a Grand Final with Ryan Gardner as our CHB, and Josh Schache as our CHF - and I feel confident about them.

Could not have imagined that sentence being written even six months ago.

That one holding the ball brain melt aside, Gardner was rock solid last night. The player that he’s become is dumbfounding.

We had a few silly holding the balls last night. I thought the umpiring was a little biased towards port. The frees against Martin, especially the one where he and Lycett were grappling eachother were crazy. Then the inconsistency in htb calls against Dale vs Aliir. On the whole I thought there was little influence. Anyway, my point being we aren’t hearing from these twerps about the umpiring. Why? Because we smashed a team whilst losing the free kick count. I understand the average idiot on social media saying that shit but when it comes out of people in the media you’ve gotta question their employer.

F*** the world who undermined us! And may it continue so we can continue to shove your face in it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DOG GOD

Roarke will tag Langdon

So-
In: Weightman and Keath
Out- Cordy, Scott, Vanders

Vanders or scott to be Sub

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Yep, this.

JJ had his best game in years and was very critical early. Even without injury cloud, VDM prob makes way for Weightman. That’s the toughest call I’d say. Cordy out for Keith pretty much just makes sense, again, not that Cordy did a lot wrong yesterday.

We should go into the GF only Bruce missing from our best 22 and all of the “fringe” players in their best form all year.

Can’t wait!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bulldog Joe

It is a really tough decision.

I see Vandemeer out for Weightman and probably Cordy for Keath

Realistically the whole list of the winning team deserve medals as it takes more than the GF day to win a flag.

At the very least everyone who has played game time throughout the year has contributed to being in the GF.

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I can't believe the AFL has not come to the party on this. If you play in one game during the season you should get a Premiership Medallion. You have contributed to the team winning. It's so cruel that you can play in every game, get injured in a Prelim and you don't get a Medallion.