Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Bulldog injuries hand out-of-favour forwards chance to shine
REPLACING Aaron Naughton is a seriously tough task for the Western Bulldogs.
The 20-year-old is set to miss the next two months with an ankle syndesmosis injury, a cruel blow for the club, considering star midfielder Josh Dunkley went down with the same injury just a week prior.
With recruit Josh Bruce struggling to fire, the key forward roles are now the number one issue coach Luke Beveridge has to get right over the coming weeks.
Former No.2 draft pick Josh Schache had a solid return last year, kicking a career-high 24 goals in 14 games.
The former Lion does not crash packs and provide the same aerial threat that Naughton does, but he does make the most of his set shots.
Despite that, it was clear he was nowhere near Beveridge's selection mix as recently as two weeks ago.
"He's (Schache) a listed player who's still got a promising future, but he's not in the team at the moment," Beveridge said after the round two loss to St Kilda.
With circumstances changing dramatically it's not out of the question that Schache can work his way back, but he must bang the door down at training.
If Beveridge wants to replace Naughton with a marking option, then defender-turned-forward Lewis Young might be the best choice.
Young turned heads in the Marsh Community Series with three goals against North Melbourne, but failed to fire in round one and has yet to crack back into the team following football's return.
The ability is certainly there for Young, but the forward craft is coming along slowly as some defensive habits continue to creep in.
Succeeding as a forward is all mental for the 21-year-old.
"Trying to keep the game simple and not trying to do much with or without the ball is really important, especially as a key forward if you try and think too much you can get in your own head and play yourself out of the game," Young told AFL.com.au.
"Playing as a defender you spend half your time looking at your opponent and half the time at the ball.
"Moving from that mindset is important to me."
Positioning has also been a major growth area that Young has put time into.
"I'm trying to stay in line with the ball and not drifting into positions where I'm not relevant to where the ball is going to be," Young said.
"Just trying to stay in the line of the goals so I can use my strengths, which is to run and jump at the ball and bring the ball to ground or clunk a couple of marks."
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
It will be interesting to see who we go with. I think Schache has worked really hard on making a contest and I'm keen to see him play. Either way Bruce needs to stand up and get to more contests now that Naughts is down.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Is Schache out of contract at season's end?
And are there two more ominous words to emerge from the mouth of your coach than "listed player"?
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
Is Schache out of contract at season's end?
And are there two more ominous words to emerge from the mouth of your coach than "listed player"?
No - contracted until the end of 2022. I've got a whole thread about contracts - you should check it out.;)
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Axe Man
No - contracted until the end of 2022. I've got a whole thread about contracts - you should check it out.;)
Never heard of it :).
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
EasternWest
Never heard of it :).
News to me.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
Is Schache out of contract at season's end?
And are there two more ominous words to emerge from the mouth of your coach than "listed player"?
I think it was a fairly well aimed and calculated whack, though not sure it's anything more than that.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
So Tarrant snd Zebel are both out. If we get the job done on Higgins we will be in fir a really good night.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bumper Bulldogs
So Tarrant snd Zebel are both out. If we get the job done on Higgins we will be in fir a really good night.
Hopefully Cunnington doesn't come up either
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
Hopefully Cunnington doesn't come up either
Great opportunity to go 3 and 2 and move up into the top eight.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bumper Bulldogs
Great opportunity to go 3 and 2 and move up into the top eight.
Very winnable game.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eastdog
Very winnable game.
this game is won at the selection table, you know if Gowers or Gardner are picked we’re already in for a tough one.
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vred
this game is won at the selection table, you know if Gowers or Gardner are picked we’re already in for a tough one.
Apparently Gowers will likely be done for breaking the players rules on socialising
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Topdog
Apparently Gowers will likely be done for breaking the players rules on socialising
Well that’s one of them at least..
Re: Always Right Match Committee - Round 5 Vs North Melbourne 2020
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vred
this game is won at the selection table, you know if Gowers or Gardner are picked we’re already in for a tough one.
Yes for sure. Early 2018 Gowers was good though.