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  1. #1
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    Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

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    THE WESTERN Bulldogs have been crying out for a key forward ever since club legend Chris Grant retired at the end of 2007.

    Fast forward a decade, they're now falling out of the trees at Whitten Oval, with 199cm ex-Lion Josh Schache joining Tom Boyd (201cm), Jack Redpath (194cm) and Travis Cloke (196cm) as tall, marking targets at coach Luke Beveridge's disposal in 2018.

    He also has versatile defenders Jackson Trengove and Marcus Adams who can pinch-hit up forward, while No.1 ruckman Jordan Roughead is another option capable of spending time there.

    Coincidentally, Grant – now the club's football director – was central to the recruitment of Schache, signing the papers that sealed the homesick goal-kicker's return to Victoria.

    The strategy of having four key forwards on a senior list flies in the face of the hallmark of the past two premiers – smaller attacks set up around one tall forward.

    Beveridge lifted the cup in 2016 on the back of that game plan similar to Richmond's this year, with Boyd spending his time between ruck and the forward line with the assistance of mid-sized teammates Jake Stringer (192cm) and Zaine Cordy (191cm).

    The Dogs' philosophy changed in their disastrous premiership defence, with Cloke recruited to play alongside Boyd and Redpath with limited success, so it will be interesting to see how they set up with Schache added to the equation after Stringer was sent packing to Essendon.

    Does the arrival of the 2015 No.2 pick signal Beveridge still intends persist with Boyd predominately in the ruck?

    How will Redpath, who faces regular questions about playing alongside another key forward, be feeling now after warding off strong interest from rival clubs to sign his first multi-year deal in his seventh season at the club?

    After an underwhelming first season in the red, white and blue, will Cloke be afforded ample senior opportunities or will he languish for periods in the VFL again?

    Another consideration facing Beveridge and his football department, is how manage the morale of Boyd, Cloke and Schache, with all three taking time away from the game in the past 12 months to deal with psychological issues.

    As the high-profile trio well know, the media scrutiny will be fierce if they spend large chucks of the season playing with Footscray.

    Asked why the Dogs recruited Schache amid limited interest from other clubs and queries over his competiveness, a rival club recruiter told AFL.com.au it was an "interesting call", but added Beveridge's renowned affinity with his charges could see the 20-year-old "flourish".

    Questions have long been asked over how the Dogs will kick a winning score, and they won't be going anywhere heading into 2018.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

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  3. #2
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Well, I'm not 100% sure in-form tall forwards who can do a reliable job are exactly falling out of the trees. But it is an odd final line " Questions have long been asked over how the Dogs will kick a winning score." Well, there is 2016 sir, and next season it looks as though we plan to have our tall forwards do that particular job - rather obvious isn't it?
    You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus

  4. #3
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost Dog View Post
    Well, I'm not 100% sure in-form tall forwards who can do a reliable job are exactly falling out of the trees. But it is an odd final line " Questions have long been asked over how the Dogs will kick a winning score." Well, there is 2016 sir, and next season it looks as though we plan to have our tall forwards do that particular job - rather obvious isn't it?
    Questions may well have been answered by the flag we won!
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

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  6. #4
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    I don't really see the problem. Its not like we are going to try to fit Cloke, Boyd, Schache and Redders into the one team. at best 2 will play in the ones with the others being cover in case of poor form and injuries. What we need to do is make sure that we play the best combination regardless of reputation and paygrade.

  7. #5
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Its fascinating.

    Damian Barrett's sliding doors on Friday said:

    If
    there's one thing this club is not short of ...
    then

    it is big guys. They're not all going to get a game.

    What he should have said was "It is big guys. They've now got some depth."

    But he's an idiot, so he didn't.

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  9. #6
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    If its a problem, then its only a short term problem.

    Cloke will be playing his last season. Redpath's future beyond 2018 is to be determined - and Schache and Boyd will be 20 and 21 years old and clearly still in development mode. And between the 4 of them - they haven't been the most reliable for staying on the park anyway.

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  11. #7
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    We can save money by having them all in the same sports psychology session haha.

    But seriously, imagine if, on their day, they all fire at once? Going to absolutely destroy the opposition. Good luck defensive coaches!
    You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus

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  13. #8
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    That's some poor 'journalism'.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  14. #9
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    I'm glad we finally have options and depth. Schache's 2018 is firmly a development year anyway and Bevo wasn't shy about dropping Cloke last year.

    Give us a chance to bring in two class running types at the draft and midfielder FS picks 2018 & 2019.
    Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers

  15. #10
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    Thumbs up Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost Dog View Post
    We can save money by having them all in the same sports psychology session haha.

    But seriously, imagine if, on their day, they all fire at once? Going to absolutely destroy the opposition. Good luck defensive coaches!

    Man up on Schache, man up on Schache.

    WHY IS BOYD RUNNING AROUND BY HIMSELF? Cover Boyd the next time!


    How did Schache get so much space?

    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

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  17. #11
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Boyd and Schache will form a bond sharing:
    height;
    skill;
    set shot goal kicking;
    age;
    lack of narcissism;
    marking on the lead;
    stints in ruck;
    media spotlight
    etc
    There is an opportunity fo a strong bond and successful partnership.
    Cloke and Redpath add to the club's chance to exploit a tall marking, goal kicking, rucking versatility structure with contested ball, ball sharing smalls without even mentionong the Bont.




    bringing ball to ground for smalls
    Footscray Football Republic.

  18. #12
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Easy. Shaq on one flank, Cloke on the other. Red FF and Boyd in the pocket. Done.
    They've done studies you know, 60% of the time, it works every time!
    Brian Fantana.

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  20. #13
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    We need elite aerobic midfielders to run team defence and team attack.
    Don't piss off old people
    The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...

  21. #14
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Didn't Adelaide show how going tall can lead to success - yes they lost the final game of the season, but I wouldn't say that renders their game-plan obsolete. Obviously we can't play all, but the depth is impressive, and if teams are generally going short, there might be some good hay to be made from zigging as the rest zag.

    One of the things I like about Schache is his endurance, which Cloke has as well, while all the other talls apart from Redpath can slot into multiple positions.
    Although it broke our hearts it did not break our will

  22. #15
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    Re: Dogs' tall problem: How many is too many?

    Quote Originally Posted by Raw Toast View Post
    Didn't Adelaide show how going tall can lead to success - yes they lost the final game of the season, but I wouldn't say that renders their game-plan obsolete. Obviously we can't play all, but the depth is impressive, and if teams are generally going short, there might be some good hay to be made from zigging as the rest zag.

    One of the things I like about Schache is his endurance, which Cloke has as well, while all the other talls apart from Redpath can slot into multiple positions.
    It's a good point. The press (and us as individuals I guess) have a lazy habit of blithely assuming the game plan that won last year's premiership will be the game plan that will win agin the following year. But the game evolves year on year and even year in year. The team that bursts from the blocks at the start of the season hardly ever goes on with it because their game style usually gets pulled apart by opposition coaches by round 6 and everything changes up again.

    Having said that Richmond employed a lot of the tactics that worked well for us last September, the full bench defence, the manic pressure, the desperation to stop the ball getting out of their forward 50 once they got it in there, really switched on players and just hacking the ball forward by and means.
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

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