Welcome to the Bulldogs: Laitham Vandermeer

[kruder]

I still can't work out why we played him forward last week? I'm guessing maybe match ups?

I'm still not convinced yet, but as we have said for a few years now Laith is either a defender at AFL level or isn't up to AFL level at all.

A step in the right direction last night.

[Bulldog Joe]

Good to see VDM in a more natural position for him. Hopefully now we will be allowed to settle into the backline. With more experience there I think his composure and decision making will improve. He's certainly a livewire.

Problem with this is how many back flankers can you actually play.
We have
JJ
Richards
Dale
Plus playing other positions
Daniel
Williams
Then
Vandermeer
Cleary and perhaps JOD as an alternate

[Go_Dogs]

Problem with this is how many back flankers can you actually play.
We have
JJ
Richards
Dale
Plus playing other positions
Daniel
Williams
Then
Vandermeer
Cleary and perhaps JOD as an alternate

Having 4 running players who can play through there is probably the right mix for the selected 22.

Richards has shown he can do it in the air, so not just a runner, and VDM has taken a few overhead marks / been impactful in the air a few times to suggest it’s an area of his game which can continue to develop.

[1eyedog]

Williams hasn't played back all year and Daniel only gets pushed back strategically these days. Cleary is almost a third tall. We have three, JJ, Richards and Dale who are our staples with VDM the break glass option.

[Bulldog4life]

Williams hasn't played back all year and Daniel only gets pushed back strategically these days. Cleary is almost a third tall. We have three, JJ, Richards and Dale who are our staples with VDM the break glass option.

Williams played back against GWS when we lost Keath and Bruce.

[GVGjr]

Williams hasn't played back all year and Daniel only gets pushed back strategically these days. Cleary is almost a third tall. We have three, JJ, Richards and Dale who are our staples with VDM the break glass option.

I think Williams has been moved back on 3 or 4 occasions this year.

[FrediKanoute]

VDM is JJ in progress. The fast line breaking half back.

[Hotdog60]

VDM is JJ in progress. The fast line breaking half back.

The only thing is he doesn't kick like JJ

[JanLorMill]

VDM is JJ in progress. The fast line breaking half back.

Except that JJ already had a premiership medal at the same age.

[azabob]

Williams played back against GWS when we lost Keath and Bruce.

I think Williams has been moved back on 3 or 4 occasions this year.

He hasn’t started back from memory, only goes back through necessity.

[1eyedog]

I think Williams has been moved back on 3 or 4 occasions this year.

Perhaps. He hasn't started there at all though telling me the coaches don't think he is a half back.

[1eyedog]

Williams played back against GWS when we lost Keath and Bruce.

Yes I concede he has out of necessity but that was as a third tall and not a half back

[bornadog]

Except that JJ already had a premiership medal at the same age.

Still time

[Bulldog Revolution]

Still time

Id be comfortable watching him win a three-peat

[jazzadogs]

I'm still thinking about the Vandermeer reports from training, that he was swearing/yelling at teammates for not passing him the ball. I have a real problem with it, and hope that someone in leadership observed it and is pulling him up on it.

This isn't about driving standards imo. Matty Boyd drove standards and wasn't afraid to tell people they weren't working hard enough etc. But all the examples with Laith have been that the ball didn't get passed to him.

If he's also yelling at blokes not setting up the zone, or not running back to defend, or not blocking for a teammate...great.

But yelling at your teammate in December because he ignored your lead in a match sim is selfish.