Always Right Match Committee - Round 2 vs West Coast Eagles 2021

[jeemak]

Wasn't he third in a B&F?

2017 - 2nd
2018 - 7th
2019 - 4th
2020 - outside top ten

Pretty solid return, though I don't think anyone would say he was the player he could be last year or that he doesn't have things with his game that need to improve.

[divvydan]

The number of tall forwards isn't the issue, it's all about the ability of the fwd line to apply pressure when the ball hits the ground. If we can do that with 3 tall forwards then that's ideal. If we can only have 2, then so be it.

[Ozza]

2017 - 2nd
2018 - 7th
2019 - 4th
2020 - outside top ten

Pretty solid return, though I don't think anyone would say he was the player he could be last year or that he doesn't have things with his game that need to improve.

He definitely needs to improve, but as you've illustrated, my issue was with this inference that JJ has been dining out on a norm smith win since 2016.

Even in 2016 - he was a good player, but not seen as one of our absolutely elite by any stretch. He started getting tagged because he went to another level again post '16, and has clearly struggled with the tags that came his way.

I'm sure he gets back in at some stage, but from what I've heard - his hit out on Friday arvo won't do it.

[Before I Die]

The number of tall forwards isn't the issue, it's all about the ability of the fwd line to apply pressure when the ball hits the ground. If we can do that with 3 tall forwards then that's ideal. If we can only have 2, then so be it.

Vandermeer and McNeil, hopefully, are the two smalls who can make it work for the three talls. They are both quick and hard. Lets hope McNeil can move past the first games nerves and really create some heat in the forward 50.

[Grantysghost]

He definitely needs to improve, but as you've illustrated, my issue was with this inference that JJ has been dining out on a norm smith win since 2016.

Even in 2016 - he was a good player, but not seen as one of our absolutely elite by any stretch. He started getting tagged because he went to another level again post '16, and has clearly struggled with the tags that came his way.

I'm sure he gets back in at some stage, but from what I've heard - his hit out on Friday arvo won't do it.

2017 he was in front all count and lost by 1 vote to Bontempelli right at the end.

[Danjul]

Woofers seem to agree we can't have three talls (Bruce, Naughton and English) running around the forward line, but the West Coast Turkeys seem fine with Darling, Kennedy and Allen?

l have never seen Darling and Kennedy try to outmark each other, they are natural forwards. On Friday we all saw Bruce and Naughton try to outmark English in the same pack, and shortly after they both did the same to Martin. Part of the reason why many of the forward entries don’t generate scoring.

[bornadog]

l have never seen Darling and Kennedy try to outmark each other, they are natural forwards. On Friday we all saw Bruce and Naughton try to outmark English in the same pack, and shortly after they both did the same to Martin. Part of the reason why many of the forward entries don’t generate scoring.

Bruce 11 marks
Naughton 7
English 8

They had a pretty good night

[GVGjr]

Bruce 11 marks
Naughton 7
English 8

They had a pretty good night

Exactly. Not sure if it will be an effective set-up right through the season but they did well.

[Danjul]

Bruce 11 marks
Naughton 7
English 8

They had a pretty good night

I was pleased with Bruce’s game, a massive improvement on 2020. But the majority of his marks were well away from the goals, out where there was space. He was in the game as a full forward but excelled as a ‘linking tall’. 1 scoring shot. Could be the answer to our key defender needs.

[Axe Man]

I was pleased with Bruce’s game, a massive improvement on 2020. But the majority of his marks were well away from the goals, out where there was space. He was in the game as a full forward but excelled as a ‘linking tall’. 1 scoring shot. Could be the answer to our key defender needs.

He had at least 4 shots on goal, 2 out on the full and 1 didn't make the distance that I recall. It was the only disappointing part of his game. He got enough ball close to goal, he just didn't execute well.

[bornadog]

He had at least 4 shots on goal, 2 out on the full and 1 didn't make the distance that I recall. It was the only disappointing part of his game. He got enough ball close to goal, he just didn't execute well.

He kicked a beautiful ball to English near goals.

I think he played more of a CHF than a FF.

[Axe Man]

We already knew Jamarra wouldn't be making a debut yet but also sounds like Wood won't be getting a game either. No change the favourite at this stage.

No debut for No.1 gun, VFL rules a 'spanner in the works', says Bevo

THE WESTERN Bulldogs will resist blooding top pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan despite his five-goal haul in last week's VFL practice game, with the key forward set to be given more time to build his fitness.

And 2016 premiership skipper Easton Wood also looks set to miss selection for the Bulldogs' clash with West Coast on Sunday despite returning from his hamstring strain last week.

Ugle-Hagan, the Dogs' prized selection from last year's NAB AFL Draft, was a standout in their lead-up game last week against Collingwood's VFL but coach Luke Beveridge said there were still aspects of the 18-year-old's game that would need to improve as he pushes for a much-anticipated debut.

"He kicked five, which is fantastic and to see some of his specific gifts and traits come out that allowed him to rise to the top of that draft order was really exciting for all of us to see," Beveridge said on Tuesday.

"He's still got a fair way to go, 'Marra', and we've got to make sure that he's ready and to be productive in winning games of footy for us. It was a step in the right direction but he definitely won't be in the team this week."

Beveridge said the rule change in the VFL this season also meant it was harder for young key-position players to build their match conditioning which could delay Ugle-Hagan's first appearance at senior level for the club.

The VFL this season is trialling zones for stoppages, with a minimum of three players from each team needing to be stationed inside 50 – including a pair in the goalsquare – at all kick-ins, boundary throw-ins and ball-ups.

In Friday's practice game, there were several times where the resumption of play was stopped as umpires reorganised players to ensure they were correctly zoned.

Beveridge said it was a "spanner in the works" when deciding on team selection with a variation of rules for his players across both squads.

"Even in this game Jamarra didn't run anywhere near like he's going to be required to run in an AFL game so it's actually going to hold a player like Jamarra back because we can't get that match conditioning that he needs at AFL level," he said.

The Eagles' trio of tall forwards – Oscar Allen, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling – present as a big challenge for the Bulldogs as they aim to start their campaign 2-0.

Beveridge said the Dogs' defensive effort in restricting the Magpies to seven goals in round one made it difficult to push Wood back into the line-up after his return from a pre-season hamstring tear.

"He's missed a bit of footy and sometimes it's hard to change a winning side, and the back end were particularly good. One of our objectives this year is to be better defensively. We still want to score as much as anyone like any team but to keep Collingwood to the lowest score of the round was a big win for us and the back seven were a critical part of that," he said.

"It will be difficult to change that and Easton's aware of that. He got through the game which was really important after he'd had a couple of hiccups so we'll see but he might spend another week or two playing state league and getting cherry ripe for his return."

[jeemak]

Play Marra in the midfield for bursts to get his running numbers up if that's what's required. Stick him on a wing and tell him to blow-up.

[comrade]

Play Marra in the midfield for bursts to get his running numbers up if that's what's required. Stick him on a wing and tell him to blow-up.

The AFL needs to stop ****ing around with the game so much.

[Happy Days]

Not picking Wood is very curious. Not changing a winning team because they won without more is a good way to make it a losing team too.