Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

[GVGjr]

This is the match-day thread for our practice game vs the Hawks.

With the Hawks having a number a couple of injuries to key defenders plus they have just added Ethan Phillips.
It might force Sicely into a different role and Darcy will likely cover Marra if he isn't ready to play this week and that should really stretch the Hawks defenders.

The midfield match-ups should be a good contest with English, Bont, Treloar, Libba, Daniel and Sanders vs Reeves, Newcombe, Worpel, Amon, Ward and Maginness.

The Hawks forwards could be a handful as well with Gunston, Lewis, Bruest, the exciting Nick Watson, Ginnivan and Moore
should prove to be a challenge for our defenders.

I know it's a practice game and we won't fire all our shots this early but the Hawks could give us a good run.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on which 26 players we should take into this encounter and which players you would like to see be given a chance in this game?

[mighty_west]

Do we know for sure there will be only 26 players used for this game? I watched some off the Dees v Tigers on Foxtel and didn't actually realize they were playing for 7 terms rather than the 4 quarters and rotating every available player, seemed to be a great idea to give all healthy listed players a run.

On paper the Hawks forward line looks very decent, if only Gunstan and Bruest were 6 years younger i guess and will be interesting to see how Gunstan goes after struggling up in Brissy, we know Ginnivan can be dangerous on his day but lacks that consistency and i'm sure alot of us will have an interest in watching young Watson as he was touted as one of our favourtes for our first selection in last years draft, although i'm certainly not complaining about landing Sanders given his pre season reports.

Losing three big men will hurt them, Koschitzke traded, Blanck ACL and DGB turf toe who all played well against us late last season so we'd expect our forwards to dominate, as you said Gary the midfield battle will be a good one, we don't have Smith obviously but they're missing Will Day which is huge for them.

I can see us giving a few younger guys a run and maybe a stronger outfit in the next pre season game, Gallagher, Sanders, Clarke, Bramble (if fit) etc.

[bornadog]

I thought Ameet said there was a second game at 1:50pm. Can anyone confirm?

Edit: I listened again to the SEN interview. All players fit will get a run over several terms, bit like what Mighty West mentioned above.

The following week will be a proper match.

[54Bulldog16]

Hawks with a fair few big man injuries, they are building though. Is it to cliche to say a small win with no injuries would be nice?

[Axe Man]

I thought Ameet said there was a second game at 1:50pm. Can anyone confirm?

Edit: I listened again to the SEN interview. All players fit will get a run over several terms, bit like what Mighty West mentioned above.

The following week will be a proper match.

The 2024 Season Launch will occur after the scheduled practice matches for both the AFL (11am start) and VFL teams (1:50pm start).

[bornadog]

The 2024 Season Launch will occur after the scheduled practice matches for both the AFL (11am start) and VFL teams (1:50pm start).

Thanks for that, forgot about the VFL. Will be a long day at the ground. Still trying to work out whether I can make it.

[GVGjr]

Do we know for sure there will be only 26 players used for this game? I watched some off the Dees v Tigers on Foxtel and didn't actually realize they were playing for 7 terms rather than the 4 quarters and rotating every available player, seemed to be a great idea to give all healthy listed players a run.

No I'm just guessing because there is probably a need to both get the work into the players but trial a few players as well.
It will likely be an agreement between both clubs.

On paper the Hawks forward line looks very decent, if only Gunstan and Bruest were 6 years younger i guess and will be interesting to see how Gunstan goes after struggling up in Brissy, we know Ginnivan can be dangerous on his day but lacks that consistency and i'm sure alot of us will have an interest in watching young Watson as he was touted as one of our favourtes for our first selection in last years draft, although i'm certainly not complaining about landing Sanders given his pre season reports.

Despite Gunston probably being in his last season he's an exceptionally smart player who could test the likes of O'Donnell or Busslinger and of course Lewis has proven himself a very capable and damaging player. Their small forwards could be a handful.

[Axe Man]

Thanks for that, forgot about the VFL. Will be a long day at the ground. Still trying to work out whether I can make it.

Surely GvG will have room for you in his tent?

[bornadog]

Surely GvG will have room for you in his tent?

afternoon nap you reckon

[Critter]

I will be really interested in how Ethan Phillips plays. He was a conundrum in the VFL for sometime, supposedly a great defensive interceptor that nobody (including us) was interested in drafting. The knock on him seemed to be his pace or, more accurately, his lack of pace. Will the opinions of the "wise judges" be confirmed or will it be James Podsiadly revisited?

I'd like us to give these groupings equal time so that, firstly, we can benchmark performance and, secondly, we can compare performances against each other.

Tall Backs
Busslinger JOD Gardner Coffield

Small Backs
Bramble VDM Richards JJ Dale

Forwards
Darcy JUH Naughton Darcy

Wings
Poulter Baker Williams

[Grantysghost]

Surely GvG will have room for you in his tent?

It's like the Tardis.

[Axe Man]

Forwards
Darcy JUH Naughton Darcy

In the battle of the Darcys I'm backing Sam, Luke is past it.

[GVGjr]

What I'd like to see us go into the game with the Hawks that includes an eye on the future as much as displayed form.

Backs:
Bramble - L.Jones - Coffield*
Richards - O'Donnell - Dale

Midfield:
Poulter - Treloar - Baker
English - Bontempelli - Liberatore

Forwards:
Harmes* - Naughton - West
Weightman - Lobb - Darcy

Interchange:
Daniel - Sanders* - Scott
Busslinger* - Gallagher* - McNeil

Missing:
Ugle-Hagan - Not worth risking
Macrae - Needs at least another week or two
Johannisen - He's been starring and really one of the standouts but we don't need to play him this time
Williams - No real reason, he's been solid but I want to test Baker and Poulter
Vandermeer - It was a choice between Laith and McNeil
Clarke - It's a shame about his knee injury but it's a short term thing.
A.Jones - Must be getting close now.
Duryea - Running in the rehab group means he's a step behind.
Khamis - I went with Busslinger so that Liam Jones can get a spell
Bedendo - He's been a brilliant trainer but it hasn't flowed through to the match sims.
Freijah - I was tempted to give him a run.
Cleary - Couldn't find a spot for him.
L.Smith - Not ready
Garcia, O'Driscoll, Gardner, Keath and Croft - in the rehab group and need more time.
Baz - LTIL

[Pleather Sole]

What I'd like to see us go into the game with the Hawks that includes an eye on the future as much as displayed form.

Backs:
Bramble - L.Jones - Coffield*
Richards - O'Donnell - Dale

Midfield:
Poulter - Treloar - Baker
English - Bontempelli - Liberatore

Forwards:
Harmes* - Naughton - West
Weightman - Lobb - Darcy

Interchange:
Daniel - Sanders* - Scott
Busslinger* - Gallagher* - McNeil

Missing:
Ugle-Hagan - Not worth risking
Macrae - Needs at least another week or two
Johannisen - He's been starring and really one of the standouts but we don't need to play him this time
Williams - No real reason, he's been solid but I want to test Baker and Poulter
Vandermeer - It was a choice between Laith and McNeil
Clarke - It's a shame about his knee injury but it's a short term thing.
A.Jones - Must be getting close now.
Duryea - Running in the rehab group means he's a step behind.
Khamis - I went with Busslinger so that Liam Jones can get a spell
Bedendo - He's been a brilliant trainer but it hasn't flowed through to the match sims.
Freijah - I was tempted to give him a run.
Cleary - Couldn't find a spot for him.
L.Smith - Not ready
Garcia, O'Driscoll, Gardner, Keath and Croft - in the rehab group and need more time.
Baz - LTIL

Agree on most but would have Bedendo in for the same reason you ommitted him. I have a feeling he's going to flourish as a big game player. Shane Warne was crap in Grade & State cricket. As sub instead of McNeil.
Would also bring Khamis on to the bench at the expense of Scott. Khamis needs time resettling as a defender, even omit Caleb Daniel as he's a certain starter for round 1.
If Poulter, Baker or West was ill I'd bring in Freijah.

[GVGjr]

Agree on most but would have Bedendo in for the same reason you ommitted him. I have a feeling he's going to flourish as a big game player. Shane Warne was crap in Grade & State cricket. As sub instead of McNeil.
Would also bring Khamis on to the bench at the expense of Scott. Khamis needs time resettling as a defender, even omit Caleb Daniel as he's a certain starter for round 1.
If Poulter, Baker or West was ill I'd bring in Freijah.

We could certainly omit some players based on them being sure things for R1. With Daniel and Liberatore I just felt it was important that all of our leadership team players are available. Getting the balance between experience players and development of the younger guys is always a challenge.

I don't mind the suggestion of Bedendo it's just who to leave out with the likes of Harmes, West or McNeil etc?