Perhaps Gardner and Smith have been really good over the preseason and are getting reward for effort? Often happens in the first praccy of the year.
Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.
I suspect so. He's certainly not getting a game ahead of English as a ruck and now he's behind Sweet.
As a KPD he's a stopper so he won't take Keath's spot, we favoured a raw Young in the final, and during the year Cordy was ahead of him as a stopper going by the MC selections. It's a shame as he really does well against the monsters (Hawkins, T Lynch).
Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers
Really struggling to see how Lewis Young doesn't get as many games pumped into him as possible.
Our 1954 premiership players are our heroes, and it has to be said that Charlie was their hero.
Surely with Smith & Gardner in, and Bruce, The Young's out we are not starting the pre-season in top gear.
I was hoping we'd be very aggressive right from the get go. We've been really lacklustre in recent preseasons and I just don't think it sets the right tone both on field or off field.
Gardener might also be the back-up ruck option and a candidate for back and forward lines as well. If he improves he has the versatility that Bevo appreciates.
Roarke Smith is a decent player and my guess is that he would also excellent with his training and preparation which should be rewarded. The cautious part in my wonders if that can transition to some better football. Tonight is a great opportunity for him to put his name into the mix to be a part of a deep and strong midfield. Good luck to him.
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"
I’m sure he’s a lovely young man but Gardner would have needed to improve a lot to be terrible. I’m thinking this is just us splitting the entire list (or at least those physically ready) across the two games.
- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -
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.
As a break glass in case of emergency option, he's very solid. He of course won't be happy about it.
I agree it's a shame, I think we've played some good football as a side with him contributing both down back and in the ruck, and is a physical, competitive presence that we've lacked at important stages.
Float Along - Fill Your Lungs
Trengove's basically our new Fletcher Roberts now, ie: break glass in case of key defender emergency. That's a net upgrade though.
Hoping this is Roarke's little taste to keep him hungry. I'll be less than thrilled if others can't nudge him out of a regular role though.
BORDERLINE FLYING
Roarke and Gardner in before Lewis Young and Trengove, MC must be joking, hopefully just experimental and doesn't become a habit. Good to see Sweet in, big opportunity for him.