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In a first for the WOOF site I have written up a preview of this week's game for some meaningful discussion. So here goes....
Match: Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs – MCG – Sat March 30 – 2.10pm
Recent Form: Melbourne started the season in the worst possible way with a 104pt hiding at the hands of the rampant Hawks. The Bulldogs just scrapped over the line against the Crows with a hard fought 3pt win topping off a great day in celebration of captain Brad Johnson’s 300th game.
Recent matches between these 2 teams:
Rd 19 2006 – TD – Melbourne 19.15.129 def Western Bulldogs 12.15.87
- Led by a dominant midfield Melbourne surged away from the Dogs in the 2nd and 3rd
qtr’s kicking 11 goals to 3.
Brownlow votes: 3. N. Jones, 2. B. Holland, 1. B. Green
Rd 7 2006 – TD – Western Bulldogs 16.16.112 def Melbourne 16.10.106
- After a sluggish start the Bulldogs gained the upper hand with a dominant 2nd qtr. The 2nd half come back by Melbourne made for an exciting last qtr. A late goal to Eagleton sealed the win for Bulldogs.
Brownlow votes: 3. B. Johnson, 2. A. Davey, 1. D. Cross
Players missing/ At the selection table:
Western Bulldogs – An ankle injury puts Eagleton in doubt and would join Ray, Williams and Everitt and possibly Harbrow as members of best 22 on the sidelines. Harbrow could be an inclusion for Eagleton, but has had only had 1 practice match after a 4 week lay off due to shin splints. This may be the only change although there may be a need to bring in an extra tall defender to cope with Newton, Neitz and Holland, well may be anyway??
Melbourne: - Colin Sylvia will be welcomed back after serving his 1 match club enforced suspension. Matthew Bate is also a chance of returning from a hamstring injury, but what they do with the team is anyone’s guess. Lynden Dunn, Matthew Whelan and Jared Rivers would also be close to selection.
I think Bailey may keep the faith with the player’s under the pump in the press, but another performance like rd 1 might mean a massive change in direction, but who knows the new coach may want to make a statement, guess we will find out later in the week.
Style of play/ team structure’s:
Western Bulldogs – The Bulldogs play a dangerous game, almost a shoot-out style. They back themselves to purely kick more goals than the opposition. Teams who deny the ball carrier time and the leading player’s space to lead tend to have a good record against the Dogs.
So what was different last week to last year?
Forwards- The forward-line structure had changed a fair bit. Welsh and Minson give the team another leading player from the square who is a strong mark and an excellent converter and a big gorilla who gives the team the option of the long bomb to the top of square, which hasn’t been there in the past. The talented small forwards in Johnson, Murphy and Giansiracusa will continue to cause the opposition headaches.
Midfield - The midfield has acquired a much needed ruckman of AFL standard who is both strong in the contest in the air and on the ground. Hudson works well around the ground and gives an option which probably hasn’t been there for the past 3 or 4 years. Cooney is finally fit, whooray we cry. With a fit body let’s hope the footy world can see what this kid has to offer. With a B.O.G performance in rd 1 behind him expect the tagger’s to start paying him a bit more attention. Having a fit and firing Akermanis and Griffen gives the Dogs a bit more drive through the middle of the ground which was lacking in the 2nd half of 07.
Defence - With the loss of Williams and Everitt the Bulldog backline continues to be a problem, but these 2 have hardly established themselves as AFL players anyway so not too much can be expected of them. The backline had the same problems last week as it has for the last 5-10 years, in 1 on 1 contests the Bulldogs defenders can’t beat there opponents. Lake and Wight were obviously underdone, but they would certainly hope to have a greater impact on the game this week.
Melbourne – Whatever the coaching staff have been working on at Melbourne for the past 6 months it didn’t work on Sunday. Some of the stats to come out of that game were damning. They broke-even in the clearances 34-34, but only averaged a goal every 53rd disposal. Compare this to the Bulldogs who averaged a goal every 21st disposal.
Forwards - Without Sylvia and Bate on the weekend they had no lead up half forwards. Having them in the team is a must. Robertson & Davey had shocker’s, but they are both very good player’s so can be forgived for one bad week. The rest of the forwards struggle big time, Neitz is finished, Newton is yet to cement his spot and if Holland plays forward he is hit and miss (generally a hit against us though)
Backline - Melbourne’s backline is a shambles. Carroll?? If you are going have a hair-cut like that you must be able to back it up on the field, sadly he doesn’t, Miller, no thanks. Bell is an honest toiler, but only just. They struggle with run from defence relying on Wheatley and perhaps Green (cat) to run and distribute the ball.
Midfield -Their midfield is a strength, but they should have hammered a Hawthorn outfit without Lewis, Crawford and Hodge in their team, well at least through the middle anyway. For me the Melbourne midfielders are a bunch of front-runners, give them a foot and they will take a metre, but keep a tight check on them and they go into there shells. Bruce, Green, Moloney and a few others are talented players, but they seem to pick and choose when they want to perform and when they want to chase.
I do have big wraps on Jones and McLean who would look good with a bit of white splashed on there jumpers, we’ll discuss that another time.
Key Match-Ups:
Brad Johnson vs Cameron Bruce?? – Although Bruce has spent a fair bit of time in the midfield he is one of the few players in the competition who has consistently had the better of Johnson. With Bruce struggling for fitness a stopping job might be the order of the day.
Adam Cooney vs James McDonald – In McDonald’s 200th expect him to try and put the clamps on Cooney. If Cooney can break free it will go along way to deciding the result of this match.
Dale Morris vs Russell Robertson – Robertson was horrible against Hawthorn and is too good a player to put in another one, or is he?? Perhaps his singing career is more important to him now?
Matthew Boyd vs Brock McLean – Brock can be the spark, but we need to cut down his drive through the middle of the ground. (Pardon the pun)
Ben Hudson vs Jeff White – White normally kills the Dogs with his leap and mobility around the ground. Hudson was good last week and will come in handy using his ball winning abilities against a strong Melbourne midfield.
Player’s under the pump:
Western Bulldogs
Daniel Cross – Spent most of the game on the wing where he is a duck out of water in open play. Can’t run, can’t kick, get’s the ball and stops. I know it’s early in the season and the players around will slow, but Daniel needs to get himself back into the centre square to where he can use his ball winning abilities to the advantage of the team.
Mitch Hahn – Has the game past him by? Is the bash and crash strategy he used to great effect in 05 and early 06 out-dated. He needs more strings to his bow than to just knock blokes over.
Ryan Hargrave – Has his time as a defender come to an end? Perhaps he might be the man for the wing spot presently being used by Cross. He can run, mark and is a very good kick, but continues to struggle in defence.
Melbourne
The whole bloody team!!!
Seriously the tripe they served up in round 1 was Richmond like. It will be a long year for the Melbourne faithful (do they have any??) if they continue to deliver performances like that.
New coach Dean Bailey would be looking for a big lift from his senior players (Neitz, Davey, White, Robertson, Yze) who performed below par last week. All these players generally perform well against the Bulldogs so let’s hope there poor form continues for at least one more week.
Who will win and why:
Are Melbourne really that bad? They only won 5 games last year which included wins in rd 19 (W.Bulldogs) & 2 wins against Carlton in rd 14 & 22 (tanking match). They might just be.
Melbourne will be flogged by the media all week and they probably deserve it, but expect them to have a serious crack this week. They have James McDonald who is a well respected player playing in his 200th game and deserves an improved performance, but seriously are they good enough to challenge a re-invigorated Bulldogs team?
Match Melbourne’s intensity and a comfortable victory is attainable, but if the Bulldogs go into the game without the intensity required to play an AFL game (half arsed) then the Bulldogs might be on the end of a disappointing loss.
You would hope that the players learnt there lesson last year when the desire to put in a consistent effort wasn’t there, was that fitness, was that internal unrest, who knows, but one thing to take from rd 1 was the determination to have a crack at all times which wasn’t always on show in the 2nd half of 07. If the Bulldogs apply pressure to the ball carrier and work hard on both there hard ball and loose ball possessions then the pace and skill of the Bulldogs players might be a bit much for the Dee’s to handle.
Bulldogs by 38pts...Well let's hope so
Match: Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs – MCG – Sat March 30 – 2.10pm
Recent Form: Melbourne started the season in the worst possible way with a 104pt hiding at the hands of the rampant Hawks. The Bulldogs just scrapped over the line against the Crows with a hard fought 3pt win topping off a great day in celebration of captain Brad Johnson’s 300th game.
Recent matches between these 2 teams:
Rd 19 2006 – TD – Melbourne 19.15.129 def Western Bulldogs 12.15.87
- Led by a dominant midfield Melbourne surged away from the Dogs in the 2nd and 3rd
qtr’s kicking 11 goals to 3.
Brownlow votes: 3. N. Jones, 2. B. Holland, 1. B. Green
Rd 7 2006 – TD – Western Bulldogs 16.16.112 def Melbourne 16.10.106
- After a sluggish start the Bulldogs gained the upper hand with a dominant 2nd qtr. The 2nd half come back by Melbourne made for an exciting last qtr. A late goal to Eagleton sealed the win for Bulldogs.
Brownlow votes: 3. B. Johnson, 2. A. Davey, 1. D. Cross
Players missing/ At the selection table:
Western Bulldogs – An ankle injury puts Eagleton in doubt and would join Ray, Williams and Everitt and possibly Harbrow as members of best 22 on the sidelines. Harbrow could be an inclusion for Eagleton, but has had only had 1 practice match after a 4 week lay off due to shin splints. This may be the only change although there may be a need to bring in an extra tall defender to cope with Newton, Neitz and Holland, well may be anyway??
Melbourne: - Colin Sylvia will be welcomed back after serving his 1 match club enforced suspension. Matthew Bate is also a chance of returning from a hamstring injury, but what they do with the team is anyone’s guess. Lynden Dunn, Matthew Whelan and Jared Rivers would also be close to selection.
I think Bailey may keep the faith with the player’s under the pump in the press, but another performance like rd 1 might mean a massive change in direction, but who knows the new coach may want to make a statement, guess we will find out later in the week.
Style of play/ team structure’s:
Western Bulldogs – The Bulldogs play a dangerous game, almost a shoot-out style. They back themselves to purely kick more goals than the opposition. Teams who deny the ball carrier time and the leading player’s space to lead tend to have a good record against the Dogs.
So what was different last week to last year?
Forwards- The forward-line structure had changed a fair bit. Welsh and Minson give the team another leading player from the square who is a strong mark and an excellent converter and a big gorilla who gives the team the option of the long bomb to the top of square, which hasn’t been there in the past. The talented small forwards in Johnson, Murphy and Giansiracusa will continue to cause the opposition headaches.
Midfield - The midfield has acquired a much needed ruckman of AFL standard who is both strong in the contest in the air and on the ground. Hudson works well around the ground and gives an option which probably hasn’t been there for the past 3 or 4 years. Cooney is finally fit, whooray we cry. With a fit body let’s hope the footy world can see what this kid has to offer. With a B.O.G performance in rd 1 behind him expect the tagger’s to start paying him a bit more attention. Having a fit and firing Akermanis and Griffen gives the Dogs a bit more drive through the middle of the ground which was lacking in the 2nd half of 07.
Defence - With the loss of Williams and Everitt the Bulldog backline continues to be a problem, but these 2 have hardly established themselves as AFL players anyway so not too much can be expected of them. The backline had the same problems last week as it has for the last 5-10 years, in 1 on 1 contests the Bulldogs defenders can’t beat there opponents. Lake and Wight were obviously underdone, but they would certainly hope to have a greater impact on the game this week.
Melbourne – Whatever the coaching staff have been working on at Melbourne for the past 6 months it didn’t work on Sunday. Some of the stats to come out of that game were damning. They broke-even in the clearances 34-34, but only averaged a goal every 53rd disposal. Compare this to the Bulldogs who averaged a goal every 21st disposal.
Forwards - Without Sylvia and Bate on the weekend they had no lead up half forwards. Having them in the team is a must. Robertson & Davey had shocker’s, but they are both very good player’s so can be forgived for one bad week. The rest of the forwards struggle big time, Neitz is finished, Newton is yet to cement his spot and if Holland plays forward he is hit and miss (generally a hit against us though)
Backline - Melbourne’s backline is a shambles. Carroll?? If you are going have a hair-cut like that you must be able to back it up on the field, sadly he doesn’t, Miller, no thanks. Bell is an honest toiler, but only just. They struggle with run from defence relying on Wheatley and perhaps Green (cat) to run and distribute the ball.
Midfield -Their midfield is a strength, but they should have hammered a Hawthorn outfit without Lewis, Crawford and Hodge in their team, well at least through the middle anyway. For me the Melbourne midfielders are a bunch of front-runners, give them a foot and they will take a metre, but keep a tight check on them and they go into there shells. Bruce, Green, Moloney and a few others are talented players, but they seem to pick and choose when they want to perform and when they want to chase.
I do have big wraps on Jones and McLean who would look good with a bit of white splashed on there jumpers, we’ll discuss that another time.
Key Match-Ups:
Brad Johnson vs Cameron Bruce?? – Although Bruce has spent a fair bit of time in the midfield he is one of the few players in the competition who has consistently had the better of Johnson. With Bruce struggling for fitness a stopping job might be the order of the day.
Adam Cooney vs James McDonald – In McDonald’s 200th expect him to try and put the clamps on Cooney. If Cooney can break free it will go along way to deciding the result of this match.
Dale Morris vs Russell Robertson – Robertson was horrible against Hawthorn and is too good a player to put in another one, or is he?? Perhaps his singing career is more important to him now?
Matthew Boyd vs Brock McLean – Brock can be the spark, but we need to cut down his drive through the middle of the ground. (Pardon the pun)
Ben Hudson vs Jeff White – White normally kills the Dogs with his leap and mobility around the ground. Hudson was good last week and will come in handy using his ball winning abilities against a strong Melbourne midfield.
Player’s under the pump:
Western Bulldogs
Daniel Cross – Spent most of the game on the wing where he is a duck out of water in open play. Can’t run, can’t kick, get’s the ball and stops. I know it’s early in the season and the players around will slow, but Daniel needs to get himself back into the centre square to where he can use his ball winning abilities to the advantage of the team.
Mitch Hahn – Has the game past him by? Is the bash and crash strategy he used to great effect in 05 and early 06 out-dated. He needs more strings to his bow than to just knock blokes over.
Ryan Hargrave – Has his time as a defender come to an end? Perhaps he might be the man for the wing spot presently being used by Cross. He can run, mark and is a very good kick, but continues to struggle in defence.
Melbourne
The whole bloody team!!!
Seriously the tripe they served up in round 1 was Richmond like. It will be a long year for the Melbourne faithful (do they have any??) if they continue to deliver performances like that.
New coach Dean Bailey would be looking for a big lift from his senior players (Neitz, Davey, White, Robertson, Yze) who performed below par last week. All these players generally perform well against the Bulldogs so let’s hope there poor form continues for at least one more week.
Who will win and why:
Are Melbourne really that bad? They only won 5 games last year which included wins in rd 19 (W.Bulldogs) & 2 wins against Carlton in rd 14 & 22 (tanking match). They might just be.
Melbourne will be flogged by the media all week and they probably deserve it, but expect them to have a serious crack this week. They have James McDonald who is a well respected player playing in his 200th game and deserves an improved performance, but seriously are they good enough to challenge a re-invigorated Bulldogs team?
Match Melbourne’s intensity and a comfortable victory is attainable, but if the Bulldogs go into the game without the intensity required to play an AFL game (half arsed) then the Bulldogs might be on the end of a disappointing loss.
You would hope that the players learnt there lesson last year when the desire to put in a consistent effort wasn’t there, was that fitness, was that internal unrest, who knows, but one thing to take from rd 1 was the determination to have a crack at all times which wasn’t always on show in the 2nd half of 07. If the Bulldogs apply pressure to the ball carrier and work hard on both there hard ball and loose ball possessions then the pace and skill of the Bulldogs players might be a bit much for the Dee’s to handle.
Bulldogs by 38pts...Well let's hope so
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