Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

[Mofra]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

Looks like a ranga's arm, rules quite a few out.

[divvydan]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

Yeah, what's with those?

It could well be a tattoo to cover up something else on the arm, maybe burn marks or something like that.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

"Suckling" is a cool name even in 30 years when most have forgotten Matthew but the tatt remains.
After all we are all sucklings.

[Axe Man]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

MATT SUCKLING EXPECTING POSITIONAL SHIFT IN 2020

Western Bulldogs veteran Matthew Suckling is expecting to be used all over the ground in 2020.

The 31-year-old has made a name for himself across his 171 games as a quality ball user coming out of the backline, but with the Bulldogs boasting plenty of depth at the position, Suckling is ready to be used higher up the ground.

“I spoke to Bevo (Luke Beveridge) a few weeks ago and it’s just about being flexible and on a week to week basis,” he told SEN Breakfast.

“I think Caleb Daniel and Jason Johannisen are so damaging off that half back that there will be games where I float back, but it might be wing or even half forward.

“At the moment I’m just trying to hone my craft in different areas and obviously I’d prefer half back, but probably half back and wing this year.”

The Bulldogs added Alex Keath from Adelaide and Josh Bruce from St Kilda in the trade period to bolster their key position stocks, leading to plenty of external hype.

They were one of the most improved teams across the back-half of 2019, but Suckling wants to keep a lid on it heading into the season.

“We’re just fortunate that we have so many guys at this time of the year on track,” he said.

“If guys outside the club are talking about us, that’s alright, but we know that we need a bit of luck to go our way and early in the year with injuries and close games are crucially important.”

The Bulldogs take on North Melbourne on Friday February 21st in their first game of the Marsh Community Series.

[GVGjr]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

Suckling has gotten better each year with us. Damaging player who fits the Bevo versatile mantra although I think he would be better for us mainly across half back and occasionally on a wing. Despite some persistent injures he has lost none of his pace or his kicking depth

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

He was horrible as a half forward last year. But very good as a half back. I'm not a fan of this.

Caleb Daniel is the best flexible option, and coincidentally wasn't in the team during the last half of the season.

There's a role for Suckling in the best 22, but surely it's where he plays the best footy for the team.

[Bornadog]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

He was horrible as a half forward last year. But very good as a half back. I'm not a fan of this.

Caleb Daniel is the best flexible option, and coincidentally wasn't in the team during the last half of the season.

There's a role for Suckling in the best 22, but surely it's where he plays the best footy for the team.

I agree, he has played his best in the backline.

[GVGjr]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

He was horrible as a half forward last year. But very good as a half back. I'm not a fan of this.

Caleb Daniel is the best flexible option, and coincidentally wasn't in the team during the last half of the season.

There's a role for Suckling in the best 22, but surely it's where he plays the best footy for the team.

I agree BT, we have enough mid sized forwards that should mean Suckling isn't required in the forward line much at all. Being versatile is great but I think most of us believe he is clearly a better defender and more valuable to the team as a defender

[Axe Man]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

The problem is that Suckling, JJ and Daniel have all played their best footy across half back, but they can't all fit, especially when you add Duryea back in as well. You can't always have players in their best position, sometimes it has to be what's best for the team overall.

[Mantis]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

The problem is that Suckling, JJ and Daniel have all played their best footy across half back, but they can't all fit, especially when you add Duryea back in as well. You can't always have players in their best position, sometimes it has to be what's best for the team overall.

To counter you can't just try and fit your best 22 into the team regardless of where they play.

[Mofra]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

The problem is that Suckling, JJ and Daniel have all played their best footy across half back, but they can't all fit, especially when you add Duryea back in as well. You can't always have players in their best position, sometimes it has to be what's best for the team overall.

... and Ed Richards and Bailey Williams.

Duryea won't be ready for round 1.

I don't mind the idea of Suckling being a 'game breaker' playing off the bench. Plays into Bevo's "unpredictability" mantra. The counter-idea is that our best football last year was played when we largely played specialist forwards as forwards rather than mixing every player all over the paddock. That means Suckling plays wing or defence, and we're running out of spots.

[GVGjr]

Re: Welcome to the Western Bulldogs: Matt Suckling

... and Ed Richards and Bailey Williams.

Duryea won't be ready for round 1.

I don't mind the idea of Suckling being a 'game breaker' playing off the bench. Plays into Bevo's "unpredictability" mantra. The counter-idea is that our best football last year was played when we largely played specialist forwards as forwards rather than mixing every player all over the paddock. That means Suckling plays wing or defence, and we're running out of spots.

Agree, I get that we like to mix things up but Suckling should not be used forward much at all.
With McLean, Lloyd, Dickson, Richards and Dale and then perhaps the likes of Gowers, Greene, Weightman and Cavarra we have more than enough mid sized and smaller forwards to select from.