Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Really great thread and great intro G16.

Don't forget that the old master in the #35 jumper loves playing against us cause we give him so much space.

I agree on both points. Great thread and if we ignore Harvey we will do so at our peril. The Saints are packed with talent.

Although the Saints have a tall forward line they don't kick many big scores and infact last year overall, they had one of the lowest average goals per game count.


The match ups will be interesting. Eagleton will come in for Higgins, but whether Callen holds his place will depend on how Eade decides to match up against the Saints forwards. Wight will take Kosi and probably Morris will take Rienwoldt, Callen will be on Milne unless we decide to bring in McDougall. The Saints may try and rest a ruckman in their forward line to stretch us, so we may need to bring in another tall. Would we bring Street in if McDougall is not in form so that he follows Gardiner around?

Excellent point regarding the high scoring. Against us they traditionally kick a good score.

I'd be surprised if Street was promoted but stranger things have happened. I'd question what value Hudson and Minson have in getting back and helping the defenders. Niether of them strike me as Scott Wynd like in that department.

[Crizza]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

I love the pre match comments, very insightful and worthwhile.

Only down side is as it is a must read, it takes 30minutes out of working!

Well Done Griff, and others

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Just pretending I'm Ernie Sigley here for a sec & betting that Reiwoldt gets the softest free kicks imaginable on Friday night for some sort of perceived contact. He usually does against us!

Why???
He is a great player just think he is soft. A CHB in the ilk of Peter Foster would beat him.
I also don't have a great dislike for the Saints as they are strugglers like us.

[mjp]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

ES, I am not sure whether Foster would 'kill' Riewoldt. He would not be able to go with him on the lead...it is whether or not you consider the possessions Riewoldt wins at 80-100m from goal to be worthwhile and damaging or not.

I also don't really think he is soft - but the Saints game-plan has him playing in a way that maximises his possession rate but not necessarily his game impact. I still believe he would be an incredibly dangerous full-forward if left there for a season...but I guess that will not happen for at least another season.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

ES, I am not sure whether Foster would 'kill' Riewoldt. He would not be able to go with him on the lead...it is whether or not you consider the possessions Riewoldt wins at 80-100m from goal to be worthwhile and damaging or not.

I know he won't be able keep up with him. Its the dirty factor (maybe outlawed these day) that would make a guy like Riewoldt go into his shell.

I also don't really think he is soft - but the Saints game-plan has him playing in a way that maximises his possession rate but not necessarily his game impact. I still believe he would be an incredibly dangerous full-forward if left there for a season...but I guess that will not happen for at least another season.

I agree he ain't that soft really but i don't think his image is that great in this respect. Crying from an injury was a while back but Last week the club complained about a tactic that defenders have been doing for decades. The second one should have been a free for interference. Who ever brought out the word tunnelling did Riewoldt no favours.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Interesting quote from Leon cameron on Bulldogs site:

Cameron said the Saints' tall attacking timber was expected to force some Bulldogs to play slightly unconventional roles, given the continuing absence of defenders Tom Williams and Andrejs Everitt.

"Three big monsters in [Justin] Koschitzke, [Nick] Riewoldt and [Fraser] Gehrig are obviously hard to stop," he said.

"We've got [Brian] Harris and Cam Wight, so no doubt we're going to have to call in another tall in [Andrew] McDougall maybe, or look to a [Ryan] Hargrave or a [Dale] Morris to play above their height.

"It's always a concern playing their talls, but again, hopefully our midfield can get on top and prevent them from going in there with ease."

After missing last weeks round at Willy, not sure if Eade would bring McDougall in.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Good preview Griff!

It surprises me how much emphasis people put on Williams and Skinny being out of the side. Both guys show signs of being great players in the future but do we really miss them that much at the present time? Both guys certainly showed a lot of promise last season but imo neither player is an established best 22 player.

I think the consensus view is that if you gave Williams or Skinny the job on one of Kosi, Reidwolt or Gherig, they are likely to step up to the task and at least break even. Many here (me included) are almost conceding that Wight/Hargrave will struggle against any one of those three.

My suggestion, Hargrave gets Kosi and Wight gets Goddard - whilst Hargrave will struggle to match Kosi for height he will expose him with his run. Goddard returning from a long term injury will be a "softer" scalp for Wight.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

My suggestion, Hargrave gets Kosi and Wight gets Goddard - whilst Hargrave will struggle to match Kosi for height he will expose him with his run. Goddard returning from a long term injury will be a "softer" scalp for Wight.

When do we put Wight under pressure?

He is 200cm and as such should be expected to play on 'tall' opponents. He shouldn't be hidden away on 'soft' opponents while we continually throw Hargrave to the wolves by playing him on taller and stronger opponents.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

When do we put Wight under pressure?

He is 200cm and as such should be expected to play on 'tall' opponents. He shouldn't be hidden away on 'soft' opponents while we continually through Hargrave to the wolves by playing him on taller and stronger opponents.

To stop Reiwoldt you need someone with a massive tank to go with him who has a long reach to get a spoil in.

Time to stop treating Wight like a first year rookie.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

To stop Reiwoldt you need someone with a massive tank to go with him who has a long reach to get a spoil in.

Time to stop treating Wight like a first year rookie.

Agree.

Time to find out if he can play. Perfect opportunity for Wight to show his capabilities in a big game against a very good player.

[GVGjr]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Agree.

Time to find out if he can play. Perfect opportunity for Wight to show his capabilities in a big game against a very good player.

Wouldn't he be a better match-up for Kosi or one of the ruckman if they play forward though?

I would think that is still a substantial test of his ability but one he is also better suited to.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Wouldn't he be a better match-up for Kosi or one of the ruckman if they play forward though?

I would think that is still a substantial test of his ability but one he is also better suited to.

Agreed. Wight on Reiwoldt seems like a sure way to lose the game. Playing on Kosi or a resting ruck is still going to be a huge challenge for Wight as it is.

I won't disagree with their premise that he needs to be thrown to the wolves a bit more to prove he's up to the level, but playing him on Reiwoldt would be the equivalent of throwing the game.

[The Underdog]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Wouldn't he be a better match-up for Kosi or one of the ruckman if they play forward though?

I would think that is still a substantial test of his ability but one he is also better suited to.

I agree, I don't think we have another match-up with Kosi up forward and Wight is better suited than to Riewoldt.
As I've said we'll struggle to cover the 3 of them as it is, so we may see a bit of musical chairs if a match-up isn't working. The loss of Williams or Everitt hurts if only from the options it takes away from us.

[Rocket Science]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Please no McDougall...We're seriously asking for trouble giving him such significant responsibility in his first game for the season versus a reasonably in-form Saints outfit.

So to start proceedings if Wight on Koschitzke's a given, and likewise with Lake on Gehrig, that leaves Morris and Hargrave...however Hargrave's an infraction machine as it is, let alone playing him opposite a free-kick magnet like Riewoldt so I'd be opting for Morris to get the starting job there.

Also, someone suggested elsewhere on the site that Hudson isn't inclined to drop back in defence a la Scotty Wynd...While not entirely sure about that assessment if there's one thing he's been prepared to do do for us so far it's his willingness to put his body on the line and contribute around the ground beyond ruck contests alone. Given the Saints structure I don't see why he couldn't be instructed to do a bit of Wynd-type work versus this week's opponent.

Furthermore, Gehrig's a slug these days so perhaps Lake can be counted upon to leave his man when appropriate and provide 3rd-man-up assistance as required. He's pretty handy in this regard.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 3 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Saints

Yeah fair enough with Wight on Kosi that's the way I would go too, but there will be rotations made and I think we need to give Morris a rest from Riewoldt from time to time.