Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

[Bornadog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Maybe, but Wood could take Watts.

One thing I liked about Wood's game on the weekend was he didn't have to play super tall and that freed him up. I would hate to see him trying to cover another very tall player like the North match.

[1eyedog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

One thing I liked about Wood's game on the weekend was he didn't have to play super tall and that freed him up. I would hate to see him trying to cover another very tall player like the North match.

Does Watts actually play tall though? Aside from the height difference I would have thought Wood was better in the air than Watts.

[Bornadog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Does Watts actually play tall though?

He is 196 and takes a good mark. He does seem smaller though.

[Mofra]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Does Watts actually play tall though? Aside from the height difference I would have thought Wood was better in the air than Watts.

13-14cm is a lot to make up though.
Perception of Watts seems tainted by reputation - he's been excellent this year. I wouldn't want him isolated with Wood one-out although they do try and keep Hogan closer to goal.

Zaine could be a sneaky chance for a game, laid plenty of tackles last week by all accounts and is aggressive in the air.

[Bornadog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

13-14cm is a lot to make up though.
Perception of Watts seems tainted by reputation - he's been excellent this year. I wouldn't want him isolated with Wood one-out although they do try and keep Hogan closer to goal.

Zaine could be a sneaky chance for a game, laid plenty of tackles last week by all accounts and is aggressive in the air.

Some stats from the VFL:

Lukas Webb – 28 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 marks, 2 goals

Bradley Lynch (rookie) – 26 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles

Mitch Honeychurch – 1 goal, 25 disposals, 6 tackles

Lin Jong – 2 goals, 23 disposals, 4 tackles

Declan Hamilton – 20 disposals, 4 marks

Bailey Williams – 20 disposals, 7 marks

Josh Dunkley – 1 goal, 19 disposals, 7 tackles

Will Minson – 1 goal, 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 43 hitouts

Zaine Cordy – 14 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles

Joel Hamling – 14 disposals, 3 marks

Luke Goetz (rookie) – 2 disposals, 2 tackles

[Mantis]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Does Watts actually play tall though? Aside from the height difference I would have thought Wood was better in the air than Watts.

He might not play tall, but he is a smart player who will be able to find space if Wood zones off.

[1eyedog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Some stats from the VFL:

Lukas Webb – 28 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 marks, 2 goals

Bradley Lynch (rookie) – 26 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles

Mitch Honeychurch – 1 goal, 25 disposals, 6 tackles

Lin Jong – 2 goals, 23 disposals, 4 tackles

Declan Hamilton – 20 disposals, 4 marks

Bailey Williams – 20 disposals, 7 marks

Josh Dunkley – 1 goal, 19 disposals, 7 tackles

Will Minson – 1 goal, 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 43 hitouts

Zaine Cordy – 14 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles

Joel Hamling – 14 disposals, 3 marks

Luke Goetz (rookie) – 2 disposals, 2 tackles

Honey, Dunks and Webb doing all the right things. Loving that Honey and Dunks are chasing and applying heavy tackling pressure as well. Surely one has to come in this week.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Honey was a ball magnet in the under 18's and is doing it now in the VFL. Just needs his opportunity in the big time.

[Ozza]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Does Watts actually play tall though? Aside from the height difference I would have thought Wood was better in the air than Watts.

Although Watts hasn't seemed to have played tall in the past, and isn't really a contested marking player - he is quick and tall and has taken plenty of marks inside 50 this year. Also very accurate in front of goal.

Now that they have Hogan as such a focus, and Pederson playing well - Watts has become more than a handy forward this season.

[always right]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Anyone have the feeling that Stringer might be rested as a result of the corkie he suffered on the weekend?

[Mofra]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Anyone have the feeling that Stringer might be rested as a result of the corkie he suffered on the weekend?

He ran out the game ok and we played Libba the week after his corkie which was at least as bad.

He might play 100% forward to reduce his game-load by a small amount but I'd expect him to play.

[Axe Man]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

Stopping Hogan a team effort for young Dogs defence

THE Western Bulldogs need to get better at combating the AFL's monster forwards, according to coach Luke Beveridge.

Despite having the competition's stingiest defence, key forwards Josh Jenkins (eight goals) and Jarrad Waite (four) have given the Bulldogs plenty of problems in the past fortnight.

And the task of stopping Melbourne's Jesse Hogan at the MCG on Sunday will be all the more harder with first-year revelation Marcus Adams sidelined with a fracture finger.

"He's an imposing young forward, Jesse, and as you saw with the Crows' big forwards we didn't manage them too well last week," Beveridge said.

"Whether it's Jesse, Taylor Walker or Josh Jenkins, it (doesn't) get any easier.

"Whoever's got him at any point in time, I think they're going to need help in the air, which we've been OK at.

"It will be more a communal effort."

With veteran Dale Morris better suited to playing on smaller types in the twilight of his career, it will be a very inexperienced key defensive group that runs out against the Demons with Fletcher Roberts (21 games) likely to be partnered by either Zaine Cordy (two) or Joel Hamling (13).

Beveridge hasn't ruled out giving draftee Kieran Collins a baptism of fire after the hulking 18-year-old's impressive form in the VFL.

First-year running defender Bailey Williams is also in the frame to play his first game in the red, white and blue.

"We'll pick a young defender out of those four and give them an opportunity to play in a big game," Beveridge said.

"Zaine Cordy has been playing well, young Bailey Williams been playing pretty well, Kieran Collins had a week off last week (and) Joel Hamling played reasonably well.

"We haven't had the best run of luck with (our defenders), but I've been impressed the way the boys have adapted."

As the Dogs prepare for the first game at the MCG since last year's elimination final loss to Adelaide, Beveridge said his players are jumping out of their skins to play the first of only two matches at the AFL's "colosseum" in 2016.

"We do go in with a head of steam after beating a very good side in the Adelaide Crows," he said.

"The boys love playing at Etihad (but) the MCG is (the game's) colosseum and the boys are looking forward to getting out on the big arena.

"It's the stomping ground for the finals, and if you get there, you have to win finals there.

"We would love to win this week, but we don't it's not the end of the world."

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

I'm guessing he's just pumping Bailey's tyres up a little but isn't in serious calculations just yet?

I didn't watch all of the VFL game but how does Goetz only get 2 disposals in a rout?
I reckon I could of got at least 5.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

I guess it comes down to which is best: playing well, pretty well or reasonably well.

[Bornadog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 8 2016 vs Melbourne

I'm guessing he's just pumping Bailey's tyres up a little but isn't in serious calculations just yet?

I didn't watch all of the VFL game but how does Goetz only get 2 disposals in a rout?
I reckon I could of got at least 5.

Goetz hasn't been impressive at all. I guess he is still very young.

Might be a week to introduce some young talent??? Gut feel Collins comes in.