Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

[The Underdog]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

About the only one that make sense unless the Bombers decide to try Ryder up there.

Yeah I wonder if Wight might spend a bit more time forward as he did pre-season. I'm not sure that's what they'll want to do but he's a bit nowhere otherwise.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

Yeah I wonder if Wight might spend a bit more time forward as he did pre-season. I'm not sure that's what they'll want to do but he's a bit nowhere otherwise.

One good thing about Wight is that he can play on a few different types so he might pick up someone like Lovett- Murray or even McPhee, but I think Hille and Laycock will spend a fair bit of time up forward.

[The Underdog]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

One good thing about Wight is that he can play on a few different types so he might pick up someone like Lovett- Murray or even McPhee, but I think Hille and Laycock will spend a fair bit of time up forward.

Yeah I agree, especially with Hille who murdered us in the NAB Cup. I could almost see him taking McPhee (who I don't rate) and Morris taking a smaller quicker player like Lovett or Davey along with Callan.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about this one. We SHOULD win, but we need our intensity and pressure skills to be at there peak.

As Underdog mentioned, I quite like the idea of Wight spending a bit more time forward this week, if there isn't a good match up down back. I thought he showed a bit when he went forward, and if he can kick a bit straighter and finish with a few goals that would be an excellent result.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about this one. We SHOULD win, but we need our intensity and pressure skills to be at there peak.

As Underdog mentioned, I quite like the idea of Wight spending a bit more time forward this week, if there isn't a good match up down back. I thought he showed a bit when he went forward, and if he can kick a bit straighter and finish with a few goals that would be an excellent result.

I am with you Griffen#16, Essendon are going to run run run, so we need to put the pressure on and make them turn it over. We cannot give them a head start in the first quarter. I think in the past we were worried about their height, now we are concerned about their runners. Pressure Pressure Pressure is what we must apply.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

I posted this over on BF's "Face Off" thread, and thought I might as well put it on this one too. I was replying to a post made by an Essendon supporter.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Griffen had an awesome game last week and although he was damaging I don't think we should (or will) tag him, hes not that consistent yet compared to a number of others and I would be prepared to run the risk he wont play the same game twice in a row.

If I was Essendon, I'd agree with this. At this stage we have a few others that could prove more damaging. It provides another good opportunity for Griffen to really start impacting on games though because although he's a very good player, he's likely not to get tagged at the moment.

West leaves a big hole and really, the two Dog's midfielders that concern me are Cooney and Cross. I would play Watson on Cooney and McVeigh on Cross and prey to God they can hold them freeing up Stanton and Lovett to hopefully run amok.

Shooting yourself in the foot with this, IMO. Cooney would absolutely towel up Watson with his pace. Watson works hard, but there's no way he'll keep up with Cooney who has blistering pace & a newfound hard workrate. McVeigh would be a better match-up, unless you roll the dice and attempt to gain an advantage by playing McVeigh on Cross. I doubt that would work in your favour though as Cross is ruthless in the contest & simply runs all day and to the right spots, every time. It'd be an interesting and different match-up, but I don't think The Dons will try this.

I am confident out back line can hold the Dogs forwards and our forward line can produce with the right delivery but the midfield is where we will either be competitive or get embarrassed.. St.Kilda style.. If we allow the Dogs to annihilate us at the stoppages, we will get absolutely creamed..

I agree with your second part of your statement, particularly as we're leading contested possessions in the competition at the moment, so our midfield has become far more complete than it has been in recent years where we've been 'one way'. However, I think you might be underestimating our forward line a little bit. Although you have Michael & Fletcher, neither will man handle Minson and we proved last week against quality opposition that Welsh doesn't need to kick goals for us to win. Johnson was quiet too, but I sincerely doubt you'll be able to smother all three of them let alone tame Murphy, Gia & Akermanis who have all been very influential.

Against The Crows backline, arguably the first or second best defence in the league, we booted 19 or so goals. If Essendon have to rely on their backline to cover us, you won't get near us. The Dons need to use their pace through the middle of the ground and particularly up forward if they're to win. This is where the likes of Davey, Lovett & Houli among a few others are vital. If you're able to restrict the use of ball down to our forwards and supply the likes of Lloyd, Laycock/Hille with the opportunity to either mark it or bring it to ground for the surplus amount of fast crumbers, then you're a good chance to come away with a win.

As for Murphy.. Ryder would be the best option.. Fletch has the closing speed and hight to compete with Jonno and Mal should be a good body on body match for Hahn.

Agree that Ryder will probably goto Murph. Should be an interesting match-up, both quality players and move well.

I doubt Fletcher will play on Johnson though. Who goes to Minson? The Dons will probably try and exploit Minson by encouraging Fletcher to run off him. Minson may have Fletcher for strength, but if Fletcher can use his long reach to spoil the ball he'll beat Minson around the ground. Good opportunity for The Dons to hurt us on the rebound. Fletcher plays a little loose and against Johnson he'll be murdered for this. The Dons surely wouldn't run this risk.

I doubt Michael will go to Hahn too, as Michael prefers to stick relatively close to goal. Hahn can play as a bit of a crash & bash CHF, but he plays around HF and leads out to around the 60m at times. Michael has the strength to go with Hahn no doubt, but he doesn't have the motor. If Mitch plays at FF, then it might be a different story, but he's not needed there as Minson/Welsh/Johnson share the role. IMO Michael will likely play on Welsh, as Scotty sticks fairly close to goal too most of the time.

All in all, it should be a good game to watch with plenty of match-ups to watch out for. Contrasting styles of play so it'll be great to see how the game pans out, particularly in the second half.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Probably the thing I most wanted to point out that I didn't in fact alert to in my original post in this thread was Fletcher and his ability to exploit Minson. is it something we should be concerned about should Essendon pull this move out of the bag? I suppose what you drum into The Dogs is that is Fletcher wants to play loose on Minson and run forward, then we've got to spot Big Will up and make Dustin accountable.

Thoughts on all of the above?

[Mantis]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

Probably the thing I most wanted to point out that I didn't in fact alert to in my original post in this thread was Fletcher and his ability to exploit Minson. is it something we should be concerned about should Essendon pull this move out of the bag? I suppose what you drum into The Dogs is that is Fletcher wants to play loose on Minson and run forward, then we've got to spot Big Will up and make Dustin accountable.

Thoughts on all of the above?

I would think Mal will pick up Minson when he was up there. If Mal goes to Hahn then Mitch would have a bit to much aerobic ability for him. If he didn't he would be able to drag Michael away from the action which would be a win for us.

Fletcher is a concern, but only if we allow him to be. The pressure our forwards applied to Fisher and Gram last week on the whole was very good. A repeat performance will go along way towards a comfortable victory.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

I would think Mal will pick up Minson when he was up there. If Mal goes to Hahn then Mitch would have a bit to much aerobic ability for him. If he didn't he would be able to drag Michael away from the action which would be a win for us.

Fletcher is a concern, but only if we allow him to be. The pressure our forwards applied to Fisher and Gram last week on the whole was very good. A repeat performance will go along way towards a comfortable victory.

Yeah, my first thoughts are that Michael will go to Minson - that's the logical explanation, but if The Dons want to somehow gain an advantage then perhaps it's getting Fletcher to use his long reach to spoil Minson, and run off.

Michael would then move to Welsh who for the most part stays around the 10-40m area. I guess the alternative to that is making Welsh push up and play from 30m-70m. Thus, whoever plays on Michael drags him out & runs him around.

It's just another idea to consider. I think we have the significant upper hand in matches & versatility though, so we should be able to take control of things IMO.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 4 2008 Match Preview: Bulldogs v Dons

The general feeling now is this is our game to lose.

With Lucas and Lloyd out our supposedly biggest threat's (tall forwards) shouldn't be a problem.

Literally I hope that we smash the bejesus out of them. At every chance we should be bumping and tackling with a real ferocity. Let's take the sting out of there young legs because out-running us seems there only hope now.

I hope to see our bigger bodies ( Cooney, Hahn, Boyd, Cross, Hudson, etc... We have a few now) driving there running players into the ground, sticking there knees into there thighs and generally roughing them up. Let's get physical with a team and man-handle them like Sydney and Adelaide have done to us and other teams in the past.