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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
Could someone remind me how to get past the paywall?
Could someone remind me how to get past the paywall?
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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
Googling the article headline usually does the trick, e voilà ...
Gary Buckenara analyses Western Bulldogs’ list after 2016 season
WHAT a year it was for the Bulldogs. They were the absolute feel-good story for the finals series and to finish with the premiership was fitting reward for the resilience the club, players and coaches have shown in the last two years.
It’s been a fantastic build by the Bulldogs in terms of bringing in Luke Beveridge as coach combined with smart recruiting across the board both from other clubs and through the draft.
Matt Suckling joined via free agency and can play at halfback, on the wing and even across half forward, Stewart Crameri provides plenty in terms of structure, flexibility and goalkicking power in the forward line, Tom Boyd was brought in for a specific reason as a key forward and Marcus Adams as a mature age key defender.
A lot of clubs need tall utility types who can play in multiple positions but the Western Bulldogs are actually well stocked in this area with guys like Jake Stringer, Marcus Bontempelli, Easton Wood, Lin Jong, Zaine Cordy and Fletcher Roberts.
Bontempelli is just a superstar wherever he plays on the field, what he’s been able to achieve in such a short period of time is quite remarkable and Stringer, although his season wasn’t as good as 2015, is still such a dangerous player and will get better next year as he continues to learn how much hard work it takes to make it and then be a consistent performer week in, week out.
Cordy came out of nowhere in the second half of the season and showed he is capable at the level. He was able to illustrate just how versatile he is when he stepped up in the preliminary final win over GWS when Jordan Roughead was injured and was a back-up in the ruck to Boyd. He can also be used down back.
Fletcher Roberts came in and played an important role as a tall utility defender who can play on a tall but is flexible enough to play on a variety of shapes and sizes, Dale Morris has always been capable of playing both tall and small and Kieran Collins is a draftee I rate really highly and liked during his draft year last year.
The Bulldogs have the makings of a good and versatile defence and then when you add in the experience and ball use of the likes of Suckling, Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd and the run and dash of Jason Johannisen and that back six is really strong.
Johannisen has always been highly regarded but I’m not sure many believed he’d get to the level he showed this year. He’s such a damaging rebound defender who provides so much spark.
There is plenty of leg speed and it’s obvious the Bulldogs are a club who have targeted players with good kicking skills, which has been so crucial to their success. Plus they’re well-drilled in tight and make good and quick decisions by hand, which is a credit to the development and coaching staff and the club.
The midfield is strong with Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis, Luke Dahlahus running through there, Lachie Hunter who took another step this year, Jack Macrae and now Josh Dunkley as well who had a very impressive debut season.
I really like what Beveridge has done with Liam Picken. Going from a tagger to a ball winner to now such a damaging goalkicker and match-winner has been an important piece of the puzzle and it’s a credit to both player and coach. Results like what we’ve seen from Picken don’t come without buying into the role, accepting it and then working as hard as you can to do it the best you can.
Caleb Daniel has surprised me a little bit. He was a ball magnet as a junior but sometimes players break the moulds of the types of players who think will be successful at the elite level and he is one of those. There’s always been this thought that if a player is under 170-175cm then they’re too small but it’s great to see someone like Caleb make people stand up and take notice.
The fact he has good leg speed and is very smart will ball in hand means he has the jump on guys of a similar size who haven’t been able to break through. He’s a bit of a playmaker, whenever he’s got the ball something generally good happens for the Bulldogs. That’s what I really like about him.
Clay Smith was another feel-good story and I was pleased to see him perform so strongly throughout the finals series and be a match-winner in the preliminary final. He’s a tough and hard player who knows where the goals are and adds another dimension to the forward line.
I also like young Bailey Dale as a player and Lukas Webb only played five games this year but he’s another one who definitely has AFL traits but has a bit of work to do still on his body.
It’s disappointing Nathan Hrovat and Koby Stevens wanted to be traded because they were good depth players and if it was me, given it’s such a good environment to be in, I wouldn’t have left. If I was a young player at the Bulldogs I’d have backed myself in to get better and work my way into the team and when I got it, do everything I could to grab my opportunity.
You need to back yourself a bit in that way when you do find yourself in a good system and at a good club that gets the best out of its players. Clearly the Western Bulldogs is that kind of club.
Overall the list build has been terrific over the last 5-6 years and the Bulldogs are now at a stage where they can add quality to fill needs.
And that’s where Travis Cloke comes in.
The Bulldogs have been able to trade Cloke in cheaply, for pick No.76, and he does fill a need because the Dogs only averaged 11.6 marks inside 50 per game this year and 10.9 the year before. They have lacked that big power forward presence they can aim at when kicking long inside 50 — he can create a contest and even if he doesn’t mark it, at least bring it to ground to bring guys like Smith, Dahlhaus, Tory Dickson and even Stringer into the game. They’ll be even more dangerous.
The addition of Cloke will add depth, cover for the loss of the injured Jack Redpath and with the addition of Crameri as well, it will take the pressure off Stringer because he’ll be able to play more up the ground and use his pace and x-factor like we saw in 2015.
Having said that, I don’t think Cloke will be a walk-up start in this Western Bulldogs team. He’ll have to earn it and when he does, he’ll need to keep performing to earn the right to keep that spot.
WHAT THEY NEED
The list is balanced up forward, in the midfield and down back but again, like most clubs, the ruck is an area requiring needs work. Jordan Roughead and Tom Boyd did well in the finals series but is that sustainable? They can only do so much. Tom Campbell languished in the VFL this year and Will Minson has moved on so the Bulldogs could use both an experienced ruckman as back-up plus a developing one from the draft.
With the loss of Joel Hamling to Fremantle there might be a need for another experienced key defender despite the fact Adams and Collins are coming through as developing players who can fill a key position. The fact Adams requested a trade back to Western Australia for personal reasons and even though it didn’t eventuate, that could still rear its head next year so the club will need to plan for it. Cordy might go into defence with the addition of Cloke up forward but if there is an experienced defender available they should look at it.
Another quick little small forward who loves to chase and tackle and has good goal sense would be handy as well — an Eddie-Betts type. And also another Matt Suckling type who has a long and penetrating and accurate kick who can play across halfback and up on the wing when the likes of Murphy and Boyd retire.
WHO’S UNDER THE PUMP
Bailey Williams is another one of those tall utility types but is well down the pecking order, while Declan Hamilton was drafted last year from the VFL as a 19-year-old who can play across halfback but hasn’t had a look in as yet. He’ll be 21 when the season starts so the Bulldogs will want to see something from him to see if he could possibly be a replacement for Murphy or Boyd.
Josh Prudden has been delisted but the club is committed to re-drafting his as a rookie and he’ll need to show something next year or else he’ll find himself out of the game for real. He’s a midfielder who has been at a club quite a while but has managed just the four career games.
WHO SHOULD GO
Will Minson has moved on in a mutual decision by both player and club, Jed Adcock has retired and Luke Goetz was delisted mid-year, while Prudden has also been axed. I do have question marks on Hamilton and in my opinion Williams would be one to let go and possibly Brad Lynch off the rookie list to give that a bit of a refresh given Adcock has also come off there.
CRYSTAL BALL
The Bulldogs have broken through for their second ever premiership and I think the signs are even better for the future if the club continues the form it’s shown not only on the field but off it as well in list management and recruiting. They will be a top eight side and a top four side for a few years to come and are right in the window of winning premierships. There are more exciting times ahead for this football club.BORDERLINE FLYINGComment
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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
Except he was drafted in 2014 from the SANFL as a 18 year old. But well done on spelling his name correctly Gary!Declan Hamilton was drafted last year from the VFL as a 19-year-oldComment
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But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.Comment
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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
Bailey Williams massive contract must be stopping us from getting a tallish, running half back.They say Burt Lancaster has one, but I don't believe them.Comment
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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
We will be delisting Williams over my dead body.Our 1954 premiership players are our heroes, and it has to be said that Charlie was their hero.Comment
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Our 1954 premiership players are our heroes, and it has to be said that Charlie was their hero.Comment
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FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.
So he mixed up Williams with Hamilton?Comment
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