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OK. I know, I know. This is supposed to be up Tuesday and there are a couple of gaps accordingly...but between footy training (Monday and Tuesday night), Match Committee (Tuesday night) and the two hour time difference, it is now or never.
For those who dont know, I moved back to Perth this year and actually have a Dockers membership as well as my collection of Dogs ones, simply because that is the only way to go to a footy game over here...so I have seen Freo live on three occasions thus far:
- Vs Geelong
- Vs Richmond
- Vs Hawthorn.
I have made a couple of assumptions - like, people know who the Dogs injuries are, the Dogs style of play etc - so have left that stuff out. If you want it, please simply comment to that effect and I will add it in there!
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MATCH:
Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs
Sunday May 18th, Subiaco Oval.
2:40pm (local time - 4:40pm eastern)
FORM THIS SEASON:
Bulldogs
6 wins, 1 draw (against the Tigers).
Fremantle
5 close losses – including heart breakers against Geelong and Melbourne in rounds 6 and 7, 1 thumping (from Richmond) and 1 win (against the hapless West Coast)
PLAYERS MISSING:
Freo Injury list (May 9th)
Matthew Carr, ankle – 2-3 weeks
Antoni Grover, quad soreness – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Roger Hayden, hamstring soreness – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Des Headland, knee – test – EXPECT to MISS
Luke McPharlin, buttock – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Luke Pratt, ankle – TBA
Luke Webster, knee – Round 12
Paul Hasleby, knee – Season
LAST MEETING:
TIO Stadium (Darwin), Round 12 2007
Western Bulldogs (22-9-141) defeated Fremantle (16-19-115)
Goals - B Johnson 5, M Hahn 3, R Murphy 2, L Darcy 2, M Boyd 2, J Akermanis 2, A Cooney, D Giansiracusa, J Harbrow, S Higgins, F Ray, S West
Best -
Goals -M Pavlich 3, D Headland 2, D Solomon 2, C Tarrant 2, S Dodd, A Sandilands, D Mundy, R Warnock, J Walker, H Black, P Bell
We really ran away from them after half-time that night defying the steamy conditions to with a 5.1 third term that gave us a narrow lead (1 point - 15.6 (96) to 13.17 (95)) before finishing them off with a 7.3 to the Dockers' 3.2 fourth quarter.
Fremantle then got in all sorts of trouble at an after match function (hello Mr Tarrant) and we entered the mid-season break with a record of 7 wins, 5 losses.
Brownlow Votes:
Johnson (WB) - 3, Bell (FD) – 2, Boyd (WB) - 1
PLAYERS UNDER THE PUMP:
Bulldogs
Josh Hill – Started the season like a house on fire, but has certainly cooled off since round 3. Needs to get back to playing some basic, one-on-one footy (good starting points) rather than trying to get every possession in 50m of space.
Not too many others, which is what happens I guess when you are undefeated after 7 weeks.
Freo
Scott Thornton – poor – very poor – last week against Melbourne and not exactly on fire before then. If he survives the chop he needs to get back to the aggressive running that has been admired from him in the past.
Chris Tarrant – Remains under pressure, and the Freo faithful have no real affection for him (which the press know, so he is always listed in the paper as under pressure) but the reason is simple – he is not working hard enough. Once it was said he worked harder than an on-baller – now he barely works harder than a Fevola.
STYLE:
Freo will try and play a loosey behind the ball – this often ends up as Mundy. He will either start in the hole and push forward, or start on a wing/half forward and push through the contest to set up position behind the ball. They will then try to work that loose player into space in the centre square and use him as the outlet player from a wide exit from the defensive zone…(they will switch back and forth trying to get the ball to Hayden or McPharlin as they seem to be the designated kickers). All fine in theory, and (as Geelong found out) it can be pretty devastating if they are able to hit targets and get players from half back flowing downfield in numbers.
When it goes wrong though, boy does it go wrong. Freo have 3 defenders – Hayden, McPharlin and Grover (add Drum to this if he gets a game) – who seem to understand that they actually have opponents, with the others seemingly being told to focus on run and carry more than manning up. So, if they lose possession with a disposal error – or if the opposition is simply prepared to work harder than them to get numbers to the contest –the opposition will kick an easy goal on the rebound.
Like all teams I guess, turnovers are death, but for Fremantle and the fact that their mids continually miss targets/get outworked and their defenders are so keen to roll the dice…well, it equals even more trouble.
KEY DUELS:
Ben Hudson vs Aaron Sandilands
Last time I watched the Dockers at Subi, Sandilands had 42 hitouts, 24 possessions (20 contested) and 2 goals. He was an absolute monster, and effectively won them the game (even though they lost!). BUT. When Geelong kicked goals in a hurry – 2nd q and 4th q – Sandilands was the man in the centre square and centre clearances to the Cats fired both revivals. So I really have no idea what to think. I know this though – I have seen Sandilands compete hard like that ONCE. I have seen Hudson do it in every single game I have watched him play. Hudson’s relentless effort at the contest – supported by Minson – will be too much for the Fremantle monster to overcome, particularly if Harvey doesn’t play Warnock, tries to use Gilmore as Sandilands backup and consequently burns Sandilands out as he realises 10 minutes in he has only one ruckman.
Ryan Crowley vs Adam Cooney
In the wreck that has become Freo’s season, Gisborne boy Crowley has reinvented himself as a close checking midfielder. He has collected the scalps of Gary Ablett and Nathan Jones in the last two rounds, and has to be odds on to pick up the competitions most damaging midfielder (2008 season, rounds 1-7 category) in Adam Cooney. Crowley is quick and good overhead and will run forward – he has turned into a very dangerous run with player. Cooney should be too quick off the mark for him – should be – but a Crowley will stick at it and Adam needs to set himself for a tough night.
Other Mids? Boyd goes at it with Palmer (Freo’s most effective midfielder at the moment!), Cross and Bell fight it out. I suspect Ibbotson will play in the middle, but would love to see him and Hill go at it on one wing.
Matthew Pavlich vs Brian Lake
Pavlich is interesting. He rarely misses, and rarely plays a shocker. Given. But for those of us who see more than the highlights, you are always left thinking that he always leaves a little bit of something in the tank. The Melbourne game was classic Pavlich – two late goals in the 3rd that could have sealed it…he went into the centre square at the start of the last, but couldn’t touch it and Melbourne kicked two goals. He then went FORWARD – not back?? – and had zero influence on the rest of the contest. Lake – to me – is the opposite. He always seems at his best when things aren’t going the teams way – and he has gone FORWARD to provide a contest and take a grab at a couple of opportune moments this year.
Pavlich has the pedigree, the speed, the skills and the reputation. But he is in for one helluva get go on one player who will take it to him when the opposition have the ball.
Jeff Farmer vs Dale Morris
Don’t believe the bad things you read about Farmer – he is a very, very, very team focussed player – at times his unselfishness costs his team. He doesn’t have the spring of earlier days, but if he could get rid of the fumbles that have plagued him below his knees for the past 3 weeks would again be amongst the games leading small forwards. Morris is just the player for him (though I suspect Eade will go with Callan) as he will defend first, run off second, and Farmer needs to be watched. If he and Pavlich can be kept off the scorers sheet, the Bulldogs WILL win. (And yes, this means that Callan takes Mayne which is a match-up I kind of like.).
Robert Murphy vs David Mundy
I am not convinced about this, and believe that Marcus Drum is the right match-up for Murphy – who has the cleanest hands in the business – but Harvey seems at a loss on how to use Drum and I suspect Mundy will get the job. Mundy WILL zone off – that is what he does – and can be dangerous with the ball in hand, but he needs to understand that the Dogs attack through Murphy and cut off his leads.
Other Dogs forwards? Grover will take Welsh, McPharlin should take Johnno, Dodd goes to Hahn. I really have no idea who they put on Minson…unless it is McPharlin there is really no-one else. In that case, Dodd has to take Johnno which leaves someone like Thornton or Drum on Hahn…
WHO WILL WIN & WHY?
Fremantle could very easily win this game. They have shown in the last two weeks that they have the talent, and the ability to score heavily. But they have also shown that they can leak goals and miss targets when the heat is really on.
The Bulldogs have done nothing so far this season to suggest that they will allow Fremantle them to out-number them at the contest – which is the pre-requisite for success at Subiaco oval – but one thing has me concerned.
Richmond.
The Dogs had every right to expect that they would beat the Tigers, and were simply outworked – they did not put in the same level of effort that they displayed vs the Swans. And I worry about this. I worry they will treat the trip – coming after a week off and time with family/friends being told how well they are going as an extended holiday. Whilst Fremantle are seething about losing to Melbourne in very poor circumstances and having the whole town tell them they are not up to it and a disgrace to each other, the club, their families, their home towns, their states and their nation. I reckon the Dockers will have a go. And if we aren’t ready for it, we will not get the chocolates.
Bulldogs by 29 points.
For those who dont know, I moved back to Perth this year and actually have a Dockers membership as well as my collection of Dogs ones, simply because that is the only way to go to a footy game over here...so I have seen Freo live on three occasions thus far:
- Vs Geelong
- Vs Richmond
- Vs Hawthorn.
I have made a couple of assumptions - like, people know who the Dogs injuries are, the Dogs style of play etc - so have left that stuff out. If you want it, please simply comment to that effect and I will add it in there!
==================================================
MATCH:
Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs
Sunday May 18th, Subiaco Oval.
2:40pm (local time - 4:40pm eastern)
FORM THIS SEASON:
Bulldogs
6 wins, 1 draw (against the Tigers).
Fremantle
5 close losses – including heart breakers against Geelong and Melbourne in rounds 6 and 7, 1 thumping (from Richmond) and 1 win (against the hapless West Coast)
PLAYERS MISSING:
Freo Injury list (May 9th)
Matthew Carr, ankle – 2-3 weeks
Antoni Grover, quad soreness – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Roger Hayden, hamstring soreness – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Des Headland, knee – test – EXPECT to MISS
Luke McPharlin, buttock – test – EXPECT to PLAY
Luke Pratt, ankle – TBA
Luke Webster, knee – Round 12
Paul Hasleby, knee – Season
LAST MEETING:
TIO Stadium (Darwin), Round 12 2007
Western Bulldogs (22-9-141) defeated Fremantle (16-19-115)
Goals - B Johnson 5, M Hahn 3, R Murphy 2, L Darcy 2, M Boyd 2, J Akermanis 2, A Cooney, D Giansiracusa, J Harbrow, S Higgins, F Ray, S West
Best -
Goals -M Pavlich 3, D Headland 2, D Solomon 2, C Tarrant 2, S Dodd, A Sandilands, D Mundy, R Warnock, J Walker, H Black, P Bell
We really ran away from them after half-time that night defying the steamy conditions to with a 5.1 third term that gave us a narrow lead (1 point - 15.6 (96) to 13.17 (95)) before finishing them off with a 7.3 to the Dockers' 3.2 fourth quarter.
Fremantle then got in all sorts of trouble at an after match function (hello Mr Tarrant) and we entered the mid-season break with a record of 7 wins, 5 losses.
Brownlow Votes:
Johnson (WB) - 3, Bell (FD) – 2, Boyd (WB) - 1
PLAYERS UNDER THE PUMP:
Bulldogs
Josh Hill – Started the season like a house on fire, but has certainly cooled off since round 3. Needs to get back to playing some basic, one-on-one footy (good starting points) rather than trying to get every possession in 50m of space.
Not too many others, which is what happens I guess when you are undefeated after 7 weeks.
Freo
Scott Thornton – poor – very poor – last week against Melbourne and not exactly on fire before then. If he survives the chop he needs to get back to the aggressive running that has been admired from him in the past.
Chris Tarrant – Remains under pressure, and the Freo faithful have no real affection for him (which the press know, so he is always listed in the paper as under pressure) but the reason is simple – he is not working hard enough. Once it was said he worked harder than an on-baller – now he barely works harder than a Fevola.
STYLE:
Freo will try and play a loosey behind the ball – this often ends up as Mundy. He will either start in the hole and push forward, or start on a wing/half forward and push through the contest to set up position behind the ball. They will then try to work that loose player into space in the centre square and use him as the outlet player from a wide exit from the defensive zone…(they will switch back and forth trying to get the ball to Hayden or McPharlin as they seem to be the designated kickers). All fine in theory, and (as Geelong found out) it can be pretty devastating if they are able to hit targets and get players from half back flowing downfield in numbers.
When it goes wrong though, boy does it go wrong. Freo have 3 defenders – Hayden, McPharlin and Grover (add Drum to this if he gets a game) – who seem to understand that they actually have opponents, with the others seemingly being told to focus on run and carry more than manning up. So, if they lose possession with a disposal error – or if the opposition is simply prepared to work harder than them to get numbers to the contest –the opposition will kick an easy goal on the rebound.
Like all teams I guess, turnovers are death, but for Fremantle and the fact that their mids continually miss targets/get outworked and their defenders are so keen to roll the dice…well, it equals even more trouble.
KEY DUELS:
Ben Hudson vs Aaron Sandilands
Last time I watched the Dockers at Subi, Sandilands had 42 hitouts, 24 possessions (20 contested) and 2 goals. He was an absolute monster, and effectively won them the game (even though they lost!). BUT. When Geelong kicked goals in a hurry – 2nd q and 4th q – Sandilands was the man in the centre square and centre clearances to the Cats fired both revivals. So I really have no idea what to think. I know this though – I have seen Sandilands compete hard like that ONCE. I have seen Hudson do it in every single game I have watched him play. Hudson’s relentless effort at the contest – supported by Minson – will be too much for the Fremantle monster to overcome, particularly if Harvey doesn’t play Warnock, tries to use Gilmore as Sandilands backup and consequently burns Sandilands out as he realises 10 minutes in he has only one ruckman.
Ryan Crowley vs Adam Cooney
In the wreck that has become Freo’s season, Gisborne boy Crowley has reinvented himself as a close checking midfielder. He has collected the scalps of Gary Ablett and Nathan Jones in the last two rounds, and has to be odds on to pick up the competitions most damaging midfielder (2008 season, rounds 1-7 category) in Adam Cooney. Crowley is quick and good overhead and will run forward – he has turned into a very dangerous run with player. Cooney should be too quick off the mark for him – should be – but a Crowley will stick at it and Adam needs to set himself for a tough night.
Other Mids? Boyd goes at it with Palmer (Freo’s most effective midfielder at the moment!), Cross and Bell fight it out. I suspect Ibbotson will play in the middle, but would love to see him and Hill go at it on one wing.
Matthew Pavlich vs Brian Lake
Pavlich is interesting. He rarely misses, and rarely plays a shocker. Given. But for those of us who see more than the highlights, you are always left thinking that he always leaves a little bit of something in the tank. The Melbourne game was classic Pavlich – two late goals in the 3rd that could have sealed it…he went into the centre square at the start of the last, but couldn’t touch it and Melbourne kicked two goals. He then went FORWARD – not back?? – and had zero influence on the rest of the contest. Lake – to me – is the opposite. He always seems at his best when things aren’t going the teams way – and he has gone FORWARD to provide a contest and take a grab at a couple of opportune moments this year.
Pavlich has the pedigree, the speed, the skills and the reputation. But he is in for one helluva get go on one player who will take it to him when the opposition have the ball.
Jeff Farmer vs Dale Morris
Don’t believe the bad things you read about Farmer – he is a very, very, very team focussed player – at times his unselfishness costs his team. He doesn’t have the spring of earlier days, but if he could get rid of the fumbles that have plagued him below his knees for the past 3 weeks would again be amongst the games leading small forwards. Morris is just the player for him (though I suspect Eade will go with Callan) as he will defend first, run off second, and Farmer needs to be watched. If he and Pavlich can be kept off the scorers sheet, the Bulldogs WILL win. (And yes, this means that Callan takes Mayne which is a match-up I kind of like.).
Robert Murphy vs David Mundy
I am not convinced about this, and believe that Marcus Drum is the right match-up for Murphy – who has the cleanest hands in the business – but Harvey seems at a loss on how to use Drum and I suspect Mundy will get the job. Mundy WILL zone off – that is what he does – and can be dangerous with the ball in hand, but he needs to understand that the Dogs attack through Murphy and cut off his leads.
Other Dogs forwards? Grover will take Welsh, McPharlin should take Johnno, Dodd goes to Hahn. I really have no idea who they put on Minson…unless it is McPharlin there is really no-one else. In that case, Dodd has to take Johnno which leaves someone like Thornton or Drum on Hahn…
WHO WILL WIN & WHY?
Fremantle could very easily win this game. They have shown in the last two weeks that they have the talent, and the ability to score heavily. But they have also shown that they can leak goals and miss targets when the heat is really on.
The Bulldogs have done nothing so far this season to suggest that they will allow Fremantle them to out-number them at the contest – which is the pre-requisite for success at Subiaco oval – but one thing has me concerned.
Richmond.
The Dogs had every right to expect that they would beat the Tigers, and were simply outworked – they did not put in the same level of effort that they displayed vs the Swans. And I worry about this. I worry they will treat the trip – coming after a week off and time with family/friends being told how well they are going as an extended holiday. Whilst Fremantle are seething about losing to Melbourne in very poor circumstances and having the whole town tell them they are not up to it and a disgrace to each other, the club, their families, their home towns, their states and their nation. I reckon the Dockers will have a go. And if we aren’t ready for it, we will not get the chocolates.
Bulldogs by 29 points.
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