Round 1 - Western Bulldogs V North Melbourne - Sat 15/3/25 Marvel Stadium 7:35PM AEDT

[kruder]

Gags is the luckiest footballer at the Kennel no doubt about it, it's time he shows something.

Anyone a little concerned over Richards, Dale and Westy all playing without a hit out prior? Maybe this puts West as the potential sub? It does look like it's either he or Arty.

[mjp]

Phillips was a weird selection, but by my count there's maybe 6-7 players in the entire draft after him that are probably in every best 22 which seems super low, especially when the best 3 in the remaining top ten are Perkins and Campbell.

It might have a little bit to do with COVID???

[Aidan7557]

Gags is the luckiest footballer at the Kennel no doubt about it, it's time he shows something.

Anyone a little concerned over Richards, Dale and Westy all playing without a hit out prior? Maybe this puts West as the potential sub? It does look like it's either he or Arty.

Only issue with Gags is his kicking/decision making but I think the coaches like his speed out of defence. Absolutely he isn't safe though. West looking like the sub and that makes sense with him not playing for a while. Good sub to have.

[kruder]

Half back can be cure for that, but maybe it means he is just not AFL standard. Fingers crossed as usual its time some of the players on the periphery stood up no better time than now with the Bont out.

[mjp]

WIth Cleary and Gallgher named I think Freijah will play on ball. Very excited for that and excited to see Cleary possibly get a run at it! Can't figure out who the third winger will be, Jones looks like sub, so maybe Harmes?

It's just a weird bench:

Cleary: Defender
McNeil: Forward who has done 'a bit' of outside mid.
Jones: Forward who has done 'a bit' of outside mid.
Gallagher: Mid who has played forward and more recently back.
West: Forward.

I don't know if the comments about selecting 8x backs are correct or not (it depends on how Gallagher is being viewed - if he is the sub then we only have 7 I think: JOD, Lobb, Freijah, Dale, Bramble, Duryea (that's 6) + Cleary on the bench - 7) but we do feel a mid short...

Anyways!!

[Jeanette54]

If the teams line up as named, Naughton vs Daniel should be interesting. Also, congrats to Libba on being named Captain, great selection.

[Garbs_7]

It's just a weird bench:

Cleary: Defender
McNeil: Forward who has done 'a bit' of outside mid.
Jones: Forward who has done 'a bit' of outside mid.
Gallagher: Mid who has played forward and more recently back.
West: Forward.

I don't know if the comments about selecting 8x backs are correct or not (it depends on how Gallagher is being viewed - if he is the sub then we only have 7 I think: JOD, Lobb, Freijah, Dale, Bramble, Duryea (that's 6) + Cleary on the bench - 7) but we do feel a mid short...

Anyways!!

Yeah I guess named in the fwd line are two guys who will also be in the midfield rotation in Kennedy and Harmes so I guess that's why so many fwds named on the bench.

[Aidan7557]

Libba, Sanders, Richards, Kennedy, Harmes, Freijah on ball unit I think. Numbers make sense.

[lemmon]

Libba, Sanders, Richards, Kennedy, Harmes, Freijah on ball unit I think. Numbers make sense.

I see it the same way with Cleary and Gallagher being the sixth and seventh defenders.

I think we're likely to see Arty Jones as the sub. He was good coming on in the second half against Hawthorn, felt like he brought some nice spark and energy.

[DOG GOD]

NM by 5 pts
1st goal : West
bOG: Libba
crowd 28,420

[The Bulldogs Bite]

About what I expected, but I don't see how Gags has got the nod. Thought he's been disappointing in the practice games, making similar errors (getting caught, turning it over, kicking into the man on the mark). Perhaps JF playing mid saves him, but he's very, very lucky.

[mal68]

Disappointing for Garcia.

Will Bevo be the only coach all year not to try and exploit Daniels height if he plays back?

[doggies ftw]

Gags will definitely be in defence Id think. Arty sub - or West if it’s an injury thing but if there’s any concerns on fitness he just shouldn’t be playing, don’t think you should be starting players as sub if you don’t think they’re fully healthy - so the balance is right.

Really like the side, let’s see how small ball goes for us. It’s a super quick side which I’m keen to see. It is a bit frustrating that every year we never seem to build on what we did on the previous year but basically rewrite the script from round 1 and finally get consistency towards the end of the year… then change again.

Small ball is a big change from what we were structuring up as last year, but to be fair probably had our hand forced anyway with no Marra or Jones. It’s an exciting line up and about as good as we could do with the outs but still looks pretty strong to be honest.

Super keen for this now, it’s a huge opportunity for a lot of these guys. Now’s your chance to lock in a spot before some big names come back.

Heaps of speed in the forward line, the Darcy & Naughty show up front, Davidson, Dolan debuts, Freijah looking like getting some midfield minutes. A genuine winger in the side. A different look in the midfield.

Pumped for this, there’s some real excitement around the group right now despite the rough preseason. Let’s hope it doesn’t go tits up in week 1 like it seems to do for us most years recently!

[NAUGHTY100]

I think that should read the Darcy & Naughty show .

[doggies ftw]

Yeah that one! My bad

[Virgin-Dog]

Bramble, Dale, JOD, Freijah, Davidson, Dolan, Vandermeer, Richards, Gags, Jones and McNeil could all be said to have pace as a strength of theirs. Harmes, Naughton, Duryea, Sanders and Cleary not too far behind.

I have some lingering concerns around the footskills of some, and there is probably 1-2 too many guys who tend to only pop up for 2 disposals each quarter, but if this is the kind of balance we're going for this year I think we can produce some exciting, good quality footy.

Bont, Jones, Treloar and Weightman (plus maybe JJ) all to come into this side for some of the fringe players.

This is a huge change in team identity from what we saw in 2023 and the early parts of 2024. Should be good to watch this year at the very least

[kruder]

I wanna see the group bring the frontal pressure that was applied against the Hoks, that was the biggest standout in the preseason. The side on paper looks vulnerable there is no doubt about it(understandably) but lets move away from backing off the mark, zoning off, bring the heat on the player with the ball, come at them, use the athletic profile that Bevo has gone with to do the basics and do them well.

We just have to find a way to win this.

[Bornadog]

Players get their jumpers

https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/1730458/round-1-debutants-receive-their-guernseys?videoId=1730458&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1741915800001