Always Right Match Committee R7 vs GWS 2025

[Scraggers]

Welcome to the Always Right Match Committee Thread. The Match Committee threads has been named after long time WOOF member Always Right who tragically passed away in March 2018.

If you were on the Western Bulldogs match committee, what changes would you make after our Round Six match against St Kilda for our Round Seven match against GWS at Manuka Oval on Saturday

For those new to these threads, please give a brief explanation for your changes ... this would add a lot of value to the discussion.

[GVGjr]

Bump

[Hotdog60]

Unless we get some sort of miracle Darcy, Hynes out. Baker, Jaques in.
Or Poulter if we want a forword/winger instead of Jaques

[doggies ftw]

I hate taking Lobb out of defence as he’s probably our best defender but it is somewhat nice having a ready to go forward option, you can’t replace Darcy, it’s just a disaster and super sad for the kid and us supporters. Can’t remember being this numb about an injury, it’s just an absolute heartbreaker tbh to lose a year of this kids career and especially being robbed of watching prime Bont to Darcy.

But show goes on I guess

Lobb to CHF in a 50/50 split with English, Buss into CHB alongside Jones. Again you can’t replace Darcy but this is probably the path of least friction to the team and might pay some dividends. Lobb is really good in the ruck and it opens up a spot for Buss who deserves it. Silver linings I guess…

We need English to find his form in the air if he goes forward in a split with Lobb though, dunno what’s up with him. Another great step forward in the middle, he was genuinely awesome in there but **** me he cannot hold a mark right now. If he can get that back with his ruckwork he’s back to one of the better rucks in the league, need him to step up big time now.

Also tempted to bring Jacques in for Bramble but we can’t go too many kids. Hynes probably comes out, he’s had a taste now he knows the level he needs to get too, super talented and I like him but he’s a fair way off.

JJ finding some form is huge, and JOD looks so much better behind the ball. Buku not bad but still feel he’s not right for us right now, don’t see where he fits but he’s a very very handy depth utility, you know what you’ll get at least and he’s great to have on the list.

For mine I see our best team next week as the following:

in Buss, VDM (if fit, if not maybe Jones or Hynes stays again)
out Darcy, Buku

Cleary Jones JOD
Dale Buss JJ

Williams Libba Davo
English Bont Richards

Kennedy Lobb Sanders
West Naughty Dolan

Freijah, McNeil, VDM, Bramble

It’s still a somewhat strong team tbh, all things considered. I hate we’ve been robbed of enjoying Darcy and it’s a season killer but Lobb forward again if Buss comes on down back, maaaybe we can take something out of it? Maybe…

[BeerDaiquiri]

It's surely time for Busslinger, right?

He looks a cut above in the VFL, surely time to have a look and see what he can do at the level.

Out: Darcy, Hynes
In: Busslinger, Baker/Poulter (Jacques looks close, but not keen on the idea of two debutants against GWS, Duryea might come under consideration too)

Lobb, Buku or JOD can go forward and swing back where needed, that still feels like a pretty strong side to me - cupboard's starting to look pretty bare though...

[dog town]

I only watched early and late of the vfl game but Buss made some errors late. I would be tempted to double down on being tall back and ensure we apply pressure ahead of the ball.

Darcy and Hynes out. Baker and Poulter in.

[G-Mo77]

So who ever tackled Higgins and let him dive head first into the ground is gone. I think it was Bramble. Higgins should be suspended for cheating but that won't happen.

[Bulldogs201616]

Don't need to make many changes apart from the obvious with Darcy but I'd replace him with Busslinger and then move Lobb forward.

[jDogs]

Unfortunately it seems like Lobb assuming the forward/ruck role is a better option than running Buku/whoever as a makeshift ruck. Sucks because Lobb has been so good and Buku or anyone else is not a good long term option. Man, this Darcy injury is so flattening.

Also McNeil with 58% game time and looked proppy, will be one to watch this week.

[Scorlibo]

So who ever tackled Higgins and let him dive head first into the ground is gone. I think it was Bramble. Higgins should be suspended for cheating but that won't happen.

Yeah Higgins propels himself forward AND has his bracing arm free (chooses not to use it). Bramble has very little control/force on the tackle given he's already on the ground. Would be super disappointing if he was cited.

[GVGjr]

I think Vandermeer is nearly ready to return. He did a power of work on Saturday's session
If Lobb moves forward does is open a spot for a Busslinger debut? I've had a guy on X must have asked me 30 plus times "will Busslinger debut" and it would be good to shut that down

[dog town]

I think Vandermeer is nearly ready to return. He did a power of work on Saturday's session
If Lobb moves forward does is open a spot for a Busslinger debut? I've had a guy on X must have asked me 30 plus times "will Busslinger debut" and it would be good to shut that down

Keep the backs stable is my opinion after watching Buss today. He will be ok but it’s an important role and he isn’t ready unless we are sending JOD forward.

[Bigdog]

I’d have either Buss or L.Smith come in.

If Buss comes in I’d move JOD forward. Our key forwards would be Naughton, JOD & Buku. Buss would play as third tall defensive option with Lobb and Jones.

Alternatively I’d look at playing L.Smith as a ruck forward. It would mean English spends a lot more time forward. And you would hope like hell for no in game injuries as he will blow up half way through the third quarter,

With either option I think Hynes would be an unlucky omission due to age profile/fitness. Ideally I’d like VDM or Harmes to come in for Hynes. They may both be a couple of weeks ago.

Jaques will also be in this side shortly. His going to be a real player.

The mid season draft will be fascinating.

[Bornadog]

So who ever tackled Higgins and let him dive head first into the ground is gone. I think it was Bramble. Higgins should be suspended for cheating but that won't happen.

NO way he hit is head on the ground, he sucked the umpire in

[jazzadogs]

Keep the backs stable is my opinion after watching Buss today. He will be ok but it’s an important role and he isn’t ready unless we are sending JOD forward.

So you're saying Jones, Lobb, JOD back and Naughton, Buku, Poulter forward?

I think Jones, Buss, JOD + Naughton, Lobb, Buku looks better, personally.