Always Right Match Committee R8 vs Port Adelaide 2025

[JanLorMill]

I agree that Dolan and Hynes are both due a rest.

If fit, McNeil and Treloar should come back but suspect both are not quite there yet.

Jones in could add some flexibility to play Lobb forward, albeit it would probably mean one tall has to come out so we don’t lose run.

Gags, Baker must both be on the cusp. Maybe Gags back as a front half player who can impact the scoreboard?

I wonder how Fridge pulls up too?

Will hold fire but there are a few contemplations this week.

Like to see how Poulter, Dureya, Baker or Gallagher go today before promoting them.
No reason to add them in apart from injuries

[doggies ftw]

I’d be tempted to give Bramble a spell, god his disposal is very worrying and don’t think he’s really providing much dash or defence right now. Gags is a good straight swap, also not great disposal but was building ok week to week and I think he’s much more dependable defensively & has higher upside. But no real need to make any changes after that win either so I’m okay to keep rolling.

Dolan had a down week but I think he stays, could move to sub if Treloar/Mcneil are back but I suspect both need one more week and Ballarat isn’t the best place to come back off soft tissue injuries and with the sort of scraps we see at the ‘Rat maybe don’t need to risk them, but will need them the following week vs GC who are a tough match up in Darwin.

Hynes probably needs some full matches in the 2s now he’s had his taste, and Jacques potentially could put his hand up with another good performance today. Although I’d be wary to bring him in whilst our defence is full of kids, you really need experience behind the ball more than ever in the modern game - it’s a structural battle more than anything and without Doc & Jones & potentially Lobb directing the team we’ve lost a lot of that experience not sure another debutant is the right play currently

[EasternWest]

So is Bont sore or was subbing him just a flex?

[JanLorMill]

I’d be tempted to give Bramble a spell, god his disposal is very worrying and don’t think he’s really providing much dash or defence right now. Gags is a good straight swap, also not great disposal but was building ok week to week and I think he’s much more dependable defensively & has higher upside. But no real need to make any changes after that win either so I’m okay to keep rolling.

If Bramble’s disposal is bad then swapping him for one with worse disposal in Gallagher isn’t making the situation better.
Our backline is inexperienced as it is and removing someone that’s been there the last 2 years for a relatively less experienced defender is not helping either.

[Go_Dogs]

So is Bont sore or was subbing him just a flex?

Flex for sure

[kruder]

I’d be tempted to give Bramble a spell, god his disposal is very worrying and don’t think he’s really providing much dash or defence right now. Gags is a good straight swap, also not great disposal but was building ok week to week and I think he’s much more dependable defensively & has higher upside. But no real need to make any changes after that win either so I’m okay to keep rolling.

Dolan had a down week but I think he stays, could move to sub if Treloar/Mcneil are back but I suspect both need one more week and Ballarat isn’t the best place to come back off soft tissue injuries and with the sort of scraps we see at the ‘Rat maybe don’t need to risk them, but will need them the following week vs GC who are a tough match up in Darwin.

Hynes probably needs some full matches in the 2s now he’s had his taste, and Jacques potentially could put his hand up with another good performance today. Although I’d be wary to bring him in whilst our defence is full of kids, you really need experience behind the ball more than ever in the modern game - it’s a structural battle more than anything and without Doc & Jones & potentially Lobb directing the team we’ve lost a lot of that experience not sure another debutant is the right play currently

Bramble played well last night I would be backing him in like last year.

[Hotdog60]

Going by todays VFL game I wouldn't be making any changes on their performance so it will be if Treloar or McNeil are right to come straight in and then workout who will make way for them.
Which will mean Dolan and Hynes you could start Treloar and sub later in the game if needed.

[azabob]

No change unless their is an injury.

[JackCJohnston2000]

Apparently JOD had a big ice pack strapped to him in the rooms and I think he missed a lot of that fourth quarter... so maybe it's just Jones in for JOD? I haven't watched yet but Jones seemed to have a solid game in the 2s, statistically.

O'Donnell may be fine, I'm just presuming based on what people are saying.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I'm not normally conservative, (unlike the so called liberal party, not!) but nothing wrong here, no change needed(which is more like the Vatican since Constantine the Great. Moreover the devil in me wants Freijah to shirt front Smith v Cats)).

[Rocco Jones]

In: LMN, Adz (obviously if both fit),
Out: Dolan (stays in as sub if only one of the above is fit), Haynes
L Jones for JOD if he isn't right
Sub: Bramble

[doggies ftw]

I’m interested to see how we accomodate Treloar - obviously he’s too good to leave out of the midfield rotation but geez we’re flying in there atm don’t want to disrupt too badly.

to be fair he just becomes another part of the rotation & the way we’re using our big onball brigade is quite dynamic with Richards & Freijah routinely running off the front & back of the square at centre bounces. Treloar just adds to this, you’d usually have with Treloar, Richards & Freijah - 1 at half back, 1 at half forward & 1 in the centre square alongside 2 of Libba, Bont & Kennedy (the latter two rotating forward but more of a marking target than the other mids).

That way we always have one of our more dynamic/speedy mids in the centre square mix alongside our ball winners, as well as support at both half back & half forward depending on which way the ball goes. This is a really cool setup that we’re having a lot of success with right now, purely due to how dynamic the Richards/Freijah combo is and I think Treloar further adds to this

[Bornadog]

I’m interested to see how we accomodate Treloar - obviously he’s too good to leave out of the midfield rotation but geez we’re flying in there atm don’t want to disrupt too badly.

to be fair he just becomes another part of the rotation & the way we’re using our big onball brigade is quite dynamic with Richards & Freijah routinely running off the front & back of the square at centre bounces. Treloar just adds to this, you’d usually have with Treloar, Richards & Freijah - 1 at half back, 1 at half forward & 1 in the centre square alongside 2 of Libba, Bont & Kennedy (the latter two rotating forward but more of a marking target than the other mids).

That way we always have one of our more dynamic/speedy mids in the centre square mix alongside our ball winners, as well as support at both half back & half forward depending on which way the ball goes. This is a really cool setup that we’re having a lot of success with right now, purely due to how dynamic the Richards/Freijah combo is and I think Treloar further adds to this

According to Josh Gabelich, Treloar will be back either this week or the next. Next week we play in Darwin.

On your point, it is a great problem to have.

[angelopetraglia]

I know this isn't the perfect thread for this. But I was in Ballarat on the weekend (I ran the Ballarat Marathon). I know we had a great win the night before, but I was pleasnatly suprised how many people had Bulldogs merchandise on lining the streets of Ballarat.

I don't know much about the history of Ballarat and our support base in the area, but is this a newer phenomen since we have started playing games in Ballarat or has it always been a bit of a stronghold.

[kickit2Koly]

Feels weird to say but i’d go unchanged.

Dolan as Sub