Always Right Match Committee R13 vs Hawthorn 2025

[Bornadog]

I get the angst over McNeil’s finishing but I’d be pretty surprised if he gets dropped. Our ground ball F50 game is keeping us in games. The mix is largely working pretty well. He’s pretty regularly involved in these scoring chains by hand. Yeah, he’s a limited player, but so are his potential replacements.
Dolan should be a pretty lethal forward option and his ball use by foot is excellent. Just not sure Bevo trusts him to be the pressure forward he wants right now.
Anyway, I’m going with

In - Adz
Out - Doc

Adz to possibly get a run out as Sub and bring some speed off the bench. I like the thought of an extra tall but not sure the Hawks are the right team for it. Their F50 smalls scare the crap out of me. Don’t think we match up well at all.

I wouldn't drop McNeil either. He has scored in every game this year except the Geelong one but did have a goal assist. He has kicked 10.9 and 6 GAs.

I don't think Doc will be dropped either. I think it will be out of Cleary and Bramble for Adz

[JackCJohnston2000]

I get the angst over McNeil’s finishing but I’d be pretty surprised if he gets dropped. Our ground ball F50 game is keeping us in games. The mix is largely working pretty well. He’s pretty regularly involved in these scoring chains by hand. Yeah, he’s a limited player, but so are his potential replacements.
Dolan should be a pretty lethal forward option and his ball use by foot is excellent. Just not sure Bevo trusts him to be the pressure forward he wants right now.
Anyway, I’m going with

In - Adz
Out - Doc

Adz to possibly get a run out as Sub and bring some speed off the bench. I like the thought of an extra tall but not sure the Hawks are the right team for it. Their F50 smalls scare the crap out of me. Don’t think we match up well at all.

I agree except I think if he's good to go, he's good to go. Play Treloar in the 22.

I'd bring Bramble back into the 22 and make Baker the sub. I prefer Bramble's decision making over Baker and Oskar's fresh legs could be really useful late in the game if he gets injected into the contest. Bramble gets a lot of hate but I think it's mostly unwarranted, he's a penetrating kick of the footy and is pretty good defensively.

[kruder]

Is VDM ok? Came off late

He seems to come off every game late VDM and look like he is out for a month.

[Pleather Sole]

I know Buss has his fans, however given the pressure and turnovers, anyone thinking Buss would not have butchered his share last night are kidding. He has at least 2 every VFL game.
Not to mention how exposed our key backs were, from the turnovers, Buss would have been annihilated last night.

Lets try Buss as a goalkicker. He knew in 2012.

https://www.facebook.com/7AFL/videos/auskicker-of-the-year-jedd-busslinger/5848371385226255/

[Bornadog]

Darcy close to speedy return, midfield star on track to face Hawks


The Bulldogs are set for a huge boost over the coming fortnight

By Josh Gabelich

WESTERN Bulldogs young gun Sam Darcy is closing in on a return but is expected to be held back one more week, while Adam Treloar has fully recovered from his latest calf strain and is on track to face Hawthorn in a blockbuster Thursday night clash at Marvel Stadium.

Darcy completed a comprehensive training session at Mission Whitten Oval last Friday after the Bulldogs returned from an extended break off the bye, moving pain free to put himself in selection contention far earlier than first expected.

The 208cm spearhead was miraculously cleared of a torn anterior cruciate ligament after the win over St Kilda in round six, with surgery eventually ruled out days later.

Sam Darcy is seen on the bench during the Western Bulldogs' clash against St Kilda in round six, 2025. Picture: Getty Images
Darcy was still expected to miss at least ten weeks but has made significant progress to be in a position to play by round 13, but the Dogs are keen to take a conservative approach given the soft tissue risk.

Before Darcy hobbled off Marvel Stadium on Easter Sunday, the father-son recruit was one of the most damaging forces in the game across the first five rounds, kicking 14.7 while averaging 8.2 marks in a dominant burst to start his fourth season.

Darcy is understood to have added a few kilograms to his wiry frame since being sidelined and is now set to play most of the second half of the season.

Treloar also ticked off last Friday's session and is being considered for a return against Sam Mitchell's side on Thursday night, as long as he recovers this week.
The 2024 All-Australian midfielder has only played once this season and not since straining his calf again ahead of the trip to Darwin in round nine.

Treloar finished with 27 disposals, seven inside 50s and kicked a goal on managed minutes against Port Adelaide in Ballarat after suffering a series of calf strains either side of Christmas during the pre-season.

Footscray also had the bye over the weekend in the VFL, so the Bulldogs didn't have the option to get some minutes into Treloar, although the 32-year-old has never played in the VFL across his 255-game career.

Veteran key defender Liam Jones returned from a calf strain in the VFL last weekend, but hasn't played in Luke Beveridge's side since he was dropped for the first time since returning to the club for the trip to face Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval in round seven.

Former top 10 pick Nick Coffield is gradually building a case for an AFL recall after playing five consecutive games in the VFL after an injury-interrupted pre-season.

Draftee Lachie Jacques is also starting to mount a case for a debut after playing seven games in the VFL to start his life at the kennel.

The 2024 pick No.29 collected 22 touches across half-back against Geelong before the bye and could be the next debutant in red, white and blue after Sam Davidson, Josh Dolan, Jedd Busslinger and Cooper Hynes this season.

The Bulldogs were squeezed out of the eight over the weekend, with Fremantle moving up to eighth after the win over Gold Coast at People First Stadium, although they have played one less game than the Dockers, Giants and Hawks, who are all 7-5.

[Pleather Sole]

Treloar and Garcia both listed as 'Test' 4:37PM inniu.

[JackCJohnston2000]

How much do we believe in the idea that "if you're fit and good enough, you play" when it comes to Garcia? Because if he is fit to play... I do genuinely think he should play this week.

FB: JOD Jones Bramble
HB: JJ Lobb Dale
C: Williams Libba Davidson
HF: Kennedy Buku Harmes
FF: West Naughton VDM
Foll: English Bont Richards
INT: McNeil Garcia Freijah Sanders
Sub: Cleary

Doesn't that team look pretty dang good v Hawthorn? Now, if Treloar plays then he probably doesn't quite squeeze in...

[Dogs 24/7]

How much do we believe in the idea that "if you're fit and good enough, you play" when it comes to Garcia? Because if he is fit to play... I do genuinely think he should play this week.

FB: JOD Jones Bramble
HB: JJ Lobb Dale
C: Williams Libba Davidson
HF: Kennedy Buku Harmes
FF: West Naughton VDM
Foll: English Bont Richards
INT: McNeil Garcia Freijah Sanders
Sub: Cleary

Doesn't that team look pretty dang good v Hawthorn? Now, if Treloar plays then he probably doesn't quite squeeze in...

I really like the look of this side but after reading the training report and given the length of how much footy Garcia has missed I highly doubt we can bring Garcia in.
He needs at least one run in the magoos so lets stick with Cleary and go for Dolan or Hynes as the sub.

[jazzadogs]

How much do we believe in the idea that "if you're fit and good enough, you play" when it comes to Garcia? Because if he is fit to play... I do genuinely think he should play this week.

FB: JOD Jones Bramble
HB: JJ Lobb Dale
C: Williams Libba Davidson
HF: Kennedy Buku Harmes
FF: West Naughton VDM
Foll: English Bont Richards
INT: McNeil Garcia Freijah Sanders
Sub: Cleary

Doesn't that team look pretty dang good v Hawthorn? Now, if Treloar plays then he probably doesn't quite squeeze in...

Unfortunately for Garcia he is not a best 23 lock for us and needs to play VFL both for fitness, and to prove he deserves a spot. He's competing with Sanders and Harmes as fringe mids playing HF, unless he can show at VFL level that he's capable of the McNeil/VDM pressure forward role.

[JackCJohnston2000]

I really like the look of this side but after reading the training report and given the length of how much footy Garcia has missed I highly doubt we can bring Garcia in.
He needs at least one run in the magoos so lets stick with Cleary and go for Dolan or Hynes as the sub.

From a fitness/health point of view, being labelled a "test" means to me that if he gets through training, he will be putting his hand up for selection. And you don't put your hand up for selection if you can't play out a full game, Bevo has been on the record about this.

But I do agree with the form point of view, he may need to play some Scray games to prove to the match committee that he can perform the role that he'll need to play in the seniors.

[Mantis]

But I do agree with the form point of view, he may need to play some Scray games to prove to the match committee that he can perform the role that he'll need to play in the seniors.

Based off previous years you would have to think that Garcia would play primarily as a midfielder in the VFL… he is elite in that area at that level, but agree he needs to play more at HF.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Great news that he is close. Adz in this week then the following will be Garcia and Darcy. It’s starting to become competitive for spots now. The boys would want to win and play well against the Hawks or be at risk of the chopping block the week after.

[mjp]

How much do we believe in the idea that "if you're fit and good enough, you play" when it comes to Garcia? Because if he is fit to play... I do genuinely think he should play this week.

I love your work mate but I'm a bit baffled by this one.

Why would we bring Garcia in off zero base? Seems a strange choice...I mean, I guess he'd probably do as much as Dolan or Hynes so I kind of follow but it feels like this would not be setting him up for success.

Let him have a game (or 3) and get into form before throwing him out there in front of 70000 and massive TV audience on a Thursday night.

[Rusty12]

How much do we believe in the idea that "if you're fit and good enough, you play" when it comes to Garcia? Because if he is fit to play... I do genuinely think he should play this week.

FB: JOD Jones Bramble
HB: JJ Lobb Dale
C: Williams Libba Davidson
HF: Kennedy Buku Harmes
FF: West Naughton VDM
Foll: English Bont Richards
INT: McNeil Garcia Freijah Sanders
Sub: Cleary

Doesn't that team look pretty dang good v Hawthorn? Now, if Treloar plays then he probably doesn't quite squeeze in...

Na, Garcia is an AFL player, that when he is 100% game fit, including his touch, is a good AFL player. 5-10% off in touch, AFL game speed, etc, he quickly becomes a liability.

[JackCJohnston2000]

I love your work mate but I'm a bit baffled by this one.

Why would we bring Garcia in off zero base? Seems a strange choice...I mean, I guess he'd probably do as much as Dolan or Hynes so I kind of follow but it feels like this would not be setting him up for success.

Let him have a game (or 3) and get into form before throwing him out there in front of 70000 and massive TV audience on a Thursday night.

Let me explain myself a bit more then.

I understand that coming straight in v Hawthorn would be a massive night to do it. However, as you point out, I think you'd gain more from this selection than choosing one of Dolan or Hynes (both of which I rate and would like to see play). But we've got to remember that he's played 31 games which is more than the following players who are all playing or have played so far this year:
Sanders (25)
Gallagher (25)
Dolan (7)
Busslinger (2)
Hynes (3)
Freijah (24)
A. Jones (17)
Cleary (15)
Davidson (11)
And he has played just one less game than JOD and two less games than Buku.

So given that, I no longer think it's reasonable to view Garcia as a young player or a development player who needs time to get to his feet. He's played significant amount of AFL footy and had a full apprenticeship and a half at VFL level where he often dominates. To me, he is now a player who, if healthy, offers a clear set of strengths and weaknesses and is fighting for a spot in the best 23.

Now, the next question becomes, is he best 23? This is definitely a worthy question to ask and not one with a clear answer. I think it's fair to say he's not best 23 overall and I would agree BUT... is he best 23 right now? As in, to play Hawthorn tomorrow?

These are the current players who play significant minutes as general forwards (which is where I think Garcia would be playing):
West
Vandermeer
McNeil
Sanders

Harmes and Davidson are debatable as they are probably more wingmen than they are forwards, as are guys like Kennedy and Fridge who I think we need to consider as midfielders who start off the half forward line.

So, do I think Garcia would impact the game more than one of those 4 guys? West is obviously going nowhere and I think VDM's speed is too valuable to ever get replaced. So the question then becomes, would you pick Garcia over Sanders or McNeil? I don't know... but I think it's a question that the MC will be asking. And if I'm being honest, I think having Garcia in and McNeil sub, or even vice versa, would significantly improve our forward half game in regards to pressure and ground ball gets. And if we can't rely on Naughton and Buku to be grabbing contested marks inside 50 on a consistent basis, it makes that ground ball game even more important.

I don't think that picking Garcia is a no brainer by any means... I just think that if he is deemed to be fit, the question becomes about whether he should come in over the guys currently picked or not... not whether or not he needs time in the VFL to prove his case. I think we know exactly who he is and what he can provide.

Pressure. Intensity. Ball winning grunt. I think those kinds of attributes would be so valuable inside 50. Yeah, he's not very accurate or good at decision making but is McNeil much better? Yes, Sanders is a much better ball user but is he much better at winning the ground ball than Garcia?

So it all just depends on what you value.

If you read all that, well done lol