Always Right Match Committee R20 vs Essendon 2025

[dukedog]

We need to get more games into Buku. He is the ultimate utility. Third back defender, Ruck chopout and leading forward. He needs to get to 50 games and stay in the team.
He is a good kick.

I really don't know what Poulter offers as an edge to the team.

^^ This. He is really handy to plug any holes. especially to stop momentum if a team gets a run on moving to backline.

[GVGjr]

Not to speak on behalf of BAD but it seems you are cherry picking. BAD has been very vocal the last few weeks on McNeil not playing due to poor form. Nothing McNeil did Friday night except the first ten minutes of the game showed he should stay in the team.

The reason provided was because he hadn't played and missed some football which is fair enough but the player nominated as the replacement is actually in the same boat.
Thought it was worth getting some clarification. It does seem that it's more about that he is just done with McNeil which is okay as well

[SquirrelGrip]

I think this is the week to rest up anyone who has niggles or is a bit sore so that they are back ready for GWS.

On that basis, JOD out for Buss, Laith out for Harmes (if fit). Anyone else need a rest on this basis?

I'd like to see Sellwood be introduced against a team like the Bombers, but am nervous about adding him to a backling of Cleary, Bramble, Jones, Busslinger and JJ.

[Bornadog]

It does seem that it's more about that he is just done with McNeil which is okay as well

Sorry I don't understand this comment which you keep making.

Tell me do you think a player who gets 3 disposals in a game and then doesn't play for two weeks should get a recall. In the same game Harmes, a senior player had 21 disposals and is having a pretty good year.

When McNeil shows form, he gets another shot.

[Rusty12]

This weeks, completely wrong match committee.

How do we find someone to get a ground ball inside our 50, other than West?

Davidson needs a rest.

Williams has played better footy down back, than he has playing outside this year.
Like to see him do that, and not have to play on a 3rd tall at the same time.

VDM is very close to being omitted; he needs another week without McNeil in the team to highlight him.

Backs:
Jones - Lobb - JOD - Bramble - Williams - Dale
Outside:
Sanders - Freijah
Inside:
Libba - Bont - Richards
Ruck:
English
Forwards:
Naughton - Darcy - Mennedy - West - JJ - Garcia

INT: Harmes - Khamis - VDM - Cleary
Sub: Duyrea

Bubble:
Jaques - Baker - Hynes - Scott - Dolan - Buss - Poulter - Sellwood - McNeil - Davidson
Not in the Mix:
Smith - Gardner - Croft - Walker - Lennedy
Injured:
Arty - Trelor - Gallagher

Ins: Harmes - Khamis - Duyrea
Out: Poulter - Davidson - McNeil

[mjp]

This weeks, completely wrong match committee.

How do we find someone to get a ground ball inside our 50, other than West?

Davidson needs a rest.

Williams has played better footy down back, than he has playing outside this year.
Like to see him do that, and not have to play on a 3rd tall at the same time.

VDM is very close to being omitted; he needs another week without McNeil in the team to highlight him.

Backs:
Jones - Lobb - JOD - Bramble - Williams - Dale
Outside:
Sanders - Freijah
Inside:
Libba - Bont - Richards
Ruck:
English
Forwards:
Naughton - Darcy - Mennedy - West - JJ - Garcia

INT: Harmes - Khamis - VDM - Cleary
Sub: Duyrea

Bubble:
Jaques - Baker - Hynes - Scott - Dolan - Buss - Poulter - Sellwood - McNeil - Davidson
Not in the Mix:
Smith - Gardner - Croft - Walker - Lennedy
Injured:
Arty - Trelor - Gallagher

Ins: Harmes - Khamis - Duyrea
Out: Poulter - Davidson - McNeil

I think we should play VDM back. It's not working up front and we need:
- An agile small defender
- Ground ball support in D50.

If we have Cleary back, why do we need Williams back?

I don't know...I'm usually the "Don't move player x between lines because he's been crafting with the 'forwards/mids/backs' and that matters" - but when we keep losing we need to do something down back.

- Seriously consider moving Richards back there.
- Seriously consider moving Freijah back there.
- MOVE VDM back there.
- Move Williams OUT of there.

I don't have any answers right now - just spitballing to be honest - but right at the moment I would risk getting pumped against one of the top sides to chase a victory and quite literally nothing would be off the table for me. Our 'weapons' are:

- Darcy, Naughton and West: Forwards.
- Liber and Bont: Mids
- Dale: Defenders.

Changing the role or moving any other player around right now would be 100% in play for me. What are we gonna do? Lose? We're already doing that? I'm not saying to blow EVERYTHING up btw - it's probably just one or two tweaks that are worth trying - but on the weekend if we had gotten one more BTA intercept and turned it into a goal, the result is different...that's how small the margins are right now.

[Rusty12]

I think we should play VDM back. It's not working up front and we need:
- An agile small defender
- Ground ball support in D50.

If we have Cleary back, why do we need Williams back?

I don't know...I'm usually the "Don't move player x between lines because he's been crafting with the 'forwards/mids/backs' and that matters" - but when we keep losing we need to do something down back.

- Seriously consider moving Richards back there.
- Seriously consider moving Freijah back there.
- MOVE VDM back there.
- Move Williams OUT of there.

I don't have any answers right now - just spitballing to be honest - but right at the moment I would risk getting pumped against one of the top sides to chase a victory and quite literally nothing would be off the table for me. Our 'weapons' are:

- Darcy, Naughton and West: Forwards.
- Liber and Bont: Mids
- Dale: Defenders.

Changing the role or moving any other player around right now would be 100% in play for me. What are we gonna do? Lose? We're already doing that? I'm not saying to blow EVERYTHING up btw - it's probably just one or two tweaks that are worth trying - but on the weekend if we had gotten one more BTA intercept and turned it into a goal, the result is different...that's how small the margins are right now.

Yeah, really not sure either.
A tweak in back-half ball use (81 turnovers is just a stupid number) and F50 retention is a good start.
Along with a more defensive mindset, when needed from the midfield group.
Richards going back, almost sounds like blasphemy, but it might be genius, at this time of the year.
If you get a 9/10 out of Ed back, Vs a 3-5 from JJ or anyone else, and then still get a 8-10 from Chugga or Freijah as a primary inside mid, then........
Can continue to explore Garcia to, maybe it is a good time.

[Bornadog]

- Seriously consider moving Richards back there.

I would not move ED at all as we will be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Star midfield duo Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli have etched themselves into Bulldogs history, with both players eclipsing Club goal assist records in recent weeks.

With 29 goal assists from 18 matches, Ed Richards has now recorded the most goal assists by a Bulldog in a single season, a spot previously held by Club legend Brad Johnson (28 goal assists) since 2009.

As of Round 19, Richards is ranked first league-wide for goal assists, score involvements and inside 50s.

I agree with the other moves. VDM has played in the backline early on in his career

[Mofra]

I would not move ED at all as we will be robbing Peter to pay Paul.



I agree with the other moves. VDM has played in the backline early on in his career

Or, to bang my same drum again, move Freijah back there so we can actually kick the thing out of defence apart from Dale, and to give him a bit of ball under less immediate pressure.

If we're playing Garcia and he's getting midfield minutes we can afford to lose one rotation there.

If we're playing only two talls, Bont and Chugga get F50 time too as both are aerial threats who can also score from stoppage which this year is an important source for us.

[josie]

Or, to bang my same drum again, move Freijah back there so we can actually kick the thing out of defence apart from Dale, and to give him a bit of ball under less immediate pressure.

If we're playing Garcia and he's getting midfield minutes we can afford to lose one rotation there.

If we're playing only two talls, Bont and Chugga get F50 time too as both are aerial threats who can also score from stoppage which this year is an important source for us.

I like idea of Frejiah back. Might regenerate him.

And give Sanders more midfield & forward time. He is not a winger or half back which is I think where he has played in last few games & not performed well.

[josie]

Based upon injury report today (thx BAD for post) Arty, Harmes & Buss would be good inclusions. Guessing if they come in McNeil, Poulter, JOD (I’m guessing he will be given more time to recover) come out of side.

Personally I’d prefer Poulter to have chance to start game and VDM to be dropped. I know most if not all woofers want Poulter to be dropped. I’d like him to be given another opportunity to perform well, like he has in VFL, then if he doesn’t I’m guessing that might be it for this year & maybe the delist list.

[SquirrelGrip]

I would not move ED at all as we will be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Pies moved Daicos back and he got 43 touches.

Would they have won if he had 25 touches in the midfield?

[Bornadog]

Pies moved Daicos back and he got 43 touches.

Would they have won if he had 25 touches in the midfield?

Zero Goal assists, plus he didn't play the whole game in the backline.

I would prefer Frejiah plays back

[Danjul]

Mjp…,,don't have any answers right now - just spitballing to be honest - but right at the moment I would risk getting pumped against one of the top sides to chase a victory and quite literally nothing would be off the table for me. Our 'weapons' are:

- Darcy, Naughton……


Against Brisbane the pair got 3 goals. part of the problem is when Darcy leaves the forward line Naughton gets a second defender. Not smart.

Also They got zero help from the other players. Limited quantity and quality entries into the forward 50. Thank God West managed to get 4 goals and Brisbane missed heaps. Helped hide the fact that we were slaughtered. 10 more scoring shots!!!

VDM and McNeil have to be dropped on lack of contribution. Maybe Davidson too on recent performances but I suspect that he was brought back into the team too early after what seems like a significant illness.

I note the comments here about Richards. Against Geelong he And Bont led the inside 50 count with 8 each. That was a game where we had twice as many scoring shots as this weekend. Who was next? Baker with 5..

Davidson has had 5 inside 50 in the last month. Sanders has had only 1 in the last two games.

Darcy and Naughton are not getting enough supply at the moment. This needs to be addressed.

Baker is a dasher, like Richards. He generates the same metres gained and has the same disposal efficiency. Both get the ball moving quickly, taking on the opposition. A risk versus reward situation. Clangers are to be expected, Richards gets up by to half a dozen per game. But the ball moves and the defenders don’t get time to organise.

I’m not saying Baker is as good as Richards, but the similarities are undeniable. Against Carlton his disposal efficiency was 78 vs 57%

I know that woofers dislike him but, at the time I thought Baker helped keep us in the game in the first half against Geelong when the rest of the team was setting record levels of incompetence . He was dropped after that game when Dolan, Gardner and Khamis came in against Hawthorn. A game in which we were never close. We went from 56 inside 50s against Geelong to 42.

Everyone seemed happy to overlook the fact that Dolan, Gardner, Khamis , McNeil, Sanders and Vanda had a total of 18 kicks between them in a whole game of football. Allowing for the sub, a quarter of the team averaged less than a kick per quarter.

Against Collingwood and Brisbane we were back to low 40s for inside 50s and lost.

Not my decision but I would select, and develop, Baker as a running ball mover. We are not defeating top teams and a significant part of the reason is lack of entries.

[Critter]

Anyone in favour of moving Richards down back? Our defence is a shambles and great footage was shown on first crack, we are on record setting pace for how bad our ground ball win rate is in our defensive 50. Richards would surely help that and also provide another elite kick alongside Dale. Thoughts?

I’m with you. I wasn’t fully so at round one but having seen the season unfold, I’m very much now of the same opinion. When we’re under pressure it’s the entry from
defence to the forward line that brings us undone. It’s cost us games. The only quality distributer we have currently is Bailey Dale.

Time to move Richard’s to HB and Freijah to midfield. We’re playing to win games, not to salve egos.