Always Right Match Committee R23 vs West Coast Eagles 2025

[JanLorMill]

Davidson or Dolan in for VDM.

Ok Davidson for Poulter
Dolan didn’t get touch last afl game. Both are in their first year at the club with no finals experience and it’s like trying them out anyway.

[SonofScray]

Several people are calling for Sellwood to come in for his first AFL game. I just can't see it - would we take a risk in the backline at this stage of the season.

It’d be out of the box I think, but I feel like we brought Tiller in during one of Rocket’s campaigns late in a season and he ended playing finals. And if I recall correctly he did OK.

Unrelated I suppose, but the prospect of Sellwood in jogged my memory and made me think it’s a possibility.


Problem with our newer/younger options down back is that they are all at a stage in development individually where we have to accept they’re more likely to get belted and leak goals than be Brian Lake. They can be great players, but will have to go through the wringer first.

[hujsh]

It’d be out of the box I think, but I feel like we brought Tiller in during one of Rocket’s campaigns late in a season and he ended playing finals. And if I recall correctly he did OK.

Unrelated I suppose, but the prospect of Sellwood in jogged my memory and made me think it’s a possibility.


Problem with our newer/younger options down back is that they are all at a stage in development individually where we have to accept they’re more likely to get belted and leak goals than be Brian Lake. They can be great players, but will have to go through the wringer first.

Andrew Hooper debuted in a final under Rocket

[Pleather Sole]

No more Poulter. If Baker is locked in on the wing and Buku isn’t an option then maybe Davidson can play as our third tall?

Do VDM for Dolan, don’t do VDM for Dolan, who really cares.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it but I suspect we see Buss for Sellwood. In an ideal world we keep Lobb as the backup ruck and Darcy at full forward the whole time but I don’t think Bevo is comfortable when Lobb isn’t in defence, doesn’t want three talls, and is willing to go down with the ship on JOD.

Would like to see Davidson to play as our third tall. He has wicked goal sense and solid 2nd, third, fourth attempts etc doesn't give up. Would like to see his tank and run utilised somehow.

[ReLoad]

Would like to see Davidson to play as our third tall. He has wicked goal sense and solid 2nd, third, fourth attempts etc doesn't give up. Would like to see his tank and run utilised somehow.

going to be a great asset on the MCG.

[doggies ftw]

I think I’d go Hynes & Davo in for Poulter & VDM. I think I’d rather get the game time and experience into these two and Davo has the runs on the board at AFL level, and Hynes has worked his way back into another chance in the twos, even if it’s only sub.

Poulters in the never again basket for me now, he tricked me in a low pressure game against GWS but back to his invisible self against Melbourne. To put it simply this guy has never played well in a high pressure game. Not once. He is invisible, offers literally nothing - let’s not take him into a final please you’re playing one man down. Terrible contest work, no urgency. Just get Davo back in who was genuinely awesome earlier in the year.

[Sedat]

Andrew Hooper debuted in a final under Rocket

Tiller once went from Williamstown reserves to Bulldogs seniors in 2 weeks.

[Happy Days]

That Williamstown alignment was crazy. Come play your listed guys in the worst conditions imaginable that won’t ever be replicated in the AFL and also some of them have to play twos because of how awesome Ben Jolley is.

[azabob]

Mitch Cleary reporting Jordan Croft to debut.

[Bornadog]

At this stage
In Croft
out VDM.

GVGjr reporting one more change, which I am guessing Poulter. Who else comes in?

[Mofra]

At this stage
In Croft
out VDM.

GVGjr reporting one more change, which I am guessing Poulter. Who else comes in?

Dolan as sub?

[JackCJohnston2000]

Dolan as sub?

Dolan is concussed.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Dolan as sub?

Out with concussion I think, which is what has paved the way for Croft.

[Axe Man]

Dogs star on verge of return, another FS debut

INJURY-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback.

Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will.

The 20-year-old was told he will make his debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023.

Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground.

The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team.

Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games so far this year.

The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend.

The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft tissues this year.

But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL against Carlton on Sunday.

"He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week.

"Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes.

"My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level.

Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify.

If that happens the Bulldogs will have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time, given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14.

Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level.

The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break.

Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks".

"The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday.
"But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations.

"We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday."

The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals.
Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek".

"I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said.

"'Ladey' will live and learn.

"That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you.

"So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job."

Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club.

Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach.

[dukedog]

Congrats Crofty. Awesome news.