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Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool" -
Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Dog's cheeky plan to sabotage old mate ahead of do-or-die final
LACHIE Hunter has thought outside the box regarding how best to curb the influence of good mate and former teammate Jake Stringer in Sunday's AFL elimination final.
"I messaged Jake earlier this week and told him I was going to check him into a tier-one site, so he might be out for this week. We had a laugh," Western Bulldogs on-baller Hunter quipped.
"He's obviously a damaging player. He's probably in the form of his career, (similar to) what he was doing here when he was at the peak of his powers ... he's one we'll have to watch."
Essendon star Stringer's battle with his 2016 premiership teammates shapes as an entertaining subplot in Launceston.
Stringer has been a pivotal part of the Bombers' season-ending streak of three wins, which secured the final spot in the top eight.
Stringer's former side have struggled in that same stretch, logging losses to Essendon, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide while surrendering a top-four spot.
Hunter insisted on Thursday there were plenty of positives to draw from a final-round loss to Port – the Bulldogs led throughout the night until Robbie Gray put his team in front when it mattered most.
"It was a step in the right direction," he said.
"There were things we could have done better but you don't get near Port Adelaide and lose by two points without doing a few things right.
"We definitely took some confidence out of that game.
"It's easy to look at those three weeks without looking at the whole year and accumulating 15 wins. So we've just tried to focus on the positives while still focusing on what we need to improve."
The Bulldogs' recent woes have included a star-studded midfield that is yet to click since Adam Treloar's return from injury in the round-21 loss to the Bombers, which came soon after Josh Dunkley's return from quarantine.
"It's been a strength of our team and we saw that at the start of the year, how well it worked together," Hunter said.
"We're just trying to find that form and find that mix.
"With Ads and Dunks coming back in, it's just about learning how to play with all of us in there again."FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Does anyone think this game will look like a final? Our pressure was excellent in the first quarter last week but tailed off and it has been pathetic in the last 2 finals series while Essendon has always struggled in this area.
If it's a basketball match, I'd say it will end up like last year against St Kilda. If we bring the heat I think we can win and win well but it does scare me when Young/ Schache etc players that have always struggled with intensity might have to play key roles.Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Margin: 78 points
First goal: Libba
Best on ground: Da Bont
Bring it on!"I'll give him a hug before the first bounce and then I'll run into my pack and give them orders to rip him apart."Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
I'm not feeling super confident, particularly not after an uninspiring selection - but I do think if forced to predict, that we should win.
Dogs by 15 points
First Goal Vandermeer
BOG MacraeComment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
I’d imagine our club/coach/players will be feeling a lot of pressure, but I’d also imagine Essendon, who haven’t played a final for A LONG TIME, would also be feeling some pressure. As they have been out of the finals for yonks, we’ve just gotta hope that the nerves get to them. This is why a “Hunter” mentality needs to be implemented from the first bounce.
We need to be hungry, unnerving and BRUTAL in all execution. We need to block, tackle, smother, and almost cross that line with aggression. We need to make them scurry like the rats that they are.I will never see #16 the same!!Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Essendon’s Nick Hind has been ruled out of Sunday’s Elimination Final clash.
Having attended a Tier 2 exposure site, Hind has returned a negative test, but Tasmanian Government regulations prevent him from entering the stateFFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Unchanged.
This should be fun.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021
Nick Hind out for them with a Tier 2 attendance. That helps a little.Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023Comment
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