Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Interesting year coming up for Khamis.

If he can't nail down a spot in defence I can't see a long term position for him in the side.

He's shown the most promise at senior level as a forward but he'd be competing with JUH for a spot and I don't think he'd win that one.

Other teams would be sniffing around imo.

I don't want to lose him!

What are other's thoughts?

If he can't crack our forward line he will definitely attract interest and we will probably be well advised to consider a trade.

Can't really see him holding a permanent spot with Naughton, Marra plus a resting ruck (Darcy/English) and Weightman all being picked ahead of him. Would also hope we get something from a small forward in Clarke/Jones that would make it difficult for Buku.

I also don't really see him as competitive enough in the backline

Playing him predominately forward at Footscray would likely have him scoring regularly and boost external interest.

[JanLorMill]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

We certainly miss Easton Wood. He would play these defensive type of roles as well as have the ability to attack when needed.

2015 Easton Wood not the last few years

[MrMahatma]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Do we still all hate the collar? I don't hate it, not sure why it's so big though.

I actually like the away top, think it's quite neat.

It's ours. I love it. (I do wish we didn't change it each year but that's another story).

Away strip looks sweet and our boys look ripped in it!

[Missing Dog]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

I think his ability to make it as a forward depends entirely on what he can bring at ground level both offensively an defensively. We're set to have 3 tall forwards most of the time with another competent lead/mark forward in Weightman. This is Khamis' strength so he needs to at least be dangerous and capable of crumbing or pushing up the ground Ryan O'Keefe style and not be a defensive liability with his pressure and chasing/tacking.

If he can manage some combination of the above then he can can help even further stretch oppositions defences who should have their hands full with Naughton, Lobb and JUH.

So pretty much the role we envisaged for Josh Schache? Haha

[hujsh]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

So pretty much the role we envisaged for Josh Schache? Haha

...When was Josh ever looking like not being a typical tall defensive liability? Maybe he could do the hit up leads but I don't think ground level agility was really his go.

[dog town]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

The half time interview was the most insightful thing out of our club since Bevo did a long form interview with Whateley before the 2021 grand final. If they put a replay up make sure you listen as it gives clear view on where we see numerous players.

The Salty Bulldog Podcast has posted the transcript of this interview on their Twitter page. Sorry not sure how to post it but well worth a read.

[1eyedog]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Garcia is being groomed to be Liberatore replacement in the midfield so I do see him getting games this season.
His form has tapered away just a bit in the last month or so which probably rules him out for round one.

West must be close to getting a spot.

Feels like West is running around it at the moment. He's had an ok preseason but I've only been to 4 or 5 sessions. Looked a bit lost at times in the intra-club I thought.

[Uninformed]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Or... flip the script?

Fritsch thinks defence is d-bit that surrounds d-yard. Our best ball user from the back half (Dale) goes to him, our midfield slows entries so we minimise one on ones, and Dale gets to walk it out of defence 20+ times per game under less pressure than he's accustomed to?



We have a choice of either minimising his attributes or exploiting his weakness. Why not try and exploit him first?

I hadn't picked up that Fritz was so poor defensively. I like the idea of exploiting that, but would want to be confident that Dale could stop him getting it as much as he seems to against us. Do you think Dale has the defensive side strong enough?

[Uninformed]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

I recall us trying Cordy on him at times, he really is a tricky match up with his ability to find space and protect the front position well. He only needs a few shots to hurt you too.

Too tall for a small and too agile for a big.

Could Liam Jones mark a mid sized forward?

Jones is very quick. It is an interesting prospect. I think Fritz is far and away their most dangerous forward. Judging from the ferocity of Jones attack on the contest at the scratch match, though, he might accidentally break Fritz in two and end his career?

[Uninformed]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Fritsch is a difficult match-up for us. Both Richards and Dale should be able to match-up on him but we might not want to lose the drive they can provide. It would be a huge task for Cleary to be given that assignment but Bevo might just do it.
What about trying Buku again?

Richards marking ability might make him the best match up and he could probably still run off him.

[Uninformed]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

I know we didn't draft him but Josh Weddle would have been a great match up against Fritsch.
Is it Duryea against Pickett and if so who gets Petracca?

Bont played back as a junior? Petracca forward is a scary match up.

[Uninformed]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Garcia is being groomed to be Liberatore replacement in the midfield so I do see him getting games this season.
His form has tapered away just a bit in the last month or so which probably rules him out for round one.

West must be close to getting a spot.

Enjoyed hearing Garcia giving commentary in the third. Particularly like how Libba has taken him under his wing.

No-one has ever, or ever will, come close to Libba for his ability to somehow get the ball cleanly to one of ours when utterly surrounded by a pack of hundreds of the opposition. But if Garcia can pick up even some of Libba's traits he could be the man going forward.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Shaggy's bastardry would do him in as well.
It does go back to our 'too nice' argument that bobs up every few months on here. I think that's why a few posters here were happy to see us take Charlie Clarke in the draft.

The only goal that would be conceded in any form would be from the kick across goal or diagonally that Shaggy did game in and game out. Otherwise, he'd be perfect.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

Great mark from our CHF, shame our CHB couldn't quite get to the contest.

Oh wait... my mistake

I'll like it Azza.....Keep up the good work mate.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

2015 Easton Wood not the last few years

He was a bit better than given credit for in his last few years. But like most ageing players his bad bits looked really bad and overshadowed most of the good things he did.