Bulldogs Ballarat Practice Match.... Your thoughts.

[LongWait]

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

Is West able to cement a spot in the best 23? From what I've seen, he has significant limitations (pace and lack of explosiveness are a serious concern) and his tricks aren't that good. Love his attack on the ball and player but he doesn't have the intangibles that someone like Libba does - that ability to win the footy and get it in congestion to players on the outside. Where does Westy play? For me, he is in that 24th to 30th preferred player range.

[GVGjr]

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

Is West able to cement a spot in the best 23? From what I've seen, he has significant limitations (pace and lack of explosiveness are a serious concern) and his tricks aren't that good. Love his attack on the ball and player but he doesn't have the intangibles that someone like Libba does - that ability to win the footy and get it in congestion to players on the outside. Where does Westy play? For me, he is in that 24th to 30th preferred player range.

It's a fair call. Like you I'm not sure he is best 22 just yet but he is right around the mark. Weightman and McLean will be locks for 2 of the smaller forward spots and I suspect that if JJ is ready to go he could be the third option. JJ could also be an option to play elsewhere. Bailey Smith will play HF as well.

[Sedat]

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

Is West able to cement a spot in the best 23? From what I've seen, he has significant limitations (pace and lack of explosiveness are a serious concern) and his tricks aren't that good. Love his attack on the ball and player but he doesn't have the intangibles that someone like Libba does - that ability to win the footy and get it in congestion to players on the outside. Where does Westy play? For me, he is in that 24th to 30th preferred player range.

Libba is low-key also one of the best decison-makers and ball users by foot and hand in the entire competition. He really is an amazing footballer who is way undersold by the wider football community.

[SquirrelGrip]

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

The Fritz match-up and Charlie Cameron type match up are the two I would like to see us resolve. Other than Duryea, who still seems capable, not sure who can handle the Camerons of the world.

Fritz is quite a unique player. Cleary seems to have the smarts and marking ability but not sure he has the pace. I have wondered whether Bedendo is a chance? He has pace and marking ability but I don't know about his defensive smarts?

Would be interested in your thoughts.

I would very much like to see Steven Kretiuk or Danny Southern on Fritsch.

[Bornadog]

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

Is West able to cement a spot in the best 23? From what I've seen, he has significant limitations (pace and lack of explosiveness are a serious concern) and his tricks aren't that good. Love his attack on the ball and player but he doesn't have the intangibles that someone like Libba does - that ability to win the footy and get it in congestion to players on the outside. Where does Westy play? For me, he is in that 24th to 30th preferred player range.

I agree with you, I have long held the belief that he will struggle to be in our best 22.

[Bulldog Joe]

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

I would very much like to see Steven Kretiuk or Danny Southern on Fritsch.

Kretiuk would have been ideal on Fritsch.
Match everything and better at most.

[Curly5]

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

Darcy had tape on his knee all game. I didn’t notice him get a knee knock.

Toby was very quiet.

Maybe the knee that was infected earlier in the year and still needs to be protected.

[Curly5]

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.

I've always liked the white strip. It's been lucky for us, on the whole.

[dog town]

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

I didn’t think McLean was as quiet as some are suggesting. Certainly didn’t have the impact he did in earlier matches but he didn’t plsy inside at all so they were different roles.

First half he was playing as our main small forward with the A forwards and he did pretty well in that role. In the second half we played him wing which I would suggest was to give him some flexibility for the log jam of positions we will see in 2 weeks. Personally I think he has out performed West inside in earlier matches so was stiff to be pushed forward.

[The Doctor]

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

I didn’t think McLean was as quiet as some are suggesting. Certainly didn’t have the impact he did in earlier matches but he didn’t plsy inside at all so they were different roles.

First half he was playing as our main small forward with the A forwards and he did pretty well in that role. In the second half we played him wing which I would suggest was to give him some flexibility for the log jam of positions we will see in 2 weeks. Personally I think he has out performed West inside in earlier matches so was stiff to be pushed forward.

Weightman aside, I think McLean is perhaps our next best small forward option. He has better goal instincts than the many others we have tried in that role in recent times. So I'm glad to see him given a run up there given the dearth of options.

[mjp]

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

Weightman aside, I think McLean is perhaps our next best small forward option. He has better goal instincts than the many others we have tried in that role in recent times. So I'm glad to see him given a run up there given the dearth of options.

Isn't this part of the problem with McLean Doc? He's a 2nd tier inside mid, a 2nd tier small forward...

I think he's in the 22 but his position is always going to be vulnerable.

[GVGjr]

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

Isn't this part of the problem with McLean Doc? He's a 2nd tier inside mid, a 2nd tier small forward...

I think he's in the 22 but his position is always going to be vulnerable.

We've twice tinkered with 4 talls up forward during the preseason and I wonder if it's something to do that we don't believe we have the right mix of smaller players to take advantage of any marks spilling to the ground?
The quick transition out of the back line if we don't mark it will be a problem that will require some countering.

[mjp]

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

The quick transition out of the back line if we don't mark it will be a problem that will require some countering.

We have a collection of small-to-mid sizers who are 'almost' AFL players.

Garcia. McNeill. West. Vandermeer. They are all trying to play that role (small, crumbing forward). Then we have Jones (Arthur version) who was always a mid at underage level but some want to shoehorn in there...

We have (of course) Weightman - who is going well but wants to hit up/take marks AND Clarke who is a high-pick but can't get on the track...so it isn't like we haven't 'TRIED' to address it.

On top of all that, our forward selection will always be compromised as we will be jamming a mid down there because even with the Dunkley exit we are still heavily weighted towards that position..

[Missing Dog]

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

Likes
Jones and Bruce. Bruce was better than I thought he would be, Jones much more so
The other jones, will play games this year, might sneak into game 1 in Weightmans absence if he excells v north.

Bont, Smith, Macrae Libba all look pretty good - as usual.

Treloar moved well - I was initially doubting his readiness

Keath moved well looks fit and quick
Crozier back on track
Scott definite winger/HF
Poulter, especially his first half - could be a mid season selection



Dis likes
Lobb - didn't exert himself - should have taken more marks and done more around the ground

According to half time chat "Bevo said that you spent a lot of time on forward entry this summer" My observation of the game didn't show any improvement at all!


Did enough
Mclean enough to play game 1
JUH as above but still gets cought trying to baulk
Khamis hot and cold in spurts might sneak a spot

Naughton hot and cold but I think he's cruising.
Sweet did ok by me but could have done more -[improving?!]

[Bornadog]

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

Ten minutes of highlights from Al