QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Well done TBB. Terrific preview.

Who does Croad take? Welsh? Minson? Or do Hawthorn throw him forward knowing we are a key back down? And if they do (or if they stick a ruckman down there), will we hold our nerve or react?

I think Croad will take Welsh, he prefers playing on the leading types, leaving Gilham to battle with Minson. They could swap these around though, as Gilham may be a little undersized if Minson's in any decent touch.

By the way, thanks for the feedback guys!

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Excellent preview.

Where do you see Hill playing? Eade has flirted with him in the backline the past few weeks to try and help his defensive skills, but I prefer him on a wing or HFF.

Hill's a bit of a wild card in this match, if we use him properly.

I personally wouldn't like to see Hill playing a defensive role yet, especially in a Final, as I don't think his style of play is anywhere near capable of holding an opponent down. He's only very young so it's understandable. IMO bornadog, you have it right - play him on the wing and allow him to generate plenty of space. He should suit playing on the wide open spaces of the 'G, so I would expect to see him play a fair bit in the wings.

I'd really like to see Hill across HF though too. We haven't experimented this at all, maybe only a couple of times, so it'd be a good move to play Hill off the HF line with his ability to pull down strong grabs. He reads the play very well, so he could certainly be a dangerous target.

[LostDoggy]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Should the Hawks choose to have either Campbell or Taylor wander forward, I think we are in trouble. Their height will stretch us as we already have a problem contending with Franklin in the air.

This is the match-up I fear most.

An in-form Everitt is the best option to combat this but he is struggling at the moment. Tiller who has some height does not play tall and Wight has failed too often in the past.

It's '98 all over again. Then it was Robran and Pittman. Now it's Franklin and the resting ruckman.

Outside of this, we need to retune our tackling back to the pressure we displayed against the Swans and Brisbane (first time around) and the Hawks last time - then the pill won't get down there.

[LostDoggy]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Should the Hawks choose to have either Campbell or Taylor wander forward, I think we are in trouble. Their height will stretch us as we already have a problem contending with Franklin in the air.

I wish they would. Don't you think a forward line Franklin, Roughhead and a ruck is top heavy for a night game?

I believe Hawthorn have a weakness its their rucks, the depth of their midfield and their backline. They need all the help there not in their forward line where they already prosper.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Great work TBB.

I would love to see Cross go to Sewell - IIRC that is what happened last time. It allows us to free up Cooney and Griffen a bit too, as Sewell is probably the one player I don't want lining up and hammering into them.

Hodge is a difficult one, as I think we really need to stop his influence, but he might spend more time in the back half than through the middle. If he does, do we look at someone like Gia to run with him? If he plays in the middle Boyd has to get the job I think.

[LostDoggy]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

I wish they would. Don't you think a forward line Franklin, Roughhead and a ruck is top heavy for a night game?

I believe Hawthorn have a weakness its their rucks, the depth of their midfield and their backline. They need all the help there not in their forward line where they already prosper.

I'm not suggesting they will do that for 100% of the game. But if they swing one of them down there for 10 minutes per quarter it will stretch us badly.

The fact it is a night game counts for zero unless it rains

[Throughandthrough]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Very strong tip from Adelaide that Hudson may have been dropped for reasons other then form/injury............

[Mofra]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Well done TBB. Terrific preview.

Who does Croad take? Welsh? Minson? Or do Hawthorn throw him forward knowing we are a key back down? And if they do (or if they stick a ruckman down there), will we hold our nerve or react?

I would suggest this could really work in our favour. Gilbee playing on resting ruckman is a tactic Eade has used in the past to great effect, and given their propensity to zone rather than play man on man if they turn the ball over, this would allow us to cut their midfield to shreds on the rebound.

I wouldn't think they'd play more than 3 talls forward, hoping to exploit the third tall match-up which would more than likely to be Shaggy. If he plays well and provides us with solid rebound, we'd be happy.

[Bornadog]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Very strong tip from Adelaide that Hudson may have been dropped for reasons other then form/injury............

Well at training today, Hudson did laps with Minson, walking. Eade was asked how he was and he said now 70/30 to play, tom oroow he will be 80/20 and then ok to play.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Very strong tip from Adelaide that Hudson may have been dropped for reasons other then form/injury............

Very strong tip that there are lots of morons in Adelaide with an axe to grind.

[dog town]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Good summary TBB.

I think Adelaide was the perfect game for us to warm up with. We played a very similar style to how we played against Hawthorn last time. We over used the footy (quite deliberately) and tried to work our way through the line of players. I have noted in both games that we really share the ball across half back where they give us plenty of time and space. We handball back and forth until we can get the ball into the hands of our preferred player then go about finding a path through.

I would be pretty surprised if Croad goes to Welsh. I think that would work in our favour. Welsh might be a bit clever for him and it also means Hahn and Minson will both have strength advantages over their opponents.

They match up ok with our forwards in terms of size but we have a clear class advantage. It will be tough for them to decide who is the biggest priority. With plenty of space inside 50 at the MCG I think we can certainly kick a winning score.

Personally I would start Aker in his current role then use him as the wild card to throw forward in certain situations. It puts a fair bit of doubt in Clarksons mind and we want to get the ball into experienced hands as often as possible early on.

Hill is developing into a handy swing man for us. He can nab a few marks up forward or be very good as a third man up in defence. A contribution from him will go a long way towards getting us a win.

The battle of the loose man is going to very interesting. Both sides like to play with one and it will be a battle in the box to see who will get the upper hand. If the hawks play with a loose man then we have the opportunity to effectively double team Lance Franklin. On the other hand the hawks can do alot of damage by playing guys like Hodge in a very damaging role.

Callan can take Rioli. Pace is not as big an issue with a guy like Rioli who does most of his sprinting when running towards goal. Callan can bump him, scrag him and trip him up every time he turns towards goal. Pace really hurts you on leading types but if Timmy uses his brain then he is half a chance to keep him quiet.

We desperately need to get Hudson up for the game. He was huge against them last time and helps negate the Mitchell influence around stoppages. The spotlight is going to be on Cooney and Griffen who have been dissapointing during the second half of the season for mine. We really need Griffens explosiveness around the congestion this week. If Sewell goes to Cooney (dont think he will) then I would send Coons forward early. My gut feeling is that Clarkson will try and expose Cooney defensively with a more damaging type. Cooney would be a tough extra match up problem for the hawks and I would have no problem with him going forward for periods.

As noted earlier in the thread Ray looms as a strange selection dilemma. A proven finals performer and one of our best against the hawks earlier in the year. On the other hand he has been pretty ordinary of late.

Morris will play on Buddy IMO. He can go with him on the lead and then we will need to rely on a good group effort from the rest of the backline to help him out. Its true that Hawthorn have lots of attacking options but the stats show they simply dont use them that often. Watch for Lake to get off Roughhead at every opportunity, thats if he isn't playing as a loose man.

You would think Boydy will go to Mitchell again. Had the better of him in Tasmania IMO.

[The Pie Man]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Very strong tip from Adelaide that Hudson may have been dropped for reasons other then form/injury............

I heard the same rumour today (which is what I was referring to in my 'Rumours' post - is it actually worth posting what it is given I have no source or idea if true)

[Mantis]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

Good work TBB, can't disagree with much of that.

Agree with many of those match-up's, but think Boyd will take Mitchell.

For me it come's down top restricting the influence of 5 player's for Hawthorn.

1 & 2 - Buddy & Roughead - the twin tower's up forward.
3 - Hodge - the distributor off half back.
4 - Mitchell - the clearance winner.
5 - Bateman - the ball carrier through the midfield.

How we go about it and with which strategies is up for debate, but if we don't put time and effort into restricting these player's output then we will be pushing 'manure' up hill.

Our intensity will be the key, we must make our tackle's stick. The Hawthorn players like to take the tackler on using there size and strength to bust through the tackle so that they can distribute the ball by hand to an open player, Mitchell and Lewis are two that do this to great effect. We need to stop them in there tracks. Our tackling in Tassie against the Hawks was outstanding and we need a similiar effort in this game.

Another key will be our skill level, we need to be clean by hand and foot. We have been making too many skill errors in our recent game's, if we make mistake's against the Hawks we will get burnt on the counter.

Really looking forward to this one. Player's reputations are forged on their performance's in finals so I am hoping that our players stand up on the big stage.

[LostDoggy]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

I'm confident.
Bateman to me is a tad overated. Mitchell we can shut down. Hodge is the one we have to stop.

[Bornadog]

Re: QF: Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs - Match Preview

I'm confident.
Bateman to me a tad overated. Mitchell we can shut down. Hodge is the one we have to stop.

I agree, I think he is the most damaging midfielder they have.