Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

How is this bloke going

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

Lachie Smith mark and goal

[mjp]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

And at $4.50 for a can of soft drink I'll give that a miss as well

The myriad of ways venues encourage spectators to get along and make a day of it in 2024 never cease to amaze...

[josie]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

How is this bloke going

Pretty good. Got a bit of size about him! Frejiah?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

I really hope Cody's cornrows don't last to regular season....

[Mofra]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

Charlie for the Norm Smith! Is that 5 or 6 goals now?

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

FINAL SCORE:14.21 105 to 3.6 24

[ShibbyUp]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

Any injuries of note? Haven't been able to watch any of it today unfortunately.

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

Any injuries of note? Haven't been able to watch any of it today unfortunately.

JOD injured in first quarter of first game - ankle. Don't know how serious

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

What was hawthorn's side like in the 2nd game? Was it a bunch of kids or did they have some names in that side too like us?

[GVGjr]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

What was hawthorn's side like in the 2nd game? Was it a bunch of kids or did they have some names in that side too like us?

Just about all VFL players. Might have been a handful of fringe players from the main list.

[GVGjr]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

Libba was a destructive animal today, really worked his backside off. Was going full bore and let a few expletives fly.

Saw David King there, I'll be interested on his take on how he thinks we performed.

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

From Club Website:

Five things we saw: Match simulations against Hawthorn

Our key takeaways from Friday's match simulation sessions against Hawthorn.




1. New Dogs slot in

James Harmes, Nick Coffield and Lachie Bramble were among the host of Dogs? recruits who took to the field in the first match simulation, with the trio slotting in near seamlessly.
Harmes was a welcome addition to the midfield, particularly with starters Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar held over for the second hit-out, while Coffield and Bramble had some nice moments.



2. Youngsters impress

What might excite Bulldogs? fans most is the growth among the up-and-coming youngsters.
Lachie McNeil (four goals), Luke Cleary, Harvey Gallagher and Sam Darcy each impressed in the early match, along with draftee Ryley Sanders who starred in his first outing in the red, white and blue.



3. Dogs? stunning run

A well-documented focus of the Bulldogs? pre-season was stopping opposition runs of momentum and put that to effect in the first match simulation.
A heavy breeze favouring the Barkly St end saw the Hawks come within two points in the third, before the Bulldogs piled on the next eight goals.
We know it?s not the season proper yet, but there?s no denying some promising signs early.

4. Bont still a class above

It might be comparing apples and oranges, given the Hawks fielded mostly VFL players in the second match simulation, but Marcus Bontempelli looks primed to back up his 2023 campaign.
The skipper picked up his footy exactly where he left off, connecting with All Australian ruck Tim English very nicely at centre bounces.



5. New role for Flea

Speaking of the second-match midfield, Cody Weightman was a new addition to the mix.
The 23-year-old goal-sneak spent majority of his time in the middle, allowing second-year Dog Charlie Clarke to maximise his time in the forward-50.

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

From Lade on some of the players

On youngsters...

?It?s great to have (Ryley Sanders) in the midfield. He definitely showed some really impressive signs but it wasn?t only him. Some of the other young guys - Harvey Gallagher got an opportunity to play in the midfield too, Sam Darcy, Luke Cleary and even Lachie McNeil down forward. It was good to see some of our younger guys get the opportunity in the first game to show what they can do.

?(We saw) the opportunity to play long periods in one position ? if Bont and Ads had played in the midfield in the first game, potentially those younger guys don?t get as much time in there. It?s good to see a good chunk of time from those guys and see them play well.?

On Darcy in the ruck...

?Reeves is a really good tap ruckman for the Hawks, so for Sam Darcy to compete against him and do well ? I think he kicked three goals as well ? it?s good. He?s had a great pre-season, so hopefully that keeps transferring into games.

?Darce has been training as a ruck the whole pre-season. He can obviously play forward too, but we?re just excited that he?s gotten through a full pre-season. Who knows where he will end up.?

On Coffield...

?He was impressive today down back. Pratty?s done a lot of work with him, but in saying that Nick was always a high-end talent. I think he was pick eight in his draft, so he?s definitely got some talent. Today was just an opportunity for him to come out and play again. We saw his strengths being his run and carry, a couple of intercept marks ? he?ll look to build on that next week.?

On the midfield...

?I thought the whole midfield was great as a group. I could single out one or two but I think as a whole, they just worked well together and understood what each other were doing.?

[GVGjr]

Re: Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn - Practice Game 23/02/24

In the 2nd game Weightman trained with the midfielders before the bounce of the ball and spent a lot of time there despite kicking 3 goals as well.
Bont and Treloar dominated, English just too tall and mobile for the Hawks bigger boys. Ugle-Hagan in a bit of a canter
Scott did some nice things including a brilliant goal. Clarke was dangerous.
Duryea busy but not that noticeable. Bedendo and Freijah on the wings but didn't do a lot.
Busslinger struggled at times. Richards and Dale a cut above. Loch Smith not out of place and did okay in the ruck, used the footy well.
Keath was okay

5 players missing today. Macrae, Baz, Garcia, Croft and O'Driscoll.