2025 Starting Line-Up

[mjp]

Dare I say it - Davidson played as a chop out ruck at times at Richmond VFL level.

Yeah he did!!! :-)

[Willow18]

I agree, definitely match to match.

Who are your two preferred wingers currently?

From what I’ve read about Davidson, and just wanting a fresh look, it’s him opposite Williams.

but I suspect we see the smalls float onto the wing and Davidson push forward to create mismatches when possible

[mjp]

Come at me…….

He's a good player so it'd be fine.

It wouldn't help us be better though.

[azabob]

FB: Bramble Jones JOD
HB: Dale Lobb Freijah
C: Williams Libba Bont
HF: Harmes Naughts West
FF: M.Kennedy Darcy Weightmen
R: English Treloar Richards
B: Garcia McNeil Sanders, Jacques
Sub: Davidson

Love it 54BBulldog16 you chose a hill and you will go down with it.

Honestly Bontempelli on a wing will work and he will be awesome at it. The big question is how much do we give up by moving him outside of the center circle.

[Mofra]

Love it 54BBulldog16 you chose a hill and you will go down with it.

Honestly Bontempelli on a wing will work and he will be awesome at it. The big question is how much do we give up by moving him outside of the center circle.

A hell of a lot. He's our no 1 contested ball winner and our no 1 centre bounce clearance winner:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr-western-bulldogs?year=2024&rt=TA&pt=&st=CP&mg=1

[Rusty12]

FB: Bramble Jones JOD
HB: Dale Lobb Freijah
C: Williams Libba Bont
HF: Harmes Naughts West
FF: M.Kennedy Darcy Weightmen
R: English Treloar Richards
B: Garcia McNeil Sanders, Jacques
Sub: Davidson

I love that you doubled down, this is now my fav best 22

[Bornadog]

I love that you doubled down, this is now my fav best 22

Bont is the best mid in the competition and should remain as an inside mid.

[Jackodog]

Hey guys, bloody loving reading through this forum. Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover.
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Libba playing more of a small forward/negating type in certain games this season, allowing the likes of Sanders and West to get a few more CBA’s?

cheers, Jacko

[54Bulldog16]

Just chiming in with some different thoughts re Bont on wing, I know it won’t ever happen. You don’t take your best player out of their best position!!

We do have a midfield transition to carefully navigate through as everyone knows. There is always that concern are the players coming in as good as the players there now. That Sydney game last year, where Garcia, Gags and West took the Sydney midfield shows some signs.

Who can point to another team/recent era where the transition was really well handled?
My thoughts go to Port and Pies?

[azabob]

Hey guys, bloody loving reading through this forum. Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover.
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Libba playing more of a small forward/negating type in certain games this season, allowing the likes of Sanders and West to get a few more CBA’s?

cheers, Jacko

Liberatore will be a very interesting watch this season. Some posters are concerned with his head knocks and maybe he should have retired which are fair calls.

As a defensive forward I would be worried about his pace.

You are right though we need to start giving opportunities to Sanders, Garcia, West, M.Kennedy to attend CBA's.

Maybe Liberatore only plays 15 odd games to help with that transition?

[azabob]

Just chiming in with some different thoughts re Bont on wing, I know it won’t ever happen. You don’t take your best player out of their best position!!

We do have a midfield transition to carefully navigate through as everyone knows. There is always that concern are the players coming in as good as the players there now. That Sydney game last year, where Garcia, Gags and West took the Sydney midfield shows some signs.

Who can point to another team/recent era where the transition was really well handled?
My thoughts go to Port and Pies?

How did Sydney transition to their mix? Was it injury to Parker and co or did they just do it?

[NAUGHTY100]

FB: Bramble Jones JOD
HB: Dale Lobb Freijah
C: Williams Libba Bont
HF: Harmes Naughts West
FF: M.Kennedy Darcy Weightmen
R: English Treloar Richards
B: Garcia McNeil Sanders, Jacques
Sub: Davidson

Great effort Bulldog16, but (there's always a but ) given the way JJ has been going this pre season , i think maybe as much as i would love it but Jaques misses out on that 23 . JJ is a proven star when fit , so if his ready to go his in my side , and yeah Jaques is stiff to miss out , but im sure he will be knocking down the door early this season.

[54Bulldog16]

How did Sydney transition to their mix? Was it injury to Parker and co or did they just do it?

Great question, Swans GF mid teams:

2016: J Kennedy, Mitchell, Hannebery, Parker, Heeney, Jack (Wing), McVeigh (Wing)

2022: Rowbottom, Mills, Parker, Gulden, Warner, Stephens (Wing) McInerney (Wing)

2024: Warner, Heeney, Rowbottom, Gulden, Parker, Jordon (Wing), Florent (Wing)

[mjp]

Hey guys, bloody loving reading through this forum. Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover.
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Libba playing more of a small forward/negating type in certain games this season, allowing the likes of Sanders and West to get a few more CBA’s?

cheers, Jacko

He's played 230-odd games for 85-goals.
He's a contested ball winner at his best when planted in the oppo hit zone during stoppages.

I just don't see it.

[Scott2016]

My view on all of this is that we need a small forward who can read the ball off the pack and snap goals. With all the talls down there, we need a goal sneak. Mcniel and Vandermeer have shown over many years they dont have that skill and West is not that flash either. So I would go with someone new, give any of the new recruits or sanders or gallagher a chance in a much needed role. VDM and McNeil can train as well as they like in the pre-season, they are not reliable goal kickers. We need that over pace. So pick the person who is the best goal sneak at reading the balls off the hands of the pack. This way Weightman can fly for the ball and not have to stay down.