R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

[Mantis]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Yes he will, Picken will go to Bartel.

Who will go to Ablett? Boyd?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Who will go to Ablett? Boyd?

Boyd to Ablett would be my choice.

He probably has the best ability in our side to be able to play on a very good player, quell his performance, and yet still perform well himself. Similar to Kirk from Sydney, but obviously not as effective.

It's almost impossible to stop Ablett but Boyd might be able to get enough of his own ball to hurt Ablett the other way, whilst still applying pressure. Griffen doesn't have the endurance, Cross is far too slow and Picken far too in-experienced. Davey really gave him the run around last week.

If Boyd fails, I'd try Eagleton.

Eagle has done well in the past when assigned specific tasks. It'd be a real challenge, but in a sense they play similar games. Around stoppages, Ablett often stands off the packs to get himself in the position to recieve a handball on the run. The Geelong players block space for him and he's good enough to work through traffic. This might actually suit Eagle - he too is effective at standing off the packs and hurting the opposition. By following Ablett around the stoppages, Eagle will get drawn to the ball and because it's his "game" to hang back, playing off Ablett might actually be our best option.

Boyd and co. often get drawn to the ground ball because they're purely in and under types that feed the ball out to Cooney, Griff, Gia etc. Playing against Ablett, you really need to either win that contested ball or you'll be killed because Ablett is very smart in where to position himself/where to run to recieve the ball.

[Jasper]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

What did everyone think of the match ups tonight?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

What did everyone think of the match ups tonight?

Harbrow on Stokes looked a shocker, as did making Harbrow the designated kicker early on.

I didn't mind the midfield matchups. Selwood and Ablett got alot of ball, but I don't think there was a realistic chance of a hard tag quelling them. Noone else has done it successfully to date, so I think it was fair enough of Eade to roll the dice by playing attacking players on them in Ward and Griffen.

I think Ward learned alot tonight, and his self belief would've risen tenfold after his performance.

I think the player we missed more than Murphy was Shaggy. I think he would've been a better matchup for Stevie J who tore Morris a new one tonight.

[LostDoggy]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I think the player we missed more than Murphy was Shaggy. I think he would've been a better matchup for Stevie J who tore Morris a new one tonight.

Agree we missed Shaggy big-time, but I think Morris did better than Callan. Tim is as honest as they come, and he did a couple of good things, but his disposal is horrendous at this level (sticks out like a sore thumb), and I counted three Geelong goals kicked off turnovers that started with his bad disposals. (Eagle also gave up two turnovers for Cats goals -- why, when in space, does he run into trouble before disposing of it? -- but he scored two as well, so it cancels out somewhat).

Also, I see Callan time and time again lose his feet in a race to the ball, and Bartel really smoked him off one such occasion. If he can just stay on his feet he would be so much more effective.

---

Speaking of effective, this match shows that Supercoach points have nothing to do with reality -- Gilbee and Higgins kept the Dogs in it for the first half, but they've scored barely anything. Ridiculous.

[AndrewP6]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

To me, the backline looked lost at times tonight, particularly early. Was it Shaggy? Morris got towelled up tonight...Callan was disappointing.