R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

[Mofra]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I'd also like to see Picken on Stevie J. Think he is too small to stop Ablett.

I thought Stevie J was much bigger than Ablett?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Our boys face the biggest test in football coming straight off an extremely lacklustre performance against the Dees. If we have as many bystanders this week as we did just last week we will be taken to the cleaners. Our pressure skills on a whole were woeful against Melbourne, but we weren't forced to pay. We do the same this week and we most certainly will.

I actually thought the pressure was OK. The intent was certainly there.

I thought there were a huge number of times we pressured them really well and came within a poofteenth of creating a turnover and they just managed to hold on to the ball.

A few times I thought we pressured them into making an error and the bloody ball hit someone's kneecap and rebounded back to them. For example, Tom Williams attacking the ball well in front of Miller and getting a bad bounce that hit him on the shoulder and rebounded to Sylvia who kicked a goal.

One of those days where things just didn't quite come off - bowling well without taking wickets kind of thing.

[Mantis]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I actually thought the pressure was OK. The intent was certainly there.

I thought there were a huge number of times we pressured them really well and came within a poofteenth of creating a turnover and they just managed to hold on to the ball.

A few times I thought we pressured them into making an error and the bloody ball hit someone's kneecap and rebounded back to them. For example, Tom Williams attacking the ball well in front of Miller and getting a bad bounce that hit him on the shoulder and rebounded to Sylvia who kicked a goal.

One of those days where things just didn't quite come off - bowling well without taking wickets kind of thing.

The pressure was ok in parts in the 2nd half, but generally it was pretty poor. If we were playing another top ranked team we could have been 8+ goals down at half time.

Another concern was the lack of movement across the ground, the only player who got on his bike in the 1st half to create an option was Murphy and he only lasted 15 minutes. We had too many players who were ball watching early on which is very evident if you take a look at the half time stats.

Anyway onto this week and it's a big chance for many of our players who are in the gun so to speak to stand up and put in a credible performance against the competetion's benchmark.

[LostDoggy]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Did anyone else notice that is last years prelim we had a couple of players start behind the ball at the centre bounce? I remember noticing it in the second half, not sure if it happened all game, i'm pretty sure Tiller was one player can't remember the other, but Geelong seemed quite happy to leave the 2 players free in there forward line..

Do you think this would be effective? i know that we will struggle to score as it is, without 2 extra geelong defenders.. But it seemed to work in the Prelim, with us limiting there scoring, we were well and truly in the game..We would obviously have to rely on out run and skills to pin point passes, which has been dissapointing this year!

And if we are 3 goals down at 3 quarter time throw caution to the wind and go back to man on man!

[Sedat]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

When Murph went down early in the game against the Dees, Aker basically stood up and became our pseudo lead-up forward so that we kept some semblance of our original structure. I'd like to see him do this again on Friday night so that his direct opponent has no choice but to stick tight to him. Then the likes of Welsh, Johnno, Minson and Hahn can spread with some confidence knowing that Aker can provide the missing link in the chain between the centre and the forward 50. Big ask of Aker but he is smart, talented and quick enough on the lead to pull it off.

[LostDoggy]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

A couple have mentioned confidence - its important that if we take the lead like we did early in the prelim that we don't shut down and wait for the what we believe to be inevitable in Geelong coming back at us.

In their big loss to Collingwood last year and loss in the Grand Final, their opposition did not let up. We must do the same and revel in every possession and score we can get against them

Geelong have Mooney out, Ottens out, and Ablett and Chapman have been out and hopefully not at their best. This is a good week to get them, we need to realise this and pounce like an opportunistic predator

Agree - whilst I am not as tactically attuned as some on this forum (great preview SS by the way), it would seem to me that we need to run (and keep running) and keep possession - if we've got the ball, they can't damage us so much!

[azabob]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

When Murph went down early in the game against the Dees, Aker basically stood up and became our pseudo lead-up forward so that we kept some semblance of our original structure. I'd like to see him do this again on Friday night so that his direct opponent has no choice but to stick tight to him. Then the likes of Welsh, Johnno, Minson and Hahn can spread with some confidence knowing that Aker can provide the missing link in the chain between the centre and the forward 50. Big ask of Aker but he is smart, talented and quick enough on the lead to pull it off.

Is Hahn going to be more of a liability playing forward this week as he isn't playing great footy and he's is a yard slow? Geelong may really expose him but playing a Mackie on him and run off at every opportunity.

I do like your idea though of Akermanis being our lead up target. Be good if maybe Johnson and Welsh could start out of the goal square also and be leading targets rather than go up the ground.

[KT31]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Great for us Mooney accepting a week.

[Mantis]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

SS,

With Mooney now out how do you think Geelong will structure their forwardline? Will they simply put Lonergan down there to fill in for Mooney at CHF or will they change it up a little?

How do you think the match-ups will be effected by these scenario's?

[Sedat]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

SS,

With Mooney now out how do you think Geelong will structure their forwardline? Will they simply put Lonergan down there to fill in for Mooney at CHF or will they change it up a little?

How do you think the match-ups will be effected by these scenario's?

I reckon Gamble is a shoe-in to come in as Mooney's replacement. He has prior form against us and he changes up the formation a little, which will give us something extra to think about - at his best he plays tall for his size and also fulfils the mobile forward role.

[lemmon]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Really have to spread their defence. They are beauties at zoning off and chopping out so the disposal into the forward fifty has to be precise but we cant let it get too congested in there. I wouldnt mind seeing Scarlett being taken to the wing where he cant have an impact and Harley being dragged up the ground as well. Mackie is probably the one we can exploit, great runner of the ball but he is probably a bit suspect one on one. Hopefully we can take him back to the square and go through his opponent ie Higgins and Milburn.
The other thing though is that too often players get sucked into the contest. Time and again a player goes to the stoppage or contested footy where he has little impact. Geelong then use his man as the release player and often it is Gazza or Selwood.
Its going to be a massive task this week but a win could set up our season.
I didnt think Id ever say this but having Plough at the club would be helpful this week, he was master of the upset.

[LostDoggy]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I am concerend at Welsh's ability or lack of it to run with Scarlett to prevent him from being their first source of attack from the backline.

He looks to have put on some poundage from last year and will need to be mindful of Scarlett's run.

Another key is to stop their chain of handballs from stoppages. We may not be able to hold Ablett but we need to put pressure on each opposition player to stop the flow through a series of handballs. The Crows and Demons tried an amateurish form of this and when it came off they ran free into their forward 50.

[Mantis]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I reckon Gamble is a shoe-in to come in as Mooney's replacement. He has prior form against us and he changes up the formation a little, which will give us something extra to think about - at his best he plays tall for his size and also fulfils the mobile forward role.

Would you think?

I am pretty sure Geelong had Lonergan (197cm), Scarlett (192cm) & Taylor (193cm) playing defence last week vs North. There won't be a need for them to go that tall this week in defence so you would think Lonergan will play forward.

[azabob]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

I am concerend at Welsh's ability or lack of it to run with Scarlett to prevent him from being their first source of attack from the backline.

He looks to have put on some poundage from last year and will need to be mindful of Scarlett's run.

Another key is to stop their chain of handballs from stoppages. We may not be able to hold Ablett but we need to put pressure on each opposition player to stop the flow through a series of handballs. The Crows and Demons tried an amateurish form of this and when it came off they ran free into their forward 50.

I'm more concerened with Hahn's lack of run. Both of them could be a concern.

[Sedat]

Re: R9 Match Preview - Western Bulldogs v Geelong

Would you think?

I am pretty sure Geelong had Lonergan (197cm), Scarlett (192cm) & Taylor (193cm) playing defence last week vs North. There won't be a need for them to go that tall this week in defence so you would think Lonergan will play forward.

I think both Lonergan and Gamble will play forward against us this week. Just a hunch on Gamble coming into the line-up - he absolutely toweled us up at Kardinia Park last season and was a listed emergency last week so is close to cracking it for a run in the seniors.