Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

[Mofra]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Back on the thread topic, there hasn't been much talk about when Croad is coming back over here, has there been anything in the Melbourne media.

Nothing, not a single line. In the media.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Nothing, not a single line. In the media.

Did see something last week that he was back training. Someone from Hawthorn told me he may never play again, but not sure about that.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Nothing, not a single line. In the media.

Except in the MMM box.

Didn't it result in some food getting tipped on someone's head.....

[Mofra]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Did see something last week that he was back training. Someone from Hawthorn told me he may never play again, but not sure about that.

Players who have been known to acquire a non-specific, indefinate injury often have trouble getting back - and if they do, sometimes it's at another club.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Perhaps we will base our replacement for Gian on who can match up on Osborne. I think Reid might be a decent enough fit.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Perhaps we will base our replacement for Gian on who can match up on Osborne. I think Reid might be a decent enough fit.

If that would have been the case I think Callan or Addison would have come into the team.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

If that would have been the case I think Callan or Addison would have come into the team.

Yeah, I don't know about that. I see Callan and Addison as match ups for forward pockets who mainly stay forward and rely on damaging disposals.

Osborne covers a lot of ground and is probably more suited to an outside tag/run with than a back pocket type match imho. More of a modern day roaming HF. I think that role could suit Addison but I wouldn't want Callan covering that much ground.

[Mantis]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Yeah, I don't know about that. I see Callan and Addison as match ups for forward pockets who mainly stay forward and rely on damaging disposals.

Osborne covers a lot of ground and is probably more suited to an outside tag/run with than a back pocket type match imho. More of a modern day roaming HF. I think that role could suit Addison but I wouldn't want Callan covering that much ground.

Yet you were happy to allow Reid to play this role and from what I have seen of Reid he is an 'inside' midfielder who very rarely (I have never seen it happen) plays in defence.

Both Callan & Addison have spent time in the midfield this year at VFL level so have reasonable tanks and I would think are much more suited to picking up a mobile HF player like Osborne, than Reid.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Yet you were happy to allow Reid to play this role and from what I have seen of Reid he is an 'inside' midfielder who very rarely (I have never seen it happen) plays in defence.

Both Callan & Addison have spent time in the midfield this year at VFL level so have reasonable tanks and I would think are much more suited to picking up a mobile HF player like Osborne, than Reid.

Yeah that's a fair enough call. I guess I see the traits needed to stopping Osborne pretty close to those a defensive midfielder.

Picken's role changed a fair bit when he moved from Willy to playing seniors for us, I see Reid as being similar.

[Mofra]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Both Callan & Addison have spent time in the midfield this year at VFL level so have reasonable tanks and I would think are much more suited to picking up a mobile HF player like Osborne, than Reid.

Callan definately, Addison I'm not sure. His agility is reasonable but not spectacular, and I don't rate his overhead ability. Osbourne is surprisingly good in both areas.

Essentially Reid & Addison are best suited to the same sort of role. I rate Callan's work in the middle however it's as a defender he does his best work so not sure if he'll get the chance at senior level there.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Yet you were happy to allow Reid to play this role and from what I have seen of Reid he is an 'inside' midfielder who very rarely (I have never seen it happen) plays in defence.

Both Callan & Addison have spent time in the midfield this year at VFL level so have reasonable tanks and I would think are much more suited to picking up a mobile HF player like Osborne, than Reid.

I know it differs from club to club, but do the bulldogs emergencies generally play Vfl? Just wondering whether rocket may pull some switcheroo action.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

I think it's natural to move into a tagging/run with/defensive role for the first time when you are promoted to a higher level.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Except in the MMM box.

Didn't it result in some food getting tipped on someone's head.....

I heard an audio snippet with the reaction to that but I never found out exactly what was said and by whom, what happened?

[boydogs]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

I heard an audio snippet with the reaction to that but I never found out exactly what was said and by whom, what happened?

Quarters said Croad's future was looking more and more cloudy, Dunstall said that was rubbish and it went on from there. You can listen to it below

http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/sport/afl/blog/rice-gate-controversy-gets-messy/20090602-495t.html

[dog town]

Re: Round 14, Match Preview: Bulldogs v Hawthorn

Its basically a final for Hawthorn so I expect this game to be one of our toughest for the year. The hawks can be a strange side to play against and they still have plenty of guns playing. They have some of the best inside midfielders in the game and two of the best tall forwards so we have plenty of things to be concerned about.

What the hawks do well is they get inside very quickly whether they are playing the midfield zone or just going man on man as they have done at times this season. That means they get numbers in and around the contest very quickly when the ball hits the ground. Although they are known as being very good around the stoppages it is quality over quantity for them. They win very clean stoppages when they win them as opposed to getting the odd dinky little 15 metre kick to space. They organise very well around congestion and will always have a sweeper out the back that Sam Mitchell invariably finds. Fortunately we are also pretty good in this area now and we will need to make sure we get numbers in these contests to prevent the hawks getting those clean take aways. If they win it we want them to force a kick as the hawks game plan revolves around getting the ball in the hands of the better kicks in there side.

I get the feeling they are not all that concerned about our forward line because we dont have that gun tall. They back themselves with the small defenders to beat us one on one in my opinion. Personally I think we need Murphy up forward to break up Hodge from dropping in the gaps between forwards but he will likely play back. They will try and push Hodge to Hahn again I reckon. Its a terrific match up for them because Hahn just sort of floats around looking for packs and isnt smart enough with his leads to make Hodge accountable. When they do get caught one on one Hodge is competitive enough to hold his own. We may have to push Hahn to the goal square in this scenario. Hill troubled hem deep in the second half of the final last season so they will put a bit of work into him. Hill draws the ball in long and for a mid size player thats pretty rare. It just gives us a bit of variety.

We should have an advantage for run and in the ruck. Hopefully Minson and Hudson can really get hold of them in the ruck and get the ball out in the open so that we can spread them.