Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

Any chance that Guido could get a shutdown role? He manfully performed Boydy's inside mid role last week, could he be up for a defensive assignment this week?

Nice work on the Preview TBD, very thorough.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

Thanks for the comments guys.

Any chance that Guido could get a shutdown role? He manfully performed Boydy's inside mid role last week, could he be up for a defensive assignment this week?

I floated this thought in my mind when writing it all up. A lot may depend on whether or not Boyd plays. At this stage - he'll be asked to replicate his role and efforts of last week. If Boyd plays, then Gia might get a run with role.

Question is, with who? Montagna is too quick and with Addison not getting dropped, I suspect this is his role. Maybe Dal Santo?

[dog town]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

The Lake/Kosi match up is an interesting one. I thought Tippetts reach and long tendency to jump straight up troubled Lake early last week before he adjusted and I think Kosi is a similar size so I hope Lake is on his game. Lake has done well on Kosi before but Lyon may have noted the way Tippett beat him a couple of times.

I think Jones will still go to Cooney. They will be tempted but Jones has in the past not only limited the damage of Cooney and his touches but he has also hurt us by getting his own clearances. We need to be careful of this.

[Mofra]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

The Lake/Kosi match up is an interesting one. I thought Tippetts reach and long tendency to jump straight up troubled Lake early last week before he adjusted and I think Kosi is a similar size so I hope Lake is on his game. Lake has done well on Kosi before but Lyon may have noted the way Tippett beat him a couple of times.

I think Jones will still go to Cooney. They will be tempted but Jones has in the past not only limited the damage of Cooney and his touches but he has also hurt us by getting his own clearances. We need to be careful of this.

Kosi is more susceptable to bodywork than Tippett so I expect Lake to do ok. I wouldn't mind giving Williams time on Kosi too if they play him up the ground, to keep Lake in the F50 late in quarters when the mids are more likely to go for the long bomb.

I'm assuming DFA will get a run with role now Moles is out - Gia head to head with one of their mids could be an interesting one as well.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

As with G#16 some good observations JT.

So JT who do you think we should play on Dal Santo to fill the role you wish?

I think Cross could do the job. Cornes seems to be able to shut down players effectively without being quick himself. If Crossy was given the job to shut down Dal Santo as his #1 forcus i'm pretty confident he could do the job.

Dal Santo does get thrown forward every now and then, i'm not sure how Cross would go in the backline? Maybe someone like Gilbee could do to him when he drifts forward?

[Sedat]

Re: Match Preview: Western Bulldogs v St. Kilda - Round 6

Fantastic preview TBB.

I noticed that Gwilt was listed at CHF for the Saints. He did have some success peeling off a very loose Brian Lake in the Round 6 twilight match last season. I'd say Gwilt is an even smarter player now than he was 12 months ago, so it would not surprise me at all to see him line up there tonight, which will ensure that Dawson has the cover of Fisher and Goddard down back. I still think Lake will go to Kosi, but whoever is assigned to Gwilt will have to keep an eye on the space he can make for himself on occasions.

Would have been nice to have Picken and Ward in the team tonight, let alone Boyd - Hayes, Dal Santo, Jones and Montagna represents some top-shelf firepower in the Saints midfield, and Hayes was a notable absentee from the NAB Cup GF. Addison's inclusion also worries me as he has been notably poor in recent matches against the Saints.

Our defensive pressure across the entire ground was very good last week, and it is an absolute non-negotiable that we have to carry the same intensity this week if we are to get over the line against the Saints. Roo or no Roo, they are still are very difficult team to break down.

The Pies did plenty wrong against the Saints a couple of weeks ago but one thing I loved seeing them do was specifically target Jones for some physical and verbal attention. Jones was clearly rattled and made many uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half of that match. Some of us before last year's PF were suggesting to do exactly the same thing. I hope we make him earn absolutely every possession tonight and make him feel as hunted as his opponents do.