Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

[AndrewP6]

Thought someone would beat me to it! From the Hun:

TOM Liberatore and Mitch Wallis are in the mix to make fairytale debuts on Sunday, as the Western Bulldogs grapple with major selection headaches.

The father-son draftees have barged their way into calculations to face Essendon, placing heat on several more seasoned players.

"They certainly are in the mix, most definitely," Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said last night.

Full article http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226025750965

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Would be very unlikely that they would both force their way into the side.

The spots just aren't there, especially for such a big game.

Perhaps against Brisbane or GC.

[egan-kennedy-ford]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

The Age website has an interview with Cooney. He reckons Wallis is ahead of Libba at present, I was a bit surprised as most others seem to have Libba ahead at present.

[Ozza]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

I'm not sure if its a matter or one being ahead of the other in development. But they are different types of players - so I think one player before (or more often) than the other may initial be dependant upon where they fit into the team.

[mjp]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

The article quotes Lake as being 'genuinely ready to play'.

So why is there still debate as to whether he should? What is the alternative? If he is fit and 'genuinely ready', then he should play...and not as the sub - as the starting full-back. What possible benefit could there be of him playing at Williamstown?

I am baffled by all of this talk...

[egan-kennedy-ford]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Good point Ozza.

From what I can gather, Wallis is very much an in and under type. With Cross and Boyd our linch pins and Ward pressing hard for more time in the centre, it will be tricky to find a spot for Wallis right now. Libba may be more suited for a run with type role and may find a spot sooner.

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but who do people see as our main players to be rotated through the centre clearances throughout a match. Most teams seem to have 6 as a minimum - Boyd, Cross, Griffen, Cooney and Ward are givens, with maybe Higgins or Picken (depending on match ups) as the 6th??

[Mantis]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but who do people see as our main players to be rotated through the centre clearances throughout a match. Most teams seem to have 6 as a minimum - Boyd, Cross, Griffen, Cooney and Ward are givens, with maybe Higgins or Picken (depending on match ups) as the 6th??

Gia will have a run through the midfield.

If playing I would expect Djerrkura & Moles would also spend time in there.

[Maddog37]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Off topic sorry but not sure if I should start a new thread. Watched the replay of Dogs and Swans final last night on Fox.

Gilbee and Shaggy were very very good. Lake was really struggling but the way they worked together as a unit is outstanding.

I have been one of the people suggesting Gilbs is looking a touch down but after watching that game he was massive defensively and also played forward a little.

Shaggy was a touch agro which was good to watch and he did a magic blind turn. Hope he can get over his troubles and get back to his best.

The back half is where I fear for us the most this year unless these guys can get on the park consistently or some new blood steps up very quickly.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Off topic sorry but not sure if I should start a new thread. Watched the replay of Dogs and Swans final last night on Fox.

Gilbee and Shaggy were very very good. Lake was really struggling but the way they worked together as a unit is outstanding.

I have been one of the people suggesting Gilbs is looking a touch down but after watching that game he was massive defensively and also played forward a little.

Shaggy was a touch agro which was good to watch and he did a magic blind turn. Hope he can get over his troubles and get back to his best.

The back half is where I fear for us the most this year unless these guys can get on the park consistently or some new blood steps up very quickly.

Shaggy is one of the most underratted players in our side. If you look at all his finals games in the past three years he has been one of the best in most games. He didn't play well against Collingwood last year, but then again who did. People need to go back like you did and watch how he plays. We will miss him in the first half of this year.

[Greystache]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Shaggy is one of the most underratted players in our side. If you look at all his finals games in the past three years he has been one of the best in most games. He didn't play well against Collingwood last year, but then again who did. People need to go back like you did and watch how he plays. We will miss him in the first half of this year.

He plays well in our consolation finals win each year, that's the win against a team that had no chance of winning the premiership. His other games are usually poor. It will be interesting to see how Sydney go this year because our two previous wins in finals were against team that didn't make the finals the following year (Sydney & Brisbane).

The wipping boys (Hargrave, Eaglelton, Gia etc) wouldn't be wipping boys if they put in their best performances against ACTUAL contenders, as it is our games against the best teams are routinely their worst.

[Desipura]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

He plays well in our consolation finals win each year, that's the win against a team that had no chance of winning the premiership. His other games are usually poor. It will be interesting to see how Sydney go this year because our two previous wins in finals were against team that didn't make the finals the following year (Sydney & Brisbane).

The wipping boys (Hargrave, Eaglelton, Gia etc) wouldn't be wipping boys if they put in their best performances against ACTUAL contenders, as it is our games against the best teams are routinely their worst.

Well said.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

He plays well in our consolation finals win each year, that's the win against a team that had no chance of winning the premiership. His other games are usually poor. It will be interesting to see how Sydney go this year because our two previous wins in finals were against team that didn't make the finals the following year (Sydney & Brisbane).

The wipping boys (Hargrave, Eaglelton, Gia etc) wouldn't be wipping boys if they put in their best performances against ACTUAL contenders, as it is our games against the best teams are routinely their worst.

So you don't rate his game versus The Saints last year. Sorry can't agree with you, have another look at the game and previous games a bit closer and take the whipping boy attitude away.

2010 Prelim 24 disposals (17 kicks and 7 handballs), 3 marks and 5 tackles in the Western Bulldogs' Preliminary Final 24-pt loss to St Kilda at the MCG.

2009 - similar stats - 25 disposals

2008 - Geelong prelim - 19 disposals, 5 marks 6 tackles.

[Bornadog]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Well said.

Bull - you and Greystache are typical supporters who see one mistake by players such as Gia and Shaggy and rate their whole game on it.

[Mantis]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

So you don't rate his game versus The Saints last year. Sorry can't agree with you, have another look at the game and previous games a bit closer and take the whipping boy attitude away.

2010 Prelim 24 disposals (17 kicks and 7 handballs), 3 marks and 5 tackles in the Western Bulldogs' Preliminary Final 24-pt loss to St Kilda at the MCG.

2009 - similar stats - 25 disposals

2008 - Geelong prelim - 19 disposals, 5 marks 6 tackles.

In both the 2009 & 2010 PF's Shaggy's kicking was atrocious.

His dodgy foot wouldn't have helped, but you need to dig a little deeper than to just rely on pure numbers.

[Desipura]

Re: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis push for Dogs' debut

Bull - you and Greystache are typical supporters who see one mistake by players such as Gia and Shaggy and rate their whole game on it.

Correction BOD, we are MEMBERS (in my case, every year since 1983).
If more of our senior players played well against quality opposition in big finals instead of freezing, we may have broken the premiership drought.