Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Enjoyed match summary, but given the lack of class and experience of a weakened 'Dogs defense it is hard to share your optimism.
No Lake,Harbrow,Hargrave and Gilbee,will put too much pressure on the likes of Morris and Murphy who both haven't enjoyed the best of pre-seasons.At some stage we are going to need the likes of Picken and Griffen to stop the flow down back.

[the banker]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Sharp summary Greystache. Could Libba go to Watson until his tank gives out?

[Mantis]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Well done on the preview GS, good job!!

It certainly shapes as an interesting clash, which has only been made more intriguing by the team we have selected.

As you have described our efforts when we don't have the ball will probably determine how we go. We look to have enough firepower to hurt Essendon going 'our' way, but the efforts of the midfield & forwardline to apply suitable pressure to help out an under-manned defence will go along to deciding the winner.

There is always a case of the unknown when starting a new season, especially considering the amount of changes to the team that last ran out in an official game, but I am very confident we can get the job done on Sunday.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Boydie mite be Buggered before the game starts. Handing out all those jumpers to the new guys must be exhaustive

[Greystache]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Sharp summary Greystache. Could Libba go to Watson until his tank gives out?

I don't think Watson's the sort of player you sit on, he wins the ball in the clearances when there are players all around him, adding one more probably won't help. The best way to reduce his effectiveness is to match your best clearance player against him and play the old "he can't get it if we've got it" game. I think Boyd's the best match up, but I think Libba in patches is an option head to head too.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

As you have described our efforts when we don't have the ball will probably determine how we go.
.

I read somewhere that at training, Saints have a system whereby a tackle inside 50 equals a goal or something like that. will be interesting to see if we can ramp it right up in that department.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

So with Hudson as the only specialist Ruckman ( Minson named as emergency ) , does this mean that Barlow at 196cm will the back up with Williams and Jones doing the tap work at either end ?

Again we have a short forward line so have to abandon the long kick into the 50 , if we want to win we have to go back in time to when Rocket hammered into the guys " Run into the 50 and make a decision kick the goal or pass is to someone in a better position "

To often last year we had guys creep up the ground , possession passed between stationary players across the ground , the ball would finally make it to 60m where a snap decision was made to try to drop the ball on Hall's head , a turnover would result as we had no one to crumb .

We need to bring back the running goals which made us one of the highest scoring teams, last year we threw away the running game and tried to zone the ground, in one game the stats read we had the lowest number of running bounces for almost forty years .

As we saw with the Friday game , the new rules virtually divide a ground into 12 zones, two defence, two forward , two centre, and three down each flank, players seem to only be told to stay within their zone, Geelong had little run and carry , Wojcinski would move to the edge of his zone and handpass or kick to another zone.

If the Dogs are really serious we must make the whole ground a zone and go back to basics , run and carry, only kick to a leading player, no kicks or handpasses to a player under pressure, only use the corridor. We must forget about the Sub Rule, just believe in the fitness and skills of the players, everyone else has a three man bench. This year will be one where the the statement of " the best 22 " will be null and void, for each team to keep the player's fresh for the finals, a number of young players will have to blooded in a continual rotation, if that means you rest your best midfielder for a total of six games , so be it . By the finals you may not have the traditional "best 22" , a unit of players gelled together by week in week out games, you will have something stronger, a unified Club with fresh legs, young players who have five of six games under their belts.

The game against Essendon will show us a glimpse of that, fresh faces ready for a challenge, some familiar faces, some have come to a new Club , some have risen through the ranks , all wearing the the Red, White and Blue with pride

.

[comrade]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

A short forward line?

Hall, Jones and Grant are all 194cm plus, and Higgins plays tall for his size.

[GVGjr]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

A short forward line?

Hall, Jones and Grant are all 194cm plus, and Higgins plays tall for his size.

Some members of WOOF don't believe that the 192cm Grant should be classed as a tall so I guess that leaves us with just 2 tall forwards.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Some members of WOOF don't believe that the 192cm Grant should be classed as a tall so I guess that leaves us with just 2 tall forwards.

Well, in 2009 we didnt have one. One tall forward a year hence is not bad.

[comrade]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Some members of WOOF don't believe that the 192cm Grant should be classed as a tall so I guess that leaves us with just 2 tall forwards.

Grant is a tall that has unique athletic capabilities that allow him to play as a small-type if required. Anyway, 2 talls in the forward line is well balanced, not short.

Think back to 2008 when Aker and Johnson were our main targets, with Minson taking up space. That was a short forward line.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

So with Hudson as the only specialist Ruckman ( Minson named as emergency ) , does this mean that Barlow at 196cm will the back up with Williams and Jones doing the tap work at either end ?

If Jones takes the ruck duties in the forward line, i reckon Huddo will be doing the other areas.

[Before I Die]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Grant is a tall that has unique athletic capabilities that allow him to play as a small-type if required. Anyway, 2 talls in the forward line is well balanced, not short.

Think back to 2008 when Aker and Johnson were our main targets, with Minson taking up space. That was a short forward line.

Grant was also recruited as a marking key forward with a terrific pair of hands and I firmly believe that when he retires, that will be how he is remembered.

[comrade]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Grant was also recruited as a marking key forward with a terrific pair of hands and I firmly believe that when he retires, that will be how he is remembered.

Yep, me too.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 preview- Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Grant was also recruited as a marking key forward with a terrific pair of hands and I firmly believe that when he retires, that will be how he is remembered.

A premiership winning marking key forward