Team Round 1

[The Underdog]

Re: Team Round 1

Not sure why we even kept Stack

At a base level, I'd say it's because we couldn't get someone to trade for him and he was contracted for this year so we couldn't afford to cut him.
However he's clearly done enough in the pre-season in the match committee's eyes to be given a shot in a side missing some experienced backmen. Let's see what happens before we write him off completely.
If it doesn't work he won't get another shot and he'll be delisted.

[The Underdog]

Re: Team Round 1

why is vez not play, is he in injured?

justifying playing Stack on the back flank because he is quick and skillful is wrong because these are 2 skills that he can not combine. The guy almost slows to a walk to kick the footy.

Vez not play because he probably leaves us a midfielder or tall short if he do.
He can't play off HB which is clearly the role in mind for Stack and he probably doesn't have the flexibility for different positions or pace that Hill, Djerkurra or Sherman provide. He's pretty much a small forward which there may not be the space for in this line-up. Given it looks like Jones will back up in the ruck then we can't really leave him out either.
I'm sure he'll get his chances when match-ups & form dictate.

[Mofra]

Re: Team Round 1

Daniel Cross - first man up....

Not as silly as it sounds - even if we had a bigger bodied mid to go with Hille/Ryder at the boundary throw ins and have Cross as third man up, we'd still be one midfield ahead of Essendon when the ball hits the ground.

Was it Leigh Matthews who said we'll go back to 1960s football, with a ruck rover who is expected to occasionally ruck?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Team Round 1

Not as silly as it sounds - even if we had a bigger bodied mid to go with Hille/Ryder at the boundary throw ins and have Cross as third man up, we'd still be one midfield ahead of Essendon when the ball hits the ground.

Was it Leigh Matthews who said we'll go back to 1960s football, with a ruck rover who is expected to occasionally ruck?

Yep.

Very good call. Cross and Boyd have frequently done this in the past, but I'd expect to see more of it.

[Bornadog]

Re: Team Round 1

I think it's a flawed logic to move a player that has traditionally struggled with injuries into the ruck especially in an already injury depleted back line.

This was always going to be an issue for us however given the success of some clubs using genuine part timers to support a one ruckman line up especially given we focused on acquiring running players during the trade period and letting the likes of Everitt go in the process.

We really need a versatile tall capable of moving between a few positions and taking few turns in the ruck. Perhaps it's Markovic once Lake returns but I think it will be more likely Williams.
If this is the plan the match committee has then I don't think it's a good one. We might get by for a few weeks but I can't see it being a good option throughout the season.

I prefer Williams playing in the backline rather than pitch hitting as a ruckman. In any case, if the ball is in the backline, Williams can ruck there and perhaps in the forward line Jones could help out?

[comrade]

Re: Team Round 1

Previously, I have hated it when Cross and Boyd have gone third man up because they haven't been particularly effective at negating the tap and we're a man down when it hits the ground so the opposition mids generally clear it anyway.

If we use the tactic tomorrow, you would hope that a high half forward knows to move to the contest to give us an extra player when the ball hits the ground.

[comrade]

Re: Team Round 1

Also, does anyone know how Lake went yesterday?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Team Round 1

Surely we are not going to go with that official team.

I am absolutely opposed to expecting Hudson to carry the ruck with pinch hitters in support.

[comrade]

Re: Team Round 1

Surely we are not going to go with that official team.

I am absolutely opposed to expecting Hudson to carry the ruck with pinch hitters in support.

BJ, we all know about your man crush on Will

I'd say prepare yourself for some pinch hitting.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Team Round 1

BJ, we all know about your man crush on Will

I'd say prepare yourself for some pinch hitting.

It appears you may be right, but all this has come about because Leigh Brown has had a year playing out of his skin.

If we are going to do it Barlow is the player to use.

Why take away someone who is contributing (like Williams for example) and try and make him something he is clearly not best suited too.

If everyone goes this way young talls will receive no chances to establish themselves unless they run like the wind regardless of football ability.

[comrade]

Re: Team Round 1

It appears you may be right, but all this has come about because Leigh Brown has had a year playing out of his skin.

If we are going to do it Barlow is the player to use.

Why take away someone who is contributing (like Williams for example) and try and make him something he is clearly not best suited too.

If everyone goes this way young talls will receive no chances to establish themselves unless they run like the wind regardless of football ability.

I think it has more to do with the sub rule than Leigh Brown. Most sides went in with two rucks last year, but just about every game so far in Round 1 has included one genuine ruck doing 70-80% of the work with the help from a tall who spends most of their time elsewhere - i.e. Mitch Clarke, David Hale, Hawkins, Jason Blake.

We can't afford to have Will spend too much time up forward with Jones playing. I don't like him forward at the best of times, but especially not with these rules. He'd be taking a spot of a resting mid like Cooney which would impact on our rotations.

If we do go in with two ruckmen, ideally it would be Hudson and Roughead as Roughy is much more a natural forward than Will and can clunk them (though non-proven at the highest level). Will is a number 1 ruck pure and simple and is wasted if he's not taking the vast majority of ruck contests.

Our desire to play Jones makes the whole ruck situation very interesting. Without seeing how it will work tomorrow, I do agree that Barlow would seem better option than a mish mash of Williams/Jones/Cross as third man up but where does he play when he's not rucking and who's spot does he take?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Team Round 1

I think it has more to do with the sub rule than Leigh Brown. Most sides went in with two rucks last year, but just about every game so far in Round 1 has included one genuine ruck doing 70-80% of the work with the help from a tall who spends most of their time elsewhere - i.e. Mitch Clarke, David Hale, Hawkins, Jason Blake.

We can't afford to have Will spend too much time up forward with Jones playing. I don't like him forward at the best of times, but especially not with these rules. He'd be taking a spot of a resting mid like Cooney which would impact on our rotations.

If we do go in with two ruckmen, ideally it would be Hudson and Roughead as Roughy is much more a natural forward than Will and can clunk them (though non-proven at the highest level). Will is a number 1 ruck pure and simple and is wasted if he's not taking the vast majority of ruck contests.

Our desire to play Jones makes the whole ruck situation very interesting. Without seeing how it will work tomorrow, I do agree that Barlow would seem better option than a mish mash of Williams/Jones/Cross as third man up but where does he play when he's not rucking and who's spot does he take?

I disagree to a point.
The success of Brown has everyone thinking that the 2nd ruck is superfluous and changes the rotations needed with the sub.

I actually think Hudson will not carry the workload for more than 2 or 3 weeks at a time.

If we compare to other years we simply need to change the rotations of the players who are lesser runners so that they stay on the ground more.

You know I rate Will as a ruckman and I feel strongly that using 2 proper powerful ruckman will give us an advantage late in games at the clearances.

I guess as mere supporters we will just have to watch how it unfolds.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Team Round 1

I'm slow off the mark, but I just checked Rocket's team announcement on the website. I think this is a terrific initiative from the club. Kind of gives you the feeling of being in the inner sanctum, and good to hear some of the coach's thoughts. Good one Bulldogs!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Team Round 1

It seems most of the games have been won by the fitter team so far this round. While I haven't agreed completely with the team selections, it certainly looks like we aren't taking any unfit players in. I hope I am tipping my hat to the mc at the end of the game.

In rod we trust.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Team Round 1

It certainly looked that way with Adelaide last night. Really fit side.