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When and Where
Monday April 25th (ANZAC Day – Len Hall Game)
Pattersons Stadium, 6:40pm
Last time (and the time before)
We have won 6 in a row vs the Dockers...a 80-odd point smashing in round 17 2010 being the most recent result. This was the ‘Aker game’ and it would be a great fillip for our chances if the passion surrounding that event – and the following weeks before the illness and injuries hit vs Sydney – could be rediscovered before next Monday. Our last couple of games vs Freo in Perth were pre the 2010 Dockers resurgence and can be disregarded as a form guide.
What should not be dismissed is the importance of this game. Many of my friends and family are Dockers members and as a small-business owner I will struggle to pay for all of the beer/lotto tickets I am committed too should we fail.
Form leading in
Us
Started pretty slowly against the Bombers before belting the wooden spoon candidates from Queensland in the confines of the dome in successive weeks (r1 and r2). First trip away from Melbourne for the year.
Them
Have been shaky in victory (Lions), good in defeat (Catters), then VERY good in winning against the Crows away then North at home. Have already won a couple of away games (in Brisbane and Adelaide – stuffing up my tipping quite nicely thanks) and in a bit of a fixtural anomaly are playing successive home games at Subi.
Potential Line Ups
Them
B: Ibbotson, McPharlin, Broughton
HB: Van Berlo, Grover, Duffield
C: Palmer, Boyd, Mundy
HF: De Boer, Pavlich, Mayne
F: Bradley, McPhee, Ballantyne
Foll: Sandilands, Fyfe, Crowley
I/C: Johnson, Roberton, Pitt, Crichton
Emg: Lower, Griffin...Walters maybe?
Suban has busted his leg and will be a straight out for either Lower or Crichton...I have guessed Crichton at the moment because Lower missed last week altogether and Crichton’s WAFL form has been excellent.
US
B: Hill, Lake, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Gilbee
C: Griffen, Boyd, Picken
HF: Higgins, Grant, Ward
F: Giansiracusa, Hall, Cooney
Foll: Hudson, Cross, Liberatore
I/C: Wallis, Roughhead, Addison, Sherman
Emg: Stack, Jones, Djerrkura
Given Freo’s lack of tall forwards, simply no requirement for Markovic to play. Addison and Wallis get their chances – Stack out as well (simply a balance thing) – need an extra mid (Wallis) rather than flanker against Freo and all the rumours point to a Wallis ‘IN’.
Key Match ups
Sandilands
Pretty simple one – Hudson has to go to him and be prepared to simply crash into a brick wall 50 or 60 times during the game. It is never about winning the knock – it is about creating a contest so that Sandilands cannot get a clear hit to a runner...he is regularly neutralised in the centre, but around the ground – particularly forward line stoppages – he is close to unstoppable and our mids/small backs need to have their wits about them and dangerous space ‘owned’.
Ballantyne
Super player who once answered a 3am “What are you doing Balla’s” question in my kitchen with the response ‘Eating a tomato’ – he has never been able to explain exactly why he came over or how he got in...or why he was craving a tomato. Regardless, his forward pressure and willingness to push up the ground 100m + then sprint back inside attacking 50m to receive make him a very dangerous forward and one who needs to be constantly attended too. I vote Morris gets the gig and allows him to release up past the wing – but does not let him get goal-side...
Pavlich
Hmmm. If he plays forward, he will need the combination Lake/Williams (deep/high) 1-2 punch. When he goes inside either Boyd (preferred) or Cross need to account for him based on body size alone...good player Pav.
Fyfe
Enough of letting this kid (my nemesis from the 2009 grand final – kicked 6 the little so-and-so) run around the midfield unattended. He is playing inside more this year and needs to be given close attention...Picken goes too him at the first bounce and makes his life a misery.
Cooney
I am almost certain Crowley will go to him – and Cooney should take him to the cleaners. Crowley is disciplined and fit, but slower than Crossy (sorry Daniel) and should not be able to contain Adam. Coon has to run though – and he has not shown a willingness to do this over the last couple of weeks...Sure, Adam could take him to the goal square but this should be a shock tactic, not a default position – moving him forward for too long robs our midfield of pace and run...
As an aside, if Crowley goes to Griffen then Freo believe the most dangerous player status has swung.
Hall
McPharlin is a good player and will take Barry. I guess Bazza kicks 4-5 if we win, 2-3 if we lose...these two will fight out an honourable tie is my guess.
Higgins
I guess Van Berlo takes this spot – strong player whose biggest flaw is leg-speed...Higgo should be a good match up for him. Higgins *Should* be too smart for Van Berlo, but the kid will persist...Broughton available as a plan b for the Dockers (unless Harvey drops him for ducking his head in a marking contest in the last quarter which is the sort of thing he is apt to do).
Where the game will be won and lost
This will be won and lost in the midfield. If Hudson/Roughead can neutralise Sandilands and Bradley (yes, Bradley!) that will go a long way towards securing the win. Cooney, Griffen, Cross, Boyd, Ward et al are going to have their hands full with the likes of Mundy, Fyfe, Hill, Duffield and co...Freo have developed a very versatile and hard-running list. They also have the Pavlich wild-card – when he went into the midfield (and he even spent time on the wing) against North, his possessions created goal after goal and North had no answer to his strength and running power around the ball.
Verdict
Freo have been playing better than us and they are at home. I am DEEPLY worried about this game and suspect a win by Fremantle to the tune of somewhere between 5 and 7 goals is the most likely result.
Monday April 25th (ANZAC Day – Len Hall Game)
Pattersons Stadium, 6:40pm
Last time (and the time before)
We have won 6 in a row vs the Dockers...a 80-odd point smashing in round 17 2010 being the most recent result. This was the ‘Aker game’ and it would be a great fillip for our chances if the passion surrounding that event – and the following weeks before the illness and injuries hit vs Sydney – could be rediscovered before next Monday. Our last couple of games vs Freo in Perth were pre the 2010 Dockers resurgence and can be disregarded as a form guide.
What should not be dismissed is the importance of this game. Many of my friends and family are Dockers members and as a small-business owner I will struggle to pay for all of the beer/lotto tickets I am committed too should we fail.
Form leading in
Us
Started pretty slowly against the Bombers before belting the wooden spoon candidates from Queensland in the confines of the dome in successive weeks (r1 and r2). First trip away from Melbourne for the year.
Them
Have been shaky in victory (Lions), good in defeat (Catters), then VERY good in winning against the Crows away then North at home. Have already won a couple of away games (in Brisbane and Adelaide – stuffing up my tipping quite nicely thanks) and in a bit of a fixtural anomaly are playing successive home games at Subi.
Potential Line Ups
Them
B: Ibbotson, McPharlin, Broughton
HB: Van Berlo, Grover, Duffield
C: Palmer, Boyd, Mundy
HF: De Boer, Pavlich, Mayne
F: Bradley, McPhee, Ballantyne
Foll: Sandilands, Fyfe, Crowley
I/C: Johnson, Roberton, Pitt, Crichton
Emg: Lower, Griffin...Walters maybe?
Suban has busted his leg and will be a straight out for either Lower or Crichton...I have guessed Crichton at the moment because Lower missed last week altogether and Crichton’s WAFL form has been excellent.
US
B: Hill, Lake, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Gilbee
C: Griffen, Boyd, Picken
HF: Higgins, Grant, Ward
F: Giansiracusa, Hall, Cooney
Foll: Hudson, Cross, Liberatore
I/C: Wallis, Roughhead, Addison, Sherman
Emg: Stack, Jones, Djerrkura
Given Freo’s lack of tall forwards, simply no requirement for Markovic to play. Addison and Wallis get their chances – Stack out as well (simply a balance thing) – need an extra mid (Wallis) rather than flanker against Freo and all the rumours point to a Wallis ‘IN’.
Key Match ups
Sandilands
Pretty simple one – Hudson has to go to him and be prepared to simply crash into a brick wall 50 or 60 times during the game. It is never about winning the knock – it is about creating a contest so that Sandilands cannot get a clear hit to a runner...he is regularly neutralised in the centre, but around the ground – particularly forward line stoppages – he is close to unstoppable and our mids/small backs need to have their wits about them and dangerous space ‘owned’.
Ballantyne
Super player who once answered a 3am “What are you doing Balla’s” question in my kitchen with the response ‘Eating a tomato’ – he has never been able to explain exactly why he came over or how he got in...or why he was craving a tomato. Regardless, his forward pressure and willingness to push up the ground 100m + then sprint back inside attacking 50m to receive make him a very dangerous forward and one who needs to be constantly attended too. I vote Morris gets the gig and allows him to release up past the wing – but does not let him get goal-side...
Pavlich
Hmmm. If he plays forward, he will need the combination Lake/Williams (deep/high) 1-2 punch. When he goes inside either Boyd (preferred) or Cross need to account for him based on body size alone...good player Pav.
Fyfe
Enough of letting this kid (my nemesis from the 2009 grand final – kicked 6 the little so-and-so) run around the midfield unattended. He is playing inside more this year and needs to be given close attention...Picken goes too him at the first bounce and makes his life a misery.
Cooney
I am almost certain Crowley will go to him – and Cooney should take him to the cleaners. Crowley is disciplined and fit, but slower than Crossy (sorry Daniel) and should not be able to contain Adam. Coon has to run though – and he has not shown a willingness to do this over the last couple of weeks...Sure, Adam could take him to the goal square but this should be a shock tactic, not a default position – moving him forward for too long robs our midfield of pace and run...
As an aside, if Crowley goes to Griffen then Freo believe the most dangerous player status has swung.
Hall
McPharlin is a good player and will take Barry. I guess Bazza kicks 4-5 if we win, 2-3 if we lose...these two will fight out an honourable tie is my guess.
Higgins
I guess Van Berlo takes this spot – strong player whose biggest flaw is leg-speed...Higgo should be a good match up for him. Higgins *Should* be too smart for Van Berlo, but the kid will persist...Broughton available as a plan b for the Dockers (unless Harvey drops him for ducking his head in a marking contest in the last quarter which is the sort of thing he is apt to do).
Where the game will be won and lost
This will be won and lost in the midfield. If Hudson/Roughead can neutralise Sandilands and Bradley (yes, Bradley!) that will go a long way towards securing the win. Cooney, Griffen, Cross, Boyd, Ward et al are going to have their hands full with the likes of Mundy, Fyfe, Hill, Duffield and co...Freo have developed a very versatile and hard-running list. They also have the Pavlich wild-card – when he went into the midfield (and he even spent time on the wing) against North, his possessions created goal after goal and North had no answer to his strength and running power around the ball.
Verdict
Freo have been playing better than us and they are at home. I am DEEPLY worried about this game and suspect a win by Fremantle to the tune of somewhere between 5 and 7 goals is the most likely result.
). I think it is a danger game, coming off the bye and we haven't really hit our straps yet - Freo always look dangerous against other sides, and then we end up beating them?? I must have a strange perception of them I think! I always worry when we play them.
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