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When and Where
Sunday 15th May
Etihad Stadium 2.10pm
Last Time
Rd 2, 2010. MCG
Bulldogs 17.18.120
Richmond 7.6.48
Form leading in
Richmond
The Tigers are flying with 3 wins on the trot. A very good win on Saturday evening against top 4 contenders Fremantle, follows up good wins against North and Brisbane. The “F” word has been silenced down at Punt Rd but no doubt the Richmond supporters are up and about and why wouldn’t they be with young guns such as Cotchin, Martin and Riewoldt running amuck, the emergence of Nahas and a game plan which every player is seemingly subscribing to. They are young, well coached and in form. Expect the Tiger army to be out in force on Sunday.
Western Bulldogs
In contrast the Dogs have been very poor over the last 3 weeks, with loses to Freo, Collingwood and Sydney. The skill level has been very low with players missing targets at will. A big concern has been our inability to score as well as the inability to sustain a 4 quarter effort. The coach has touted changes, "We've just got to find players who are prepared to work and work consistently. That's why young (Lucas) Markovic's done extremely well, because he's prepared to give a contest and he works, even if he's exhausted. We haven't got enough players who are doing that." Rocket has come out strong in the media previously only to make minimal selection changes with fringe (generally young) players copping the brunt. It will be interesting to see if this rings true. With Williams out injured, height down back could be an issue.
Potential Line Ups
Richmond- Can’t see the Tigers changing a winning side.
B: C. Newman A.Rance B.Houli
HB: B.Deledio L.McGuane D.Grimes
C: S.Edwards D.Martin T.Cotchin
HF: J.King T.Vickery R.Nahas
F: M.White J.Riewoldt B.Miller
Foll: A.Graham D.Jackson S Grigg
Int: N.Foley, B.Nason, R Conca, J Batchelor
Bulldogs- Changes have been touted and will be expected.
Possible line up
B- Hargrave Morris Picken
HB- Schofield Markovic Stack
C-Sherman Boyd Ward
HF- Hill Murphy Grant
F- Giansiracusa Jones, DJ
Rucks- Minson, Cooney Griffen
Int-Cross, Roughead , Liberatore, Wallis
Key Match ups
Riewoldt vs Morris-
It was a toss of the coin job between Markovic and Morris as to who plays on Riewoldt. Markovic has been very good this year playing on the big boys at other clubs but to me the job has to go to Morris. Rarely beaten and in All-Australian form, Morris has been one shining light so far this year, if he can stifle Riewoldt early it will go a long way to aiding a bulldogs win.
Martin vs Picken -
Out of the young brigade of Richmond mids, Martin is the one how gets the tag. He is their best extractor and brings his teammates into the game. Picken is clearly our best run with player and needs to stop Martin from clearing the ball. Clearances have been an issue for the dogs, this match-up is extremely important and one Picken must win.
Griffen Vs Deledio
The battle of the 2004 draftees. When Deledio has the ball in his hands he generally uses it well, Hardwick has also shown he is not scared to set him a task (Goddard) and I expect this week to be no different. Griffen has been in good form although his disposal has let him down on occasions, look for him to try to capitalise going forward and hurt the Tigers on the scoreboard, Deledio will no doubt try to do exactly the same thing to Griffen making this a mouth watering match up.
Where the game will be won and lost
Forward Entries are key, Matthew Boyd spoke about Kamikaze football or “playing on at all cost”. That is all a good but if we continue to bomb it in long to Jones or Grant when they are clearly outnumbered, we will get smashed. Smart decisive ball use which takes the first best option is a must.
PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE, Richmond are still young and inexperienced. We must at all time pressure their ball carriers. Deledio cannot get space to move freely, nor can Nahas or Cotchin. The Tigers games plan is all about attack, we must force errors and be there to capitalise when mistakes are made.
Leadership- we hear about how strong our leaders are off the park. It is now time for them to show it on the park. I’m looking for Boyd, Cross, Cooney, Gia to stand up and make their teammates better. To beat the Tigers we need a solid contribution from 22 players, for four quarters of football.
Verdict
This is a line in the sand game for the Dogs. A must win. Our backs are against the wall, pressure is mounting on Rocket and the senior group. A loss here ignites the blow torch to a point we have not seen at the Whitten oval for a long time.
We must win the contested ball, We must pressure their midfield, We mustn’t allow Richmond to run freely opening the forward line up for their talls. In short this is a must win and one I expect we will get.
Bulldogs 14 pts
Sunday 15th May
Etihad Stadium 2.10pm
Last Time
Rd 2, 2010. MCG
Bulldogs 17.18.120
Richmond 7.6.48
Form leading in
Richmond
The Tigers are flying with 3 wins on the trot. A very good win on Saturday evening against top 4 contenders Fremantle, follows up good wins against North and Brisbane. The “F” word has been silenced down at Punt Rd but no doubt the Richmond supporters are up and about and why wouldn’t they be with young guns such as Cotchin, Martin and Riewoldt running amuck, the emergence of Nahas and a game plan which every player is seemingly subscribing to. They are young, well coached and in form. Expect the Tiger army to be out in force on Sunday.
Western Bulldogs
In contrast the Dogs have been very poor over the last 3 weeks, with loses to Freo, Collingwood and Sydney. The skill level has been very low with players missing targets at will. A big concern has been our inability to score as well as the inability to sustain a 4 quarter effort. The coach has touted changes, "We've just got to find players who are prepared to work and work consistently. That's why young (Lucas) Markovic's done extremely well, because he's prepared to give a contest and he works, even if he's exhausted. We haven't got enough players who are doing that." Rocket has come out strong in the media previously only to make minimal selection changes with fringe (generally young) players copping the brunt. It will be interesting to see if this rings true. With Williams out injured, height down back could be an issue.
Potential Line Ups
Richmond- Can’t see the Tigers changing a winning side.
B: C. Newman A.Rance B.Houli
HB: B.Deledio L.McGuane D.Grimes
C: S.Edwards D.Martin T.Cotchin
HF: J.King T.Vickery R.Nahas
F: M.White J.Riewoldt B.Miller
Foll: A.Graham D.Jackson S Grigg
Int: N.Foley, B.Nason, R Conca, J Batchelor
Bulldogs- Changes have been touted and will be expected.
Possible line up
B- Hargrave Morris Picken
HB- Schofield Markovic Stack
C-Sherman Boyd Ward
HF- Hill Murphy Grant
F- Giansiracusa Jones, DJ
Rucks- Minson, Cooney Griffen
Int-Cross, Roughead , Liberatore, Wallis
Key Match ups
Riewoldt vs Morris-
It was a toss of the coin job between Markovic and Morris as to who plays on Riewoldt. Markovic has been very good this year playing on the big boys at other clubs but to me the job has to go to Morris. Rarely beaten and in All-Australian form, Morris has been one shining light so far this year, if he can stifle Riewoldt early it will go a long way to aiding a bulldogs win.
Martin vs Picken -
Out of the young brigade of Richmond mids, Martin is the one how gets the tag. He is their best extractor and brings his teammates into the game. Picken is clearly our best run with player and needs to stop Martin from clearing the ball. Clearances have been an issue for the dogs, this match-up is extremely important and one Picken must win.
Griffen Vs Deledio
The battle of the 2004 draftees. When Deledio has the ball in his hands he generally uses it well, Hardwick has also shown he is not scared to set him a task (Goddard) and I expect this week to be no different. Griffen has been in good form although his disposal has let him down on occasions, look for him to try to capitalise going forward and hurt the Tigers on the scoreboard, Deledio will no doubt try to do exactly the same thing to Griffen making this a mouth watering match up.
Where the game will be won and lost
Forward Entries are key, Matthew Boyd spoke about Kamikaze football or “playing on at all cost”. That is all a good but if we continue to bomb it in long to Jones or Grant when they are clearly outnumbered, we will get smashed. Smart decisive ball use which takes the first best option is a must.
PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE, Richmond are still young and inexperienced. We must at all time pressure their ball carriers. Deledio cannot get space to move freely, nor can Nahas or Cotchin. The Tigers games plan is all about attack, we must force errors and be there to capitalise when mistakes are made.
Leadership- we hear about how strong our leaders are off the park. It is now time for them to show it on the park. I’m looking for Boyd, Cross, Cooney, Gia to stand up and make their teammates better. To beat the Tigers we need a solid contribution from 22 players, for four quarters of football.
Verdict
This is a line in the sand game for the Dogs. A must win. Our backs are against the wall, pressure is mounting on Rocket and the senior group. A loss here ignites the blow torch to a point we have not seen at the Whitten oval for a long time.
We must win the contested ball, We must pressure their midfield, We mustn’t allow Richmond to run freely opening the forward line up for their talls. In short this is a must win and one I expect we will get.
Bulldogs 14 pts
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