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I put this up a bit earlier due to the game being on Friday night.
Round 8: Western Bulldogs vs Geelong
7:50 PM Friday, 25 May 2012 @ Docklands
Last time we meet
Geelong 23.10. 148 defeated Western Bulldogs 13.9. 87 @ Kardinia Park.
No analysis really needed here!
Form
The Dogs have had a solid month or so. We showed a lot against the Pies, rolled the Roos and did what we needed to do up north against the Suns.
The Cats have lost their last two games to be 4-4. Their hunger has been questioned and the are really struggling to win the contested ball.
Selection Table
With the Dogs a lot depends on how guys pull up after the Darwin trip. Addison is suspended with Smith, Zeph and Jones facing a battle to keep their spots. DJ will miss another week with Vez and Cooney coming into the side if fit.
Scarlett seems like he is in the fitness test category for Friday night. The ruck situation might also come up. The Oren/West combo is very limited around the ground but injuries to their other young ruckmen has forced their hand a bit, as well as allowing Hawkins to play the whole game up forward.
The Match Ups
Who do we tag?
The Cats are a bit different when it comes to a tag/close checking jobs. No doubt Selwood is a gun but IMO he isn't the type of midfielder you apply a hard tag on. He is more a hard working, touch, strong machine than an explosive type with damaging foot skills. Perhaps Picken can go to Selwood at times but I wouldn't make it a big focus.
Sides have been putting more attention in forward tags on HB rebounders Enright and Mackie. Perhaps Picken can go to one, not sure about the other. Grant or Dickson? I have doubts about their tank. We could try to make one of them accountable by playing a goal scoring threat who we target like Higgins or Gia. I am a bit worried about how damaging their HBs are and how our small forwards don't have great tanks.
TomaHawk and Pods
The Cats are a bit like the Crows in how they have 2 legit dangerous tall forward targets. They can pick and choose who to get to based on matchups and how they are going.
Austin has been very serviceable so far but this is by far his biggest challenge. I think the Cats will try to expose him. I think we should try to start him on Pods but this can change depending on how the game is going. Lake obviously has a massive task trying to beat a quality player as well as helping out Austin on another quality player. These tasks normally bring the best out of Brian, let's hope it is the same on Friday night.
The small Cats forwards
Chappy and Stevie J are a bit down on their usual form but along with Motlop and Stokes they have good depth in the department. Worst game for small lock down defender Addison to miss.
Shaggy was as good as it gets up against Stevie J before his injuries, let's hope he returns to that form. Hopefully Bobby and Vez can create some rebound up against Stokes and Motlop.
The midfield battle
We are learning to become more team focused and it's a perfect opportunity for Boyd, Griff and the midfield team to run both ways up against Selwood, Bartel and Kelly. Picken can give them a bit of a chop out but I hope our midfeld share the defensive load.
They are struggling with the contested ball and it's our strength. I think we are going to be heavily motivated to really smash them in this department.
Crystal Ball says...
I think we will do well against them in contested situations but obviously we need to go up a cog with how we use these chances.
The big doubt is how we will go after consecutive 6 day breaks coming off a trip to Darwin when we already struggle with spread.
I see the Cats having a bit too much class around the ground for us, hope there isn't a blow out due to tired legs.
Cats by 5 goals.
Round 8: Western Bulldogs vs Geelong
7:50 PM Friday, 25 May 2012 @ Docklands
Last time we meet
Geelong 23.10. 148 defeated Western Bulldogs 13.9. 87 @ Kardinia Park.
No analysis really needed here!
Form
The Dogs have had a solid month or so. We showed a lot against the Pies, rolled the Roos and did what we needed to do up north against the Suns.
The Cats have lost their last two games to be 4-4. Their hunger has been questioned and the are really struggling to win the contested ball.
Selection Table
With the Dogs a lot depends on how guys pull up after the Darwin trip. Addison is suspended with Smith, Zeph and Jones facing a battle to keep their spots. DJ will miss another week with Vez and Cooney coming into the side if fit.
Scarlett seems like he is in the fitness test category for Friday night. The ruck situation might also come up. The Oren/West combo is very limited around the ground but injuries to their other young ruckmen has forced their hand a bit, as well as allowing Hawkins to play the whole game up forward.
The Match Ups
Who do we tag?
The Cats are a bit different when it comes to a tag/close checking jobs. No doubt Selwood is a gun but IMO he isn't the type of midfielder you apply a hard tag on. He is more a hard working, touch, strong machine than an explosive type with damaging foot skills. Perhaps Picken can go to Selwood at times but I wouldn't make it a big focus.
Sides have been putting more attention in forward tags on HB rebounders Enright and Mackie. Perhaps Picken can go to one, not sure about the other. Grant or Dickson? I have doubts about their tank. We could try to make one of them accountable by playing a goal scoring threat who we target like Higgins or Gia. I am a bit worried about how damaging their HBs are and how our small forwards don't have great tanks.
TomaHawk and Pods
The Cats are a bit like the Crows in how they have 2 legit dangerous tall forward targets. They can pick and choose who to get to based on matchups and how they are going.
Austin has been very serviceable so far but this is by far his biggest challenge. I think the Cats will try to expose him. I think we should try to start him on Pods but this can change depending on how the game is going. Lake obviously has a massive task trying to beat a quality player as well as helping out Austin on another quality player. These tasks normally bring the best out of Brian, let's hope it is the same on Friday night.
The small Cats forwards
Chappy and Stevie J are a bit down on their usual form but along with Motlop and Stokes they have good depth in the department. Worst game for small lock down defender Addison to miss.
Shaggy was as good as it gets up against Stevie J before his injuries, let's hope he returns to that form. Hopefully Bobby and Vez can create some rebound up against Stokes and Motlop.
The midfield battle
We are learning to become more team focused and it's a perfect opportunity for Boyd, Griff and the midfield team to run both ways up against Selwood, Bartel and Kelly. Picken can give them a bit of a chop out but I hope our midfeld share the defensive load.
They are struggling with the contested ball and it's our strength. I think we are going to be heavily motivated to really smash them in this department.
Crystal Ball says...
I think we will do well against them in contested situations but obviously we need to go up a cog with how we use these chances.
The big doubt is how we will go after consecutive 6 day breaks coming off a trip to Darwin when we already struggle with spread.
I see the Cats having a bit too much class around the ground for us, hope there isn't a blow out due to tired legs.
Cats by 5 goals.
should be a ripper! 
GO DOGS!!
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