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When and Where
Saturday, July 21st
7:40pm
Etihad Stadium
Last time they met
Round 16 2011
Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) Defeated
Carlton 9.15 (69)
Form leading in
Western Bulldogs- LWLLL
Carlton- LLLWL
Western Bulldogs
2012 began as the year of hope, a new dawn if you will, but 2012 has slowly become the year of demise and despair with some supporters now comparing our current situation to the Rhode era. Starting the season off relative well the Bulldogs were competitive in all games for most parts (bar one or two). However since round ten the club as a whole has looked to be going through the motions and has been smashed from pillar to post on the field and off the field.
The main focus for 2012 has been to win the contested possession which they have mastered, but as a result the bulldogs are continually struggling to run and spread to the next contest, coupled with poor skill level and a lack of quick ball movement has made the bulldogs a very easy team to score against.
On the flip side, poor skills and slow ball movement has made it extremely difficult for the forwards to kick a score, let alone a winning score. Over the last 5 weeks the dogs have averaged a poultry 59.2 points per game, even more damning is in last 3 outings the dogs have not kicked over 8 goals.
Carlton
After winning the 2011 elimination final (their first final win in 10 years) and narrowly losing the next week by less than a kick to the Eagles in Perth, going into the 2012 season expectation was high for the Carlton football club to finally push back into the top four.
Early on in the season from the outside looking in they were on track only losing one game in their first six (round 4 loss to Essendon). Since then the wheels have well and truly fallen off, wining only 2 out of their last 9 games and now it is likely coach Brett Ratten will be looking for a new gig come the end of 2012. Injuries to key players Marc Murphy (before his injury close to the best player in the league), Jarrod Waite, Andrew Carrazzo and role players Jerrmery Laidler and Lachie Henderson have exposed Carlton’s lack of quality depth.
With Waite hardly getting on the park Carlton have toyed with a make shift forward line, rotating 3 ruckman deep forward with limited success (sound familiar?)
As per previous seasons Carlton have had to rely on quick ball movement & clean skills (think Yarran, Murphy, Duigen, Gibbs) and using their leg speed (think Yarran, Gartlett, Betts, Walker) to advantage across the ground and to try and kick a winning score.
Key Match Ups
Cross V Murphy
With no Waite and Judd there is no doubt Murphy is Carlton most important player. Our 3 options to go with Murphy are either Boyd, Cross or Picken. For the bulldogs to have any chance of kicking a winning score we need to take the game on more which means Cross gets the gig which will allow Boyd to hurt Carlton offensively (fingers crossed) and Picken will be required to curb Yarran’s run from defence.
This will be Murphy’s second game back after a long layoff and may be a bit worse for wear. Cross will have no trouble keeping up with Murphy aerobically and may even be able to hurt Murphy offensively later in the game as Murphy tires.
Picken V Yarran
When Carlton plays well normally it is due to Yarran’s run and carry off the half back line. For the dogs to win it is critical we don’t allow Yarran any time or space and the best man for that job is Liam Picken. When Yarran see’s Picken coming for him Yarran will know he is in for a tough night and this will play on his mind.
Hargrave / ?? V Betts/Gartlett
Trying to contain Betts and Gartlett will be our biggest issue. Don’t be surprised to see photos of Betts and Gartlett in the Sunday papers after kicking 8 between them and getting Carlton over the line. Hargrave in the past has been ideally suited to pick up Betts, now perhaps not, but reality is he is currently our best option. We really are struggling for agile small defenders who have the ability to go with the small forward who is either quick or a strong mark.
Griffen V Carrazzo
Carrazzo is Carlton’s best stopper, so expect him to go to Griffen. The big worry for Griffen is Carrazzo is also a ball magnet in his own right so Griffen will have to also worry about Carrazzo when Carlton have the footy. This is a major challenge for Griffen to not only work hard going offensively but also to work just as hard defensively.
Who will Win and Why?
For the Bulldogs to have any chance they need to be able to score a minimum of 12-15 goals, which on recent form will be difficult. If the Bulldogs can move the ball quickly into their forward line on a regular basis they have smart enough players (think Higgins, Giansiracusa, Dickson) to put the Carlton defense under pressure. Tom Williams should start forward again as he was lively last week presented well and made space for his fellow forwards. With Kruzer as Carlton’s only recognised ruckman, (my understanding Warnock is still suspended) this is a great opportunity for Minson to really work Kreuzer over and push forward at every opportunity. As always the midfield for either side will be the key and whoever is able to provide their forward line with continual supply most likely will win the game.
The bulldogs have a real opportunity to win this game, Carlton is not in great form and are missing key players through injury and suspension, however due to our very poor performances recently I cannot see our ball use improving dramatically enough to kick a winning score.
Carlton by 23 points.
Saturday, July 21st
7:40pm
Etihad Stadium
Last time they met
Round 16 2011
Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) Defeated
Carlton 9.15 (69)
Form leading in
Western Bulldogs- LWLLL
Carlton- LLLWL
Western Bulldogs
2012 began as the year of hope, a new dawn if you will, but 2012 has slowly become the year of demise and despair with some supporters now comparing our current situation to the Rhode era. Starting the season off relative well the Bulldogs were competitive in all games for most parts (bar one or two). However since round ten the club as a whole has looked to be going through the motions and has been smashed from pillar to post on the field and off the field.
The main focus for 2012 has been to win the contested possession which they have mastered, but as a result the bulldogs are continually struggling to run and spread to the next contest, coupled with poor skill level and a lack of quick ball movement has made the bulldogs a very easy team to score against.
On the flip side, poor skills and slow ball movement has made it extremely difficult for the forwards to kick a score, let alone a winning score. Over the last 5 weeks the dogs have averaged a poultry 59.2 points per game, even more damning is in last 3 outings the dogs have not kicked over 8 goals.
Carlton
After winning the 2011 elimination final (their first final win in 10 years) and narrowly losing the next week by less than a kick to the Eagles in Perth, going into the 2012 season expectation was high for the Carlton football club to finally push back into the top four.
Early on in the season from the outside looking in they were on track only losing one game in their first six (round 4 loss to Essendon). Since then the wheels have well and truly fallen off, wining only 2 out of their last 9 games and now it is likely coach Brett Ratten will be looking for a new gig come the end of 2012. Injuries to key players Marc Murphy (before his injury close to the best player in the league), Jarrod Waite, Andrew Carrazzo and role players Jerrmery Laidler and Lachie Henderson have exposed Carlton’s lack of quality depth.
With Waite hardly getting on the park Carlton have toyed with a make shift forward line, rotating 3 ruckman deep forward with limited success (sound familiar?)
As per previous seasons Carlton have had to rely on quick ball movement & clean skills (think Yarran, Murphy, Duigen, Gibbs) and using their leg speed (think Yarran, Gartlett, Betts, Walker) to advantage across the ground and to try and kick a winning score.
Key Match Ups
Cross V Murphy
With no Waite and Judd there is no doubt Murphy is Carlton most important player. Our 3 options to go with Murphy are either Boyd, Cross or Picken. For the bulldogs to have any chance of kicking a winning score we need to take the game on more which means Cross gets the gig which will allow Boyd to hurt Carlton offensively (fingers crossed) and Picken will be required to curb Yarran’s run from defence.
This will be Murphy’s second game back after a long layoff and may be a bit worse for wear. Cross will have no trouble keeping up with Murphy aerobically and may even be able to hurt Murphy offensively later in the game as Murphy tires.
Picken V Yarran
When Carlton plays well normally it is due to Yarran’s run and carry off the half back line. For the dogs to win it is critical we don’t allow Yarran any time or space and the best man for that job is Liam Picken. When Yarran see’s Picken coming for him Yarran will know he is in for a tough night and this will play on his mind.
Hargrave / ?? V Betts/Gartlett
Trying to contain Betts and Gartlett will be our biggest issue. Don’t be surprised to see photos of Betts and Gartlett in the Sunday papers after kicking 8 between them and getting Carlton over the line. Hargrave in the past has been ideally suited to pick up Betts, now perhaps not, but reality is he is currently our best option. We really are struggling for agile small defenders who have the ability to go with the small forward who is either quick or a strong mark.
Griffen V Carrazzo
Carrazzo is Carlton’s best stopper, so expect him to go to Griffen. The big worry for Griffen is Carrazzo is also a ball magnet in his own right so Griffen will have to also worry about Carrazzo when Carlton have the footy. This is a major challenge for Griffen to not only work hard going offensively but also to work just as hard defensively.
Who will Win and Why?
For the Bulldogs to have any chance they need to be able to score a minimum of 12-15 goals, which on recent form will be difficult. If the Bulldogs can move the ball quickly into their forward line on a regular basis they have smart enough players (think Higgins, Giansiracusa, Dickson) to put the Carlton defense under pressure. Tom Williams should start forward again as he was lively last week presented well and made space for his fellow forwards. With Kruzer as Carlton’s only recognised ruckman, (my understanding Warnock is still suspended) this is a great opportunity for Minson to really work Kreuzer over and push forward at every opportunity. As always the midfield for either side will be the key and whoever is able to provide their forward line with continual supply most likely will win the game.
The bulldogs have a real opportunity to win this game, Carlton is not in great form and are missing key players through injury and suspension, however due to our very poor performances recently I cannot see our ball use improving dramatically enough to kick a winning score.
Carlton by 23 points.
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