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When and Where
Saturday 1st June
TIO Stadium, 7.40pm
Last 5 Times
2012 R12 Western Bulldogs 13.17 (95) dftd Port Adelaide 8.9 (57) Etihad Stadium
2011 R22 Port Adelaide 15.7 (97) lost to Western Bulldogs 24.13 (157) AAMI Stadium
2010 R16 Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) dftd Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) TIO Stadium
2009 R12 Western Bulldogs 21.11 (137) dftd Port Adelaide 7.2 (44) TIO Stadium
2008 R14 Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135) dftd Port Adelaide 11.15 (81) TIO Stadium
Key Stats
Port Adelaide Stat Western Bulldogs
12.9 Marks Inside 50 8.1
135 Contested Possessions 146.2
219 Uncontested Possessions 197.3
71.4% Effective Disposal % 69.9%
35.3 Clearances 39.2
10.4 Contested Marks 11.8
13.1 Centre Clearances 16.2
63 Tackles 62.9
Form leading in
Port Adelaide $1.62 WLLLL
After starting the season in cracking form the Power has crashed to a halt over the last four weeks, losing to Geelong, Carlton, Richmond and North after starting the season with good wins against against some lesser opponents or ones who hadn't hit their straps yet. Port will be desperate to get back on the winners list this week and will view this game as a great opportunity to do so.
Western Bulldogs $2.35 LLLLW
Well, after many a painful week we are back on the winners list after our hard fought win against St Kilda. We have been a patchy side this year, but have demonstrated that when we play well for long periods we can be a competitive team. We'll need to continue to strive for a consistent effort across the game but I think we would've taken some confidence out of last week and should be primed for what is another winnable game.
Line Ups (Round 10)
Western Bulldogs
B: Liam Picken, Michael Talia, Brett Goodes
HB: Jason Johannisen, Jordan Roughead, Dale Morris
C: Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Clay Smith
HF: Dylan Addison, Liam Jones, Robert Murphy
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Williams, Jake Stringer
Foll: Will Minson, Ryan Griffen, Nick Lower
Int: Daniel Giansiracusa, Mitch Wallis, Koby Stevens, Nathan Hrovat
Emerg: Jason Tutt, Lukas Markovic, Tom Campbell
Port Adelaide
B: Jack Hombsch, Alipate Carlile, Cameron O'Shea
HB: Tom Logan, Thomas Jonas, Hamish Hartlett
C: Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent
HF: Brad Ebert, John Butcher, Angus Monfries
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Oliver Wines, Chad Wingard
Int: Jake Neade, Campbell Heath, Kane Mitchell, Cameron Hitchcock
Emerg: Matthew Lobbe, Aaron Young, Paul Stewart
Key Matchups
Picken v Hartlett
I think this match up makes sense as Hartlett is a player who struggles under a hard tag. He is probably more a player who plays outside the contest at this stage and Liam is the best option. Keep Hamish quiet and it will drain Port of quality kicking and run and go a long way to setting up victory. For mine, he's their most damaging (yet inconsistent) player.
Lower v Boak
Boak is their most effective inside player at this stage and seems a good match up for Lower because he doesn't have break neck speed. I think Nick should be able to out body Boak around the stoppage and generally make his life miserable. Can't wait.
Roughead v Schultz
Schultz has developed into a consistent performer and will require a big bodied defender on him. It may well be we use Morris or Williams on Schultz and prefer to have Roughead play on Westhoff when he rolls forward, but I'd like to see us throw this challenge to Roughie.
Jones v Jonas
For mine, I'd play Williams forward which probably means Carlisle takes him. This will then mean Jones possibly gets a more favourable match up against Tom Jonas who is a developing key defender. Jones should have him in the size and strength department and could get a hold of him.
Griffen v Cornes
Expect it'll go this way. Cornes is having a very good season after many thought he was washed up after last year. He's still one of the better taggers getting around and can accumulate a lot of the ball himself. Griffen has improved his ability to deal with the tag significantly and with his added composure kicking goals must find ways to be damaging even if he can't rack up 30 touches and 10 clearances. Cornes won't like playing on Griff deep forward.
Where the game will be won and lost
Ball handling- The conditions always play a big part in Darwin and whoever is able to grab hold of the soapy ball and maintain control of it will go a long way to winning. We really need to be clean and take the ball first time. We need to be adaptable that if conditions require we soccer it forward, kick long etc. We didn't adapt well last time we played in the wet against the Crows and I hope we do better in slippery conditions this week.
Spread - As always the spread is super important. We have been a dominant centre clearance side in the AFL this year (second only to Hawthorn) and we simply must continue to get reward for clearances. We need to spread well and force Port to waste their energy chasing our tails. Port have a few players who can damage when given space and time, so we need to be mindful of their spread too.
Will Minson - I'm confident Will can clean up again this week and throw his weight around. I'd love to see him drift forward and demand the ball as I think Port will struggle defensively to match him up. As he has demonstrated this year, his hit out and clearance work is top notch and I can't see any of Port's big men matching him.
Verdict
The Dogs will be confident after last weeks win against the Saints and the Power are ripe for the picking. I expect we'll win this one in a tightly fought game. I think the conditions should suit out hard nosed midfield and expect we can wear the Power down contest by contest. It's a good opportunity for our tall forwards with Trengove out so hopefully one of our key forwards can kick a bag.
Western Bulldogs by 17 points
Saturday 1st June
TIO Stadium, 7.40pm
Last 5 Times
2012 R12 Western Bulldogs 13.17 (95) dftd Port Adelaide 8.9 (57) Etihad Stadium
2011 R22 Port Adelaide 15.7 (97) lost to Western Bulldogs 24.13 (157) AAMI Stadium
2010 R16 Western Bulldogs 12.11 (83) dftd Port Adelaide 7.5 (47) TIO Stadium
2009 R12 Western Bulldogs 21.11 (137) dftd Port Adelaide 7.2 (44) TIO Stadium
2008 R14 Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135) dftd Port Adelaide 11.15 (81) TIO Stadium
Key Stats
Port Adelaide Stat Western Bulldogs
12.9 Marks Inside 50 8.1
135 Contested Possessions 146.2
219 Uncontested Possessions 197.3
71.4% Effective Disposal % 69.9%
35.3 Clearances 39.2
10.4 Contested Marks 11.8
13.1 Centre Clearances 16.2
63 Tackles 62.9
Form leading in
Port Adelaide $1.62 WLLLL
After starting the season in cracking form the Power has crashed to a halt over the last four weeks, losing to Geelong, Carlton, Richmond and North after starting the season with good wins against against some lesser opponents or ones who hadn't hit their straps yet. Port will be desperate to get back on the winners list this week and will view this game as a great opportunity to do so.
Western Bulldogs $2.35 LLLLW
Well, after many a painful week we are back on the winners list after our hard fought win against St Kilda. We have been a patchy side this year, but have demonstrated that when we play well for long periods we can be a competitive team. We'll need to continue to strive for a consistent effort across the game but I think we would've taken some confidence out of last week and should be primed for what is another winnable game.
Line Ups (Round 10)
Western Bulldogs
B: Liam Picken, Michael Talia, Brett Goodes
HB: Jason Johannisen, Jordan Roughead, Dale Morris
C: Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Clay Smith
HF: Dylan Addison, Liam Jones, Robert Murphy
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Williams, Jake Stringer
Foll: Will Minson, Ryan Griffen, Nick Lower
Int: Daniel Giansiracusa, Mitch Wallis, Koby Stevens, Nathan Hrovat
Emerg: Jason Tutt, Lukas Markovic, Tom Campbell
Port Adelaide
B: Jack Hombsch, Alipate Carlile, Cameron O'Shea
HB: Tom Logan, Thomas Jonas, Hamish Hartlett
C: Kane Cornes, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent
HF: Brad Ebert, John Butcher, Angus Monfries
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff
Foll: Jarrad Redden, Oliver Wines, Chad Wingard
Int: Jake Neade, Campbell Heath, Kane Mitchell, Cameron Hitchcock
Emerg: Matthew Lobbe, Aaron Young, Paul Stewart
Key Matchups
Picken v Hartlett
I think this match up makes sense as Hartlett is a player who struggles under a hard tag. He is probably more a player who plays outside the contest at this stage and Liam is the best option. Keep Hamish quiet and it will drain Port of quality kicking and run and go a long way to setting up victory. For mine, he's their most damaging (yet inconsistent) player.
Lower v Boak
Boak is their most effective inside player at this stage and seems a good match up for Lower because he doesn't have break neck speed. I think Nick should be able to out body Boak around the stoppage and generally make his life miserable. Can't wait.
Roughead v Schultz
Schultz has developed into a consistent performer and will require a big bodied defender on him. It may well be we use Morris or Williams on Schultz and prefer to have Roughead play on Westhoff when he rolls forward, but I'd like to see us throw this challenge to Roughie.
Jones v Jonas
For mine, I'd play Williams forward which probably means Carlisle takes him. This will then mean Jones possibly gets a more favourable match up against Tom Jonas who is a developing key defender. Jones should have him in the size and strength department and could get a hold of him.
Griffen v Cornes
Expect it'll go this way. Cornes is having a very good season after many thought he was washed up after last year. He's still one of the better taggers getting around and can accumulate a lot of the ball himself. Griffen has improved his ability to deal with the tag significantly and with his added composure kicking goals must find ways to be damaging even if he can't rack up 30 touches and 10 clearances. Cornes won't like playing on Griff deep forward.
Where the game will be won and lost
Ball handling- The conditions always play a big part in Darwin and whoever is able to grab hold of the soapy ball and maintain control of it will go a long way to winning. We really need to be clean and take the ball first time. We need to be adaptable that if conditions require we soccer it forward, kick long etc. We didn't adapt well last time we played in the wet against the Crows and I hope we do better in slippery conditions this week.
Spread - As always the spread is super important. We have been a dominant centre clearance side in the AFL this year (second only to Hawthorn) and we simply must continue to get reward for clearances. We need to spread well and force Port to waste their energy chasing our tails. Port have a few players who can damage when given space and time, so we need to be mindful of their spread too.
Will Minson - I'm confident Will can clean up again this week and throw his weight around. I'd love to see him drift forward and demand the ball as I think Port will struggle defensively to match him up. As he has demonstrated this year, his hit out and clearance work is top notch and I can't see any of Port's big men matching him.
Verdict
The Dogs will be confident after last weeks win against the Saints and the Power are ripe for the picking. I expect we'll win this one in a tightly fought game. I think the conditions should suit out hard nosed midfield and expect we can wear the Power down contest by contest. It's a good opportunity for our tall forwards with Trengove out so hopefully one of our key forwards can kick a bag.
Western Bulldogs by 17 points
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