Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Do or die for Redpath, he just might benefit from our VFL side by having a dedicated role and playing at the higher level of the VFL.
Does he come under the big man scenario in which it takes longer to develop. He is a good size for a player but needed to get more of the ball.

[Maddog37]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Boyd was excellent late in the game. Jong was very good and I thought Pearce whilst making a few mistakes, took the game on and showed some dash.

[Mofra]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Bout 3k maybe hard to tell lol actually perfect night for watching footy breeze

Just thought I'd mention the paper says the crowd was 2900 so that turned out to be a good estimate

[soupman]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Not a bad performance, weather didn't really make for a good game.

Dahlhaus and Hunter are going to be very dangerous off half forward this year. Two players that are very dangerous running towards goal, are very good crumbers and I never really feel like they are out of the contest.

Very happy with Talia's game, he positions himself for intercepts really well and he and Stringer both play in front for the rushed kicks that fall short that should be pretty plentiful with the contested style we play.

Cordy looks noticeably stronger physically and competed pretty well, there's hope yet.

Stevens was very physical around the contest and was probably the leader in the shrugged tackles department, of which there were a lot of our players. It was pleasing to see us get our hands free in almost every Saints tackle and completely wrap them up going the other way.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Solid first hit out, and whilst it wasn't a consistent performance, there was a lot to like in patches and most players who took the field all had a few positive moments.

Without trying to rehash to much of what has already been said, for me the positives were:-

Stringer - looks a different shape, looks thinner in the face (maybe that's the hair?) but looks more ready to have a consistent impact this season. His leap and attack on the ball in the air is very impressive, very clever player, looks set for a good second season.

Hunter - so clever, composed and just thinks his way through situations so well for such a young player.

Campbell - continued his great attack on the footy, really going to be hard to match up on him for opposition sides.

Macrae - some clever short passes, more prepared to see ball/win ball - looks set for a big year.

Cooney - looked good, again some clever work by foot and looks like he could be in for a big year.

Stevens - played a very tough game, looked clean with his disposal and looks in good shape physically - thought he looked a tad quicker than he did at times last year. He can become an important cog for us. (Edit - just had a look at the stats - 95% efficiency! Incredible in those conditions)

Overall our contested and clearance work was again solid, our entries into F50 looked better, with players leading to the ball, creating a contest and crumbers well positioned to take advantage. We also looked to find players with short passes who were leading into space.

Looking forward to getting along to Etihad next week for our next match.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

It's interesting seeing Boyd and Cooney with the longer hair, running freely. That Boyd grab from the pack and snap took me back in time. Running freely and enjoying his footy. Looking good Matty.

[always right]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

A little surprised at the positive reviews of Cooney's game. I thought he spent most of the night fumbling....no doubt contributed to by the conditions. One other observation....could not believe how much bigger Campbell is, particularly in the legs. He's going to be a difficult match up.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Dahl seemed to be running even faster, now he's not weighed down by all that hair.

[Scraggers]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

I watched the second half live, and then the first half on replay.

St.Kilda are in for a world of hurt over the next season and a bit ... Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

Like others on here, impressed with the younger brigade. Our centre will be led by Libba jnr. ... I predict he will be All Australian for the next five years to come (at least) ... He is a jet !!!

I've been a big critic of Boyd; but the fact that we are so much stronger in the guts, he has been freed from the tag he used to always get. The goal he kicked in the last taking the ball straight from the ruck contest really blew the game away from the Aints.

Big fan of Tom Campbell !!!

Crameri looked to be more of a cling-on, not really understanding our play or our players nuances. He'll get there and will be a great addition. I was surprised that Stringer looked just as big as him.

Good first hit out ... looking forward to round 1

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

I watched the game on Foxtel from go to whoa. Observations:
- first quarter impressive. as Macca said before the game the conditions meant a lot of structures and approaches to play we have been practicing all summer were deemed irrelevant by the weather and conditions but none-the-less in the first quarter you could see a lot on display.
- Campbell, hunter showed what they could do. I expect they will at times this season but also go missing at other times. Maybe next year we could expect consistent output.
- dalhaus looked a cut above it and stepped into the game with class when needed.
- cooney, morris, boyd looked like just easing into thing as you'd expect.
- steven and especially macrae might have taken a step towards consistent better output.
- talia will be a terrific CHB for a long time.
- I was impressed with Jong. Right spots, big body, strong, good tackles, seemed to keep going all game. Would have been in the bests if he'd taken that mark in the last and dobbed the sealing goal.
- dunno what to make of Redpath. My first thought when he was on the ground was 'why is this guy on the list still?' but then he seemed to bob up in the right places regularly and his speed to get back when the saints were running onto goal in the last was impressive. Looked like a rabbit in headlights when he had to dispose of the ball though.
- saints for the spoon this year. behind GWS IMHO.

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

I thought that was as well as I've seen Matty Boyd play for a while.

[always right]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

I thought that was as well as I've seen Matty Boyd play for a while.

Couldn't agree more. A couple of clangers but dare I say he was one player who showed some poise in difficult conditions. We forget how good a player he can be and it looks like he could sneak under the radar of teams as their focus turns to Griff and Libba.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

Always great to have a win over the saints. Impressive first qtr pity we couldnt sustain it. Just hope this injury run doesnt continue, Hrovat another one :-( On the plus side depth is looking very good.

And just have to say can't believe how good Libba is!!! :-)

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

I thought that was as well as I've seen Matty Boyd play for a while.

think he will benefit from libba and griffen becoming our opposition's no 1 targets for being tagged. i noticed that happening a bit late in 2013.

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day NAB Challenge - Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda

They showed Brett Goodes playing almost like a goalkeeper a couple times last night. Standing in the goal square when there was a contest. Just like an old fashioned fullback.