Practice Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

[jeemak]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Thanks for the reports.

Great to hear that Shaun played well. When fit, he'd command a spot in any side in the league. If we can keep him that way we'll be a lot better for it.

Hearing Cooney got forward and kicked a few goals is great too. The big challenge for our progressing midfielders is to kick more goals more regularly. They have a lot of solid attributes, but goal kicking is the area that if improved upon, will make them a tougher unit to match up on.

[boydogs]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

The big challenge for our progressing midfielders is to kick more goals more regularly. They have a lot of solid attributes, but goal kicking is the area that if improved upon, will make them a tougher unit to match up on.

We're becoming a lot like West Coast circa 05/06

[Happy Days]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Cordy: Let's start with the positive: he took one great mark, arms fully extended, where he jumped off the ground and converted. Now the negatives: tl;dr

Amazing

[GVGjr]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Every season I find practise matches do not reflect how the team is going and what they will be like for the coming season. The players are not fully fit and the coaches are easing the team ready for the opening season.

Appreciate all the reports but i wouldn't take it too seriously at this stage. There are still a few weeks of training and getting ready for the real stuff.

I think we all understand that we shouldn't get carried away after any preseason practice game but I do believe it's more than okay to look for small wins within any result.

What I have enjoyed hearing is how Macrae has backed up 2 great performances in the NAB Challenge with another in the practice game and especially the fact that he had 10 tackles to compliment his 20 possession performance.

Wallis performing well on Murphy, Goodes bouncing back with a good game, Hunter stepping up as a dangerous small forward with Dahlhaus rested, Cooney continuing his good run of form and Higgins getting a lot of it are also some wins.

We all expect a hard season in 2014 and yes yesterday was just a practice game but small wins like that do encourage me.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

I think the biggest factor in pre season games is to show positive signs so that it will put more bums on seats for the main season.
And a big thank you to all the reports and write ups. A god send when you live interstate.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Thanks for the report TBB, great read.

Having watched our first 2 games and read the report for this one, I think the positives heading into this season are:-

Liberatore, hasn't slowed down at all.
Cooney is back and other sides should be mindful.
Stevens is set to be a big improver and we may walk away with a huge win from that trade.
Macrae is developing so much faster than I think any of us anticipated. Wanted him for a long time, very happy.
Higgins may have an impact this season which is a real bonus.
Honeychurch looks a great get.

The concerns are have we made enough improvement as a team with, our structures both defensively and offensively? Our transition and ball movement? Our ability to have enough outside the contest as well as in? Our concentration and ability to stay in the game by closing it down when we have to? Our ability to kick a winning score on a consistent basis?

We'll know more over the first 4 weeks of the season, and whilst we've done reasonably well so far and it appears some improvement will occur from last year, there's a lot more to go before we're a very strong side. I hadn't expected us to be a very strong side this year, so I'm not overly concerned as long as we can see improvements in our weaker areas across the entire season along with continued development of our players.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

I'll echo TBBs thoughts on the bigs -

Minson competed well - wouldn't say he dominated - the Carlton duo of Warnock and Kruezer look to have improved

Campbell - I was very disappointed, given how well he'd seemed to be tracking - terrific opportunity playing the whole game, didn't attack the footy as a forward - made some late contests, but was caught behind, out of position on occasions, then got bogged down in wrestling, and not competing.

Cordys highlight was the first quarter mark and he did not do enough there after, and was also pretty disappointing.

Both teams played big lineups giving a multitude of bigs opportunities.

Crameri - I think its over exaggerating to say he was terrible. TBB has suggested he wouldn't pick him, I think thats ridiculous based on what I saw. I do think we have to temper our expectations - he is not as accomplished a footballer as Barry Hall, that I completely agree, but few are. He still gets a fair bit of the footy and is frequently in the right spots. They experimented with him in the second sending him to the back line. He wasn't as clean overhead or with his disposal as he'll need to be. He tried to be that creative half forward link man and it didn't always work. He often tries to play on when we don't have options ahead of the ball, and I presume that is trying to give him a chance to really assert his running strength over his direct opponent. Im certain he will be a good contributor in 2014.

[The Underdog]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Thanks very much all for the reports all.
Overall the pre-season has been reasonably encouraging, for what it's worth, and is probably indicative of where we are at. A youngish side putting in a heap of effort but unable to sustain that effort for 4 quarters. Hopefully that will come in time. Pre-season form doesn't mean much it's true but I've certainly been less encouraged by pre-season's before. Although I think I'll wait 10 or 11 weeks before I hop on the Higgins train.

[Doc26]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Thanks for the post match perspectives from NBP, Bulldog Revolution and TBB. When I can't get to the game myself I always find it informative and invaluable to get a range of views from passionate Woofers with a keen eye for the game.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Just on Campbell, we had a few players that pulled up sore after the Freo game and were rested. Could Campbell have fallen under that category but they decided to give him game time. He is ahead of Cordy and maybe the two are playing for a spot as relief ruck. We don't know the full details on how players are going. Jones could have taken his spot but maybe like Grant he's been told he needs to work on some things first.

[wb_age]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Campbell - I was very disappointed, given how well he'd seemed to be tracking - terrific opportunity playing the whole game, didn't attack the footy as a forward - made some late contests, but was caught behind, out of position on occasions, then got bogged down in wrestling, and not competing.

I too was disappointed in Campbell's game. As you said, he was often caught behind his man.

I watched him closely and he rarely lead to the ball carrier and consistently called for it on top of his head or over the top, in my view it was as though he was taking the lazy option or too tired to actually get on his bike and work his man.

On one occasion though, from a beautiful Shaun Higgins kick, Campbell did actually float in from the side and took what became an uncontested mark.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

For all who could not be at the game today, here are some pictures of the match. I took the kids with me so I didn't bother to walk around so I only sat at one spot and randomly taking some shoots with my little camera (omd em-5 + 75mm lens).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111272802@N04/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111272802@N04/12987976753/lightbox/

Enjoy.

Great photos and great report TBB really appreciate everyone's input that's what I love about this site.

The TAB is on notice, when Cooney shaves the rest of his head I'll be on my way down.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Woof is still the best source for information. Thanks guys.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Some great write ups thanks, TBB very sharp perceptions. I got there halfway through the second quarter so missed the best bit.
Some impressions: Cooney is moving like the young Cooney. Higgins was consummate with reading the play and flight of the ball and composure with it. He was putting his body on the line and got crunched once that I saw. I had eyes for Honeychurch and he moves really well. He was at home out there and wanted the ball and provided leads and I think it was Roughie who felt confident to kick it to his lead and he took it. He will make it. Goodes will be in the team rnd 1. I had my arms and chin on the fence and there were two types of players out there: ones that were confident and saw opportunity and those that a shadow of doubt passed over when the ball was theirs to be had. Dickson twice, Cordy modus operandi and others but this is confidence and not reason to write them off.
Macrae is a star, such a natural yet hardworking consistent footballer. Can’t see Lachie Hunter being dropped from the team, here to stay. He knows how to beat an opponent and has smarts and skill. JJ Harbrow replacement, to use slack expression. So many good young players coming through, Roughie included of course and enough time overlap with Murphy , Boyd, Cooney to see success again in a couple of years.

[anfo27]

Re: Practise Match - Dogs vs Blues March 7 at 4pm Princes Park

Was also there yesterday but missed most of the 1st quarter which of course was our best quarter. Been really impressed with Macrae, knows where to run to get the footy, rarely wastes it & isn't afraid to put his body in. In for a big year & seems like someone who could get out of the loop this season & find a lot of uncontested footy.
Hunter is another that impresses me more & more every time i see him play. On a different wave length to most players & reminds me of Stevie J, just super clever.
Really like Jong, how he attacks the footy, his agility & fitness. Will get games this year.
Its just a great sight to see Cooney moving around like he is. The competition has forgotten how good he really is & hopefully they will be reminded on weekly basis.
Higgins does what Higgins always does in pre-season games & he was impressive. Hopefully this is a year where he delivers something.
Cordy, well what can i say about him thats positive? Nothing!!! He was horrible out there & has confidence issues. A couple of times the ball was kicked to him in pack situation & he kept looking around for another tall to contest it.
Goodes was sloppy again & think he has had a disappointing pre-season.
Pearce is one that hasn't done anything to make me think he will be kept on for next year. Big year for him in the twos if he wants a spot on the list.
Libba is just a gun. Finds the ball so easily & then is very clever with it. Libba is like a superhero, his hands are like a magnet & when the ball is close it always seems to have a gravitational pull towards those magical hands.
Liked what i saw from honey, kid is goer.
Campbell was disappointing, dropped quite a few marks i would expect him to take.
Can't wait for round 1!