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Kinda ironic that throwing Sweet up forward and moving Glass-McCasker primarily into the ruck was a big turning point. We went in super undersized though, I think the vast majority of the team was 6 feet or under.
IMO Glass-McCasker a better ruck than Sweet. Bodied up to Sinclair when Sweet wouldn’t. Also follows up after the tap
He's close to being an AFL level player. I wonder if we will give him a chance?
Hope so. He was on Carltons rookie list for three years without a game during the disastrous Bolton era. Bolton even refused to play Harry McKay until forced by public pressure
The Footscray Bulldogs have produced an unbelievable comeback, kicking six unanswered goals to overrun the Sydney Swans and claim a seven-point win at VU Whitten Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs were at one stage 39 points behind the Swans – and trailed by 36 points early in the final term.
But they showed plenty of spirit, fighting back to run out 11.18 (84) to 11.11 (77) victors and remain unbeaten in 2021.
With the aid of a strong breeze, the Bulldogs set sail in the last quarter. Ben Cavarra kicked the first – and final – goal of the fightback. Jordon Sweet, Josh Schache, Toby McLean and Pat Lipinski also contributed majors.
Lipinski’s goal levelled the scores at the 31-minute mark of the last quarter. A rushed behind from a Hayden Crozier effort three minutes later put the Bulldogs in front, before Cavarra’s goal-line toe-poke sealed it as 35 minutes ticked over on the clock.
They fought off a Sydney side that controlled most of the game. The Swans came out in full force from the start, booting six goals to one in the first term, while holding the ‘Scray to two majors at half time.
Pat Lipinski put together an incredible performance – collecting 35 disposals, six clearances and the clutch goal to level the scores in the dying moments of the game.
Will Hayes (33 disposals) again found plenty of the ball, while Josh Schache (15 disposals, 11 marks, one goal) was important floating between attack and defence.
Big man Jordon Sweet (31 hit-outs, two goals) was important in the ruck and around the ground, while Louis Butler (25 disposals, five tackles, seven marks) and Hayden Crozier (23 disposals, seven marks) were influential in defence and stood tall in the dying moments of the game.
Skipper Lachie Sullivan (21 disposals, five tackles) led from the front, while Toby McLean (20 disposals) and Robbie McComb (19 disposals) won seven clearances each. Cavarra and Rhylee West finished with two goals apiece.
The ‘Scray will hit the road next weekend, travelling north to take on the Gold Coast Suns. Details for the game are still to be confirmed.
FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 1.0 2.6 5.10 11.18 (84)
SYDNEY SWANS 6.6 8.8 10.10 11.11 (77)
Goals
Footscray Bulldogs: Cavarra 2, Sweet 2, West 2, Glass-McCasker, Lipinski, McLean, Schache, Smith
Best
Footscray Bulldogs: Lipinski, Hayes, Butler, Sweet, Crozier, Sullivan, McLean, West
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
“Hayden was very sound defensively for us. He was under immense pressure in the first quarter and had to defend 21 entries, but his ability to jump into contests and knock people over throughout the whole game was outstanding. He was really important for us, not only behind the ball as a defender, but also when he swung forward late. His experience and knowledge of the game helped us calm down in those critical moments.”
Josh Schache
15 disposals (14 kicks), 11 marks, one goal
“Schack’s ability to swing between playing forward and defence in those sort of wind conditions was great. He was able to intercept a couple of times as a defender, and kept giving us a target ahead of the ball when we were playing a bit of a shorter forward line – he was a really important focal point for us, and brought the ball to ground to help our smalls go to work.”
Rhylee West
17 disposals, seven tackles, two goals
“Westy split his time between forward and mid – when he went to a more permanent on-ball role in the second half, he helped win the ball back and wrestle some momentum our way. He got the ball into some dangerous territory which allowed us to score, but for him to also hit the scoreboard a couple of times going against the wind, was really important.”
Toby McLean
20 disposals, five tackles, seven clearances, one goal
“It was really hard for our mids to compete early – we lost control of the centre bounce, but Toby worked his way into the game in the second half with multiple source-pressure efforts. Some of those resulted in turnovers, which we then scored off the back of them. His work inside late with his hands, and his ability to get us to the outside were the features of his game.”
Louis Butler
25 disposals, seven marks, five tackles
“Louis did what he always does - running goal-line to goal-line to help us attack and defend the ground. There were probably a few kicks he might like to have back, but his ability to jump into aerial contests showed real growth. A couple of big aerial marks late in the game too were telling for us.”
Buku Khamis
13 disposals (11 kicks), seven intercepts, five marks, three rebound 50s
“Again, Buku had to defend plenty of entries – he weathered a lot of the storm against some really tall Sydney forwards. He did a great job, with several intercept marks and plenty of spoils. His ability to just repel entry after entry was really important for us, and he was really brave in the air - under high, swirly balls he marked calmy and comfortably.”
Ben Cavarra
15 disposals, four inside 50s, two goals
“It was pretty tough around the ball early for Cav – it’s a hard day as a forward when the ball isn’t coming to ground and Sydney is marking everything. To his credit though, he worked really hard and had four shots on goal in the last quarter – one of those which got us across the line. His ability to win big one-on-one contests, against larger opponents at times, was a real feature of his game.”
Dom Bedendo
Eight disposals, four marks
“Dom had a bit of a quiet day – it was hard for the talls in those sort of conditions and with big-bodied defenders playing on him. He still stayed in it though - late in the game, he was really important for us linking the ball from defence to offence and into our forward 50, which helped us ultimately win the game.”
Patrick Lipinski
36 disposals, four marks, seven clearances, one goal
“Same as Toby, because we had no stoppage dominance early Lippa had to work really hard for his possessions. In saying that, he had a massive second half with 24 touches and six clearances. His ability to just work from contest and get us from inside to outside, while continually putting pressure on, was brilliant.”
Will Hayes
35 disposals, 11 marks, three tackles
“This was probably one of Hayesy’s better games for us. He used the ball really well, his positioning at stoppages was very good, and he helped us defend and attack. His ability to help us set up the ground, especially late, was also very good.”
Roarke Smith
21 disposals, four marks, one goal
“This was probably Roarke’s best game for the year. His ability to dominate aerial contests both in front and behind the ball, jump into their talls, and also help us move from contest with his hands and feet was great. He played a really well-rounded game – it was great to see him hit the scoreboard and have a little bit more of an offensive flair.”
Jordon Sweet
10 disposals, four marks, 31 hit-outs, two goals
“It was a very tough start to the game for Sweety. He gave away a few free kicks early, but to his credit, his ability to work back into the game in the second half as a forward and a ruck was really important for us. He really evened up our clearance work and gave us some follow-up, and took some marks up forward and converted which was a great turnaround for him. It was something he’ll take great confidence from.”
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
Second week in a row Schache has been lauded for intercept defending. I sure hope we leave him at full forward to never get promoted as a full forward again.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
Second week in a row Schache has been lauded for intercept defending. I sure hope we leave him at full forward to never get promoted as a full forward again.
What a fortnight it's been for those of us riding the 'Schache to defence' bandwagon.
Our 1954 premiership players are our heroes, and it has to be said that Charlie was their hero.
What a fortnight it's been for those of us riding the 'Schache to defence' bandwagon.
Yep. Surely they’re talking about this internally and not just putting it media releases. The sooner the move happens the sooner we get to see the full time results. Who knows, it might just give us another option in September. If Gardner doesn’t get back to fitness in time and one of our KPDs go down, we are going to need an option to defend three headed monster attacks. For a guy whose reputation is about throwing players around, Bevo seems to be slow to this party.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
I would really like to see Schache play like Richardson in his final year, just a hard running marking leading forward type around the ground. Help out in defence when needed and run forward as a marking option. Its his only way to survive in this game as his not a permanent forward.
You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus
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