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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
A few post match. observations
A good hit out today for the Footscray boys. With only 3 senior Bulldogs playing they were up against as many as 10 AFL listed players from Norf. As mentioned earlier Norf looked bigger, stronger and generally quicker than our VFL team today. The conditions were hot and a strong blustery wind towards the Geelong Rd end.
Missing regulars from 2023 - O'Sullivan, Macpherson, Garner, Goater, Chatfield and Drummond
1st quarter was all Norf. The Dogs would have only gone inside 50 a small number of times. Montgomerie, playing CHF, took a nice mark and goaled from about 30m. All the play was at the other end though. O'Donnell was the only key position player we had in defence. He did well but there was only so much he could do with the amount of ball coming in
2nd quarter was all Dogs. Our midfield led by Macrea and Garcia dominated. Orgilll and Kellett off half back were good contributors as well. No.76 slotted a nice set shot from the boundary to kick start the come back. Chan Hargrave playing at FF snapped a nice one from near boundary about 35m out. This was followed up by a couple of long bombs by Cooper-Peters and Kellett on the run. Phoenix Spicer put us in front with a clever crumbing snap and finally Owen goaled from a free in the ruck contest. There didn't seem to be much system in the way we brought it forward. None of our 6 2nd term goals came from a lead and mark or any identifiable set up. We just got it in there any old how and snapped or bombed. we lead 7.0.42 to 5.5.35
3rd Quarter with Norf running with the wind we held them up really well till around 1/2 way through the quarter. Macrae using his smart to hold up play and take time kicking into the wind. Keepings off style and using up the clock. However it came undone as the term wore on. Poor distribution by foot led to turnover which cost goals. Some of these unforced (yes I'm looking at you Bianco). Norf capitalised and never looked back.
4th Quarter - The Dogs tried to rally but unlike the 2nd quarter they played more indirect and again poor disposal with the wind made it difficult for the forwards. Spicer snapped his 2nd and was our only multiple goalkicker today. Garcia added a well deserved goal to finish off our scoring.
I'm glad Garcia reminded us what a good footballer he is.
A couple of Rants
Why does our Football dept not take the VFL team seriously in it's recruiting????? Our team (for years) is constantly filled with smallish, slowish players, most of whom don't seem to have a specialised position. There were lots of them out there today. We had no;
Back Up Ruckman to support Owen. We used our FF Hargrave in that role. This is a guy who hasn't played for 10 years and does not have the experience, the body shape or nous to play ruck against AFL listed players.
We had no Key Position Forwards - None. Hargrave and Montgomerie are not KP players even at VFL level
We had no Key Backs - O'Donnell aside no one from Footscray that I would see as being a key defender.
But the team was chockers with all these smaller blokes. Surely there are KP players who are VFL capable out there. Even if it fresh recruits from the Coates League. I was hoping Caleb Lewis would be out there today but there was no sign of him. I'd rather lose by 10 goals in a game like today's with KP players in KP positions. Surely it will help our structure. I saw our midfielders look up and see no one to kick to today and ended up bombing or going to the pockets.
One smaller player they might have got right is Phoenix Spicer. He kicked 2 clever roving goals today playing primarily as a small forward. He seemed to know what he was doing despite not having any talls to work off.
My Biggest Rant is why did the ice cream van leave before full time?? What a tosser.Listening to Brahm's 3rd RacketComment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
Doc, I have to agree that our recruiting for Footscray hasn't been great. Today we didn't have enough taller players and the smaller mids didn't posses powerful kicks. When 190cm Montomerie was thrown into the ruck it was a real sign we were undermanned.
Sure players like Lachlan Smith, Bedendo and Gardner would have helped fill out the side but there is certainly a real sameness of the players we currently have.
My Rant is that why hasn't the website been updated with VFL player details?Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
I would have thought that there is not normally much demand for the KPP as we normally have the AFL surplus.
Where would be play them when we have the normal games. They just aren't going to be played ahead of the AFL listed who must play when they aren't playing at senior level.
Those KPP are better suited going to the non aligned clubs where they get to compete with AFL listed players throughout the season.Life is to be Enjoyed not EnduredComment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
Surely Smith should have rucked?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.Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
All player data on club websites including VFL, SANFL and WAFL is sourced from Champion Data APIs so it really won't change until CD update their database with the 2024 squads. As the 2024 VFL season is still two weeks away I suspect that we won't see that update for another week or so.
That doesn't mean the club couldn't' have posted a news article with the squad list but we've never been big on providing details of our VFL/VFLW programs.
I noticed that today we were still wearing our 2023 jumpers so there is still quite a bit to do in terms of admin for the VFL program.Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
Re the key position players, I’m sure the recruiting considers our AFL listed depth?
As an example,
We’ll have Keath, Gardner, Buss and Buku playing down back normally based on how most are predicting our AFL side will be named?
We’ll also have Darcy, Croft, up front and I’m sure I'm forgetting someone else who may play some minutes there (or maybe it’s one of the defenders who does).
We really need our developing players in these key positions, so I’m ok with not having a bunch of them in the Footscray squad taking all the minutes / ownership.
If you were a VFL level player / hoping to push for a list spot, you’d be ignoring our side.Last edited by Go_Dogs; 11-03-2024, 06:05 AM.Have you heard Butters wants to come to the Dogs?Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
I guess the issue then is the quality of the players we think we need to fill the gaps. Everyone would agree we need pacey outside runners, a genuine small forward and a lockdown defender. If we're flush with talls during the season usual then we need to make sure we have the best quality cover we can find in those abovementioned spots.
What I can gather from Doc's post is there's improvement required.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
Based on the media day photos, Chatfield is our captain and is going to be wearing 51.Comment
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Re: Footscray FC VFL 2024
VFL List announced with heights
Returning Players
Josh Chatfield (191cms)
Sam Willoughby (180cms)
Daniel Orgill (185cms)
Josh Kellett (181cms)
Cooper Craig-Peters (179cms)
Will Lewis (195cms)
Jarrod Gilbee (177cms)
Chance Doultree (183cms)
Connor Smith (175cms)
Ethan Hunt (180cms)
Kai Stretton (180cms)
Angus Bade (191cms)
Cameron Kizan (183cms)
Tristan Maple (182cms)
Bailey Young (193cms)
New Additions
Trent Bianco (181cms)
Rhett Montgomerie (190cms)
Billy Crofts (188cms)
Cooper Dahms (181cms)
Cameron Owen (203cms)
Phoenix Spicer (173cms)
Lachlan Macarthur (189cms)
Charlie Naish (190cms)
Diesel Moloney (180cms)
Tom McRae (186cms)
Chan Hargraves (194cms)
I'm still a little worried regarding our defence as the only new tall defender we picked up was Montgomerie and even then 190cms is basically a tall medium defender or a short tall defender. That midsize is never great if you don't have great qualities.
Crofts is a player from Geelong VFL, found a post regarding him from his Melton FC days talking about his line breaking speed.
Dahms has come to us from Nightcliff in the NT and formerly from Central Districts so we know he looks good in Bulldog colours, averaged 22 touches and kicked 11 goals from 8 games.
Cameron Owens is a ruck from the Swans.
Spicer is a small forward from North.
Macarthur is a utility from the Western Jets, he kicked 13 goals in 15 games before transitioning to the back 50. Strengths are his athleticism and aerial capabilities but his downsides are his endurance and production. Earned a late invite to the Combine last year
Naish is a hard running utility from the Northern Knights.
Moloney captained the Western Jets last year, running machine with good skills.
Tom McRae came to us from Casey, can't really tell much of him.
Chan Hargraves is a basketball convert. Hadn't picked up a football in ten years until two years ago, kicked 64 goals for the Port Melbourne Colts last year.Last edited by Testekill; 13-03-2024, 08:04 PM.Comment
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