VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

[josie]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

He was physically ill on Friday. I mentioned it on the training report.

Thanks. Was wondering why I didn?t hear his name.

[Dry Rot]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Thanks for the great reports.

Who do you think will replace Coffield and Richards next week?

[josie]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Thanks for the great reports.

Who do you think will replace Coffield and Richards next week?

Hear hear.

And VDM if he is suspended.

[GVGjr]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Thanks for the great reports.

Who do you think will replace Coffield and Richards next week?

Add Vandermeer to a likely out as well.
They had a bit of a challenge putting his knee cap back in place

[josie]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Add Vandermeer to a likely out as well.
They had a bit of a challenge putting his knee cap back in place

Thanks for update.

Ew.

What about The Bont?

He looked a bit ginger there for a bit, ankle then leg. Seemed to come good though with a superb last quarter. Presume they jabbed him with painkillers and hope he recovers ok.

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Has Freijah overtaken Cleary?

[ledge]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Has Freijah overtaken Cleary?

He is definitely more solid and I think has more ball IQ but I don’t think he is ready just yet for a game.

[GVGjr]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Thanks for update.

Ew.

What about The Bont?

He looked a bit ginger there for a bit, ankle then leg. Seemed to come good though with a superb last quarter. Presume they jabbed him with painkillers and hope he recovers ok.

He should be fine

[PR0408]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Hear hear.

And VDM if he is suspended.

Why would he be suspended?

[angelopetraglia]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

A big day for Jack Macrae in the VFL:

46 disposals
25 contested possessions
16 clearances
8 inside 50s
5 tackles
5 score assists

[Bornadog]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS: 4.4 7.6 8.10 14.14 (98)


GWS GIANTS: 2.2 8.6 11.9 12.9 (81)


Goals: Lobb 4, Spicer 3, Garcia 2, Bedendo, Clarke, Craig-Peters, Jones, Stretton

[The Doctor]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

A few observations on Footscray's win over GWS.

Both teams had around 11 AFL listed players each. Dogs went into the game without Busslinger, Scott and McNeil from the selected team. The game was played in good conditions. Dogs on top in the opening term then GWS controlled the game during the 2nd & 3rd quarters. At one stage they threatened to run away with it. But the Dogs bounced back hard in the last to over come a 17 point deficit at 3/4 time to win by 17

Jack Macrae all the talk will be about Jack after his performance in this game. 47 disposals I think it was. For the first 3 quarters of the game most of his possessions were earned on the inside. Most often around centre bounces or stoppages. He kept accumulating but a lot of his disposals weren't that effective. Handpasses that were short and slow to stationary team mates who would get caught for instance. GWS had 2 periods of dominance. These occurred for about 10 minutes at the start of the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Interestingly, during those 2 periods, despite his high possession count, I don't think Jack touched it. The final quarter was a different story altogether. I saw the Jack of old. He got about a dozen possies but this time he was on the move. He lifted immensely. Running harder and delivering the ball I50, a dash from the centre saw him hit up Clarke with a tremendous pass resulting in a goal that got the comeback started. He was busy throughout the term setting up play and being creative. Also tackling hard. He is ready for a senior recall.

Riley Garcia For the 3rd week in a row was my best on ground for Footscray. He delivered 4 quarters of highly effective footy. He must have picked up around 35 possessions and most of them effective. He was the main conduit to goal for the first 3 quarters by constantly either breaking free from the stoppage or joining as a link player to bring the ball I50. He has good burst speed that enables him to find space and also has the agility to swerve and avoid tacklers at speed. Like Macrae he had a mammoth last quarter and kicked 2 goals and almost another with his clever positioning I50. The 2nd goal was a cracker. Macrae got the centre clearance and took off. Garcia running in support I50 took it and goaled on the run. He deserves a senior call up. I don't know what more he can do.

Rory Lobb A great game by Lobb. Starting at FF he had a great first term with a couple of big pack marks, one resulting in a goal. Then he set up Spicer for a goal by taking the ball out of the ruck contest in the forward pocket. Another strong contested mark early in the 2nd term resulted in a goal. When GWS started to get on top he was switched into the ruck. I thought Lobb was Footscray's best player in the 3rd term. He took control of the ruck and marked strongly around the ground. His only blemish was dropping a sitter in the forward line late in the term. In the final term, still playing ruck, he drifted forward to kick his 3rd from another contested mark and then kicked the sealer with a brilliant kick from the boundary just outside 50 that never looked like missing. A terrific game.

Alex Keath A commanding game from Keath today. As the general of the backline he showed some of his best form in the middle 2 quarters when GWS got on top. He and Freijah were the main repellants of their attacks and without them they would probably have run away with it. He looks fit and strong and at this level at least is starting to look like the Keath of old. I think he is ready for senior duty.

Joel Freijah The best game Ive seen him play, easily. Playing across half back he must have had around 30 disposals. I lost count! I had him with 7 about half way through the first and he kept racking them up. He mopped up a lot across the half back line but I like how he pushed forward to join passing chains and help create scoring opportunities. He is more your running half back. Not a marking interceptor at this stage. if I was to make a criticism it would be to attack the opposition player in possession with a little more vigour. I wouldn't call him up to seniors just yet but if he continues to play like this he will get a call up before too long.

Taylor Duryea A typical game from him today. Solid without being spectacular. He was a steady hand in the backline. It wouldn't surprise me if he gets a call up with Coffield out and Richards unlikely.

Artie Jones played mainly across half forward and was in and out of the game. But he tried hard when not in possession to pressure the opposition. I think he tends to be a bit reactive and therefore gets to his opponent a bit late. I think if he switched on a bit quicker he might land a few more take downs in the forward half as hie does have good acceleration. Just needs to hit the pedal quicker. He had a couple of nice drives I50 and kicked a nice goal from a set shot.

Charlie Clarke Thought Charlie had a very good game today. An almost game in some ways. His first term was very lively. He led well to Garcia to mark but narrowly miss from a tight angle. Then worked in tandem with Freijah to set up a scoring opportunity for one of the Footscray boys, who fluffed it! Then cleverly set up Bedendo for a goal late in the term. He kicked a goal in the final term leading out to Macrae and it was well deserved from 45m. But the thing that impressed me most today was his chasing, tackling and willingness to work hard throughout the game. I can see a 3-4 goal game coming. Well I hope so!

Dom Bedendo not his day today. Started forward and just missed with a snap inside the first minute. Kicked a clever goal after excellent lead up play from Clarke. But from then on he was used mostly on the wing and he wasn't effective. I think the coach erred in not giving him more time up forward where he plays his best football.

Cleary A reasonable game from Cleary across half back. He was involved in a number of link up plays bringing the ball out of defence and his disposal was mostly sound. He set up Artie's goal with a nice 40m pass. He can be a bit slow sometimes. He tried a run and carry and got caught holding the ball. I'd like him to be a bit more physical playing in defence. He is a nice size but is a bit vanilla.

Lachie Smith a hard day at the office today. He was beaten in the ruck during the first half by Madden who was bigger and stronger. He battled away and had a few moments where he tapped to advantage but was moved into the forward line for the 2nd half as Lobb was sent to deal with Madden. That was an excellent move by the coach as it helped swing the game back our way.

The Footscray Boys

Phoenix Spicer kicked 3 goals today. The kind of goals our senior small forwards struggle to kick. Ground level goals. Picking up the crumbs or pouncing on the loose ball. He swerves and dodges and creates. I would argue he is the 2nd best small forward we have in our colours even though he is not on our senior list.

Ethan Hunt An outstanding game as a small rebounding defender today. He might have had a few kicked on him but worked his ass off. Must have had about 30 disposals and was a good link up player today.

Montgomerie Can someone tell the coach he is not a key forward? Are they trying to do a Buku with him? He was more effective when played in the backline in the 2nd half. I think this is his best chance of getting back on an AFL list as it seems to be his natural position. He is a good interceptor and we need one. So play him there!!!!

[GVGjr]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Thanks for the comprehensive write up Doc. I agree with your observation about Montgomerie. He's a defender.

By the way, Scott didn't play yesterday. On Fridays training session he landed on his back and had the wind knocked out of him.
I thought that might have been the reason why but I also read on Twitter that he had a problem with his teeth.

[azabob]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Doctor maybe too early to tell but what position do you think Joel Freijah is best suited to?

When he first got to the club he was played on the wing but struggled and the move to HB has really suited him.

[Bornadog]

Re: VFL Round 1 Dogs vs Giants

Garcia with 41 disposals - sounds like a call up soon.