Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

[Grantysghost]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Yeah - it's almost as if they played at the venue every week and were accustomed to the conditions.

That cuts through.

Bastards!

[Bornadog]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

That cuts through.

Bastards!

Haven't the players heard about stops instead of playing in their runners

[Smads57]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Called into Whitten Oval just now to see if their was any men’s training but as G suggested from his Tuesday post, the ground was being prepared for this evenings W game.

[mjp]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Haven't the players heard about stops instead of playing in their runners

There is no doubt there were elements of 'the occasion' that got the better of us.

Being inadequately prepared (footwear wise) was just one of them. We hadn't slipped over all year - but we did last week. Familiarity with a venue is a distinct advantage. I know it's anytime anywhere and all of that - and as supporters it's pretty easy - but it's bloody hard pulling out your little worn 'spare' boots with the long stops 'cos something 'MIGHT' go wrong when the ones you wear every week have got you through the season.

If you watched the NFL game in Rio the other night the support staff were literally screwing stops into boots (sorry, cleats) on the sideline because no-one could keep their feet...

But when the Eagles played the packers, BOTH TEAMS were equally disadvantaged. That wasn't the case last Friday.

And yep, Hawthorn probably SHOULD have been overwhelmed by the occasion...but they weren't. But they were VERY accustomed to the ground and everything about it...

These are all just side comments and none of it means our performance was OK - but little things mean a lot when things aren't going well...5x free kicks against in the first 4-minutes didn't help, nor did the 25-3 free kick count in the 2nd half of the game...

Hawks 100% the (much) better side and they (and we) got exactly what was deserved...not everything fell our way though in a game where we had earned (and should have been given) the advantage.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

There is no doubt there were elements of 'the occasion' that got the better of us.

Being inadequately prepared (footwear wise) was just one of them. We hadn't slipped over all year - but we did last week. Familiarity with a venue is a distinct advantage. I know it's anytime anywhere and all of that - and as supporters it's pretty easy - but it's bloody hard pulling out your little worn 'spare' boots with the long stops 'cos something 'MIGHT' go wrong when the ones you wear every week have got you through the season.

If you watched the NFL game in Rio the other night the support staff were literally screwing stops into boots (sorry, cleats) on the sideline because no-one could keep their feet...

But when the Eagles played the packers, BOTH TEAMS were equally disadvantaged. That wasn't the case last Friday.

And yep, Hawthorn probably SHOULD have been overwhelmed by the occasion...but they weren't. But they were VERY accustomed to the ground and everything about it...

These are all just side comments and none of it means our performance was OK - but little things mean a lot when things aren't going well...5x free kicks against in the first 4-minutes didn't help, nor did the 25-3 free kick count in the 2nd half of the game...

Hawks 100% the (much) better side and they (and we) got exactly what was deserved...not everything fell our way though in a game where we had earned (and should have been given) the advantage.

We were certainly up against it.

A home final played away from our home at the home of our away opponent......

The umpiring in the opening 5 minutes was a disgrace. I mean it was appalling all night but it was horrendous to start the game.

But despite that, we had the ascendency in the 1st. This wasn't a "first 5 minutes you know if were on or off" thing. We came out well and then fell apart. Just like our last final in 2022 where we threw away a 40pts half time lead. Just like 2021 where we were up by 3 goals in the 3rd only to lose by 80pts.

I don't get the capitulations in finals. Can our guys not play under finals pressure?

[Bornadog]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

TEAM

Footscray have named a team with considerable AFL experience for its eagerly awaited Smithy?s VFL Preliminary Final against Southport on Saturday afternoon at Mission Whitten Oval.

A number of well-known names ? Ryley Sanders, Rhylee West, Buku Khamis and Nick Coffield ? who contributed to the Qualifying Final win over Brisbane have been ruled out due to ineligibility.

However, rising star Joel Freijah and the recently re-signed Lachie McNeil ? both of whom played in the AFL Elimination Final against Hawthorn ? will return to don the Footscray jumper among 16 AFL-listed players.

After a best-on-ground display in the Qualifying Final and selection for the AFL Elimination Final, James Harmes will again start for the Bulldogs, as will Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen as he continues his return from a calf injury.

The Bulldogs finished the home and away season in second place and will be looking to secure their first Grand Final appearance since winning the 2016 premiership.

The bounce at Mission Whitten Oval will be at 2pm AEST. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for concession/pensioners with children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl.

Attending the game? Both the Bulldogs Shop and Match-Day Pavilion will be open for the game at Mission Whitten Oval on Saturday.

The game will be broadcast on the Seven Network (7mate in Victoria and 7plus nationally) as well as being live streamed on AFL.com.au.


VFL Team | Preliminary Final
Footscray Bulldogs v Southport Sharks
Saturday 14 September, 2pm AEST
Mission Whitten Oval


B: R. Gardner (43), L. Smith (40), R. Garcia (38)
HB: A. Scott (28), D. Bedendo (26), C. Clarke (8)
C: L. McNeil (30), L. Cleary (36), J. Johannisen (39)
HF: C. Poulter (25), J. Freijah (27), E. Hunt (56)
F: J. Harmes (22), A. Keath (42), D. Orgill (50)
R: J. Busslinger (5), O. Baker (13), A. Jones (32)
INT: C. Owen (62), C. Craig-Peters (61), T. Bianco (58), J. Gilbee (69), D. Moloney (75)
EMG: P. Spicer (63), C. Smith (55), T. Maple (65), J. Kellett (57)


IN: J. Freijah, L McNeil, T. Bianco, E. Hunt
OUT: N. Coffield (ineligible), R. Sanders (ineligible), B. Khamis (ineligible), R. West (ineligible)

[Axe Man]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Wonder if we will take the naming of the team seriously for the Grand Final if we make it?

So Coffield misses out due to not playing 6 VFL H&A games, yet JJ somehow qualifies having played none. Must have been due to not playing at all for the past couple of months (apart from the first final).

[Bornadog]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Wonder if we will take the naming of the team seriously for the Grand Final if we make it?

So Coffield and Harmes miss out due to not playing 6 VFL H&A games, yet JJ somehow qualifies having played none. Must have been due to not playing at all for the past couple of months (apart from the first final).

Harmes is playing

[Axe Man]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Harmes is playing

So he is, thanks.

That's even more confusing then. Harmes 5 VFL and 8 AFL H&A, Coffield 2 VFL and 8 AFL. Unless the first VFL final counted and gets Harmes to 6, but that doesn't make sense to me.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

So he is, thanks.

That's even more confusing then. Harmes 5 VFL and 8 AFL H&A, Coffield 2 VFL and 8 AFL. Unless the first VFL final counted and gets Harmes to 6, but that doesn't make sense to me.

Is there some rule about AFL games after June 30?

[Axe Man]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Is there some rule about AFL games after June 30?

Maybe. It's hard to find the current rules, everything I've seen has been old. Not sure why they can't just publish the rules each year to make it clear.

[my plums]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Does anyone know if they tried to get Sanders approved to play?

[Smads57]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Just a quick note - its has been raining steadily this morning here in the inner west - expect it to be a tight game in slippery conditions - should favour us (?)

[Smads57]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Is there some rule about AFL games after June 30?

An AFL player is eligible if they have not played an AFL game since 30 June (hence JJ's selection).

[Testekill]

Re: Preliminary Finals - Footscray Bulldogs v Southport - Saturday 14 September 2024 - 2:00 PM

Looks a bit wet in Werribee right now