Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

[Bulldog Joe]

I got there just as it was starting.
Sherman was superb created the 2nd goal and kicked the 3rd and then got better with run and carry and good ball use. Was a class act.

Prato did play ruck and is progressing well. Made good position for a couple of marks but did not hold them. Still tries hard

Cordy played ruck and was the best big man on the ground. Held his ground well in the contests and created advantage at the stoppages.

Reid was hard at it and looks ok but agree he was a little rusty with his ball use.

Johannisen has terrific pace and did some nice things.

Dalhaus was very good late in the game with a lot of possession in the last quarter.

Tutt got into it a bit and was more noticeable late in the game.

Tom Hill also showed promise playing Full Forward.

Zephi delivered the first goal with a beautiful kick to Hill and then kicked the second. He does use the ball very well by foot. He had a great fly for a mark that excited the crowd but he didn't actually touch it and Cordy simply stood tall and took the mark. Could see that Zephi chased hard on plenty of occasions but did appear to struggle for a 3rd or 4th effort. he was however good at getting a handpass away under pressure, although he wasn't always effective with those.

Of the Willi players Brett Goodes looks a great addition as he has terrific awareness and I believe his role at the Dogs is a strong contribution to the improved efforts from our indigenous players.

Willi have a new player Jake Wilson (No 46) who was very impressive (The Redhead). He has good size and mobility and was very involved. Listed by Willi as a 20 yo from Portland. I am already looking at him as perhaps 2012 rookie.

[Mantis]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Thanks BJ.

On that performance would you think Sherman has played himself into our rd 1 team?

Some positives reports about the rest too, especially Cordy which is nice to hear.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Thanks BJ.

On that performance would you think Sherman has played himself into our rd 1 team?

Some positives reports about the rest too, especially Cordy which is nice to hear.

I would have Sherman as a certainty.

[The Doctor]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

I originally posted on the round 1 thread........

I went along. Got there halfway through the first. I thought the contest was ordinary as a spectacle and skill level disappointing. I didn't keep score but I think Box Hill would have won by a few goals.

Bulldogs players involved were; Dahlhaus, Tutt, Reid, Tom Hill, Sherman, Skinner, Johannisen, Prato, Cordy

Notable absentees; Lake, Howard, Markovic, Hooper, Panos, Schofield, Hahn, Wallis, Roughead

Thoughts on Dogs players;

Dalhaus - excellent performance and best Willi player. Single handedly got Willi going in the last 1/4 with dashing runs from the centre. Very creative in the forward half especially. Tackled hard and when he was involved something good looked like happening.

Tutt - Got more of the ball than I've seen of him previously but inevitably after his involvement in the play Box Hill would end up with it. Looked better across half forward but to me is really struggling to show any poise or skill level that suggests higher honours are near.

Reid - looked slow and sluggish. Appeared very top heavy.

Tom Hill - struggled today in the air and generally beaten once the ball hit the deck. That said the delivery was shocking and Tony Lockett would have struggled today. Did kick a nice goal from an acute angle but missed one running into an open goal from an angle.

Sherman - showed some trademark dash at times but generally didn't use it that well. got caught trying to do much a few times. His pace did break the lines a few times and this was pleasing to see.

Skinner - Didn't do all that much but it was tough for the Willi forwards. A few exciting leaps but none stuck. Ordinary game today.

Johannisen - i thought he was ok. Mainly across half back and added a bit of spark at times. Looked very tired towards the end.

Prato - Outclassed in the ruck. Couldn't touch it when he went forward. Couldn't hold his marks around the ground. Hard day at the office.

Cordy - rotated with Prato and performed much better in the ruck. I thought Bailey was the best ruckman on the ground but I thought Cordy took it right up to him. Some of his tap work was excellent and his strength in the duels made it a genuine contest. He held his ground surprisingly well. Also went forward and took a mark or two. Whilst not super an encouraging performance.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Seems as if I may have a more optimistic view than you Doc.

Incidentally, without keeping score I thought Willi might have got up with a strong last quarter.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Seems as if I may have a more optimistic view than you Doc.

Incidentally, without keeping score I thought Willi might have got up with a strong last quarter.

The reports are somewhat conflicting!

[The Doctor]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Willi have a new player Jake Wilson (No 46) who was very impressive (The Redhead). He has good size and mobility and was very involved. Listed by Willi as a 20 yo from Portland. I am already looking at him as perhaps 2012 rookie.

I certainly agree with this.

I made a comment about him after watching a reserves game last year. Has a good pair of hands on him and I like the way he throws himself into the fray. Has a red hot go as they say.

[Before I Die]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

The report in the AGE was quite positive....

Another contender for a spot against the Bombers, recruit Justin Sherman, was a standout for Williamstown yesterday afternoon, showing plenty of run through the centre of the ground and involving himself in several of the home team's goals.

Williams said the ex-Lion had needed to get some more run in his legs after playing the first two pre-season games and missing the next two, but is now pushing hard for selection.

Other Bulldogs to catch the eye were rookie Zephaniah Skinner and tall forward Tom Hill, who kicked a couple of goals each, while project tall Ayce Cordy continued his pursuit of continuity after two seasons ravaged by injury. ''If we can get him playing 10 or 12 games in a row that's going to be a massive win for him and for us,'' Williams said. ''He's definitely a talent. He needs some confidence in his body.''

Link

[Dazza]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

The redhead kid was very good. Held a heap of strong marks and crashed packs. Best of the bigger bodies on the ground IMO.

Sherman was noticeable with his hard running through the middle. Releases the ball quickly in traffic too which was good.

Dalhaus much the same. Had plenty of dash through the middle and used the ball quite well. His last quarter was very good.

Wasn't impressed with Ayces hitout. Looks a bit lost out there at times. Bailey was the best ruckman on the ground. Ayce got forward and took a good mark that Skinner flew for yet missed the shot. Give him some time.

Skinner excited the crowd with his marking attempts. Gets pushed off the ball a bit too easily if he can't get a clear jump at the ball. Kicked a long flat set shot from about 45 out which didn't look like it had the legs but somehow kept floating at the same height through the goals.

Johannisen was ok without starring. He came off in the last quarter with a back complaint but made it back onto the field in good shape.

Reid looked like Hahn of last year in shape and pace. Bit worrying.

Tutt improved as the game wore on. Wasn't a standout.

Hill slotted a nice goal from a tight angle but was beaten in the air and at ground level for most of the game.


- Luke Hodge looked a class above. His skills were great.

[The Doctor]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

While it's early days for Skinner and he's still settling in and adjusting etc, I would like to see him do more in attack than fly for the odd speculative mark.

[Dazza]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

*not important* Also saw Leon cameron having a chat with Ward and Howard.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

I'm gathering Sam Reid has struggled to get much of a pre-season after his dual shoulder reconstructions and OP from the previous Pre season.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Prato - Outclassed in the ruck. Couldn't touch it when he went forward. Couldn't hold his marks around the ground. Hard day at the office.

Cordy - rotated with Prato and performed much better in the ruck. I thought Bailey was the best ruckman on the ground but I thought Cordy took it right up to him. Some of his tap work was excellent and his strength in the duels made it a genuine contest. He held his ground surprisingly well. Also went forward and took a mark or two. Whilst not super an encouraging performance.

Also thought Bailey was the best big man on the ground, followed by Lowden, (I can't agree with Bulldog Joe, but agree with The Doctor) Ayce next but close and then Prato. Both Bailey and Lowden were off by mid third quarter, and Ayce ran the game out. Quite promising by Ayce with both shoulders being done. He's just got to improve his endurance and we've got a player. Prato will benefit from the run.

[Greystache]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Also thought Bailey was the best big man on the ground, followed by Lowden, (I can't agree with Bulldog Joe, but agree with The Doctor) Ayce next but close and then Prato. Both Bailey and Lowden were off by mid third quarter, and Ayce ran the game out. Quite promising by Ayce with both shoulders being done. He's just got to improve his endurance and we've got a player. Prato will benefit from the run.

How does Prato look physically? I noticed according to the club website that he's put on 15kg since the start of last season. Does he look big? Does his agility look to have suffered for it?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Williamstown v Box Hill Practice match.

Both look huge, got to be over 100kgs looking from the sideline.