Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

[comrade]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Ended up going.

One of the worst games of footy I've ever seen.

Terrible umpiring. Skill level way below par (even for VFL). No one really jumped out and took their chance.

Gia was quite poor considering his experience. Missed a crucial goal from about 40m that would have iced the game late in the fourth. Kicking with the wind, he barely made the distance.

Cordy would want to be a good doctor because AFL isn't in his future.

Everyone else was either average or poor, except for Goodes who was easily our best.

[azabob]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Tutt and Goodes looked our best. Roberts did a good job down back. Ayce was ok in spots, competed well.

Hrovat and Honey showed flashes. Pretty ordinary game and umpires were shocking.

Ended up going.

Thanks guys.

Would you bring anyone into the team? Since we have lacked run and dare the last couple of weeks, perhaps Tutt should get another shot.

[comrade]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Tutt or Roberts are the only ones I would consider. Tutt didn't get a heap of it but does stand out with his sheer pace. It's a shame he couldn't finish on the run the few times he had the chance. Would have capped a solid game.

Roberts was also rock solid down back other than falling at a really inopportune time which cost us a goal. I'd be keen to give him a shot at Roughy's spot.

Speaking of Roughy, I ran into his father briefly. Recovery is going well and he's started running albeit with some pain. Still weeks away though but he was confident that once he was structurally right, he'd be able to come back pretty quickly as his fitness shouldn't be hampered too much.

[Maddog37]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Only Tutt or Roberts for me. Maybe Goodes to half back to release Murphy.

[The bulldog tragician]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Did Honeychurch play? I take it that if he did, he wasn't dominant.

[Eastdog]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Thanks for the updates guys. Much appreciated for the woofers that braved the cold. Disappointing all round in the AFL and VFL but from the sound of it there looks like some players who will be in the running for selection next week.

[comrade]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Did Honeychurch play? I take it that if he did, he wasn't dominant.

The Honeybadger played and was very quiet compared to previous games. He spent a bit of time up forward but just couldn't get into the game.

Hrovat was another that didn't have a big impact but he was in our top 6 or 7.

Just a crappy game played in crappy conditions made worse by crappy umpiring. I heard that apparently it was Gerald Fitzgerald's milestone game for most matches coached in the VFL - got the feeling that the umpires were very sympathetic to the home team's cause.

[Bornadog]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

How Did Clay go?

[comrade]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

How Did Clay go?

Worked hard, like usual. Seems to be moving really well. He can't be far away from getting a recall as you'd imagine Macca would love him in the main side.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Very cold and pretty much rained the whole game. Very light rain though. Footscray had a huge side in size wise. So conditions were always going to be tough for them.

As previously mentioned the umpires were just horrible. Haven't seen the stats but the free kick count would have had to be close to 30 each. Pretty much paid holding the ball at every contest instead of balling it up.

Footscray dominated the game for about 80% of it. Just couldn't capatalise and North were much smarter in conditions they are used to.

Roberts - I loved his game. Conditions did suit the defenders but he didn't lose a 50/50 contest all day. Didn't get a heap of ball but when he did he seemed to dispose of it quite well. I think we should give him a taste.

Tutt - Decent game from Tutt, worked hard all day and really broke the game open on atleast half a dozen occasions. Did go missing for parts of the game and really needs to work on taking a moment to slow down and compose himself for disposing of the ball.

Goodes - Defintely one our best, worked really hard, was tough and dispoal was a stand out when everyone else was struggling with the conditions. Playing back at Ballarat probably helped with that.

Smith - More encouraging sings from him. Was rotated fairly heavily but is just a beast. Crashed in all day, won a heap of hard balls. Disposal by foot wasn't the best but he was not alone there. He comes in this week for mine.

Wallis - Spent a fair bit of time on Swallow. Did a decent job, apart from Swallow getting about 10 free kicks for the match. Didn't notice Wallis get a heap of ball coming back the other way. But he didn't stop trying.

Cordy - Complete non factor. Did OK in the ruck, won a couple good contests on the deck, but had several chances to mark against smaller opponents when forward/around the ground and just couldn't.

Redpath - Doesn't look fit enough, is lazy and is not a smart footballer. Tough conditions for him but showed nothing.

Campbell - Showed the most of the big blokes. Clunked a couple of marks and created alot of contests when outnumbered in our forward 50. I think he still has a place in the seniors.

Gia - Kicked a couple, missed a couple he would normally nail including one late in the 4th. Spent time around the ball as well as forward.

Hrovat - Was looking forward to seeing him play and I was a tad disappointed. Wasn't our worst, but he looked really slow and made a couple of shocking errors. Good for him to get another run though.

Honeychurch - Did some nice things, looked great with ball in hand. Just didn't see it enough this week. He was copping some close checking when around the ball though.

Howard - Next.

Darley/Fuller - Not enough of the footy. Both showed they can kick the footy. With Fuller kicking a nice long set shot from outside 50 and Darley a couple of nice kicks around the ground. Just not enough of it.

Jong - Battled all day. Also spent some time on Swallow. Did a few nice things but wasn't by all means dominate. Is falling way behind Smith.

[azabob]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Very cold and pretty much rained the whole game. Very light rain though. Footscray had a huge side in size wise. So conditions were always going to be tough for them.

.

Thanks for the rundown Jaytee.

As we are so close to the bye I thought we should wait to play Smith till after the bye. I have changed my mind, I think he should play this week and use the bye as a week off to recover. It is pretty tough spending so long out of the game, to come up the next week.

[1eyedog]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Thanks for the rundown Jaytee.

As we are so close to the bye I thought we should wait to play Smith till after the bye. I have changed my mind, I think he should play this week and use the bye as a week off to recover. It is pretty tough spending so long out of the game, to come up the next week.

Geezus yes who wants a verified senior player running around on suburban grounds in the slop getting smashed up each week? Sure AFL is more demanding but playing on crappy grounds in wet conditions are not my idea of low risk where injuries are concerned. Just sub him at 3 quarter time for some run.

[Bornadog]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Footscray lose in nail biter

Fletcher Roberts in action during a Western Bulldogs training session at Whitten Oval, on November 27, 2013. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/AFL Media)

The Footscray Bulldogs have lost a tightly-fought contest to the North Ballarat Roosters by two points.
In wet and windy conditions at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Roosters established an early buffer with a five-goal to one first quarter.

The Bulldogs never reclaimed the lead despite winning the second, third and fourth terms.
Kicking with a favourable breeze, North Ballarat’s leaders made the biggest impression in the opening term. Roosters captain Michael Searl kicked two goals while North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow continued his comeback from an achilles injury with five first-quarter clearances.

After conceding the first three goals through errors, the Bulldogs hit back with a major to Jack Redpath halfway through the term.
The Roosters replied immediately as Liam Anthony converted a long bomb from a quick centre break, then Searl followed up courtesy of a 50m penalty just seconds before the siren.

The hosts’ 26 point quarter-time lead would ultimately prove insurmountable.
With the wind blowing their way in the second term, the Bulldogs made early inroads. A seemingly revitalised midfield evened the contests and allowed Jase Perkins, Matthew Fuller and Ayce Cordy to kick unanswered goals.
Footscray narrowed the deficit to four points but missed chances to take the lead. Withstanding the pressure, the Roosters rallied as Andrew Boseley slotted a long running shot for goal.

By half-time, the margin was 10 points in North Ballarat’s favour.
The third term saw Bulldogs draw nearer still.
Footscray’s midfielders, headed by Nick Lower and Brett Goodes, showed their mettle against determined opposition while runners Jason Tutt and Sam Darley began to find space.

Yet the Bulldogs were still plagued by poor disposal and, at times, discipline.
Kicking for goal was the most obvious deficiency in Footcray’s 1.5 third quarter.
But with the disadvantage at the stoppages and Fletcher Roberts standing tall inside defensive 50, the Roosters could manage just 1.1 for the term, giving the hosts a six-point three-quarter time lead.
The Bulldogs had the wind their way in the final stanza, and from the opening minutes it looked like the visitors might overrun the Roosters.
Footscray peppered the goals early in the term but could manage just two behinds from several opportunities before Liam Hoy ran home a clutch North Ballarat goal.

A quick reply from Daniel Giansiracusa gave the Dogs hope as rain began to fall heavily, impairing skills on both sides.
The last goal of the match was perhaps the finest. Brent Prismall kept his feet at the back of a pack 15m out from goal, picked up the loose ball, dodged an opponent and snapped truly to put Bulldogs within four points.
But it wasn’t enough for Footscray to steal victory, a further two behinds bringing the margin to two points by the final siren.
The Bulldogs next face Sandringham at Simmonds Stadium this Saturday.

North Ballarat 5.4 7.5 8.6 10.7 (67)
Footscray 1.2 5.7 6.12 8.17 (65)

Goals
North Ballarat: Searl 2, Anthony, Boseley, Hoy, Keeble, Rippon, Staley, Swallow, Wallace
Footscray: Giansiracusa 2, Cordy, Fuller, Hrovat, Perkins, Prismall, Redpath
Best
North Ballarat: Anthony, Jacobs, Keeble, Searl, Swallow
Footscray: Roberts, Goodes, Jensen, Wallis, Tutt

link

[Remi Moses]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Thanks for the write ups.
Roberts has to get a look in

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Footscray vs North Ballarat - Sunday 4th of May

Thanks Jaytee and ors.