Match Preview and Team Selection - Round 15

[Demonland 72,180]

THE PEOPLE SPEAK - PAYBACK TIME by the Demonland Crew

Notorious Dee ~ This weekend will say a lot about where we're at. We were well beaten by the Kangas, have been lucky against some poor kicking teams and are really struggling going forward with poor decision making leading to painful turnovers. Based on the Demons I've been watching for the past seven years I give us no chance against the Dogs at Etihad. But...this is not the same team as recent years, the Dogs are coming back from a hiding in Perth, Cooney isn't playing....so I say another lazy 40 disposals to Bernard will see us carve out a very overdue win at our bogey stadium.

Mike Nolan ~ The Dees will be out to extract revenge on the improving Bulldogs. The last time they met the Dees will have felt they let the game slip but this time Paul Roos and the boys will arrive not just playing to compete but playing to win. The improvement in both sides has been obvious and both sides will feel confident but I am extremely confident the boys will be in a great position to get over the line and take another step towards what looks a very bright future for this club.

Tall Defence - This week the Demons and the Bulldogs go head to head in a match in which both clubs would fancy their chances. With both teams coming off disappointing performances on the weekend, Sunday presents itself as a chance to right the wrongs of the previous week. The Bulldogs took the chocolates in controversial circumstances when these two teams last met back in round 8 after Stewart Crameri was awarded a dubious free kick in the final minutes to put the Doggies two kicks clear of a wasteful Melbourne and eventually run out 16 point victors 15.9.99 to 12.11.83.

This time the Bulldogs are likely to be effected by the loss of players due to both suspension and injuries in the likes of Giansiricusa, Griffen, Roughead and fitness clouds still over Boyd and Cooney possibly presenting Melbourne with their best chance yet of registering a victory at Etihad Stadium for the first time since May 2007 during the home and away season.

Melbourne also will have some selection decisions to make during the week with Jordie McKenzie to miss due to suspension, Daniel Cross out with a broken leg and coach Paul Roos making comment of a few players starting to look tired.

With the Bulldogs light on for key position players and the loss of some key midfielders, assuming Melbourne can get on top in the middle, this is a game Melbourne should win and win in as comfortable a manner that they are capable of mustering at this time of their development.

Prediction: Melbourne by 33 points

Leading goal kicker: Chris Dawes 4

BOG: Nathan Jones

THE GAME

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium Sunday 29 June 2014 at 1.10pm (AEST)

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Western Bulldogs 73 wins Melbourne 84 wins 1 draw

At Etihad Stadium: Western Bulldogs 7 wins Melbourne 0 wins

Last Five Years: Western Bulldogs 4 wins Melbourne 1 win

The Coaches: McCartney 1 win Roos 0 wins

MEDIA

TV Fox Footy Channel at 1:00pm AEST (live)

Radio - Triple M 3AW SEN ABC ABC Grandstand

THE BETTING

Western Bulldogs $1.60 to win Melbourne $2.35 to win

LAST TIME THEY MET

Western Bulldogs 15.9.99 defeated Melbourne 12.11.83 at MCG in Round 8, 2014

The Great Pretender ~ The teams last met in the second week of May and the Western Bulldogs ran out winners by 16 points in a game that could have gone either way after Melbourne led by 5 points at three quarter time. With 20 minutes gone in the last, Melbourne was pressing and looked a likely winner. How well we remember that run by Matt Jones that should have been a certain goal and the soft free to Stewart Crameri that resulted in a goal. These were the two momentum changers that turned the result against Melbourne.

TEAMS

WESTERN BULLDOGS

B: Liam Picken, Mark Austin, Robert Murphy

HB: Shaun Higgins, Dale Morris, Easton Wood

C :Marcus Bontempelli, Matthew Boyd, Jack Macrae

HF: Koby Stevens, Stewart Crameri, Sam Darley

F: Luke Dahlhaus, Liam Jones, Mitch Honeychurch

FOLL: Will Minson, Mitch Wallis, Tom Liberatore

I/C: Nathan Hrovat, Lachie Hunter, Jake Stringer, Jason Tutt

EMG: Tom Campbell, Jack Redpath, Fletcher Roberts

IN: Sam Darley, Mitch Honeychurch, Lachie Hunter, Jake Stringer

OUT: Daniel Giansiracusa (suspension), Jarrad Grant (virus), Ryan Griffen (back spasms), Jordan Roughead (shoulder)

NEW: Sam Darley, Mitch Honeychurch

MELBOURNE

B: Neville Jetta, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe

HB: Dean Terlich, Colin Garland, Jack Grimes

C: Jack Watts, Jack Viney, Bernie Vince

HF: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones

F: Cameron Pedersen, James Frawley, Dean Kent

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones

I/C: Dom Barry, Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson, Christian Salem

EMG: Alex Georgiou, Aidan Riley, Luke Tapscott

IN: Dom Barry, Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson, Dean Terlich

OUT: Daniel Cross (leg), Tom McDonald (calf), Jordie McKenzie (suspension), Aidan Riley

NEW Dom Barry

The Great Pretender ~ The question is whether anything has changed six or seven weeks down the track and whether the different venue will have an impact on the teams?

Both of them are experiencing the highs and lows of football. Both of them were unable to translate exciting victories a fortnight ago into back to back winning performances last weekend. In fact, they both disappointed and it was if they had played out their grand finals the week before.

So now the time has come for action and Melbourne has a point to prove. It failed last week to beat the North Melbourne "hoodoo". It must now overcome the Etihad one which has lasted for seven years since it beat the Dogs there in 2007.

It's time.

Freddie Fuschia ~ There was a statistic discussed on one of the footy programmes earlier in the week which revealed how much space the clubs gained through the use of handball. Melbourne was in negative territory by a fair way. They showed a passage of play from last Sunday's game where we started with the ball just outside our goal square followed by a chain of handballs until we reached the stage where we were well outside the 50 metre line, the ball was smothered and turned into a Kangaroo attacking move. I think that if Harley Bennell was playing and had any one of about four or five possessions in that chain, he probably would have had a crack and goaled.

It might be the Paul Roos hallmark to go defensive but perhaps we need to be a little bit more attacking when we play an opponent like the Bulldogs. With Cross injured and McKenzie suspended it will be interesting whether the coach will make the move to subtly change the emphasis from full on defence to a more attacking style of play. With the Bulldogs also victims of injury and suspension, I will step out on a limb and go for the Demons by 27 points.

[The Great Pretender 463]

Time for another People Speak where you write the preview for Sunday's game and one of our people will put together the weekly preview including the best contributions (we reserve the right to edit spelling and grammar).

Have a go below!

The teams last met in the second week of May and the Western Bulldogs ran out winners by 16 points in a game that could have gone either way after Melbourne led by 5 points at three quarter time. With 20 minutes gone in the last, Melbourne was pressing and looked a likely winner. How well we remember that run by Matt Jones that should have been a certain goal and the soft free to Stewart Crameri that resulted in a goal. These were the two momentum changers that turned the result against Melbourne.

The question is whether anything has changed six or seven weeks down the track and whether the different venue will have an impact on the teams?

Both of them are experiencing the highs and lows of football. Both of them were unable to translate exciting victories a fortnight ago into back to back winning performances last weekend. In fact, they both disappointed and it was if they had played out their grand finals the week before.

So now the time has come for action and Melbourne has a point to prove. It failed last week to beat the North Melbourne "hoodoo". It must now overcome the Etihad one which has lasted for seven years since it beat the Dogs there in 2007.

It's time.

[Ted Lasso 19,514]

The Dees will be out to extract revenge on the improving bulldogs, last time they met the Dees will have felt they let the game slip but this time Paul roos and the boys will arrive not just playing to compete but playing to win, the improvement in both sides has been obvious and both sides will feel confident but I am extremely confident the boys will be in a great position to get over the line and take another step towards what looks a very bright future for this club.

[Notorious D 29]

This weekend will say a lot about where we're at. We were well beaten by the Kangas, have been lucky against some poor kicking teams and are really struggling going forward with poor decision making leading to painful turnovers. Based on the Demons I've been watching for the past 7 years I give us no chance against the Dogs at Etihad.

But...this is not the same team as recent years, the Dogs are coming back from a hiding in Perth, Cooney isn't playing....so I say another lazy 40 disposals to Bernard will see us carve out a very overdue win at our bogey stadium.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

This week the demons and the bulldogs go head to head in a match that both clubs would fancy their chances in. With both teams coming off disapointing performances on the weekend, sunday presents itself as a chance to right the wrongs of the previous week.

The bulldogs took the chocolates in controversial circumstances when these two teams last met back in round 8 when stewart crameri was awarded a dubious free kick in the final minutes to put the doggies two kicks clear of a wasteful melbourne and eventually run out 16 point victors 15.9.99 to the demons 12.11.83.

This time the bulldogs are likely to be effected by the loss of players due to both suspension and injuries in the likes of Giansiricusa, Griffen, Roughead and fitness clouds still over Boyd & Cooney possibly presenting melbourne with their best chance yet of registering a victory at etihad stadium for the first time since May 2007 during the home & away season.

Melbourne to will have soms selection decisions to make during the week with Jordie McKenzie to miss due to suspension and coach Paul Roos making comment of a few players starting to look tired.

With the bulldogs light on for key position players and the loss of some key midfielders, assuming melbourne can get on top in the middle, this is a game Melbourne should win and win in as comfortable a manner that they are capable of mustering at this time of their development.

Prediction: Melbourne by 33 points

Leading goal kicker: Chris Dawes 4

BOG: Nathan Jones

Edited June 24, 2014 by Tall Defence

[Whispering_Jack 30,074]

Keep it up people - there's some good material here.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

The last time these two teams met the outcome hung in the balance until the last 10 minutes....

Oh Fark.... i just wanna see us win a game at Shitihad once before i die. Just kick this sorry excuse for a club's arse off the park boys would ya! Is that too much for all us long sufferings to ask!!!

(How's that grab ya Jack? )

[Whispering_Jack 30,074]

The last time these two teams met the outcome hung in the balance until the last 10 minutes....

Oh Fark.... i just wanna see us win a game at Shitihad once before i die. Just kick this sorry excuse for a club's arse off the park boys would ya! Is that too much for all us long sufferings to ask!!!

(How's that grab ya Jack? )

Might need some editing.

[Demonland 72,180]

Last chance to put in your contributions.

[Freddy Fuschia 741]

There was a statistic discussed on one of the footy programmes earlier in the week which revealed how much space the clubs gained through the use of handball. Melbourne was in negative territory by a fair way. They showed a passage of play from last Sunday's game where we started with the ball just outside our goalsquare followed by a chain of handballs until we reached the stage where we were well outside the 50 metre line, the ball was smothered and turned into a Kangaroo attacking move. I think that if Harley Bennell was playing and had any one of about four or five possessions in that chain, he probably would have had a crack and goaled.

It might be the Paul Roos hallmark to go defensive but perhaps we need to be a little bit more attacking when we play an opponent like the Bulldogs. With Cross injured and McKenzie suspended it will be interesting whether the coach will make the move to subtly change the emphasis from full on defence to a more attacking style of play. With the Bulldogs also victims of injury and suspension, I will step out on a limb and go for the Demons by 27 points.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Going by the VFL review.

Terlich will come back in. for Crossy .

The Rest in VFL are very abyssmal, they don't want a game.

If they can'ty follow a game plan or don't want to.

P155 off

[Elwood 3184 1,301]

What about WB's outs. They look like they have more of their stars out than we do.

[dees189227 12,392]

Melbourne team: round 15
B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
HB: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes
C: Jack Watts, Jack Viney, Bernie Vince
HF: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones
F: Cam Pedersen, James Frawley, Dean Kent
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Dom Barry, Max Gawn, Alex Georgiou, Daniel Nicholson, Dean Terlich, Christian Salem, Aidan Riley
IN: Dean Terlich, Alex Georgiou, Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson, Dom Barry
OUT: Daniel Cross (leg), Jordie McKenzie (suspension)

[Nasher 33,616]

All five of the ins named on the extended bench. Was hoping for at least a hint as to who might definitely be in.

No real surprises there though. By the latest Allison report, the least worst 5 players on the ground.

[dees189227 12,392]

Western Bulldogs

In: T.Campbell, S.Darley, J.Redpath, J.Stringer, L.Hunter, M.Honeychurch

Out: D.Giansiracusa (suspension), R.Griffen (back), J.Roughead (shoulder)

New: Mitch Honeychurch (Eastern Ranges U18)

[dazzledavey36 54,906]

Gotta admit pretty disappointed in some of the selections

[dees189227 12,392]

I would have thought blease may have come in. Maybe he needs to keep working on his defence side of the game. Thought Viv may have been a chance.

[JV7 2,351]

Viv and blease must be doing something wrong, I get the sense from the VFL reports it might be there defensive side but gee we lose 2 mids and bring in 3 defenders, a ruckmen and a kid. Not sure I'm all that happy with the inclusions but if players like Michie and blease have parts of there game that need working on, it's for the best they are forced to change or keep playing 2s

[Devil In Disguise 2,278]

If that is the official team, no Blease again is disappointing. Would prefer him over Nicholson any day.

[DeeSpencer 25,691]

Here's what I'd do:

Keep Salem as the sub.

Out:
Cross, McKenzie, Riley

In:
Terlich - 7th defender

Nicholson - replace Riley as a defensive half forward on Murphy or Higgins

Barry - Tag Jack Macrae

[dees189227 12,392]

Hi Mike, I reckon Viv is getting closer. He's been good in recent weeks, but the coaching staff have asked for a few more things from him that they'd like to see. This is from Matt Burgan

Hi Sue, Bleasey was very good in the first half, but just tailed away a little in the second half. The coaches are just wanting a few more things from the pair

[mrtwister 652]

All 5 ins AND Salem and Riley named for casey this week too. Hmmm

[TheoX 1,222]

Has Barry done anything at VFL level?

[Demon Jack 6,909]

Disappointing that Blease wasn't even named on the bench. He's certainly done more than guys like Nicho and Barry to earn his spot. The same could be said for Michie as well. Oh well, In Roos We Trust

[Devil In Disguise 2,278]

Is Roos tanking with these selections of Barry & Nicho??