Pre-match thread: NAB Challenge Game 2 - Western Bulldogs v Melbourne

[Chelly 830]

Looking forward to Sunday. I remember our game last year when we played them at a similar time of the year in Ballarat.

We jumped them early and were coasting away to what should have been a good win before coming to a complete stop and nearly losing.

They went on to be a formidable combination and made the finals but we were up and down all year and had a flat end to the season.

I suppose that much will depend on the team picked. 

[beelzebub 23,388]

Should be a good game. Looking forward to tackling Gordies Galoots. Should provide a good indicator of how we are. Beating Port was good but I think we caught them napping.  The pups will be warned and they fancy themselves a bit. 

I used to like the Doggies but since  Beveridge opened his mouth and Gordon carrying on like an idiot Ive lost all respect.

Let's send these pooches yelping back to their kennel.

[whatwhat say what 23,101]

They're apparently bringing back some key players, such as the elder Boyd and Liberatore coming back from his knee knack.

It should be another good test - we passed last week, which Port had said in the lead in was the tune-up for their round 1 side.

Let's see how we travel this week.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

On 2 March 2016 at 8:45 AM, DemonAndrew said:

They're apparently bringing back some key players, such as the elder Boyd and Liberatore coming back from his knee knack.

It should be another good test - we passed last week, which Port had said in the lead in was the tune-up for their round 1 side.

Let's see how we travel this week.

I hope they play their best available squad. I'd rather see us be competitive and lose against their best team than thump their reserves and get nothing out of it.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,064]

Word around the traps is the Dogs will be resting some of their guns. To support this theory, our odds have come in from $2.95 to 1.90.

[Pates 9,661]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Word around the traps is the Dogs will be resting some of their guns. To support this theory, our odds have come in from $2.95 to 1.90.

Ultimately we should just focus on ourselves, I vaguely remember hearing coaches say things like NAB is for implementing the plans and seeing how the players respond to it. This is doubly important for us as while we're implementing the next stages of Roos' development we're also giving Goodwin his first taste at coaching the team he'll be taking over next year.

This isn't to say we don't worry about winning but the players need to feel like they're all on the same page come round 1. 

[Steve13 457]

I will be most interested in how our small forwards perform this week. Kent, Garlett and Kennedy were fantastic with the pressure they applied against Port and it will be key to beating the Doggies this week. The Dogs entire game plan is built around rebound from the D50 with players like Murphy, Wood etc, it will be interesting to see if we can counter their style and make their defenders defend. 

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Jesse Hogan to be rested this week. Will be back for NAB3 game though.

Hogan to be rested this weekend

Some useful updates on all the rehabbing guys in this article.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,464]

5 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Jesse Hogan to be rested this week. Will be back for NAB3 game though.

Hogan to be rested this weekend

Some useful updates on all the rehabbing guys in this article

So Frost as a forward.

 

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Just now, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So Frost as a forward.

 

Bring on the Weid!

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

Another team that moves the ball super quickly and will make us work hard to keep pace. 

Jones and Vince back means we shouldn't be short on midfield numbers and I hope to see the same strength at the contest and hard spreading play as last week. Plus the defensive pressure forward and defenders backing themselves. 

Important game.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

5 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Bring on the Weid!

Think I'd almost rather Hulett

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

6 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

So Frost as a forward.

 

Hulett

[jackaub 1,402]

19 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Jesse Hogan to be rested this week. Will be back for NAB3 game though.

Hogan to be rested this weekend

Some useful updates on all the rehabbing guys in this article.

So Bring on Hulett

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,464]

5 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Bring on the Weid!

I'm wondering if Goodwin has made up his mind with Frost, is it fwd or nothing? 

It's easier to play tall down back, would like to see him somewhere in the side.

[Whispering_Jack 30,946]

26 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Jesse Hogan to be rested this week. Will be back for NAB3 game though.

Hogan to be rested this weekend

Some useful updates on all the rehabbing guys in this article.

So much for playing our best team throughout NAB1-3.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,464]

7 minutes ago, fndee said:

Think I'd almost rather Hulett

 

7 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Hulett

Didn't someone post earlier this week that they spoke with him at the family day and he's playing a game for Casey??

(I am on night shift so I may have misread that/got dates wrong)

[DemonLad5 1,642]

Vince, Jones return for Craigieburn clash

 Melbourne squad

2. Nathan Jones

3. Christian Salem

4. Jack Watts

7. Jack Viney

11. Max Gawn

12. Dom Tyson

13. Clayton Oliver

14. Lynden Dunn

15. Billy Stretch

16. Dean Kent

17. Sam Frost

20. Colin Garland

21. Cameron Pedersen

22. Viv Michie

23. Bernie Vince

25. Tom McDonald

28. Oscar McDonald

29. Jayden Hunt

30. Alex Neal-Bullen

31. Jack Grimes

32. Tomas Bugg

35. Ben Kennedy

36. Jeff Garlett

37. Aaron vandenBerg

39. Neville Jetta

42. Josh Wagner

43. James Harmes

45. Matt Jones

46. Dean Terlich  

In: N.Jones, Neal-Bullen, Michie, Terlich, Vince

Out: Brayshaw (knee), Hogan (rested)

Note: Final team to be confirmed in lead-up to Sunday’s match

Still no Hulett, Weideman

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,464]

5 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

So much for playing our best team throughout NAB1-3.

Agree but the club would argue he knows his role. I'm interested in do we go with less rotations, are if others are given a go who missed last week. 

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

Oscar McDonald the only one who I thought might be dropped, but they might keep him in to not overload Garland, Dunn and Tom Mc. Depends a bit if they think Wagner can play tall. 

ANB, Michie and Terlich might be unlucky again but if so that means the pressure to perform will remain for those on the fringes. Still have to cut down from 26 to 22 anyway.

[watchtheeyes 1,422]

It'll be interesting to see what the forward line looks like!

[binman 44,195]

Vince Jones in for dees.

Not sure about about that selection. Good muso, not sure how good at footy he is.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Not named:

 

1. Jesse Hogan

5. Christian Petracca 

6. Chris Dawes

8. Heritier Lumumba 

9. Jack Trengove 

10. Angus Brayshaw

18. Jake Melksham
19. Ben Newton

24. Jay Kennedy-Harris

26. Sam Weideman

27. Liam Hulett

33. Jake Spencer

34. Mitch King

41. Mitch White

44. Joel Smith

47. Max King

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,064]

Dogs are missing 12 of their best 22 including Stringer, Bontempelli, Murphy and  Easton Wood.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

On 3 March 2016 at 0:49 PM, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Dogs are missing 12 of their best 22 including Stringer, Bontempelli, Murphy and  Easton Wood.

That is a shame. I like watching both Stringer and Bontempelli play. The Bont actually cured me of my sadness at the prospect of losing Frawley us when we played them in 2014. I've had a soft spot for him ever since.