PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Gawndy the Great 9,008]

I was afraid about Mays body at this age given his history of soft tissue injuries. I hope it is just a 1 week injury but suspect it’ll be more. Pity given our hard start to the year. 

Can see the Dogs definitely going with 4 talls now to try and stretch us. 

[adonski 10,595]

9 minutes ago, brendan said:

Pressure through the midfield will be an absolute priority this week can’t have clean ball coming into the bulldogs forwards, kozzy could potentially be the most important player for us this week 

Absolutely need Harmes tagging, with our outs, dominating the midfield is vital

Edited March 15, 2023 by adonski

[Redleg 39,836]

Well this is now looming as a big challenge.

A win in this game, with our outs, will lift the club’s confidence in their ability to bring in depth and still win.

Winning the clearances will become even more critical than usual, as defensive rebound may not be as strong.

[cantstandyasam 700]

16 minutes ago, mo64 said:

I'm in the rather exclusive Bailey Laurie fan club. I thinks he's got some football smarts and is handy around goal. Hope the kid does well, but I think he may be a sub.

I like Laurie is a great kick for goal

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

2 minutes ago, cantstandyasam said:

I like Laurie, he is a great kick for goal

Well in that case, lets hope he gets lots and lots of opportunities to prove you correct. 🤞

[ANG13 1,960]

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

Old man injury that one. Hibbo and Jones both had heaps of trouble with it. Definitely not worth risking. We can’t win a flag without him so he has to be managed conservatively. Just sucks that we have 3 very hard games to start the season. 

Agree there’s no point risking May but disagree we can’t win the premiership without him. Yeah he is super important just like Rance was at Richmond and people said they couldn’t win the flag without him but did. 

[DubDee 24,106]

21 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Can see the Dogs definitely going with 4 talls now to try and stretch us. 

i hope they do.

they have FA small fwds so Gus, Judd, Riv and Bowey will rebound easily all game 

[BoBo 2,863]

24 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Well this is now looming as a big challenge.

A win in this game, with our outs, will lift the club’s confidence in their ability to bring in depth and still win.

Winning the clearances will become even more critical than usual, as defensive rebound may not be as strong.

Oooooft, May being out really disrupts not only the backline but the whole team set up. Max and Grundy are going to have to spend a lot more time down back I feel.

I was 60/40 that we'd get up and now I think I'm 50/50. Gonna be a tough game.

Edit: Probably sounded more negative than I intended, still got a great team on the park and you're right, a win will be a big boost in confidence. Look forward to see what the incoming players can do!

Edited March 15, 2023 by BoBo

[grazman 7,196]

Like most games, this one will be won in the midfield.  

[Redleg 39,836]

2 minutes ago, grazman said:

Like most games, this one will be won in the midfield.  

They have lost Dunkley and Hunter and  despite not having JV this week, we have added Hunter and Grundy , so that won’t hurt our chances in the midfield.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,197]

Stupid question….

Looking at the teams for tomorrow nights clash, where is the sub named?

[bobby1554 1,215]

39 minutes ago, brendan said:

Pressure through the midfield will be an absolute priority this week can’t have clean ball coming into the bulldogs forwards, kozzy could potentially be the most important player for us this week 

Absolutely agree, and it will decide the outcome of this game. We also need to capitalise on our forward entries. Without May the backline is significantly weaker irrespective of who comes in. If we give the Dogs easy entry into their forward half it will be a painful evening.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,197]

All of the focus is on the four players who will miss for us and the bulldogs talls. What about who is is playing, still a lot of star power out there. Combined with our ethos I’m confident of a comfortable win.

[Roger Mellie 3,845]

Congrats to McDee and Bill!

I like Lawrie's smarts and think/hope he can add something - I loved that tap forward in the first quarter before he got smashed by a Toig last week. One negative from his taste of AFL, was the number of frees he gave away. I don't think that'll happen this week - he'll adjust and apply pressure. Smart, talented player - just not sure where he fits yet.

Judd McDee hasn't put a foot wrong and deserves his shot. I love his ball focus in the contest to stop his opponent getting it.

Not frothing at the mouth just yet at the potential absence of May, but maybe tomorrow.

[Steamin Demon 391]

Having May out levels the field as they have Liam Jones in. 

[DEE fence 4,906]

May is a gun and key defensive pillar, but I see Tomlinson and Turner as excellent cover, with Petty taking May's spot, and Bowey doing the kick ins. More worried about Laurie for Fritsch tbh.

I really am surprised by the four talls, for two years now trying to bomb it into our defensive 50 has been a disaster for every team and not how we were beaten last year. 

Our defensive transition was looking 🔥 in the preseason, no reason it shouldn't work.

That said my MFCSS says that Bevo has a sneaky plan and we'll stuff up what should be a sure thing.

[Lucifers Hero 38,747]

Have faith, folks!

Trust our captain:  Breakout player of 2023:  Harrison Petty. I think he’s soon to take over as our number one defender. Don’t show that to (Steven May) ‘Maysy’!  www.foxsports.com.

 

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,291]

10 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

All of the focus is on the four players who will miss for us and the bulldogs talls. What about who is is playing, still a lot of star power out there. Combined with our ethos I’m confident of a comfortable win.

I’ll share your optimism when I see who we name in place of May. We have some talls that we could bring in, but I’m not convinced we will. If we go with Joel Smith or Tomlinson, I think we at a major disadvantage down back. Lever does not play 1 on 1, and Petty struggles on talls. Agree with others that we will see the rucks drop back, but that carries injury risk for them. 

[Demon Disciple 11,561]

2 minutes ago, DEE fence said:

I really am surprised by the four talls, for two years now trying to bomb it into our defensive 50 has been a disaster for every team and not how we were beaten last year. 

It was our Achilles heel in finals last year, with Reid and Hipwood getting hold of us in those games.

[Clintosaurus 7,492]

1 hour ago, Demon Disciple said:

Where’s the poster who always says “relax, we’ve got this”, I need his words of wisdom at the moment.

 

Not sure if me (have said it a few times), but relax, we got this. By around 20 points.

[chook fowler 19,243]

Bill Laurie’s inclusion makes Chandler and Jordon less likely to play. A bit mystifying me thinks. But my form as a selector isn’t good.

[CHF 2,696]

Line up the cheese boards folks, selection is going to be a long discussion……. Or not, as the case may be.

With the announcement of Mcvee and Laurie to debut and the certain outs of Viney, Fristch and Salem there is not  lot of wriggle room for selection.

I think May will be named in the side and given right through to the warmup to prove good. If he makes the game, it will be pretty much the side that played and comfortably beat the Tiges.

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Rivers, Petty, Bowey

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: ANB, TMac, Spargo

F: Pickett: Brown: Grundy

Fol: Gawn, Petracca, Brayshaw

I: Sparrow, Laurie, Chandler, Harmes

Sub: Schache/Hibberd

I like the back 6 as named and if May does not get up for the game I would look at Tomlinson to replace him. I lean that way instead of Disco just on the basis of experience. I know he looks to be out of form but slotting him in in this game might just boost his confidence. If Turner gets the run then I will not have a problem with that either. Coaches and selectors would have a better idea than me.

Brayshaw into the middle in place of Viney in the rotations. We know what he brings to the table in the middle, as a defender and on a wing. His flexibility and ability are an incredible asset to have in the team.

Forwards are always going to be an interesting selection discussion at the moment. I would start them the way I have named them with Grundy up forward with Brown and TMac. Might just give the doggies something to think about.

Midfield rotations are Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Harmes, Pickett, ANB and Rivers with Landon and Hunter 100% on the wings.

Sub is difficult but I think it will be between Schache and Hibberd to try and cover the possible tall doggie timber.

[ben russell 764]

38 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Stupid question….

Looking at the teams for tomorrow nights clash, where is the sub named?

The sub will come from one of the four emergencies and will be named one hour prior to the match commencing.

[Ted Lasso 18,569]

Big fan of some new blood within the team, both lads provide some zip, Lauries skills and decision making are spargo esc, it's definitely clear the club are really keen to make sure the kicking inside 50 isn't an issue this season. 

[picket fence 16,590]

13 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Bill Laurie’s inclusion makes Chandler and Jordon less likely to play. A bit mystifying me thinks. But my form as a selector isn’t good.

Chandler is so far ahead of Laurie in form it should be a laydown Misere!!