Training 2024 Preseason reports and discussion

[Hodgey 15]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

DGB. Ward. McKenzie. Watson.

Hmmmmm.

Seriously?

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

DGB. Ward. McKenzie. Watson.

Hmmmmm.

It's not looking good for DGB, unfortunately.

But the other three are shaping up to be guns.

 

[hawkman]

Seriously?

Mackenzie and Ward both blitzed a preseason game in their 1st season. Who knows what will happen once the real stuff starts.

Mackenzie was good today as well

 

[Yardie]

The real issues we face….

( apologies if this is a repeat TLDR)

I was a little bit skeptical. But when he said "everyone who has suggested we move Sicily forward leave...." I was nearly on the floor.

 

[eldorado]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

I'm sure you'll manage it.

As long as you don't come here crying every time he has a good game, we can all be happy.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Don’t know if it’s just bad communication between the team but how did you end up with Bont, JUH, Trelor, Weightman and English all playing vfl players

All the Dogs players with limited pre-seasons under their belts.

English has barely done any of it I don't believe.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

DGB. Ward. McKenzie. Watson.

Hmmmmm.

Yep, our list would have looked really balanced with another one-paced midfielder...

Ward and Mackenzie in particular have shown nothing so far...

Draft busts everywhere.

 

[I got the outside word]

Is there anywhere to see the stats? Apologies if it’s been posted.

 

[The hands of stone]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

DGB. Ward. McKenzie. Watson.

Hmmmmm.

You might like this forum better its under AFL teams and it's spelt 'Western Bulldogs'

 

[H00t]

Is there anywhere to see the stats? Apologies if it’s been posted.

aflcentral on twitter has some but that’s all I’ve seen so far.

Aside from Huss and Mass that have been on here already the other ones are

Ginni 14 disposals and 2 goals
Weddle 15 disposals
Mackenzie 23 disposals

They also have AFL fantasy scores

 

[cryptor]

If #36 is a cursed jumper at Hawthorn then surely there is a case for #44 being a blessed one.

 

[Elhawko]

I'm sure you'll manage it.

As long as you don't come here crying every time he has a good game, we can all be happy.

And if you can't enjoy the fact that the Dogs pinched him from Norf then you are not really trying.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

aflcentral on twitter has some but that’s all I’ve seen so far.

Aside from Huss and Mass that have been on here already the other ones are

Ginni 14 disposals and 2 goals
Weddle 15 disposals
Mackenzie 23 disposals

They also have AFL fantasy scores

I see they've dubbed Hustwaite "the Pencil"

 

[kirbatron]

I see they've dubbed Hustwaite "the Pencil"

haha

Pencil.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Darcy is going to be a frickin star and an upgrade on English.

Mate they will have the best ruck combo in the game by a stretch this year if that form from today continues on. They would almost be happy to let English go at the end of the year as well.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Don’t be shocked if Huss takes Worps spot when day is back! Can’t see him leaving the side now.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I was a little bit skeptical. But when he said "everyone who has suggested we move Sicily forward leave...." I was nearly on the floor.

Genuine LMAO that video

 

[SSSSSS]

Even on his worst day Scrimmers is a better player than a peak Bramble.

I still find the non selection of Scrimmers last year perplexing.

He's a supremely talented player entering his prime years yet the coaching panel repeatedly selected a good VFL standard battler ahead of him.

Bramble fit Sam's style. Bramble was a tryer. Scrim was coasting.

Needed a rocket up his arse for a long time.

Scrim needed to change the way he plays and smarten up quickly to get the most out of his career. Credit to him as he has taken responsibility and his intensity has gone through the roof. Become a lot more combative on the field (that tackle on DeGoey phwoar) and on the training track too according to the reports of our posters.

I am hoping this is the season where it all clicks for Scrim. He has so much talent.

 

[kazzooka]

Don’t be shocked if Huss takes Worps spot when day is back! Can’t see him leaving the side now.

Geez that would have to be the tallest midfield ever.

Reeves, Nash, Hustwaite, Day and Newcombe.

Few years ago Newcombe at 186cm would be considered as a bigger body mid.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Watching R. Sanders is going to be tough.

DGB. Ward. McKenzie. Watson.

Hmmmmm.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

All this discussion re pork rolls got me hankering for one. Went to the local Bakery where they where $7.20 a year ago now, $12. Didn't even kiss me first!

You need to come to Melbourne's West. $4-$5 a year ago, $7 now.

 

[Strattonsphere]

Bulldogs had all their guns playing 3 competitive games ago.. and we knocked them out of finals

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Wanted to post my thoughts post game but was interrupted by work and needed to rewatch the bits I missed.

My 2c (probably repeating others a bit):

Many of the Hawthorn players are known quantities. So it was a real bonus that many of the 'unknowns' (i.e. new recruits, emerging players and positional swaps) that were the best performed today. Specifically:

Husthwaite was great. His movement in traffic and his cleanliness was excellent. Reminded me of Will Day as a tall, skinny kid that knows how to navigate traffic and be one touch through the middle.
McKenzie was very good and had his best day in Hawthorn colours. Think he is much more suited at rotating through the middle and half back, rather than half forward. As he is adjusting to AFL game pace, it suits him to have the play in front of him. Grew in confidence throughout and got better and better.
Massimo got plenty of it and looked good. A fair chunk of his ball were handball receives cos of his good kicking so the numbers are perhaps a little inflated but for a fringe player from another team to come in and play the way he did was a real bonus.
Ginnivan was not prolific but classy when he got it. A real problem for us last year was getting the ball forward but lacking finishers such that we would overshare in the forward line and waste opportunities. Ginnivan is not athletic at all but he really knows where the goals are. He can grab a half chance and turn it into a goal - off a step, under pressure, etc. This is why he was targetted and will be valuable for us.
Hardwick looked good up forward and kicked a couple of goals from limited ball going his way. Problem is, smalls at the other end had a field day. A guy like McNeil had a day out. We lack small stoppers - I suspect our nxt best options after Hardwick currently are Seamus Mitchell and Bailey McDonald - both out injured. We really need 2 Hardwicks (perhaps Bodie Ryan can be that guy) but it feels to me he is more needed down back than up forward.
Scrimshaw was great, Impey had good patches and Chol did a lot right, except for his goalkicking.

Things that were not so great include an inability to spoil with their talls taking marks that were too easy, too often (with Hawthorn players waiting at the fall but no contesting properly in the air). Their small forwards also did as they please and whilst I love our attack from the backline approach, I think we allow too much latitude and opposition find it easy to score once they affect a turnover. Also felt some worry about an inability to slow or stop big run ons (like last season) but realised that it is "Windy Whitten" and that their run ons were in the 1st and 3rd (with wind) and we had a similar one in the 2nd and only didnt as much in the 4th as we'd gone VFL and lacked finishing despite most of the momentum. Watson was unfortunately very quiet but it's game 1 so definately cutting slack. Some senior players were taking a bit too easy but again, can let that slide in Practice 1.

In terms of disagreement with some of the more prevalent views on here, I didn't love some of the posting about how Frost should never play again and other 'whipping boy' comments. I thought he was actually pretty solid, made no turnovers, took some intercept marks and directed the younger guys in terms of decision making. Still had 1 Frosty moment where he was too enthusiastic in a tackle but if that were anyone else, I reckon we would have loved it instead of the vitriol it prompted. The other disagreement was on Reeves - I thought he was actually decent in the ruck. Didn't always win the hit out and the Dogs were generally on top in the middle but when he did win the hit out, it was clear advantage out the front of the stoppage style taps rather than the break even/no real advantage taps that everyone else offered. Yes, it was only against Darcy but still clever advantageous ruckwork, especially to Newcombe.

 

[Buttonsticher]

You need to come to Melbourne's West. $4-$5 a year ago, $7 now.

Lived over there in the late 80s when I was a shunter, probably cost a buck back then

On SM-A546E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Buttonsticher]

You need to come to Melbourne's West. $4-$5 a year ago, $7 now.

Lived over there in the late 80s when I was a shunter, probably cost a buck back then

On SM-A546E using BigFooty.com mobile app