Preview 2024 Second Elimination Final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, 6 September 2024, 7.40pm @ MCG

[Slainte]

Those who think that playing people out of position in finals doesn't work must be too young to remember Gary Ayres.

 

[theiaofseed]

Will Finn tag Bramble, and kick goals on him as well?

Pretty handy matchup to kill their run from D50 - has the stamina, pace, size, strength and marking to trouble him in both directions.

There are bigger fish to fry in the midfield maybe. But I wonder what no Bramble coming out of the backline would do to their game?

No we wont be doing anything different than normal, our smalls will make Bramble accountable. No need to tag.

 

[toomanysquibs]

No we wont be doing anything different than normal, how small will make Bramble accountable. No need to tag.

Agree that it's only an issue if they get on top of our forwards to the point that Bramble is an outlet to run the ball out.

That said, how is Finn playing forward different to normal? He's occupied a flank at times this year, and all of our small/medium forwards push deep defensively almost the same way our wings do.

Finn has played both those positions. We would lose zero.

But moot I agree if we are giving Bramble a lot to think about defensively.

 

[toomanysquibs]

Those who think that playing people out of position in finals doesn't work must be too young to remember Gary Ayres.

Teams are a lot more a single entity in both directions now than they were back then. But bo doubt there is still scope for someone clever enough to move and become more damaging as a result.

Josh Weddle case in point.

 

[VandoHawk]

Will Finn tag Bramble, and kick goals on him as well?

Pretty handy matchup to kill their run from D50 - has the stamina, pace, size, strength and marking to trouble him in both directions.

There are bigger fish to fry in the midfield maybe. But I wonder what no Bramble coming out of the backline would do to their game?

No. Bramble is susceptible to pressure - we want him to get the ball. Bailey Dale is the one we need to stop.

 

[toomanysquibs]

No. Bramble is susceptible to pressure - we want him to get the ball. Bailey Dale is the one we need to stop.

That is a more than fair call.

 

[barbster]

Those who think that playing people out of position in finals doesn't work must be too young to remember Gary Ayres.

Or have forgotten what happened last time we played the Dogs.

 

[CHUBBSS]

When do the teams get announced?

 

[toomanysquibs]

When do the teams get announced?

My ADD has me awake at 11:30 pm here reloading the AFL homepage every ten minutes.

Hoping it's soon.

 

[LRobbo]

The Dogs are an interesting mob. Have had a top 4 calibre list for almost a decade, over achieved in 2016 winning it from nowhere and mostly underachieved since then, the pressure is squarely on them.

The media especially David King the numpty are running with the ‘if the dogs get it together for 4 weeks look out’.
If they were that good they’d be top 4 and would have been for the last few years, truth be told this mob have shrivelled up under the intensity of finals football repeatedly and capitulated in the third quarter of the 2021 GF.

If we get the game on our terms, or even break even in the middle, they won’t keep up, and we’ll make defenders that are susceptible to pressure look second rate ie Bramble and Dale who is great offensively but can be exploited defensively.

Don’t get the media love for them, and if the Dogs bow out tomorrow night they should be crucified but nobody really cares about minnow clubs so it’ll get swept aside.

 

[LRobbo]

When do the teams get announced?

6.20pm

 

[ahhhhhh]

My ADD has me awake at 11:30 pm here reloading the AFL homepage every ten minutes.

Hoping it's soon.

You’ve got 3 hours.

 

[Newmo89]

Well you can tell who’s in the squad by who’s training at the G today Ward and Finn both there as expected but Finn in a hoodie? Maybe he’s just cold!

Serong, CJ and Noodle at the MCG training today as well with the group. There were a total of 26 at the G for the Barra’s Yarma.

 

[matey]

I'm thinking...... Fin may mess up our Hok Ball. Hok ball needs precision.

I reckon Finn has been getting use to the running patterns and is showing up in the right places to connect and link up well over the last few weeks. With his tank it compliments the others that also have big tanks!

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Can someone explain why they announced Day was out so early?

The dogs would have been planning for him until tonight if the hawks had kept mum.

Feels like they have given the dogs ine less thing to worry about, making the planning simpler....

Am I missing something?

Sent from my SM-G990E using Tapatalk

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Can someone explain why they announced Day was out so early?

The dogs would have been planning for him until tonight if the hawks had kept mum.

Feels like they have given the dogs ine less thing to worry about, making the planning simpler....

Am I missing something?

Sent from my SM-G990E using Tapatalk

We back ourselves vs playing petty games

I like it.

 

[theiaofseed]

Can someone explain why they announced Day was out so early?

The dogs would have been planning for him until tonight if the hawks had kept mum.

Feels like they have given the dogs ine less thing to worry about, making the planning simpler....

Am I missing something?

Sent from my SM-G990E using Tapatalk

Pretty obvious he wasn't playing when he wasn't doing contract stuff at training

 

[scrim reaper]

Can someone explain why they announced Day was out so early?

The dogs would have been planning for him until tonight if the hawks had kept mum.

Feels like they have given the dogs ine less thing to worry about, making the planning simpler....

Am I missing something?

Sent from my SM-G990E using Tapatalk

Sam mentioned on 360 along the lines of it was for Will, every interaction he had was people asking him if he would get up, they knew he wouldn't so they wanted to take the stress off him.

 

[Newmo89]

Sam mentioned on 360 along the lines of it was for Will, every interaction he had was people asking him if he would get up, they knew he wouldn't so they wanted to take the stress off him.

Sam also spoke about it yesterday - no need to be playing ducks and drakes - it isn't good for anyone involved. Sam has already said that if we win tomorrow night, a decision will be made earlier rather than closer to the game.

 

[peetoo]

I think the mods are just trying to temper the chicken littles who are saying we are doomed due to Day and Mackenzie being out.

When day ruled out, almost all said we still have frenchy. For mine we drop a little in the midfield, hope the fwds can pick up the slack with efficient scoring

 

[Randy Campbell]

Just remember, if we lose tomorrow, it'll be hugely disappointing, but we've already massively exceeded expectations this year. And we most likely have two of the best defenders in the comp joining us next year.

The future looks extraordinarily bright.

But, we are Hawthorn and it is finals.

 

[Luke_Hodgey_15]

Serong, CJ and Noodle at the MCG training today as well with the group. There were a total of 26 at the G for the Barra’s Yarma.

Mate, your work this season has been unreal.
The pod is a must listen every week, your connection with Sam during press conferences and the information you share on here are bloody brilliant.
Keep up the great work!

 

[Dewyyyyy]

In - Ward
Out - Mackenzie (inj)

() = key match up

B: Hardwick (Weightman) - Frost (Naughton) - Sicily (tagged?)
HB: Weddle (JUH) - Scrimshaw (Darcy) - Amon
C: D’Ambrosio - Ward - Morrison
HF: Moore - Chol (Lobb) - MacDonald
F: Ginnivan (Dureya) - Dear (O’Donnell) - Watson (Bramble)
FOL: Meek (English) - Newcombe - Worpel
INT: Gunston (Jones) - Nash (Bont h2h) - Maginness (Tag Dale?) - Impey - Breust (sub)

Key aspects of this game:

MIDFIELD BATTLE
The midfield battle will be key, if either side gets a dominance in that area they’ll be hard to stop with how dangerous both forward 50s can be.

Dogs are the number one midfield at pressuring and making first possession turn over and effective clearances, it is important to be composed and tough.

Two way workrate and holding the structures will be important, around the ball this is the diamond shape around the contest and outlet options.

BOTH TEAMS FORWARD LINES
The dogs have a dangerous trio of Darcy, JUH and Naughton, they’re tall, athletic, and dangerous. It will be key to maintain a structure to defend them, and for them it’ll be spreading the ground. The dogs also have Weightman a dangerous small forward, aswell as Vandermeer and West if he plays, who is extremely smart.

The Hawks have a deadly force of smalls, who work both ways and kill their men on the spread and linking, but everyone are dangerous and provide xfactor around goals - whilst maintaining elite pressure. Ginnivan, Moore, Watson and MacDonald + Breust will be a couple of handfuls. This is supported by a trio of talls, Gunston smart and incredible as his role offensively and defensively, but Chol/Dear, their competitiveness in the air and at ground level, and overall athletic ability.

THE BACKLINES
The dogs may not be the best defensively, their midfield helps sure up their defense with pressured entries, but one on one the Hawks are confident. The key will be to let Lobb and Jones intercept and feed the ball to Dale and Bramble to run, gun and pierce the zone.

For the Hawks they will be wanting a contest every time, applying pressure to the dogs half backs, and then working the other way to make them defend.

Hawthorns defenders will need to kill the ball aerially and then back themselves, run and gun but to use their elite foot skills to break each zone. Freeing up Sicily will be important and will help the trio of talls.

OVERALL
This will be a cracking contest, and I cannot wait. Rain or not, it’ll be tight. Finals are here and 90K at the G.

I think the Hawks will win by 14.

 

[mustang]

Just remember, if we lose tomorrow, it'll be hugely disappointing, but we've already massively exceeded expectations this year. And we most likely have two of the best defenders in the comp joining us next year.

The future looks extraordinarily bright.

Unless we win the flag this year it will be a disappointment we don't celebrate playing finals, we celebrate winning flags as Mitchell said in an interview.

 

[TylerDurden]