Preview Changes and discussion vs Melbourne. Round 8, 2014.

[Trent85]

WESTERN BULLDOGS
INJURIES
Jarrad Grant (foot) 1-2 weeks
Daniel Pearce (knee) 6 weeks
Josh Prudden (knee) 1 week
Jordan Roughead (shoulder) 5 weeks

ON THE BLOCK: There were not too many players down on form, despite the close loss to Essendon on Saturday night. Koby Stevens was subbed out after gathering just seven touches. Tom Williams (nine disposals) is still finding his feet.

ON THE CUSP: A young bloke called Giansiracusa booted two goals and was named one of Footscray’s best players in its close loss to North Ballarat in the VFL on the weekend. The Dogs could do with his experience on Saturday. Fletcher Roberts was excellent down back and subsequently named the Dogs’ best player, while Brett Goodes, Jason Tutt and Mitch Wallis all put their hands up for AFL selection.

BEN WATERWORTH’S FORECAST: That was a frustrating loss. The Dogs were gutsy in the first half but conceded nine Essendon goals in the third term. They had more disposals, more contested possessions and more clearances, yet still went down. That is three straight losses for the Dogs, who now sit 15th on the ladder. They have a good opportunity to reverse their form this weekend, but a Melbourne side full of confidence will not make it a cakewalk. The Dogs are one of the best teams in the competition for centre clearances, but the next step in the chain — delivering the ball inside forward 50 — needs drastic improvement.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/th...-the-round-8-bye/story-fndv7pj3-1226905878687

 

[Dav1d]

These injuries feel like they are taking forever People will be crying for Gia to come back into the side this week, but two goals isn't exactly inspirational

 

[BRG93]

Expect Rough back in 2-3 Weeks turns out his injury wasn't as bad as first thought

 

[Doggies7]

Expect Rough back in 2-3 Weeks turns out his injury wasn't as bad as first thought

Great news, should be back ready to go after the bye then. Maybe a game for Footscray to get a bit of match fitness if needed. I'd love to give Roberts a few weeks in the 1's before Roughy comes back to reward him for his form and give him another taste of AFL.

 

[DognBones]

Amazingly, Sportsbet have us at $1.38 and Melbourne at $2.95 head to head. Surely, this over-inflates our ability.

 

[BEaston]

Why would you rest anyone the week before a bye?

So players aren't being carried?? What does it matter if the bye is the following week, if someone is cooked, they are cooked.

 

[VitalDread]

Josh Prudden (knee) 1 week

 

[VitalDread]

Great news, should be back ready to go after the bye then. Maybe a game for Footscray to get a bit of match fitness if needed. I'd love to give Roberts a few weeks in the 1's before Roughy comes back to reward him for his form and give him another taste of AFL.

Pus having Roberts, Talia and Roughie in our backline would work pretty well.

 

[fargy]

Roberts, Honey and Tutt will come in as part of extended bench.

No extended bench, Saturday night game.

 

[fronkalicious]

Pus having Roberts, Talia and Roughie in our backline would work pretty well.

Roberts, Talia, Roughie and Morris??? Too big bro.

 

[VitalDread]

No extended bench, Saturday night game.

Ahh thought it was on sunday
cheers

 

[Flash86]

I really do hope Roberts gets a game this week.
I wouldn't be that annoyed if he gets owned by Chris Dawes or whoever. I want him to succeed. I just want to have a look at him and see how he goes at AFL level. I remember Markovic use to destroy VFL forwards week in and week out but struggled at AFL level. Still have nightmares from that 12 goal game from Kennedy of the eagles.
If Roberts can become a solid CHB, then like others have said, we would have a good young backline of the future in Roughy, Roberts, Talia, Wood, Picken and add a dashing half back in there and we set. I originally just wanted to saw Roughy, Roberts, Talia, then thought I better add Wood, and then picken been dominant so add to him. good signs that you can think of good defenders for us quite quickly.

Also want to add, that even thought Williams didn't kick a goal last weekend, I thought his CHF work of leading up the ground and getting marks was good. I like him up forward. The issue I have noticed though is when Crameri hasn't played CHF (which has been last 2 weeks), he has only got a goal in in total of both those games. So even though Williams looked well, is it impacting Crameri? I know Crameri is not a true CHF but he seems to play really good football there.

Want Bonts getting a full game.

IN: Roberts, Tutt
Out: Stevens, JJ

Also worry about the runner issue, but hoping Bonts starts, and Tutt comes in as our explosive running midfielder. He looks good as the sub.

 

[VitalDread]

Roberts, Talia, Roughie and Morris??? Too big bro.

Roberts and Roughie would be rotating from forward and backline
Roberts is actually pretty fast so he can close out well,
So could be like
Wood, Roughie, Roberts
Murphy, Talia, Higgins.

 

[fargy]

Ahh thought it was on sunday
cheers

I expect every game to be on Sunday and get surprised when it's not haha

 

[Dogsman16]

Roberts, Talia, Roughie and Morris??? Too big bro.

I don't think its too big I actually think thats perfect. Morris to take the best small/Medium forward, Roughy or Roberts can chop out in the ruck or up forward and we still wouldnt be undersized down back if we had an injury. Plus we wouldnt need a a Ruckman playing forward and slowing down our forward pressure. We can also sub out a tall who is struggling for a running player and still have options at either end.

 

[maddog37]

Roberts and Roughie would be rotating from forward and backline
Roberts is actually pretty fast so he can close out well,
So could be like
Wood, Roughie, Roberts
Murphy, Talia, Higgins.

Not sure Roberts is fast VD.

 

[VitalDread]

Not sure Roberts is fast VD.

Trust me
For a big bloke he is fast.

 

[Dogsman16]

Particularly against the Hawks, Swans, Collingwood etc we might need all 4. Not saying all four should be playing there at all stages in the game, but I think there is room for all of them in the side.

 

[Fossie 32]

Particularly against the Hawks, Swans, Collingwood etc we might need all 4. Not saying all four should be playing there at all stages in the game, but I think there is room for all of them in the side.

Yes, Wood has been playing on taller guys and Morris can handle smaller types so could go well having two taller defenders in.

 

[Dogsman16]

To put it quite simply Morris just replaces the role picken has done on the small forwards this year so picken can push into the middle as our main tagger. Roughead and Roberts can swing between back, forward or ruck and talia is the stay at home defender. Hypothetically when we play the Hawks they could have all or Roughead, Gunston, Hale and Schoemakers forward, so our best matchups would be

Jordan Roughead to Hale,
Roberts to Schoemakers
Talia to Roughead
Morris to Gunston

That way we can employ a number of switches if needed if an opponent gets on top and we can be a bit better covered against injury. Hypothetically if Roberts/Roughy/Talia got injured morris could go taller and Easton wood would go to Gunston. Or if our tall forwards struggle and Jones needs to be subbed off, Roughy could go forward instead and have Morris and Wood play taller.

And lets just say that the hawks have only 3 taller forwards and Schoenmakers is forced to go back Morris might be needed to go to bruest etc.
Just allows for more flexability, and cover for injury. When hale pushes into the ruck so does Roughy. It just covers every avenue.

It also allows us to have specialist forwards in the forward line and not the 2nd ruck like Cordy/Campbell for instance. We could have all of Grant, Crameri, Jones, Stringer, Dickson and Dahlhaus all down there and then have our bench stacked with midfield rotations.

When we have a full strength side these are my prefered line ups

FB: Morris, Roughy, Wood
HB: Talia, Roberts, Higgins

Murphy to rotate between forward and back same with higgins

HF: Grant, Crameri, Dickson
FF: Dahlhaus, Jones, Stringer

Stringer and Grant can push up to the middle and on the wing at times, Murph to half-forward when they do so.

 

[King Harold]

I really do hope Roberts gets a game this week.
I wouldn't be that annoyed if he gets owned by Chris Dawes or whoever. I want him to succeed. I just want to have a look at him and see how he goes at AFL level. I remember Markovic use to destroy VFL forwards week in and week out but struggled at AFL level. Still have nightmares from that 12 goal game from Kennedy of the eagles.
If Roberts can become a solid CHB, then like others have said, we would have a good young backline of the future in Roughy, Roberts, Talia, Wood, Picken and add a dashing half back in there and we set. I originally just wanted to saw Roughy, Roberts, Talia, then thought I better add Wood, and then picken been dominant so add to him. good signs that you can think of good defenders for us quite quickly.

Also want to add, that even thought Williams didn't kick a goal last weekend, I thought his CHF work of leading up the ground and getting marks was good. I like him up forward. The issue I have noticed though is when Crameri hasn't played CHF (which has been last 2 weeks), he has only got a goal in in total of both those games. So even though Williams looked well, is it impacting Crameri? I know Crameri is not a true CHF but he seems to play really good football there.

Want Bonts getting a full game.

IN: Roberts, Tutt
Out: Stevens, JJ

Also worry about the runner issue, but hoping Bonts starts, and Tutt comes in as our explosive running midfielder. He looks good as the sub.

No way I want Stevens replaced by Tutt , surely one ordinary performance won't get him dropped considering his early form ?

 

[fargy]

Not sure what the go was with Stevens, played a run with role (which he did well) but also seemed to be a defensive player on Fletcher some of the time which was a weird matchup. And then cramping early in the third quarter?

 

[Zgope1]

i might be wrong here but im pretty sure stevens didnt have cramp. i think people are basing that of ben graham going "cramp? cramp?" in the third but im pretty sure he was actually asking if it was murphs problem (he was being assessed). not totally sure on that but pretty confident

 

[grassman75]

Josh Prudden (knee) 1 week

So did he tell you that after main, or during dessert on your date last week?

 

[Scottty]

If we lose to Melbourne, I'm cancelling my account.

Why is that? You blokes are favourites but Melbourne are much improved and stand any chance