Preview Collingwood v Bulldogs - Round 1, 2021 - Fri @7:50

[Dry Rot]

Haven’t seen enough of McNeil to be fair.



Wallis and either VDM or West.

The other spot will be a mid

Are you like me, concerned that none of them is a real/natural small - medium forward?

 

[Mattdougie]

Are you like me, concerned that none of them is a real/natural small - medium forward?

More concerned with Bevos possible team selection.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Lots of really irrational viewpoints being expressed in these pages. Leaving out our best players, tried and true winners while persistently and blindly boosting the likes of Bruce and Schache, whose performances to date are such that they are just carried by any team they play in, for example, makes for a good laugh. One of the best I noticed was picking Khamis ahead Cordy. FMD.

1. Khamis and Cordy don't even remotely play the same role.
2. The role that Khamis plays has become available through injury, the role that Cordy plays hasn't.
3. Based on team selection this preseason, Khamis is a better chance of being selected than Cordy.
4. In all games they have played this preseason, Khamis has outperformed Cordy.

Form has its peaks and troughs throughout careers. It is possible for Cordy to simultaneously be a better player but in worse form than Khamis, and I believe there has been enough evidence that this is the case so far this preseason. But, yes, points 1 and 2 are the crucial ones here.

If Bev picks Dale at half back in place of Duryea, JJ or even Khamis we may have to accept he has finally lost the plot.

In fact if he picks him at all. Clearly been part of the group that have held us back for 3 years and they collectively must have something on Bev to keep getting undeserved opportunities while blokes like Cav get zero

This is a headscratcher for me too, MD. Dale had some nice involvements but at one stage was directly involved in three (sequential?) Melbourne goals. He can and will be horribly exposed down back imo. His pressure and stopping ability is not good.

If you're going to insist on playing Dale, he should be used as a finisher, not a distributor / defender. This is a baffling decision for mine because he's worse than JJ in the areas of the game that are keeping him out of the game, plus less threatening offensively. It's a bizarre decision and one that I find troubling.

 

[Mofra]

I think Crozier usually takes him, so we don't have an ideal matchup. We might be 'saved' by Sidebottom & Adams injury, I think De Goey will play predominantly mid even if Steele plays.

They don't really have any other mids other than Pendles with those two under injury clouds. Pies will probably have to throw Daicos & Sier in there too.

Crozier is a massive loss, but pre-Crozier did Wood take him?

De Goey plays a fair bit in the middle now, will be needed moreso with Adams and Treloar gone. I'd roll the dice and let Williams take him when he rests forward as Bailey might be able to run off him and get free on transition. Stars don't often run too hard defensively.

 

[Mofra]

If you're going to insist on playing Dale, he should be used as a finisher, not a distributor / defender. This is a baffling decision for mine because he's worse than JJ in the areas of the game that are keeping him out of the game, plus less threatening offensively. It's a bizarre decision and one that I find troubling.

Dale looks great when he doesn't have an opponent.
I can get not playing JJ if his defensive output isn't quite up to par, but I'd prefer Ed Richards ahead of Dale. He's had defensive forward roles and can actually run the ball, something we are searching for (hence selecting McNeill in the rookie draft)

 

[Golden_6]

Crozier is a massive loss, but pre-Crozier did Wood take him?

De Goey plays a fair bit in the middle now, will be needed moreso with Adams and Treloar gone. I'd roll the dice and let Williams take him when he rests forward as Bailey might be able to run off him and get free on transition. Stars don't often run too hard defensively.

Wood could definitely handle him, but who knows how the coaching staff see Wood's body holding up straight away. As you said, I don't expect he'll be playing much forward so we could see a number of players take him for his limited time up forward.

 

[Mattdougie]

1. Khamis and Cordy don't even remotely play the same role.
2. The role that Khamis plays has become available through injury, the role that Cordy plays hasn't.
3. Based on team selection this preseason, Khamis is a better chance of being selected than Cordy.
4. In all games they have played this preseason, Khamis has outperformed Cordy.

Form has its peaks and troughs throughout careers. It is possible for Cordy to simultaneously be a better player but in worse form than Khamis, and I believe there has been enough evidence that this is the case so far this preseason. But, yes, points 1 and 2 are the crucial ones here.



This is a headscratcher for me too, MD. Dale had some nice involvements but at one stage was directly involved in three (sequential?) Melbourne goals. He can and will be horribly exposed down back imo. His pressure and stopping ability is not good.

If you're going to insist on playing Dale, he should be used as a finisher, not a distributor / defender. This is a baffling decision for mine because he's worse than JJ in the areas of the game that are keeping him out of the game, plus less threatening offensively. It's a bizarre decision and one that I find troubling.

Dale is a “nice” footballer when he is given the ball hit he isn’t winning much of it himself or winning many 50/50 contests so even considering him for a backline spot is not just a head scratcher, it’s ridiculous.

With the new man on the mark rule run off players will be paramount so that’s guys like Williams(who has far exceeded my opinion of him), JJ and Richards should be able to tear teams apart with run and carry.

Dale isn’t fast and his delivery is suspect at best under pressure.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Dale is a “nice” footballer when he is given the ball hit he isn’t winning much of it himself or winning many 50/50 contests so even considering him for a backline spot is not just a head scratcher, it’s ridiculous.

With the new man on the mark rule run off players will be paramount so that’s guys like Williams(who has far exceeded my opinion of him), JJ and Richards should be able to tear teams apart with run and carry.

Dale isn’t fast and his delivery is suspect at best under pressure.

I'm a little more buoyant on Dale's offensive game than you are but I do agree with the core of your post. To be honest the only times I've really been impressed with Dale is when he's on the end of a chain, certainly not starting them. It's one of the more confusing positional changes of the preseason.

With Duryea, Cordy, and JJ all out of the side and the likes of Scott, Dale, and Khamis being preferred, it's clear Bev wants something to change with the way our back 6/7 operate this season. I just have no idea what it is.

 

[Triple Baileys]

JJ hasn't been played any real decent games since someone awarded him Tom Boyd's Norm Smith medal

 

[Triple Baileys]

1. Khamis and Cordy don't even remotely play the same role.
2. The role that Khamis plays has become available through injury, the role that Cordy plays hasn't.
3. Based on team selection this preseason, Khamis is a better chance of being selected than Cordy.
4. In all games they have played this preseason, Khamis has outperformed Cordy.

Form has its peaks and troughs throughout careers. It is possible for Cordy to simultaneously be a better player but in worse form than Khamis, and I believe there has been enough evidence that this is the case so far this preseason. But, yes, points 1 and 2 are the crucial ones here.

Re 1 & 2: I thought they are both are tall flanker/BP types who can pinch hit as a KPB. What have I got wrong?

Also, and this is directed to more than just yourself, perhaps some of the selections last practice match were about giving fringe/developing players a go rather than picking the best. You seem to be assuming to some extent that the AFL practice match is a full dress rehearsal for round one and the VFL practice match team has the guys who are not first in line. I'm not sure about that. We'll see.

 

[Dogsman16]

If Crozier and Wood are both ruled unavailable, JJ and Duryea are still playing 2s and Ed Richards

20

Ed Richards

Age

25

Ht

188cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.4

4star

MG

201.4

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.3

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.5

3star

MG

198.3

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

232.4

4star

remains in the 2s then I think Ed Richards

20

Ed Richards

Age

25

Ht

188cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.4

4star

MG

201.4

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

5.3

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

2.5

3star

MG

198.3

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.8

4star

HB

4.8

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

232.4

4star

probably won't be a bulldog in 2022.

He's never going to get a better opportunity to play as that rebounding defender. Now or never for him I believe (if you consider the ridiculous small/medium depth defenders we have).

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Re 1 & 2: I thought they are both are tall flanker/BP types who can pinch hit as a KPB. What have I got wrong?

Also, and this is directed to more than just yourself, perhaps some of the selections last practice match were about giving fringe/developing players a go rather than picking the best. You seem to be assuming to some extent that the AFL practice match is a full dress rehearsal for round one and the VFL practice match team has the guys who are not first in line. I'm not sure about that. We'll see.

Positionally they're similar but I actually think their roles are quite different. Cordy is a versatile, deeper lockdown defender who acts to negate medium types (and can pinch hit on smalls and talls - although the latter has been the role he's had to play for us). He offers help defence by virtue of playing in our system but he's not actually a help defender - you don't see him peel off and cut off balls for Keath/Gardner that frequently because his job description is "guard this space and stop X from kicking goals." Khamis on the other hand has help defence and offence as his MO - he plays higher, like Wood/Crozier, and plays high risk footy to cut off play and generate a turnover.

The upshot of it is I'd play Cordy if Crozier was in and/or I had confidence in our KPDs in 1v1s...but he's not, and I don't, so I like the extra help defence that Khamis has provided this preseason.

Your second point is valid. I guess we'll see what happens. Bev has been quite revealing in his pressers, though, I feel, in suggesting that Scott/Khamis/McNeil have been really impressing but the more experienced guys in the VFL have some real competition. His post-Melbourne game presser made me pretty confident that they weren't really in the mix...but again, you're right - will have to see what happens.

 

[Mattdougie]

Re 1 & 2: I thought they are both are tall flanker/BP types who can pinch hit as a KPB. What have I got wrong?

Also, and this is directed to more than just yourself, perhaps some of the selections last practice match were about giving fringe/developing players a go rather than picking the best. You seem to be assuming to some extent that the AFL practice match is a full dress rehearsal for round one and the VFL practice match team has the guys who are not first in line. I'm not sure about that. We'll see.

Our only “real” practice match is not the time to give developing players MORE chances and especially ones that have served up cr@p after cr@p for a few years now:

No matter how poorly JJ has played he is so far superior a footballer to Dale it’s not even close. We have a dearth of half back players so trying to change Dale into one also is just one boggling

 

[Mattdougie]

I'm a little more buoyant on Dale's offensive game than you are but I do agree with the core of your post. To be honest the only times I've really been impressed with Dale is when he's on the end of a chain, certainly not starting them. It's one of the more confusing positional changes of the preseason.

With Duryea, Cordy, and JJ all out of the side and the likes of Scott, Dale, and Khamis being preferred, it's clear Bev wants something to change with the way our back 6/7 operate this season. I just have no idea what it is.

Dale is a medium forward on an AFL list that has been screaming out for one for 3-4 years and we have had to get mids to play the role because he isn’t up to it.

Dale is very similar to Schache. Give them the ball and they look good but they aren’t getting it themselves and if the intensity lifts they are nowhere to be seen so how anyone can think a bloke who cracks under heat can play back is as you said questionable at best. I just have no idea why we continue to go back to blokes that have failed us in the past time and time again when we have some impressive looking talent waiting. Khamis impressed me more in half a game than Dale has in 4 years

 

[AFDogs]

If Crozier and Wood are both ruled unavailable, JJ and Duryea are still playing 2s and Ed Richards remains in the 2s then I think Ed Richards probably won't be a bulldog in 2022.

He's never going to get a better opportunity to play as that rebounding defender. Now or never for him I believe (if you consider the ridiculous small/medium depth defenders we have).

Ed Richards is 21 years old. He potentially has a 10+ year career ahead of him. Has been in the system for 4 years.

Let's not write him off.

 

[Dogsman16]

Ed Richards is 21 years old. He potentially has a 10+ year career ahead of him. Has been in the system for 4 years.

Let's not write him off.

Not righting his career off, just his place at the club. I feel for him cause he's played often out of position.

But our defensive depth in the small/medium department is incredibly strong. He's not a natural forward, obviously no one is getting into the stacked midfield.

Just find it hard to get him a spot when already we have 4 players (Crozier, Wood, Duryea, JJ) possibly not playing against Collingwood on friday.

 

[Cadillac]

Got accepted into MCC last year. Finally get to make use of it on Friday night. Looking forward to this one.

 

[cecil]

Expecting to miss out on tickets. What are the best pubs to watch the game at?

 

[Dogsman16]

Naughton training with an arm guard. But looks very likely to play.

 

[AFDogs]

Expecting to miss out on tickets. What are the best pubs to watch the game at?

Railway Yarraville is a Bulldogs pub.

 

[Virgin Dog]

GWS have announced Tanner Bruhn and Matthew Flynn will be debuting Round 1. They don't play until Sunday. Do clubs usually make these kinds of announcements this early for Round 1 debutants? I'm not expecting to hear anything until Thursday tbh

 

[yebiga]

1. Khamis and Cordy don't even remotely play the same role.
2. The role that Khamis plays has become available through injury, the role that Cordy plays hasn't.
3. Based on team selection this preseason, Khamis is a better chance of being selected than Cordy.
4. In all games they have played this preseason, Khamis has outperformed Cordy.

Form has its peaks and troughs throughout careers. It is possible for Cordy to simultaneously be a better player but in worse form than Khamis, and I believe there has been enough evidence that this is the case so far this preseason. But, yes, points 1 and 2 are the crucial ones here.



This is a headscratcher for me too, MD. Dale had some nice involvements but at one stage was directly involved in three (sequential?) Melbourne goals. He can and will be horribly exposed down back imo. His pressure and stopping ability is not good.

If you're going to insist on playing Dale, he should be used as a finisher, not a distributor / defender. This is a baffling decision for mine because he's worse than JJ in the areas of the game that are keeping him out of the game, plus less threatening offensively. It's a bizarre decision and one that I find troubling.

My take on Dale's half-back odyssey is that it's nothing more than player development. Dale is an elite half forward but his defensive attributes are so poor that he disqualifies himself from the side. He has pace, is a good leading mark and is our most reliable shot at goal. Why wouldn't he be in the team? Because he is pathetical defensively, his forward pressure is non-existent and his not comfortable with body contact. This was all very noticeable when he played in half back. But he was made accountable and forced to make physical contact.

I suspect he is one of those players we are likely to trade and regret it because there is very little lacking in his game - it's fixable - so we are trying to fix it.

 

[Northernsoul74]

Expecting to miss out on tickets. What are the best pubs to watch the game at?

In the cbd I like The Imperial. The Railway in Yarraville locally.

 

[Bulldogs85]

GWS have announced Tanner Bruhn and Matthew Flynn will be debuting Round 1. They don't play until Sunday. Do clubs usually make these kinds of announcements this early for Round 1 debutants? I'm not expecting to hear anything until Thursday tbh

They might just be telling them nice and early get it out of the way so their family can get tickets to the game

 

[Virgin Dog]

They might just be telling them nice and early get it out of the way so their family can get tickets to the game

There's a chance that one of Khamis, Scott and McNeil could see a debut in Round 1 considering all were picked for the preseason game (I'm assuming Bedendo is nowhere near a debut). I'd have thought we'd be doing the same in that case?