How do the Bulldogs beat St Kilda next week?

[Cruiserweight Champ]

We are clearly the underdogs but in prelims anything can happen. To beat St Kilda we need to keep Roo frm having a dominant game (duh), no more than 3 goals, we have to break even with midfield at best, if they win the clearances comfortably then we are gone, but the key to winning this game is curtailing their drive off half back. We cant let Goddard do as he pleases off half back, someone has to make him accountable, and the player who the dogs must not let off the leash is Jason Gram. He can kill you with his run and carry, with his runs through the middle followed by a 60m bomb to Roo and Kosi. Whoever plays on him MUST do a good job for the dogs to have any chance.

 

[FuManchu]

weather immaterial, long bombs by a moderately skilled team with a decent forward and some decent runners hurt us.

see essendon, carlton and the pies.

we got chopped up because they didn't play to our plan.

teams that fall into the keepings off plan die.

But that was the whole point of my post. It started raining, geelong changed the way they moved the ball in, it wasnt as much to targets as it was into the area. St Kilda's defence know their opponents so well if they play to their plan, but the minute you bring it in haphazardly, it becomes harder to second guess and know what their opponent is doing especially when their opponents dont know what they are going to do.

Geelong beat hawthorn last year the same way, were losing going into the 4th qtr, so they just moved it anyway they could forward, hawthorn had no idea how to stop chaotic unstructured movement. Co-incidentally, the St Kilda defence was an improved version of the hawks 2008 defence. Both are prone to chaotic ball movement in. How can you organise against disorganisation?

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Doggies only chance is if they pass the hat around and "contribute" to the umpire end of season trip.

 

[Ricmel]

But that was the whole point of my post. It started raining, geelong changed the way they moved the ball in, it wasnt as much to targets as it was into the area. St Kilda's defence know their opponents so well if they play to their plan, but the minute you bring it in haphazardly, it becomes harder to second guess and know what their opponent is doing especially when their opponents dont know what they are going to do.

Geelong beat hawthorn last year the same way, were losing going into the 4th qtr, so they just moved it anyway they could forward, hawthorn had no idea how to stop chaotic unstructured movement. Co-incidentally, the St Kilda defence was an improved version of the hawks 2008 defence. Both are prone to chaotic ball movement in. How can you organise against disorganisation?

Again, if you have seen StKilda play live, you can see their formation clearly. It looks a bit like the mob in space invaders and moves from side to side and IMPORTANTLY moves forward. Usually it is something like 4 players in a line 30m ahead of the ball, then 4 or 5 at 50 and another 4 at 80. If you are slow it moves foward on you, that is what keeps catching the Geelong half backs out and forces them into hurried, sloppy disposals.

Haphazard delivery does not really phase it because unless you can kick 80 metres, you are still going to hit a nest of Saints. The secret is fast ball movement because the best way through the "zone" is over the back of it (need players that break the lines) or to go around it (need very quick switches of play).

 

[skywalker1977]

So girls, have we come up with any ideas of how he dogs could beat the saints? Or are you all just going to bitch slap one another and say my team is better than your team?

Why does it matter truth be known the dogs will be sore battered and bruised, last year they were through with a easy win against the lions, the prelim final from the year before against the cats stirred them into do or die attitude footy and severely tested the saints who themselves had prelim finals in 2004, 2005 and 2008.
This time round the saints had the week off after a confidence boosting finals win against the cats, the doggies are coming off having to play catch up footy against the swans and will be dog tired from that.
Another key aspect is given the cats and pies are both playing friday nights prelim first it kind off puts the doggies mindset with lost of unease, knowing full well both these teams have their measure, why even bother trying to limp past the saints and throw everything they have at a prelim and face up against a fresher faster bigger bodied pies or cats outfit all over again, the psychological damage will have already been done.
Saints are far bigger stronger and more enduring than the dogs.
To beat the saints the doggies would need hall to kick 8 goals, have close to 65 inside 50s, tackle, tackle and tackle at every opportunity, try to play as many big bodies as possible, try to keep roo, milne, kosi and schneider to no goals and keep the saints from kicking more than 8 goals.
The dogs would need to gbet an absolute jump and a half on the saints and maintain it till three quarter time, as well as take lots of energy refill drinks to give them an extra buzz, call up benny boy from the tigers and see if he can provide them anything.
I dont personally have his number but look him up in the phone book and see if he has any ideas for the dogs champ.

 

[KissStephanie]

Geeeeeeeelong vs Saints in the GF again..lock it in.

Ha ha ha! So says the poster that finished in equal 2073rd place in the BigFooty tipping competition with a paltry 70 correct selections from 176 matches, and you predicted Brisbane to finish on top! Ha ha ha! Western Bulldogs best chance of winning this week is that you think they will lose, and maybe you should change your screen name to 'KissOfDeath.'

 

[Valve Bounce]

Doggies only chance is if they pass the hat around and "contribute" to the umpire end of season trip.

...............and a turbocharged Zimmer for Brad Johnson.

Sorry Doggies, the Devil and the thought of a frowning Julia made me do it.

 

[stfan]

Johnson's hard work in presenting across half forward allowed Hall to play deep and was instrumental in allowing us to keep a dangerous forward structure. Johnno's work was especially crucial as young Grant could not get into the game at all. Sure Johnno sprayed it a couple of times but he worked his butt off to provide a target for the midfield to spot up. Did exactly what the team needed from him to give us a better chance of winning - it's called leadership.

The inexplicable potting of Johnson, after what was essentially one poor match in a row, continues. Maybe the lemmings of BF can line up at their nearest Dymocks to go buy that 'hugely anticipated' book instead of bother to go to the footy this week.

All I can say is "Love is Blind".

 

[dan warna]

Why does it matter truth be known the dogs will be sore battered and bruised, last year they were through with a easy win against the lions, the prelim final from the year before against the cats stirred them into do or die attitude footy and severely tested the saints who themselves had prelim finals in 2004, 2005 and 2008.
This time round the saints had the week off after a confidence boosting finals win against the cats, the doggies are coming off having to play catch up footy against the swans and will be dog tired from that.
Another key aspect is given the cats and pies are both playing friday nights prelim first it kind off puts the doggies mindset with lost of unease, knowing full well both these teams have their measure, why even bother trying to limp past the saints and throw everything they have at a prelim and face up against a fresher faster bigger bodied pies or cats outfit all over again, the psychological damage will have already been done.
Saints are far bigger stronger and more enduring than the dogs.
To beat the saints the doggies would need hall to kick 8 goals, have close to 65 inside 50s, tackle, tackle and tackle at every opportunity, try to play as many big bodies as possible, try to keep roo, milne, kosi and schneider to no goals and keep the saints from kicking more than 8 goals.
The dogs would need to gbet an absolute jump and a half on the saints and maintain it till three quarter time, as well as take lots of energy refill drinks to give them an extra buzz, call up benny boy from the tigers and see if he can provide them anything.
I dont personally have his number but look him up in the phone book and see if he has any ideas for the dogs champ.

they did that in the pre-season game, or close enough.

 

[memberforever]

Ok, so any ideas on how they might win? I didn't ask, 'who would win'....

They will win if they play like they did last night ie winning the contested ball, and making the Saints accountable. The dogs are number one in clearances, number one in 1st posession and 5th in contested possessions (Saints 11th), 3rd in I50, 1st in R50, but tackle count is below the Saints.

The main issue will be to not rely just on Hall kicking goals, we need contributions from other players. We go into the game with the knowledge that we just lost our last two games against the Saints by a goal each time and that they are beatable. The big differernce between last years Prelim and this year is that we have a genuine KPP in Barry Hall.

Although the Saints have had the week off, sometimes its against you as well as it takes time to get back into the rythym.

Dogs by 13 points.

 

[P-MONEY]

Chances are slim but pressure is a funny thing..

 

[folester41]

they certainly have to play at a high intensity for the whole game, chase and tackle, apply the defensive pressure, and most importantly prey their kicking skills are as good as they can be, because when they are off, they are woeful/

 

[brmi]

Hopefully the umpires dont hand the match to the saints like last year. That would be a good start, then we keep up our intensity and attack on the ball like the 2nd half against Sydney.

We can definately win, it's just a matter of how much the AFL want St Kilda in the GF.

 

[pazza]

I'd get Hall so fired up, he knocks Milne out in the warm-up.

Old-school tactics in finals are still a handy asset to have up your sleeve. Physicality still wins games.

 

[CATTERS09]

they dont have a chance saints will maul them by 7 goals+

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Ha ha ha! So says the poster that finished in equal 2073rd place in the BigFooty tipping competition with a paltry 70 correct selections from 176 matches, and you predicted Brisbane to finish on top! Ha ha ha! Western Bulldogs best chance of winning this week is that you think they will lose, and maybe you should change your screen name to 'KissOfDeath.'

I beat you . Oh sorry, I think I'm on your ignore list. Not sure that the tipster in question will enhance our chances by tipping against us, but we're willing to test the theory - any theory for that matter.

 

[footyfreak]

Johnson's hard work in presenting across half forward allowed Hall to play deep and was instrumental in allowing us to keep a dangerous forward structure. Johnno's work was especially crucial as young Grant could not get into the game at all. Sure Johnno sprayed it a couple of times but he worked his butt off to provide a target for the midfield to spot up. Did exactly what the team needed from him to give us a better chance of winning - it's called leadership.

The inexplicable potting of Johnson, after what was essentially one poor match in a row, continues. Maybe the lemmings of BF can line up at their nearest Dymocks to go buy that 'hugely anticipated' book instead of bother to go to the footy this week.

You trolling?

Coz he was shocking....sorry but if you were srz or happy with that performance you know zero about football.

 

[Sedat!]

Coz he was shocking....sorry but if you were srz or happy with that performance you know zero about football.

It's you that knows zero about football if you can't see that he was the only player on our half forward line presenting and working bloody hard to provide an option for players further up the field. And because he was doing this, Hall didn't have to chase kicks on the wing, which made him very dangerous close to goal.

Nobody said he had a perfect game but he performed a role on the night that was very important in helping us maintain our forward line structure, something that has fallen apart in the last month.

 

[Dangas]

Hey?? I didn't think we were that good.

Take nothing for granted. Saints need to work hard to win here.

Jeez wouldn't Aker be handy right now for the Dogs

 

[Gooka]

Jeez wouldn't Aker be handy right now for the Dogs

As handy as he was in the first 10 rounds this year?

 

[skipper kelly]

Ha ha ha! So says the poster that finished in equal 2073rd place in the BigFooty tipping competition with a paltry 70 correct selections from 176 matches, and you predicted Brisbane to finish on top! Ha ha ha! Western Bulldogs best chance of winning this week is that you think they will lose, and maybe you should change your screen name to 'KissOfDeath.'

Not too bright this poster.

How many others finished 2073rd.

 

[gimp!]

I'm sure Aka has gone to his little mate Rossy Lyon and given him as much info as he can about the Dogs.

 

[FuManchu]

I'm sure Aka has gone to his little mate Rossy Lyon and given him as much info as he can about the Dogs.

I am sure Ross stands 6 foot plus

 

[Ricmel]

I'm sure Aka has gone to his little mate Rossy Lyon and given him as much info as he can about the Dogs.

Not sure there is that much to give is there? I mean Aker has been
on the outer for a few months now and the Doggies gamplan does not look all that complicated (last weekend it was just "kick it to hall").

I'm not sure Aker can do you too much damage.

 

[DidakDelight]

Shut down Milne and Koshitski, target their bad ball users and build an early lead.
Playing the 2nd prelim on saturday puts a team under even more pressure so if its close the saints will be nervous.

I'm expecting this one to be very very close.