- Sep 25, 2005
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Formline
Pies going into this one with a massive win over Essendon behind them. Pies will be pleased to be back on the winners list but moreover happy to get their intensity back along with a game where they kicked more than 20 goals and had something like 40 shots on goal. Whilst they are missing 5-6 players they would otherwise want the squad appears in top nick as well. Not easy to see how you fit Rocca and Burns back in……
Hawkers have been up for a while but struggled against a gallant Richmond. One wonders what the result may have been if Richo played fwd and stretched the “Poo Browns” up back. Tigers played a similar style to the one we will. Theirs was a pretty tough game physically and mentally so Mick will feel positive about this and the extra days break.
At selection
Its always worth starting this by answering what would worry the “mustard Golds” the most. The answer probably revolves around Rocca, Cloke and potentially Fraser stretching them down back. Hence, you would have to look at bringing Rocca in, albeit against a side like the Cats the answer would be very different as they would want him in.
If fit, Burns is a must. Against a side that loves a stoppage this bloke is your spiritual leader and I think at times its hurt us not having his leadership out on the ground.
That’s Rocca and Burns in – who to leave out?
One of Wellingham or Cook unfortunately. Both played really well on Anzac Day and will be pleased they now know they can mix it on the big stage and in big games. Whilst I thought Cook was better and is the better tagger which we so desperately need I think Wellingham has something special and we need to persist with him.
Joining Cook will need to be one Wakelin or Goldy. You will see from my matchups below I think Brown or Harry will get Buddy and the other will get the lad from Gippy. Goldsack and Maxwell will be back up so Wakelin appears the one with no matchup. Unfortunately cannot see any other way but balance and need for speed is important.
The gameplan – what do we want to see
Everybody knows to beat this mob you need to win the stoppages and keep them from setting up across HB with their highly skilled players in Guerra, Birchall, Osborne, Ladson and Crawford when he drops back. We need to monster them and have enormous tackle pressure on them.
In the mids you need to keep Mitchell and Hodge quiet. When they are not clearing or collecting heaps of the pill your chances of winning sky rocket. We don’t have a ‘Sewell like’ tagger so this could be a real problem area for us.
Winning the stoppages will help us get the game on our terms. Quick and direct movement from the stoppage always works well for us and when the momentum is up we can stay on the horse for a while. Heater must be allowed to play on the worst forward and to set the plays up for us by getting the ball switched to the other side or channelled into the corridor.
We want to see Swan collecting footy but not at the expense of seeing Mitchell or Hodge running rampant. Pendles will also need to beat his tag and use his outstanding handball in the clinches and through the corridor.
If Rocca is back, and I hope he is, then he needs to dominate these blokes. He wont get a worse FB in the league than Gilham (sorry Carroll is the worst) so he needs to take some marks.
Key matchups
When you do the matchups its going to be a really interesting game. Hawkers are going to struggle with our nippy forwards as they typically have more one paced back flankers with outstanding skill. Davis, Didak, Lockyer and Meddy should be to quick for Guerra, Birchall, Young and Brown.
On the other hand their midfield poses real problems for us. Hodge and Mitchell are the standouts and we don’t have any player to stand them. I cant see Rhyce going to Hodge, nor can I see Cook going (if he plays) there so not sure what we will do. Hodge definitely needs stopping as I have seen them lose most when he is taken out of the contest. A roughie would be Maxwell but doubt he has the engine. Wouldn’t mind betting that Swan and Mitchell are left to go head to head and that Sewell walks to Pendlebury.
Their forwards are also a problem. Brown gets Franklin and Harry get Roughead. Wakelin gets the resting ruck but may end up having a lot of time in the bench on this one or even sitting it out as mentioned before.
The matchups
B Clarke, Brown, Maxwell
F Rioli, Franklin, Williams
HB Shaw, OBrien, Goldsack
HF Osborne, Roughead, Ladson
C Thomas, Swan, R.Shaw
C Young, Hodge, Bateman
HF Didak, Cloke, Lockyer
HB Birchall, Croad, Guerra
F Davis, Rocca, Medhurst
B Ellis, Gilham, Brown
Foll Fraser, Pendlebury, Johnson
Foll Campbell, Sewell, Mitchell
Int Wood, Burns, OBree, Wellingham
Int Lewis, Crawford, Taylor, McGlynn
In: Rocca and Burns
Out: Wakelin and Cook
What is worrying Mick
Buddy, Buddy and Buddy. He is sensational and keeping him quiet is really important. Backing young Brown onto him is a massive show of confidence and will probably define the result.
He would also be worried about Hodge playing that ‘quarter back’ role he plays so well and Mitchell clearance work (never forget the game we blanketed him in a year ago only for him to smash us in this area in the second half).
What's worrying Alistair.
Waking up wondering if Rocca is going to monster another of his medium sized backs. Would also be worried about Cloke and Fraser dropping down there. If these blokes kick 10 goals between them then the Dawks will probably lose.
Who needs to step up
Thomas – he has really struggled in the last few weeks and if it wasn’t for hero status with then he would probably make way. When he can play 4 qtrs he will win matches off his own boot and become as important as Hird was to Essendon.
Clarke – needs to keep improving and become a lock down player that we so desperately need.
Wood – A goal and contested mark or two last week were terrific. But as good as he has been the possession rate could be a bit higher.
OBree – Nice to see him lift last week. I think the coaching panel have given a message that he needs to be contributing or others will be preferred.
The result
Look I think you would have so say the Hawkers win this on paper by 3-4 goals but they need Buddy to fire and that means their midfield has to dominate ours. The good news is they are due for a loss and are getting us when we are up and should be desperately wanting a big teams scalp.
Pies going into this one with a massive win over Essendon behind them. Pies will be pleased to be back on the winners list but moreover happy to get their intensity back along with a game where they kicked more than 20 goals and had something like 40 shots on goal. Whilst they are missing 5-6 players they would otherwise want the squad appears in top nick as well. Not easy to see how you fit Rocca and Burns back in……
Hawkers have been up for a while but struggled against a gallant Richmond. One wonders what the result may have been if Richo played fwd and stretched the “Poo Browns” up back. Tigers played a similar style to the one we will. Theirs was a pretty tough game physically and mentally so Mick will feel positive about this and the extra days break.
At selection
Its always worth starting this by answering what would worry the “mustard Golds” the most. The answer probably revolves around Rocca, Cloke and potentially Fraser stretching them down back. Hence, you would have to look at bringing Rocca in, albeit against a side like the Cats the answer would be very different as they would want him in.
If fit, Burns is a must. Against a side that loves a stoppage this bloke is your spiritual leader and I think at times its hurt us not having his leadership out on the ground.
That’s Rocca and Burns in – who to leave out?
One of Wellingham or Cook unfortunately. Both played really well on Anzac Day and will be pleased they now know they can mix it on the big stage and in big games. Whilst I thought Cook was better and is the better tagger which we so desperately need I think Wellingham has something special and we need to persist with him.
Joining Cook will need to be one Wakelin or Goldy. You will see from my matchups below I think Brown or Harry will get Buddy and the other will get the lad from Gippy. Goldsack and Maxwell will be back up so Wakelin appears the one with no matchup. Unfortunately cannot see any other way but balance and need for speed is important.
The gameplan – what do we want to see
Everybody knows to beat this mob you need to win the stoppages and keep them from setting up across HB with their highly skilled players in Guerra, Birchall, Osborne, Ladson and Crawford when he drops back. We need to monster them and have enormous tackle pressure on them.
In the mids you need to keep Mitchell and Hodge quiet. When they are not clearing or collecting heaps of the pill your chances of winning sky rocket. We don’t have a ‘Sewell like’ tagger so this could be a real problem area for us.
Winning the stoppages will help us get the game on our terms. Quick and direct movement from the stoppage always works well for us and when the momentum is up we can stay on the horse for a while. Heater must be allowed to play on the worst forward and to set the plays up for us by getting the ball switched to the other side or channelled into the corridor.
We want to see Swan collecting footy but not at the expense of seeing Mitchell or Hodge running rampant. Pendles will also need to beat his tag and use his outstanding handball in the clinches and through the corridor.
If Rocca is back, and I hope he is, then he needs to dominate these blokes. He wont get a worse FB in the league than Gilham (sorry Carroll is the worst) so he needs to take some marks.
Key matchups
When you do the matchups its going to be a really interesting game. Hawkers are going to struggle with our nippy forwards as they typically have more one paced back flankers with outstanding skill. Davis, Didak, Lockyer and Meddy should be to quick for Guerra, Birchall, Young and Brown.
On the other hand their midfield poses real problems for us. Hodge and Mitchell are the standouts and we don’t have any player to stand them. I cant see Rhyce going to Hodge, nor can I see Cook going (if he plays) there so not sure what we will do. Hodge definitely needs stopping as I have seen them lose most when he is taken out of the contest. A roughie would be Maxwell but doubt he has the engine. Wouldn’t mind betting that Swan and Mitchell are left to go head to head and that Sewell walks to Pendlebury.
Their forwards are also a problem. Brown gets Franklin and Harry get Roughead. Wakelin gets the resting ruck but may end up having a lot of time in the bench on this one or even sitting it out as mentioned before.
The matchups
B Clarke, Brown, Maxwell
F Rioli, Franklin, Williams
HB Shaw, OBrien, Goldsack
HF Osborne, Roughead, Ladson
C Thomas, Swan, R.Shaw
C Young, Hodge, Bateman
HF Didak, Cloke, Lockyer
HB Birchall, Croad, Guerra
F Davis, Rocca, Medhurst
B Ellis, Gilham, Brown
Foll Fraser, Pendlebury, Johnson
Foll Campbell, Sewell, Mitchell
Int Wood, Burns, OBree, Wellingham
Int Lewis, Crawford, Taylor, McGlynn
In: Rocca and Burns
Out: Wakelin and Cook
What is worrying Mick
Buddy, Buddy and Buddy. He is sensational and keeping him quiet is really important. Backing young Brown onto him is a massive show of confidence and will probably define the result.
He would also be worried about Hodge playing that ‘quarter back’ role he plays so well and Mitchell clearance work (never forget the game we blanketed him in a year ago only for him to smash us in this area in the second half).
What's worrying Alistair.
Waking up wondering if Rocca is going to monster another of his medium sized backs. Would also be worried about Cloke and Fraser dropping down there. If these blokes kick 10 goals between them then the Dawks will probably lose.
Who needs to step up
Thomas – he has really struggled in the last few weeks and if it wasn’t for hero status with then he would probably make way. When he can play 4 qtrs he will win matches off his own boot and become as important as Hird was to Essendon.
Clarke – needs to keep improving and become a lock down player that we so desperately need.
Wood – A goal and contested mark or two last week were terrific. But as good as he has been the possession rate could be a bit higher.
OBree – Nice to see him lift last week. I think the coaching panel have given a message that he needs to be contributing or others will be preferred.
The result
Look I think you would have so say the Hawkers win this on paper by 3-4 goals but they need Buddy to fire and that means their midfield has to dominate ours. The good news is they are due for a loss and are getting us when we are up and should be desperately wanting a big teams scalp.
