v
A quick look back over the first 4 rounds.
1) we need mature big bodied help for our under siege key position talls, too much of a load for Schache, Hipwood and Andrews to carry.
2) Our experienced mids (D.Beams, Rockliff, Zorko) have been great with good support in small cameo rolls from Robinson and Rich. Good teams have as many as 10-12 players rotating through the middle sharing the load.
3) Cutler been down this year, we desperately need run out of defense along with small pressure forwards.
4) Been happy with the form of some of our mid range guys ie. 3+ seasons. Mayes, Gardner, Robertson and Taylor have been good.
5) On the other hand really disappointed in Bell, Lester, Bewick, Cutler and McStay of the more mature guys who have played all the games.
Changes v the Bulldogs considering my rationale above.
outs- McCluggage (rested/NEAFL), Berry (rested/NEAFL), Hipwood (rested/NEAFL), Bell (omit), Lester (omit), Cutler (inj), McStay (omit).
ins- Christensen, Walker, Close, Bastinac, Harwood, Dawson, Keays.
back.
Harwood, Walker, Gardner.
Mayes, Andrews, Rich.
mids.
Martin, Rockliff, D.Beams.
Zorko, Bastinac, C.Beams.
fwd.
Christensen, Schache, Taylor.
Cox, Close, Robinson.
int- Robertson (defense/wing), Dawson (defense) Keays (mid), Bewick (wing).
with Christensen and Robinson given extended stints in the midfield.
How will we go v the premiers?
The dogs are a team we aspire to emulate. They were widely considered a rabble of few short years ago with the loss of a coach, captain and appearing to be going nowhere, kudos to the dogs for what they have done, a massive turn around. With Fagan and Noble on board and the resulting changes hopefully we are on a similar path.
On the surface we should be in for a belting this weekend. Although the dogs have been winning they have not been playing their best footy, showing that great trait all really good teams have ie. finding a way to win when the form is down.
We need to bring the intangibles to this contest- desire, intensity, pressure, gut running and the fearlessness to take the game on through the corridor to have any chance of even being competitive. We have shown this in some really good patches over the first 4 rounds of the season. With bigger bodies Close and Walker to help out the younger keys and also lightening the midfield load on D.Beams, Rockliff and Zorko we will hopefully extend out those good patches this week.
Match-ups/tactics.
We need to curb the run and carry out of the back half from the likes of Murphy and Johannisen, would like us to manufacture getting our most dangerous smalls in Christensen and Robinson (while they are not playing in the midfield
) on these 2 guys. Close to bash and crash the packs and stop Wood and Adams from taking those intercept marks they are so good at.Lower the eyes, do not overuse the long bomb into the forward 50, Schache to play the lead up forward with Close a bit closer to home.
While Bontempelli and Stringer (in short bursts) are very dangerous it will and always should be about team defense/pressure up the ground, leaving our defensive 6 with as little to do as possible in the D50. With the injuries to Boyd and Cloke there is a possibility the dogs could go small in the F50, if that is the case we could throw Walker or Andrews forward in relatively long stints.
Harwood to be daring with his run out of defense and would rather see C.Beams in an outside midfield role, thought he showed some good glimpses there yesterday along with improved pace in a chase late in the game.
If Hipwood plays get him up the ground, he will take 1 out of 10 of those attempted screamers at this stage in his development. Use his pace and agility.
I have been banging on about this for years, we are the worst kick in team in the league, we seem to dither and procrastinate at the top of the square. Get that bloody ball back in quick after a point please!
Pretty simple if we want to be competitive- pressure, pressure, pressure. Everything flows from that.
A little bit of self indulgence.
We are the team from Brisbane
who wear the emblem of a lion.
Through who those media scribes
would like to draw a line.
We travel to the bulldog kennel
who have dreams of back to back.
But the boys in maroon, gold and blue
will undoubtedly show no fear and hunt them in a pack.
They have Bontempelli, Macrae and Stringer
the man they call the package.
Although out of the lions den will come
Hipwood, Andrews, Schache and of course then there is McCluggage.
Underestimate us at your peril dogs
do not drink your own bathwater.
For when the game is done and the lion eats the dog
we will take great delight in telling you where to stick your smartarse banner.
Tip.
We have had the miracle on grass and pandemonium at the gabba, this week there will be- The sensational etihad stunner. Lions by a point with set shot from 50 after the siren for the Schach attack.
Lets end with the obligatory Simpsons reference.
