Preview Semi Final v Bulldogs @ The Gabba, Saturday 4th September 2021, 7.20pm.

[Big Sauce 21]

Really is a bit of a joke that the Bulldogs have to stay cooped up in the hotel room all day in Brisbane, they have been in Covid free Tasmania and will be there until flying out Friday for Brisbane and would have or could have multiple Covid tests before flying out... for gods sake let them out of their kennel, utter madness.

We spent all day in cricket nets, they can survive. Night fixture please

 

[briztoon]

I’m just waiting for Mighty Lions to log back on and give us his thoughts and insights.

 

[JasRulz63]

Could you hypothetically just go smaller? Feel like Fullarton or Ballenden would play into the Dogs hands, whereas a small forward line could cause the Dogs some headaches. They completely nullified Essendon's tall forwards today.

Issue with this is that we would need to change the way we exit out of defense. We don't move the ball quickly so we're reliant on kicking the ball down the line and either forcing it to ground level or forcing a stoppage. Going small means our forwards are more likely to be picked off, and exposing our lack of defensive work rate/speed the other way (like we saw last night).

 

[Mikevk123]

In- Ballenden, A.Smith, Payne, Robertson
Out- Birchall, Fullatron, Gardiner, McStay

B Adams Andrews Starcevich
HB K.Coleman Payne Rich
C Robinson Neale Mcluaggage
HF Bailey Daniher Zorko
F Cameron Mclnerney McCarthy
FOLL: Smith J.Berry Lyons
INTER: Mathieson, Prior, Robertson, Ballenden
Sub: Cockatoo

 

[Sherrinator]

It's strange I feel twice as confident about beating port away than I feel about this weekend's game

Makes sense because we’d have McStay back by then

 

[Sherrinator]

In- Ballenden, A.Smith, Payne, Robertson
Out- Birchall, Fullatron, Gardiner, McStay

B Adams Andrews Starcevich
HB K.Coleman Payne Rich
C Robinson Neale Mcluaggage
HF Bailey Daniher Zorko
F Cameron Mclnerney McCarthy
FOLL: Smith J.Berry Lyons
INTER: Mathieson, Prior, Robertson, Ballenden
Sub: Cockatoo

Ballenden is shocking. I reckon Lester is in and a shock Andrews forward play.

 

[luthor]

Ballenden is shocking. I reckon Lester is in and a shock Andrews forward play.

I'd go either Adams or Andrews as the second tall forward and select Payne as a defender.

Adams has shown more than Andrews down back recently, so I'd shove Dad forward

That way, minimal disruption to structure.


Oh yeah, and Ah Chee in for Cocky and Robertson for Matho ( sorry Beast!)

Maybe also Lester in for Gardiner

I've been critical of him but Birch was pretty reasonable against the Dees, so keep him if he is fit

B: Lester Payne Starcevic

HB; Rich Adams Coleman

C: Robinson Neale McCluggage

HF Bailey Daniher Zorko

F Cameron Andrews McCarthy

Foll: McInerny, J Berry, Lyons

Sub : T Berry

INT: Ah Chee, Coleman , Birchall Robertson

Out ; McStay, Fullarton,Cockatoo, Matheison (sub), Gardiner

In: Ah Chee, Payne, Robertson, Lester, T Berry (sub)

 

[SL16]

I notice that there seems to be a consensus that Fullerton should be dropped, and Ballenden brought in or Adams moved forward.

Could you hypothetically just go smaller?

We could, but Fagan seems to be literally bound to the structure we have, and the only changes we've made pretty much the entire season have been like for like injury replacements.

It's created a bit of a problem for this week, as the only like for like left for McStay is probably Ballenden; and with having both he and Fullarton in the forward line it'd be like playing with 4 forwards.

-----------------

I mentioned it in the other thread but my changes would be:

Out: McStay (injured), Gardiner (omit), Fullarton (omit), Birchall (injured)/Prior (omit)
In: Payne (Adams forward), Lester, Archie Smith (Oscar more time forward), Ah Chee (if fit)/Dev Rob

But what I expect is:

Out: McStay (injured), Birchall (injured)
In: Ballenden, Lester (only in if Birch is injured)

Our conservatism at the selection table has frustrated me all year, and it will no doubt again this week.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

I’m just waiting for Mighty Lions to log back on and give us his thoughts and insights.

What about Dyland12 who was always saying we have a team that won't win a premiership?

We need some serious melts

 

[davemc_lions]

The three teams who lost by the most where all slow out of the backline.
Not sure that game style holds up when your under pressure and another team is coming.
We cannot change that next week, although we need to look at it.
Yes we the best scoring side home and away although we lost against teams who move the ball fast
Dogs, Swans, Demons, Tigers and Saints.

The top teams we beat this year we pulled the trigger quicker as there pressure was down.
When the pressure goes up you get more fumbles so those sideways kicks and kick to 50/50 pack do not work

 

[Mighty Lions]

May be wishful thinking but I think the umps might be very reluctant to give the Dogs frees inside 50 after the dust settles this week.

Weightman now has the umpires looking at the way he plays for free's. They wont come as easy on Saturday 100%.

 

[Ceebee]

Weightman now has the umpires looking at the way he plays for free's. They wont come as easy on Saturday 100%.

We can only hope .

 

[Mighty Lions]

I agree with some posters here that an "out of the blue/nobody expected that" change is necessary given the situation as it presents itself right now.

I dont agree with putting Andrews forward in any way. He has been our main KPD now for 3 seasons now and has been our rock for that time. Moving him away would be a disaster in my opinion even when his recent form is significantly lower than his usual output the last few games.

I would consider moving Oscar away from main ruck and putting him as a deep forward with Daniher moving up the ground a little more. This move would allow Big O to be the main target around the goals and also allow our smalls opportunities if the ball hit the turf as Big O rarely gets outmarked.

That leaves the problem regarding our #1 ruckman for the game and I would consider either Fullerton taking on the role OR bringing in Archie to replace Fullerton to ruck for 90% of the game. No doubt Tommy would struggle but then our mids would need to play more of a defensive role at centre bounces and at stoppages. Archie would be much more competitive as a ruckman but the thing that worries me more with Archie coming in is his lack of game time against pressure and better quality opposition this year.

 

[Sanchez365]

Watching the dogs essendon game it was clear in the first half that the dons were well on top in the midfield. This was largely driven by Draper having complete control of where he wanted the ball to go and the Essendon minds getting well on top.

I think we will need Big O to stay in the center and dominate, bringing our mids into the game. It does seem like one of our key defenders will have to swing forward, as even Ballenden has been playing across half back in the reserves (correct me if wrong).

Andrews looked like he had lost all his pace from what ever was going on with him so he would probably be my last choice to go forward. Will get zero seperation and he isn't really an amazing contested mark of the football.

I think our best option is to bring in Lester and go slightly smaller. The cupboard really is feeling pretty bare right now. It's crazy to have 3 KPFs and still feel like we have no options if 1 of them goes down.

 

[a mayes ing]

Bring in Smith to do main ruck. Push Oscar forward to be the McStay role, drop Fullarton for a small/medium. Tempted to drop Cocky, but he is the sort of person that could turn a final in 5 mins.

 

[mpal6]

Watching the dogs essendon game it was clear in the first half that the dons were well on top in the midfield. This was largely driven by Draper having complete control of where he wanted the ball to go and the Essendon minds getting well on top.

I think we will need Big O to stay in the center and dominate, bringing our mids into the game. It does seem like one of our key defenders will have to swing forward, as even Ballenden has been playing across half back in the reserves (correct me if wrong).

Andrews looked like he had lost all his pace from what ever was going on with him so he would probably be my last choice to go forward. Will get zero seperation and he isn't really an amazing contested mark of the football.

I think our best option is to bring in Lester and go slightly smaller. The cupboard really is feeling pretty bare right now. It's crazy to have 3 KPFs and still feel like we have no options if 1 of them goes down.

Put Adams forward and play Payne in defense. Adams will mark it for sure. I won't put Harris forward either, just let him play close to his man and not be the floater. Harris is currently down in confidence and beating his man should be his priority. Leave the rest to others.

I'd keep Big O in center as well. He will be potentially the difference to this game, if he starts smashing the ball out and release our mids forward. Lycett did exactly that against the Dogs in Round 23 and it was the difference in the end.

 

[SSwans2011]

Issue with this is that we would need to change the way we exit out of defense. We don't move the ball quickly so we're reliant on kicking the ball down the line and either forcing it to ground level or forcing a stoppage. Going small means our forwards are more likely to be picked off, and exposing our lack of defensive work rate/speed the other way (like we saw last night).

Makes sense. I guess the other point in its favour is maybe you could play a few forwards whose primary role is to gut run both ways. It just seems like bringing in a tall forward that'd probably get outmarked and not have much of an impact would be counterintuitive, because it would make it much easier for the Dogs to transition.

Although, that being said, if you were going to do that, I suppose the aftermath of Hipwood going down, rather than in finals. Plenty of selection headaches - Hipwood and Rayner were just really unfortunate players to lose to injury.

 

[davemc_lions]

I agree with some posters here that an "out of the blue/nobody expected that" change is necessary given the situation as it presents itself right now.

I dont agree with putting Andrews forward in any way. He has been our main KPD now for 3 seasons now and has been our rock for that time. Moving him away would be a disaster in my opinion even when his recent form is significantly lower than his usual output the last few games.

I would consider moving Oscar away from main ruck and putting him as a deep forward with Daniher moving up the ground a little more. This move would allow Big O to be the main target around the goals and also allow our smalls opportunities if the ball hit the turf as Big O rarely gets outmarked.

That leaves the problem regarding our #1 ruckman for the game and I would consider either Fullerton taking on the role OR bringing in Archie to replace Fullerton to ruck for 90% of the game. No doubt Tommy would struggle but then our mids would need to play more of a defensive role at centre bounces and at stoppages. Archie would be much more competitive as a ruckman but the thing that worries me more with Archie coming in is his lack of game time against pressure and better quality opposition this year.

I agree with Andrews although worth a chance move one as we have more key backs then key forwards.
Otherwise then it is Big O next best proven forward

Interesting Archie wins a lot of taps although not sure they always go where we want them as well.
Fullarton ruck worked for the Pies game.. Young v him be 50-50 both teams.

I think we need speed of the backline. Poor Birchall getting hit on here although if Fagan wants Lester back.
I still stand by you cannot have Lester, Rich and Birchall all in the same backline against a team like the dogs
No idea where Madden is up to now.
Like Tom Berry in his disposal and sometimes thinking before kicking can lack. noticed it improved in some of the games I watch
Although he is hard at it as Mitch although has speed we lack
Also like Dev in as well

 

[Squizz89]

Has this game been confirmed for 7.20?

Saw a Sam Edmund tweet earlier this morning saying it was likely to be 4.45. Dogs wanted the earlier game to fly out etc afterwards?

 

[bato]

Tickets go on sale at 12pm today. Was this communicated by the club?

 

[LongLion]

Tickets go on sale at 12pm today. Was this communicated by the club?

That might be for the other game. It is still TBC for our game.

 

[Dalions]

Tickets go on sale at 12pm today. Was this communicated by the club?

I haven’t received an email yet, as a member.

 

[jackess]

Backline matchups will be interesting.

I think Adams is pretty well suited to Naughton and then Andrews probably to English and Gardiner to Schache

I can’t see Lester being able to take any of those 3, maybe Schache.

 

[md20]

Definitely not for Ballendan in. Or Smith. Basically the same as Fullarton.
They might be of use in the future but at the moment they are both not up to it, especially for an elimination final.
Payne in for Fullarton, Adams moved forward, Lester in for Birchall, Dev Robbo in for Prior.
Only problem is who does the back up ruck. Possibly Daniher? He did it well early in the season where he racked up disposals as well.

I have confidence this weekend. We were still in that game on the weekend with it only being 19 points difference in the last qtr even with how poor we performed.
The game is being played at the Gabba. With a week to plan for the McStay out. A few players that had poor performances on the weekend I am confident wont do two weeks in a row (Lyons, Zorko, Robbo, Bailey, McCarthy, Daniher, and Berry if they dont play him forward all game).
Neale was outstanding and see him continuing his run of form.

 

[bato]

That might be for the other game. It is still TBC for our game.