Preview Semi Final - Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn

[JJHunter]

This is going to be the ultimate test of how far we have come as a team. Its also the ultimate test of Alistair Clarkson theory that contested is not the be all and end all of modern football. It'll be interesting to see if the Hawks can find a way to breach our swarming press and get the ball out the back to their lethal small/medium forwards.

7 ******* days. I cannot wait.

I listened to the 3aw call last night and Buckley was sensational and did very well explaining the Hawks game plan.... Was a terrific explanation too long to detail here.

Essentially winning contested possession for us should be a certainty as they allow more numbers at stoppages for opposition. So we don't win that it will be a spanking.
Key will be how we move the ball out of the stoppage and our ongoing issue with connection to forwards.

 

[Libba39]

I think we match up a lot better on hawks than geelong. The players will go in with a fair amount of confidence, and if we aspire to be the best then I'm sure they want to play the premiers on the G on a Friday night.

Can't wait and it's great exposure for the club.

 

[Gollo]

Hoping for a lolnorf style scenario - Hawks come out trying to rough us up and then get smashed by our physicality.

I want Puopolo to have a go at Bont, Firrito-style. Let's see what happens second time round.

 

[Doggies_13]

I listened to the 3aw call last night and Buckley was sensational and did very well explaining the Hawks game plan.... Was a terrific explanation too long to detail here.

Essentially winning contested possession for us should be a certainty as they allow more numbers at stoppages for opposition. So we don't win that it will be a spanking.
Key will be how we move the ball out of the stoppage and our ongoing issue with connection to forwards.

Too bad Buckley doesn't know his own game plan or the pies might be half decent

That should suit us against the Hawks if we move the ball by hand from stoppages no rushed kicks

 

[Doggies_13]

I think we match up a lot better on hawks than geelong. The players will go in with a fair amount of confidence, and if we aspire to be the best then I'm sure they want to player the premiers on the G on a Friday night.

Can't wait and it's great exposure for the club.

Agree our half backs and small-mid defenders are our strength which hopefully controls their small-mid forwards.

Midfield matches well and our forward line is I like most of the match ups except for Stratton normally makes stringer his bitch

 

[Hard Ball Get]

I listened to the 3aw call last night and Buckley was sensational and did very well explaining the Hawks game plan.... Was a terrific explanation too long to detail here.

Essentially winning contested possession for us should be a certainty as they allow more numbers at stoppages for opposition. So we don't win that it will be a spanking.
Key will be how we move the ball out of the stoppage and our ongoing issue with connection to forwards.

Buckley is fantastic at this. The best coach in the league for explaining the game to the public.

If people looked past Collingwood or Bucks hatred and listened, they'd probably learn a thing or two.

 

[JJHunter]

Strong name to suggestion correlation!
Stringers explosive pace could absolutely wipe out the hawks aging mids if he is thrown in the middle for spells. I can see him coming alive against the hawks defense.

I'm not usually a fan of stringer on ball as his instincts are best close to goal BUT there is a lot of sense to this. He would be a huge point of difference playing on the ball against the Hawks.

If it's McLean in for Jong then McLean plays permanent fwd and stringer should be given some more chances on the ball.

Fact is Hawks allow opponents an extra number at stoppage so any extra run around the ball would be welcome

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I wouldn't be surprised if they have already picked a replacement and they don't play on Sunday

yeah could be that too. Campbell an interesting one - needs game time but they'd also want him as an emergency at least.

 

[JJHunter]

Buckley is fantastic at this. The best coach in the league for explaining the game to the public.

If people looked past Collingwood or Bucks hatred and listened, they'd probably learn a thing or two.

I always think the same thing. Put aside hatred or bias and listen to the message and I was incredibly impressed again by Buckley in commentary.

Yet I listened to Lyon on Foxtel and was confused by a lot he had to say. Spoke a lot - said very little

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I want Puopolo to have a go at Bont, Firrito-style. Let's see what happens second time round.

Frawley repeat would be funnier.

 

[JJHunter]

Too bad Buckley doesn't know his own game plan or the pies might be half decent

That should suit us against the Hawks if we move the ball by hand from stoppages no rushed kicks

Exactly the point I was suggesting.
Giants were brilliant at doing exactly that around stoppages and belted em.

Move ball to outside with hands. Simply not rushed kicks outta stoppage

 

[Mr. Walker]

Buckley is fantastic at this. The best coach in the league for explaining the game to the public.

If people looked past Collingwood or Bucks hatred and listened, they'd probably learn a thing or two.

I agree. A few weeks back Buckley was on ABC radio and gave a run down on Adelaide's game plan. Was one of the best explanations i have heard.

 

[compact72]

Pretty nervous. Hawks will come out ruthless.

 

[BrunswickDog]

I wouldn't be surprised if they have already picked a replacement and they don't play on Sunday

Stevens needs a full game though. He only played a half in the vfl last time, and needs the game time. But with the 5 day turn around, makes it difficult.

The afl and vfl scheduling has really stuffed us up. In a perfect scenario our vfl squad should play today, to give us max time for afl game. Same goes for all those in contention. In that case, vfl squad may not have a bench after half time.

Alternative is to significantly limit game time throughout the game for thise in contention. Tomorrows vfl game will be very interesting.

We also need to be careful of the 2nd game back for libba, macrae and rough. 2nd game back after a layoff is usually a quiet game.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

If players like Hogde and Mitchelle stopped all their sniping off the ball they prob win the game last night. I'm so over the crap the Hawks do especially those 2. It's does not get any harder than having to beat the Hawks in a final, I expect them to try and snipe pretty hard.

The last team that tried those sniping tactics was Norf and look how that worked out #pokethebear#

 

[fpm84]

Hey guys, is your semi final confirmed for Friday night or still TBC?

 

[theburst]

Early thoughts:
Stats-wise, Hawks haven't lost 2 in a row for a couple of years. Beaten us last 9 games.
A watch on tomorrows VFL late omission(s), assuming Jong is the only change. Koby,Maclean,Roberts, perhaps Campbell but could be too late for him.
The Wood-Boyd-Morris chain is so important. We didn't have Wood in the early season clash.
On paper they look at have around 10 goal kickers.
We found our slick silky play against Eagles, love the confidence which can negate any big-stage nerves.

 

[boydsno1]

Hey guys, is your semi final confirmed for Friday night or still TBC?

Friday.

 

[Yojimbo]

Pretty nervous. Hawks will come out ruthless.

Nothing to worry about the Hawks will be coming out of the away
rooms which will be like playing on foreign soil, it's not like they
lose and get to play another home game or anything. Oh hang
on i think Luke Hodge got to call the coin toss last night so
technically they were the away team on their home deck again.

 

[Bulldog Brent]

Hey guys, is your semi final confirmed for Friday night or still TBC?

I believe we play Friday night if Sydney wins today, and Saturday night if GWS win.

This is to ensure the highest ranking side has the Friday night prelim allowing maximum break into the GF. It'll be either Sydney or Geelong with that Friday night prelim so we work backwards.

That's my reckoning anyway.

 

[Super Hans]

Does anyone know when mcc visitors tickets go on sale? Mate has given me his members code to grab some tickets and don't want to miss out.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Good luck Doggies - the time to put the Hawks to be is nigh - this is best for AFL in general and there supporters can just fade of into the sunset like the bad dream it was!

 

[Doggies_13]

Early thoughts:
Stats-wise, Hawks haven't lost 2 in a row for a couple of years. Beaten us last 9 games.
A watch on tomorrows VFL late omission(s), assuming Jong is the only change. Koby,Maclean,Roberts, perhaps Campbell but could be too late for him.
The Wood-Boyd-Morris chain is so important. We didn't have Wood in the early season clash.
On paper they look at have around 10 goal kickers.
We found our slick silky play against Eagles, love the confidence which can negate any big-stage nerves.

Are you sure i thought they lost to the dees before heading to Perth where the Eagles beat them

 

[Freshwater]

N

Hey guys, is your semi final confirmed for Friday night or still TBC?

ot confirmed but will be for sure.

 

[gimp!]

I believe we play Friday night if Sydney wins today, and Saturday night if GWS win.

This is to ensure the highest ranking side has the Friday night prelim allowing maximum break into the GF. It'll be either Sydney or Geelong with that Friday night prelim so we work backwards.

That's my reckoning anyway.

Second elimination final has been played on a Friday night as far back as 2003, regardless of top team winning or not (me being paranoid and checking last night). This weeks fixturing makes it pretty apparent that it will be Friday.