Prediction Team Round 1 WB V North Marvel 7.35 PM 15/3/25

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Optimistic Dog

Premiership Player
Oct 11, 2014
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AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
Backs Bramble Jones Lobb
Half Backs Dale Busslinger Freiijah
Centreline Williams Libba Arty Jones
Half Forwards Hynes Naughton Weightman
Forwards Darcy U-Hagan West
Ruck English
Mids Bont Treloar

I/C Sanders, O'Donnell, Richards, Kennedy Sub Harmes


New Busslinger, Hynes, Kennedy
 
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Duryea Jones Busslinger
Dale Lobb Bramble
Freijah Richards Williams
Davidson Naughton West
Weightman Darcy JUH
English Bont Treloar
Libba Mennedy Gallagher McNeil

I wanted Sanders in over Gallagher, but we feel too one-paced. Mennedy might cut into Sander's opportunities unfortunately.

We got some great depth in the seconds:

JJ JOD Coffield
Jacques Gardner Cleary
Poulter Garcia Baker
Hynes Khamis VDM
Scott Croft Dolan
Smith Sanders Harmes
Lennedy CCP Arty SSP
 
Backs Bramble Jones Lobb
Half Backs Dale Busslinger Freiijah
Centreline Williams Libba Arty Jones
Half Forwards Hynes Naughton Weightman
Forwards Darcy U-Hagan West
Ruck English
Mids Bont Treloar

I/C Sanders, O'Donnell, Gallagher, Kennedy Sub Harmes


New Busslinger, Hynes, Kennedy
Correction forgot Richards he is in Gallagher out
 

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FB: Bramble, L. Jones, Dale

HB: Freijah, Lobb, ?????

C: Williams, Bontempelli, ?????

HF: West, Naughton, Weightman

FF: Darcy, Ugle-Hagan, ?????

R: English, Treloar, Richards

I: ?????, ?????, ?????, ?????
Sub: ?????

8 spots up for grabs over pre-season with a fully fit side. I still think Duryea & Libba are playing round 1, so likely 6!
 
What I hope to see:

FB: Bramble Jones O’Donnell
HB: Dale Lobb Johannisen
C: Williams Treloar Freijah
HF: Kennedy Naughton Weightman
FF: West Darcy Ugle-Hagan
R: English Bont Richards

I/C Sanders, Libba, Davidson, Gallagher
Sub Vandermeer

Some solid experienced depth outside of this 23: Harmes, Duryea, Coffield, Khamis, McNeil, Garcia, Gardner, Baker, Poulter…
 
There's no way Liber doesn't play if he's fit. I would expect him to be used like Selwood was at the end for the cats. Manage him through the season and play not as much TOG.
 
FB: Bramble Jones JOD
HB: Dale Lobb Freijah
C: Williams Treloar Davidson
HF: Kennedy Naughton Weightman
FF: West Darcy Ugle-Hagan
R: English Bont Richards

I/C Sanders, Libba, Duryea, Dolan
Sub Gallagher

Depth: Harmes, Garcia, Khamis, Coffield, McNeil, A Jones, VDM

Dolan is my round 1 smokey.

JOD v Busslinger for the 3rd tall role
Kennedy v Harmes for the HFF/defensive mid role

I still wouldn't be shocked to see Sanders spend a lot of the season outside of the team in favour of a more pacy Gallagher, A Jones or VDM. It might just have to be a case of waiting for Libba to make way as a pure inside mid. Bont, Richards, Treloar, Libba & Kennedy is plenty for a midfield rotation.
 
FB: Duryea Jones JJ

HB: JOD Lobb Dale

C: Williams Richards Trelor

R: English Bont Libba

HF: Davidson Naughton West

FF: Weightman JUH Darcy

Int: Friejah Bramble Sanders Garcia Mennedy

Changes from last year/missed out: Harmes, VDM, McNeil, Coffield,
 
The only walk up starts are Bont, Richards, Lobb, Treloar, Darcy, Naughton. JUH, Dale and Freijah close behind.

Then English by default, Liber for his never-say-die attitude are probably there too, but all other spots are open. Jones, Weightman, West, Bramble leading a large pack of contenders for remaining 12 spots.

Tbh I wouldn't be surprised by some random left-field combination of 23 for r1...

mCpSCuCV.jpg
 
The only walk up starts are Bont, Richards, Lobb, Treloar, Darcy, Naughton. JUH, Dale and Freijah close behind.

Then English by default, Liber for his never-say-die attitude are probably there too, but all other spots are open. Jones, Weightman, West, Bramble leading a large pack of contenders for remaining 12 spots.

Tbh I wouldn't be surprised by some random left-field combination of 23 for r1...

View attachment 2173832
On available selection evidence I’d also include LJones, Weightman and Bramble as walk up starts. But not yet Freijah.

Prior to this HFF-heavy draft VDM was a walk up start too. Hadn’t been dropped for something like two seasons. If he earns a start against good internal competition, fine. But he can’t be an automatic selection if we’re going to improve in 2025.
 

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On available selection evidence I’d also include LJones, Weightman and Bramble as walk up starts. But not yet Freijah.

Prior to this HFF-heavy draft VDM was a walk up start too. Hadn’t been dropped for something like two seasons. If he earns a start against good internal competition, fine. But he can’t be an automatic selection if we’re going to improve in 2025.
One would think that by targeting such players in the draft means that the current players in these positions weren't consistently meeting requirements to the desired level. And by the speed the Bulldogs made each draft choice it is reasonable to assume the players (or player type) were specifically targeted.
 
On available selection evidence I’d also include LJones, Weightman and Bramble as walk up starts. But not yet Freijah.

Prior to this HFF-heavy draft VDM was a walk up start too. Hadn’t been dropped for something like two seasons. If he earns a start against good internal competition, fine. But he can’t be an automatic selection if we’re going to improve in 2025.
I’d be surprised if Freijah isn’t a regular thought he had a great year
 
FB: Bramble Jones O’Donnell
HB: Dale Lobb Johannisen
C: Williams Treloar Freijah
HF: M Kennedy Naughton Weightman
FF: West Darcy Ugle-Hagan
R: English Bont Richards

I/C Sanders, Libba, Davidson, L Kennedy
 
My prediction, not what I necessarily want:

Duryea - Jones - Coffield
Dale - Lobb - Bramble
Williams- Treloar - Richards
Harmes - Naughton - West
Weightman - Jamarra - Darcy
English - Bont - Libba
Vandermeer - M.Kennedy - Freijah - JJ
 
I’ll be interested in the form of Weightman this year. He is still young, so I understand that, and he has had some nasty injuries in his career. However, I think it’s time for him to step up this year and play a consistent brand of football across the whole season—not just show form in dead rubber games, which, in my opinion, has been a trend in his career so far.
 
On available selection evidence I’d also include LJones, Weightman and Bramble as walk up starts. But not yet Freijah.

Prior to this HFF-heavy draft VDM was a walk up start too. Hadn’t been dropped for something like two seasons. If he earns a start against good internal competition, fine. But he can’t be an automatic selection if we’re going to improve in 2025.
On reflection I’d add Matt Kennedy as a certain Rd 1 starter. Historically Bevo hasn’t lured his type to the club and then let them work their way into the selection frame. They’ve come straight in if fit.
 
One would think that by targeting such players in the draft means that the current players in these positions weren't consistently meeting requirements to the desired level. And by the speed the Bulldogs made each draft choice it is reasonable to assume the players (or player type) were specifically targeted.

Not necessarily. Rarely, if ever, do draftees come in and cover a need straight away.

We’ve definitely addressed holes in our list, but doubt the club sees any of our draftees coming in to fill a hole in our starting 22.
 
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I can understand Dureya being in most teams but we need to move on from him, JJ, VDM, McNeill, Poulter, Baker etc. Sure they add depth but if we are going to get better we need to develop the kids. So, a sprinkling of Arty, Sanders, Hynes, Buss and Davidson in the earlier rounds without comprising a winning team would be good.
 
B: Duryea L. Jones Khamis
HB: Dale Lobb Bramble
C: Williams Libba Freijah
HF: Weightman Naughton Harmes
FF: West JUH Darcy

R: English Bont Richards

I/C: Treloar Kennedy Sanders Garcia
Sub: JJ

I like Khamis over Buss and JOD for the 3rd tall defender, but all 3 should get plenty of games.
I like the idea of JJ as almost the permanent sub - maybe one full game in every 3 and 15 games for the year total with the hope of him being fit for the end of the year.

We have nice depth with Gallagher, VDM, Buss, JOD, Croft, Coffield, A.Jones and not to mention the new draftees.

I'm going toughness over speed for round 1 by selecting Libba, Kennedy, Harmes, Garcia over Gallagher, VDM, Jacques, Dolan.
 
B: Duryea L. Jones Khamis
HB: Dale Lobb Bramble
C: Williams Libba Freijah
HF: Weightman Naughton Harmes
FF: West JUH Darcy

R: English Bont Richards

I/C: Treloar Kennedy Sanders Garcia
Sub: JJ

I like Khamis over Buss and JOD for the 3rd tall defender, but all 3 should get plenty of games.
I like the idea of JJ as almost the permanent sub - maybe one full game in every 3 and 15 games for the year total with the hope of him being fit for the end of the year.

We have nice depth with Gallagher, VDM, Buss, JOD, Croft, Coffield, A.Jones and not to mention the new draftees.

I'm going toughness over speed for round 1 by selecting Libba, Kennedy, Harmes, Garcia over Gallagher, VDM, Jacques, Dolan.
This is my exact same team for Round One as yours, injuries permitting. The only difference is I have JOD ahead of Khamis.

I think we will start with this team, but it will look drastically different come mid season. As I still feel we are a little top heavy/slow.

Hynes the most likely to push for a debut, followed by Davidson. Really hard to see where all of our draftees fit in with the current squad. I think this will be Libbas final season, and Treloar in 2026. So it might be some time before we see some of this years crop in. Jacques could potentially push Doc.
 
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Duryea - Jones - Buss
Bramble - Lobb - Dale
Williams - Richards - Davidson
Mennedy - Naughton - Weightman
Darcy - JUH - West
English - Bont - Treloar

Freijah - Sanders - Libba - ??
Sub: ??
 

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Prediction Team Round 1 WB V North Marvel 7.35 PM 15/3/25

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