We made the finals… Changes VS Dockers

[Next Waiting]

I think Schache is back in consideration.

To start the game

Back 6:

Duryea Naughton Darcy

Dale Gardner Richards


Front 6:

VDM JUH Schache

McLean Bruce JJ


A mix of genuine goal kicking talls up front with Bruce slowly getting some touch back, he's physical and an experienced voice and hand. A mixture of pace pressure and experience with the smalls. Weightman to my eye has dropped off (possibly injury related) and is touch and go to be selected.

I also think that Naughton back instantly makes our defence better and will lift the confidence of the whole team especially midfield. Aggressive, quick, mobile and aerially superb. Good for both Darcy and Gardner. The bombs inside our D50 to Freos tall offense suddenly look a whole lot more defendable as do the scraps on the ground. Can't find a spot for Daniel, certainly not in defence.

The versatility in the talls (Naughts, Darcy, Scache and Bruce ... all able to go forward or back) means we can be both proactive and batten down the hatches as required. A look that no-one has had a look at yet ..... us and the opposition analysts.

 

[TommyD13]

IN West, Keath, Scott (sub)
OUT Vandermeer (injured/omitted), Bruce (omitted), McComb (omitted)

FB Duryea, Gardner, Cordy
HB Richards, Keath, Dale
C Macrae, Bontempelli, B Smith
HF Treloar, Naughton, Daniel
FF Weightman, Ugle-Hagan, Darcy
FOL English, Liberatore, Dunkley
INT Williams, West, R Smith, Hunter
SUB Scott

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

My "it clearly won't happen" changes:
OUT: Daniel, Bruce, Vandermeer
IN: McLean, Schache, Johannisen

FB: Cordy - Gardner - Duryea
HB: Richards - Darcy - Dale

C: Hunter - Bontempelli - B Smith

HF: Johannisen - Schache - R. Smith
FF: Weightman - Naughton - Ugle-Hagan

R: English - Dunkley - Macrae

I: Williams, Libba, Treloar, McLean
S: West

E: Martin - McNeil - Khamis - Daniel

I would have liked West in but his form leading up to his omission was a bit down. I am a big McLean homer and love what he can bring in a finals game with his overhead work and pressure. I could go either way though.

My go at real changes:
OUT: Vandermeer
IN: Johannisen

 

[Mofra]

Is there a betting market for the 2023 Rising Star? Reckon Sam would have to be a massive chance

He'll be under the age requirement and under 10 games so eligible.
There's always a gun mid (Ashcroft in 2023?) who fires in their debut year though.

 

[fred cook]

OUT: Vandermeer Mcomb
IN: Johannisen Mclean (sub)

 

[bobs head soup]

He'll be under the age requirement and under 10 games so eligible.
There's always a gun mid (Ashcroft in 2023?) who fires in their debut year though.

Yep, just the 7 games this year so will be all good.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Yep, just the 7 games this year so will be all good.

I see what you did there!

Big game for our small forwards/mids running through the F50. I sat on level 3 against the Dockers a few weeks ago and cannot recall one instance outside of the Vandemeer goal in the first quarter where the ball was brought to ground and locked in. Was a repeat of Naughts/Jamarra/Bruce/Weightman all fly for the same ball, comes to ground, Dockers player X feeds a handball 5m back and they release the pressure within 2 seconds.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

OUT: Vandermeer Mcomb
IN: Johannisen Mclean (sub)

I'd like that

 

[BEaston]

I could see Bevo holding McLean out all this time just select him for the finals. Bring back a universally loved player from injury despair to give the boys a big energy boost before a big game.

 

[doggies ftw]

I could see Bevo holding McLean out all this time just select him for the finals. Bring back a universally loved player from injury despair to give the boys a big energy boost before a big game.

Looked to be moving a bit better on the weekend I thought, just that touch more zip & bounce than previous weeks.

No question he can add something in a tough final but I’d be wary of going with Bruce & McLean, and even VDM (do we know what he actually got subbed for?)

 

[BEaston]

Looked to be moving a bit better on the weekend I thought, just that touch more zip & bounce than previous weeks.

No question he can add something in a tough final but I’d be wary of going with Bruce & McLean, and even VDM (do we know what he actually got subbed for?)

No way I'm selecting Bruce or vdm

 

[doggies ftw]

No way I'm selecting Bruce or vdm

Me neither but I’m not sure that’s how our match committee will see it tbh; I’d be surprised if either is out after a break

 

[The Slitherin' Snake]

Out: Darcy, R.Smith, Cordy, McComb
In: West, JJ, Crozier, Keath

Duryea Keath Richards
Dale Gardner Crozier
Hunter Libba Treloar
B.Smith Naughton Dunkley
Weightman Bruce JUH

English Bont Macrae
Daniel West JJ Williams VDM(sub)


Darcy and R.Smith don't deserve to be dropped after last week but let me explain the in's.
West for obvious forward pressure and finals worthy attack on the ball.
JJ for the large ground and potential open space to run in the front half.
Crozier to ensure we have another "defender" in defence and free up Dale and Richards to be more attacking.
Keath coz he is our best key back, even at 75% healthy/out of form

if we need another tall, i'd keep Cordy and drop Williams. Darcy is our future but not right now. And can't play Bruce and Darcy in the same team i reckon.

Based on Sunday's performances, there is no chance Roarke or Darcy can be dropped. I know there have been som head scratching decisions at selection but this would send a message that form does not matter at all and your place in the team is purely at the whims of coach. It would be demoralising

 

[chop0205]

Was West dropped or was he injured? I didn’t watch any replays of the GWS game, but at the ground it looked as though he played well

 

[_Mike_]

Something from a few years back and how very different the team & club is now

 

[BrisDog]

Was West dropped or was he injured? I didn’t watch any replays of the GWS game, but at the ground it looked as though he played well

He was dropped. I agree, I thought he was pretty good.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Something from a few years back and how very different the team & club is now

He became persona non grata but there was a period there where Stringer was the most electrifying player in the league by a mile.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Selection and tactics are going to be interesting. We know how they beat us a few weeks ago they denied us the ball similar to the GWS game but they did it better. It is a given we win the contested footy we are no hope if we do not do that. Execution, forward half pressure and defend the ball before it gets to our defensive 50 is going to be crucial.

We have an advantage in experience especially in finals and we need to bring finals like pressure. Selection is interesting and our final line up may depend on if Lobb, Tavener and Logue all play. If Lobb plays surely we test out his suspect shoulder early. A Cordy bump like he executed against GWS.

My guess at selection table is (although I never get right:

Out Bruce, VDM
Ins Schache, JJ medical sub West

Never thought I would say this but cannot drop Roarke after last week. Plus Schache's form demands a game and Bruce's form demands him do be dropped.
This way Schache and Sam can play forward or back.

 

[Bulldogsnm1]

I believe if JJ is fit he has to come into the side. Previous finals experience is excellent, but above all out of all our small forwards he is the only one that can kick a goal from the 50 meter line. West, Garcia, McNeil and even Cody can’t kick a 53 meter goal.

At Optus stadium there are opportunities around the 50 meter line as Fremantle defenders flood back. Even last week we saw with the wind blowing a gale our small forwards not having shots. It just makes us very predictable if we can’t be confident from around 50.

that was also a reason that it’s good to see Treloar in the centre square occasionally, if he gets on the end of a forward centre clearance the goals are within his kicking ability.

I would also like McLean in as the medical sub, if needed he could really have an impact.

Josh Bruce

17

Josh Bruce

Age

32

Ht

198cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.6

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

90.4

1star

D

8.9

2star

K

3.5

1star

HB

5.4

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.3

2star

MG

90.4

2star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

is the interesting one, he can provide a contest in the ruck and is Ok around the ground, Schache is probably a better forward option but if Darcy can also go forward he is probably not needed. I don't want Martin as he offers nothing forward of the centre and he isn’t covering ground like he used to. So probably Bruce keeps his place. A real 50/50 call.

 

[AFDogs]

Bruce gotta go. We're essentially playing 1 less. Back him in to regain his form for next year with a pre-season under his belt.

Schache wasn't going too badly before he was dropped. And did well in the finals last year.

No brainer for me.

Would also love to see McLean but haven't watched him at all at VFL level. He just used to be my favourite player and I miss the kent.

 

[bobs head soup]

After the weekend Darcy has to be in for mine. There is just too much potential for him to disrupt opposition structures.

Freo would be very keen for their best tall defender, Pearce, to take Naughts, but if Darcy clunks a couple early, then Pearce is the only one tall enough to compete with him

If Naughts gets a lesser defender, that's obviously a massive plus.

 

[Northernsoul74]

After the weekend Darcy has to be in for mine. There is just too much potential for him to disrupt opposition structures.

Freo would be very keen for their best tall defender, Pearce, to take Naughts, but if Darcy clunks a couple early, then Pearce is the only one tall enough to compete with him

If Naughts gets a lesser defender, that's obviously a massive plus.

Doable if Keath is remotely fit.

 

[True Dog]

It won’t come as a shock to me if Scott or Hannan (or both) come in this week. It depends on Bevos eye to the future? I hope we select a number of the younger guys (West/JUH/Darcy etc) to get much needed experience.
In - Shack/West/McLean
Out - Bruce/VDM/McComb

 

[Dog 36]

It won’t come as a shock to me if Scott or Hannan (or both) come in this week. It depends on Bevos eye to the future? I hope we select a number of the younger guys (West/JUH/Darcy etc) to get much needed experience.
In - Shack/West/McLean
Out - Bruce/VDM/McComb

I cannot see any basis for having Scott or Hannan come into the side for the Freo game.

Therefore will happen

 

[Testekill]

He became persona non grata but there was a period there where Stringer was the most electrifying player in the league by a mile.

I contend that he got found out as a player when Sewell absolutely smashed him in 2016, teams finally realised that he wasn't a player that was too strong for medium defenders and too explosive for talls. You just needed a tough defender that didn't give him space and he wouldn't have many more tricks.