- Apr 4, 2006
- 6,138
- 12,734
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Bont smug?!Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne: Scores, stats and news from AFL pre-season
The Bulldogs kicked a massive score on their way to a 58-point win over the Roos, but it was in their back half that a new addition stood out. See the match notes, news and updates here.
Sam Landsberger
March 4, 2023 - 11:42PM
Dashing defender Rohan Smith spent plenty of his 300-game career pumping the ball into the AFL’s smallest forward line led by his 182cm best mate Brad Johnson.
On Saturday Smith watched in awe as perhaps the tallest forward line ever assembled struck 22 goals in a demolition of North Melbourne.
The Dogs showed their hand at Ikon Park – surrounding 196cm spearhead Aaron Naughton with Rory Lobb (207cm), Sam Darcy (208cm) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (197cm) … with 208cm ruckman Tim English rotating with Lobb.
The wash-up was four goals for Naughton, three for Jamarra, two for Darcy, one for Lobb and migraines for undersized defenders watching on TV from home.
The Dogs tall forward line fired. Picture: Getty Images
At one stage Roos co-captain Luke McDonald was left to man Darcy (three contested marks), giving away about 20cm.
“We wanted to have a look at it today, and the four talls really played well,” Smith, the Dogs’ backline coach, said.
“You kick 22 goals in a game and at times we looked really dominant in the air, which is a great sign for us.
“They worked really well together as well. There was a couple of times where they flew against each other – but that’s terrific.
“It shows their competitiveness and their willingness to fly in the air. But the synergy and the cohesiveness that they had in our forward line was outstanding.
“It was a pretty positive sign.”
The Dogs are told to play on instinct. But Smith said that with so much size there was a get-out option.
Rory Lobb in his new colours.
“We’ve always got to know that there’s three talls down there, and don’t be afraid to kick it to a 1v1 or 2v2 contest.”
Roos assistant Leigh Adams warned the land of the giants attack wasn’t the lanky giants.
“It’s a really unique forward line because they can all move as well,” Adams said.
“They’re all pretty good ground-level players, particularly Naughton obviously who can do it all.”
The Dogs play 12 games under their Marvel Stadium roof, where conditions will suit the stand-and-deliver targets.
STOPPAGE SCARS
ONE positive for North Melbourne was 2020 first-round picks Will Phillips and Tom Powell (both 17 disposals) are fit and firing on the verge of round 1.
The bad news was they were given a lesson around the footy from the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae.
“I don’t think we’re going to be the last team who gets a good lesson from them,” Adams said.
“They’re the benchmark when it comes to reactions to get out of the contest. When they’ve got the ball in their hands and they can flick it around they can cause a real bit of damage.”
It’s going to take a lot more than one summer of Alastair Clarkson to make North Melbourne competitive against top-eight teams.
Will Phillips wasn’t prolific but looks fit for round 1.
Bontempelli – who has looked banged-up in recent seasons – looked as fresh as ever, and with Charles Sutton Medal votes awarded after the Dogs’ 58-point thrashing at Ikon Park it is not a stretch to say he is leading the best-and-fairest he has already won four times.
Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown screamed: “Bont for Brownlow!” seconds before the captain slotted the first goal of the second half.
By full-time he had 27 disposals, 10 clearances (five centre) and two goals.
IMPASSABLE JONES
LIAM Jones started on Nick Larkey and started with nine disposals, five marks (one contested) and five rebounds in the first quarter.
The 32-year-old recruited for nothing from Palm Beach Currumbin finished with nine intercept marks as an impassable object at full-back.
Liam Jones marks ahead of Ben Cunnington.
With Ryan Gardner injured, Zaine Cordy at St Kilda and Alex Keath briefly sidelined for a concussion test (which he passed) it was left to Jones to stand up on Saturday.
And he did. The Tasmanian recruited to play full-forward for the Dogs 15 years ago might just be the missing link in their backline.
The positives flowed for the Bulldogs all over the ground.
Endurance machine Anthony Scott, restationed on a wing, booted three first-half goals while Oskar Baker showed outsiders why insiders have rated him as a pre-season standout.
The Melbourne recruit is a lock in coach Luke Beveridge’s best 22.
DOGS AND ROOS SCOUTING NOTES
WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. ADAM TRELOAR. Left-foot snap goal from boundary early in the first quarter was beautiful. Unselfishly gave his captain a goal in the third quarter. Looked sharp and will increase midfield minutes this year with best mate Josh Dunkley up north.
2. JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN. Grew up idolising Buddy Franklin, but fell in love with the way Jeremy Cameron played in 2022. Mercurial talent who looks primed to breakout … and leave egg on the faces of those who questioned his development in 2021-222.
3. CODY WEIGHTMAN. Late withdrawal with a sore adductor. Still appears likely to play in round 1, where his tackling and pressure will be a huge asset at the feet of the league’s longest forward line.
4. MARCUS BONTEMPELLI. Jonathan Brown called: “Bont for Brownlow! He’s looked sensational today” seconds before Bontempelli slotted the first goal of the second half. Dogs outscored North by 50 points from stoppages and Bont had 10 clearances. You could sense footy was back when a bunch of Roos supporters heckled ‘Bont’ relentlessly over the boundary line for being ‘smug’ in the first few minutes. Started pre-season early with the club’s youngsters and has not missed a single training session. Watchout.
6. BAILEY SMITH. Started the second centre bounce out of the goalsquare, but that was a rarity as Instagram’s most-liked footballer chalked up 30 disposals and five clearances. Won a game-high 18 contested possessions playing inside.
7. RORY LOBB. Only the one mark and one goal as he searches for synergy in his third AFL forward line. Unmissable wherever he runs.
9. HAYDEN CROZIER. Dislocated finger, which popped through the skin, ended his afternoon after 13 disposals dashing out of defence. Wonder whether it will be Crozier or Vandermeer for a place in the backline when the latter returns from a broken leg.
10. SAM DARCY. Towering mark in the third quarter was a scary glimpse at what this kid will become. Played forward (although that didn’t stop him tackling Cunnington in the centre square) but is the one tall target – ahead of Naughton, Ugle-Hagan and Lobb – who is likely to be swung behind the ball when match-ups require.
11. JACK MACRAE. Played as an outside midfielder and pumped the ball inside 50m nine times. Luke Beveridge once noted that Macrae often starts AFL seasons slowly however he still had 32 in the warm-up game.
13. OSKAR BAKER. Plan was to stay on the bench, but with injuries the Dogs were forced to bring him on as a forward … and he kicked the first goal of the game. Former Demon has nice wheels.
14. RHYLEE WEST. The son of a gun was surprisingly dropped for last year’s elimination final and only came into the extended team when Weightman withdrew, and on to the field in the second quarter. Booted a last-quarter goal but on pre-season selection appears to be behind Arthur Jones. Hopefully West gets a good crack at it this season after a trio of father-sons (Cordy, Hunter, Wallis) all left the club.
15. TAYLOR DURYEA. Walked out of Ikon Park with the doctor in the first quarter wearing a neck brace. Taken to hospital for precautionary neck scans, but they came back all-clear. Big relief because the on-field leader and shutdown defender might be the man to play on Kozzie Pickett in the season-opener.
16. TOBY McLEAN. After playing just four games since suffering his first ACL in 2020 it was simply heart-warming to see McLean fit in March. Played on the wing at times and won 16 disposals. Only one tackle on Saturday but when the real stuff starts expect his animal-like attack to fire up once again.
17. JOSH BRUCE. Back to where it all began at AFL level for Bruce, playing as a key defender. He came on earlier than anticipated and took an intercept mark in the first term. Promising signs, particularly with Zaine Cordy gone and Ryan Gardner injured.
19. LIAM JONES. Eyebrows were raised when Jones, 32, was handed a three-year contract. Admittedly, it is still zero games into that contract – but after one scratch match it looks a shrewd decision. Might be the missing piece for a backline that was scored against too easily last year. Closing speed and competitiveness are elite and nine intercept marks showed he was often impassable.
20. ED RICHARDS. Suffered a bad corkie to his left leg in the second quarter. That won’t hamper his round 1 chances.
21. TOM LIBERATORE. Kicked two goals – one from about 50m – to go with eight clearances, 33 disposals and seven tackles. This was vintage Libba in the summertime as he caught the Kangas kids an onball lesson. Started last season at half-forward but lock and load him in the centre square this year.
28. ANTHONY SCOTT. One of the summer success stories after sealing a spot on the wing. As Rohan Smith said, Scott has a super tank so he can get up and down the ground, he’s got speed and, as three first-half goals showed, he hits the scoreboard. Set to play round 1.
31. BAILEY DALE. Nobody on the field kicked it more than Dale (22) and we’ve seen the past two years what a weapon that is.
32. ARTHUR JONES. The kid with ties to football greats Jim and Phil Krakouer is a bolter, although it would be a surprise if he played round 1. The Dogs need speed, pressure and competitiveness at the feet of their talls and this kid brings that. Booted two goals.
33. AARON NAUGHTON. Hard to know what was more impressive – six tackles or 4.0? Naughton’s first combined both, coming after winning a holding the ball free kick. That would’ve pleased the coaches immensely. The sometimes-wonky spearhead didn’t miss on Saturday after slotting 51.34 last year. Can Naughton convert 70 from, say, 100 shots this year? That would put him in Coleman Medal territory.
34. BAILEY WILLIAMS. Utility who often lined up on the wing last year played a mostly outside game with 12 disposals. Not one for SuperCoach.
35. CALEB DANIEL. The helmet was back – Daniel didn’t don it in the intra-club – and he was mainly deployed on a halfback flank.
39. JASON JOHANNISEN. Pleasing to see him run out for Footscray after the AFL game as the Norm Smith winner builds fitness.
42. ALEX KEATH. Passed a concussion test and returned to the field in the third quarter. With Ryan Gardner injured and Zaine Cordy at St Kilda … phew.
44. TIM ENGLISH. Is this the 2023 All-Australian ruckman? Gave away a few free kicks but his tap work has improved out of sight and is effectively an extra midfielder.
NORTH MELBOURNE
2. JAIDYN STEPHENSON. Sat out the first half. Started the second with a shot on goal and finished with 1.1 from 10 touches. Alastair Clarkson will be the 2018 Rising Star winner’s fourth coach in as many years … will the penny drop?
3. HARRY SHEEZEL. The one-step snap after two teammates collided in the first quarter was very Luke Breust. But 10 disposals playing behind the ball in the fourth quarter has Roos thinking about reprogramming their teenage jet into a halfback, Nick Daicos-style.
7. JACK ZIEBELL. Started at halfback and mainly used the ball by foot. Important leadership alongside Luke McDonald in the back half.
8. BAILEY SCOTT. Played on the wing and had 10 disposals.
9. LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE. Six clearances, three inside 50s and a goal for the kid who stormed to the finish line last season. Needs to roll that form into 2023.
10. BEN CUNNINGTON. Pleasure to watch the old warrior play. At 31 he had another nine clearances to show he will help lead the way for the glut of baby onballers.
11. LUKE McDONALD. Spent plenty of time on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and the captaincy appears to be a snug fit for the fearless defender who racks up plenty of the ball. Reckon ‘Clarko’ would love this kid.
12. JY SIMPKIN. The other co-captain was North’s best player, leading the way with 31 disposals and four tackles. His handballs always seem to find a teammate and there’s a nice split between inside and outside possessions.
14. LIAM SHIELS. Premiership teammate Jordan Lewis said he was surprised the Hawks let Shiels go, and the Roos have loved the standards he has helped set. Spent some time on the wing and on McLean, and finished with 11 touches. Mids and wings are learning so much from Shiels.
16. AIDAN BONAR. Undersized defender who is on the fringe of selection.
19. GRIFFIN LOGUE. Former Fremantle swingman started on Aaron Naughton at full-back on what was an all-too-familiar difficult day for North’s defenders. But Logue put himself in good positions to mark the ball and will form a strong partnership with full-back Ben McKay.
20. NICK LARKEY. Snagged three goals from six kicks however so many of North’s straight entries were gobbled up by Bulldog backmen.
22. TODD GOLDSTEIN. The veteran had 19 hit-outs as the Roos played two genuine rucks alongside Xerri.
23. BEN McKAY. Difficult day playing against the land of the giants attack but McKay took an important step developing his one-two defensive combination with recruit Griffin Logue.
24. TOM POWELL. Never kicked two goals in an AFL match but slotted a pair in the last quarter. Got better as the game wore on and the Roos love the ball in Powell’s hands because he uses it so well, particularly forward of centre. Looked to have bulked up and is one Roo with a bright future.
25. PAUL CURTIS. Played as a pressure forward and finished with 1.2 with three score assists. Zero tackles on Saturday.
27. MILLER BERGMAN. Only came on in the final quarter, when he laid a couple of tackles and had five touches.
28. KAYNE TURNER. Small forward who spent some time on Bailey Dale and attended a few centre bounces, winning one takeaway.
29. WILL PHILLIPS. Won a nice centre clearance late in the last quarter to finish with four clearances for the match. Phillips, who missed all of 2022 with glandular fever, was still on a modified training program in November, so it’s a fair effort to put himself in contention for round 1. As Leigh Adams said: “We just can’t wait to get games into him and let the outside world see how good of a player we think he can be”.
30. CHARLIE COMBEN. The kid was badly beaten against an experienced defence and gave away five free kicks. Still, lots to like about the 199cm key forward.
31. JOSH GOATER. Rotated through the backline but turned the ball over a few times by foot. Another Roo who has talent but needs time.
38. TRISTAN XERRI. Won plenty of hit-outs but the Dogs’ onball brigade were dominant at stoppages. Looks like the Roos will back in the Xerri-Goldstein partnership.
39. FLYNN PEREZ. Nice tackle to bring down Adam Treloar was a nice moment for the young halfback who had 13 disposals and four rebound 50s.
44. CAMERON ZURHAAR. Sat out the second half with a tight calf after being held scoreless from eight disposals and no marks. Didn’t play as much centre bounce as last week, although that was due to Ben Cunnington and Jy Simpkin sitting out. Certain to be fit for round 1 and likely to play about a 70-30 split between forward-midfield.
SHEEZEL MOVED BACK BY CLARKO
Alastair Clarkson is considering reprogramming natural goalkicker Harry Sheezel into a halfback in a move that would see the No. 3 draft pick follow in the footsteps of reigning Rising Star winner Nick Daicos.
Sheezel, who was lauded as a fast learner after Saturday’s practice match loss to Western Bulldogs, showed shades of Hawthorn champion Luke Breust when he snapped a beautiful goal off one step in the first quarter at Ikon Park.
But the kid with enormous footy IQ and creativity was sent behind the ball in the final quarter – and won 10 disposals, four handball receives, two rebounds and one inside 50 to cause a round 1 rethink in Clarkson’s box.
“It’s a tough one. Early days I was really keen that he should play as a forward,” forwards coach Leigh Adams said.
“But seeing him in that last quarter today he gave us something probably a little bit different that we didn’t have in our back six for the first three quarters.
“His ability to get in the right position for handball receives and then link up and get multiple possessions and put the ball inside 50m for us.
Harry Sheezel was experimented in the back line for the final term. Picture: Getty Images
“It’s going to be an interesting one. I liken it a little bit to Nick Daicos last year, where he came in as a midfielder and they decided to sit him behind the ball to start with and ease him into the game a little bit more.
“He looked pretty good there. It’ll be a call for ‘Clarko’ to make, but probably after that last quarter it’s put a little bit more pressure on him to go back.”
Adams said he loved how Sheezel, 18, absorbed information.
“If there’s an area of his game he needs to work on then you have the conversation with him and within the next week it’s fixed,” he said.
“He just wants to get better, he wants to be a really good player and what he’s got is some real X-Factor.”
Adams conceded recruit Darcy Tucker (knee) was unlikely to be fit for the round 1 clash against West Coast at Marvel Stadium.
But Aidan Corr and Aaron Hall played in Saturday evening’s VFL match against Footscray and are on track while Cameron Zurhaar (calf tightness) is certain to line-up despite being substituted out at halftime on Saturday.
“We think we’re going to have 40 guys available for round 1, which is a real positive considering we’ve been short on numbers (at this time of year),” Adams said.
How many clubs give BnF votes in preseason games?
I've gotta say, over my football watching journey, Norf supporters and Fitzroy supporters have been the whiniest supporters ever, (special mention to St. Kilda as well). Brisbane supporters, seem to have taken the torch and run with whining now.
