Match Preview - Dogs v Cats

[OldSchool]

The upcoming match between the Bulldogs and Cats will be a good test for us to see how we are developing under our new coach.

Possible debut players:
Scott Bassett, Will Minson, Cameron Faulkner, Wayde Skipper

Likely players unavailable:
Luke Darcy, Matthew Croft, Jordon McMahon, Nick Bruton, Marcus Picken

Pre season stars:
Shane Birss, Sam Power, Keiran McGuinness, Patrick Wiggins, Scott West

MIA: Luke Penny, Kingsley Hunter, Aaron James, Trent Bartlett, Tony Libertore, Shannon Rusca, Nathan Saunders

Likely line-up:

B Kretiuk Bassett Harrison
HB Smith Grant Hargrave
C Murphy West Giansiracusa
HF Robbins Bandy Johnson
F McGuiness Bowden Garlick
R Wiggins Brown Birss
Int Power, Alvey, Harris, Eagleton, Skipper, Hahn, Gilbee
Emg Minson, Dimattina, Cross, Faulkner

Comments:
Darcy's injury may not give a player like Bruton an opportunity because he has had significant interruptions to his pre-season.
Look for Patrick Wiggins to rotate on and off the ball with Bandy as they try and curb the cats tall players led by King.
Wayde Skipper's name has been mentioned in just about every Peter Rohde article normally nominated as a possible defender. The "future captain" will have every doggie supporter watching him closely.

Last time they met:
Kent Kingsley run amok before Matthew Croft was given the job, look for Scott Basset or Brian Harris to be given the first crack at him.

Look for:
Andrew Mackie to perhaps make his debut for the Cats.
Mackie is the player that Scott Clayton coveted at the last draft only to him grabbed by the Cats

Watch for:
The players trying to adjust to the new rules.

[Dry Rot]

Good summary there OldSchool.

Any comments on impact of changed rules NB scoring on either team and/or tactics?

[The Doctor]

Originally posted by OldSchool
Darcy's injury may not give a player like Bruton an opportunity because he has had significant interruptions to his pre-season.


What's happened to him? The word 'significant' worries me given his history of injury.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
Good summary there OldSchool.

Any comments on impact of changed rules NB scoring on either team and/or tactics?

It may be tempting for Rohde to move a player like Rohan Smith further up the field hoping that his long bombs could score maximum points. This is not an area we are known for.

Tactics: I suppose the 'automatic' kick ins might catch teams out before they have had a chance to zone up. This might be one area that Rohde has tried to get an understanding of in an effort to get the jump on other teams.

Other than that, I think Rohde would be happy if his new midfield clicks the way he wants and also if he can get his match-ups right.
The Cats are a good team with a very decent bunch of youngsters, plenty of tall classy defenders and forwards that compliment an impressive midfield. They are also well coached and I think Rohde will have a busy day. Darcy will be a big loss but it gives Wiggins a great chance to show the supporters how an uniterrupted pre-season has benefited him.
I was speaking to some people that go to most training sessions today and they have been impressed by his work ethic and his fitness.
They also gave a wrap to Skipper but doubt if he will play many senior games until 2004 because of his light frame. The also said that Bruton has had his pre-season interrupted twice by injuries and believe he is a little underdone and about three weeks behind the others in terms of match fitness. He might play off the bench if he is needed.
One point of interest for me was their views on young Will Minson who they say reminds them of Richard Cousins !!
For the younger Bulldogs fans, I think Cousins was our first ever drafted player in 86 and played 60 games for the Dogs as a CHF/Ruck. Most supporters bagged him but I thought he was a decent player through a bad patch for the club.
They like the look of Faulkner and Walsh but agree that they need time.

[angi]

I think we should rest alot of our senior players and let all the young ones who havent had much game time have a shot players like crossy wiggins some of the new guys. Play the more experinced guys in the practise matches for some game time but otherwise rest em its a long season and last year it took its toll on players like giansircusa if we want our players to last its best to save then until round one.

[Dry Rot]

I put a post on a Wizard Cup thread on the Cats Board asking for their views on match-ups, tactics, key young players etc. Interesting to see if there are any sensible replies.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
I put a post on a Wizard Cup thread on the Cats Board asking for their views on match-ups, tactics, key young players etc. Interesting to see if there are any sensible replies.

I think the Cats Board is a good one especially considering they have their own unofficial board which limits some of the content here. The Cats and Kangaroos boards are always worth a look at.

[Turtleman3]

OldSchool,
How do you know Clayton really wanted Mackie. I really respect Clayton's choice of players so if this is right the Cats obviously have picked up a potentially ggod player.
Clayton obviously didn't rate Mackie ahead of Walsh.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Turtleman3
OldSchool,
How do you know Clayton really wanted Mackie. I really respect Clayton's choice of players so if this is right the Cats obviously have picked up a potentially ggod player.
Clayton obviously didn't rate Mackie ahead of Walsh.

The way I understand it is that before we moved up two positions in the draft, thanks to Carlton losing the picks, Clayton had assumed that Walsh would become a North player and Mackie a suprise first up selection for the Dogs. Clayton believed that because Mackie had not attended the AFL training camps that he was missed by a number of clubs however, an outstanding trail at a state camp by Mackie had several recruiting managers re-thinking their thoughts on him. Secretly Clayton was also hopeful that Mackie might last to pick 17 when it was apparent that Walsh would still be available for our first pick.
Geelong however, also has an excellent recruiting manager who had decided that if Jared Brennen was no longer available then Mackie was going to be his selection.
Clayton got the other players he was after in Faulkner and Minson but perhaps took them a selection earlier than he had originally planned.

[Turtleman3]

Thanks Old School

[Captain Sensible]

I read in the paper that Clayton saw Mackie as a 'could be anything, either really good or really bad' and Walsh as a safe bet to be a good player and given we had pick 5 he felt obliged to go for the sure thing.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by localyokel
I read in the paper that Clayton saw Mackie as a 'could be anything, either really good or really bad' and Walsh as a safe bet to be a good player and given we had pick 5 he felt obliged to go for the sure thing.

There may have been a change of 'policy' at the club because I think Salopek might have been the safest bet of all the players available when we had our selection.
With Walsh focusing on his studies this year I suppose we will not see a lot of him at Werribee and we will have to wait until 2004 to really see how good he can be.

[Dry Rot]

When Wiggins played for Werribee, where did he play? Does he have much experience in the ruck?

I'm not a fan of Wiggins, and I don't think Bandy is much of a ruckman either.

What are our other options?

[mel 40]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
When Wiggins played for Werribee, where did he play? Does he have much experience in the ruck?

I'm not a fan of Wiggins, and I don't think Bandy is much of a ruckman either.

What are our other options?

He played both in the ruck and in the forward line i think.I dont no if he has a lot of experience in the ruck but he does have some.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
When Wiggins played for Werribee, where did he play? Does he have much experience in the ruck?

I'm not a fan of Wiggins, and I don't think Bandy is much of a ruckman either.

What are our other options?

Wiggins is more of a forward than a genuine ruckman but we need him to fill in at that position and he needs to play football so it is a good chance for him.
He played as a ruck against Geelong last year in a pre-season game with Bruton and did OK especially marking around the ground so I think with Bandy's help he will do OK.

As for other options: I suppose they might be able to play Bruton for part of the game and Skipper and Harris could do a little around the ground. Perhaps Minson might get a game because he is the most physically ready of all the taller junior players but I think that between Wiggins and Bandy they should be asked to do 90% of the rucking duties on the day.

Just remembered that Harrison has played as a 'running' ruckman, with someone else taking the centre hitouts, for Richmond, so there might be another option at a pinch.

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by Dry Rot
I put a post on a Wizard Cup thread on the Cats Board asking for their views on match-ups, tactics, key young players etc. Interesting to see if there are any sensible replies.

As i said in my reply to you on our board, its a tad early to be talking probable lineups.

However, given you've listed a few guys who are likely to be missing, i can give you some idea of the matchups that Geelong will aim for.

Firstly, we have all players available. The only player hurt is James Bartel, however his ankle will be fine come Feb 24. I would expect a near full strength Geelong side.

Now, given that you've said Darcy won't play, i would expect that Geelong would play both of its backup ruckmen, Peter Street and Paul Chambers (both are hacks).

The ruck rotation will likely be Gumby Mooney, Street and Chambers.

Given your lack of key defenders (especially with Croft out), i would expect us to play Steven King at CHF.
He has played well there in the past, it's easier on the body then playing ruck, and will present massive matchup problems for the Doggies young key defenders (assuming they are playing).

I would also expect us to have a VERY tall forward line. We have 5 potential key position forwards who were drafted in the last two years (McCarthy, Playfair, Lonergan, Mackie and Jeff Smith), all of whom will play in the game.

Given those 5, King and Kingsley, we will have a pretty damn tall forward rotation for the game.

Our midfield and backline will be pretty much the same as it was last year, apart from the addition of Spriggs.

I for one am absolutely rapt to be playing the Doggies. It's the perfect matchup for both teams.

You have a few young key position defenders looking to make it ( Harris is one), whilst we have a few key position forwards who are in the same career position.

You have the best goalkicking midfield in the competition, something our quality kids (Corey, Enright, Ling, Chapman, Spriggs, Bartel etc.) should aim to replicate. Playing against the likes of Johnson, West and Brown is the best education our kids can get.

Looks like a great match, but of course, the Doggies will get over us.

Cheers

[dancingdoggie17]

Originally posted by OldSchool


Pre season stars:
Shane Birss, Sam Power, Keiran McGuinness, Patrick Wiggins, Scott West



what about nathan brown? he's aparantly had one of his best pre-seasons ever.

[mel 40]

Originally posted by dancingdoggie17
what about nathan brown? he's aparantly had one of his best pre-seasons ever.

Id have to agree with that 1 dd17.Browny looks so fit and looks like he is going to have his best season with the footy club.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
I for one am absolutely rapt to be playing the Doggies. It's the perfect matchup for both teams.

You have a few young key position defenders looking to make it ( Harris is one), whilst we have a few key position forwards who are in the same career position.

You have the best goalkicking midfield in the competition, something our quality kids (Corey, Enright, Ling, Chapman, Spriggs, Bartel etc.) should aim to replicate. Playing against the likes of Johnson, West and Brown is the best education our kids can get.

Looks like a great match, but of course, the Doggies will get over us.

Cheers

Phat, I always enjoy the Dogs v the Cats because I like the way Geelong go about their footy and because they have built the team on quality youngsters which is something that the Dogs are trying to do. I agree that it is a good match-up for both teams

Looking forward to seeing how Spriggs comes back from his injury and am very keen to get a look at Mackie if he plays

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by OldSchool

Looking forward to seeing how Spriggs comes back from his injury and am very keen to get a look at Mackie if he plays

They (the club, and the medial) are certainly talking Mackie up as one of those freaky players that has that certain something, but i tend to take everything i hear at this time of year, with a grain of salt.

If Mackie plays, he'd likely play across half forward, or on a wing. His speed is quite remarkable for a man of his size.

As for Spriggs, i'm not a fan, but i guess he does add a certain something to our midfield, when totally fit.

[dogboy23]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky


As for Spriggs, i'm not a fan, but i guess he does add a certain something to our midfield, when totally fit. Not a fan of his playing ability or are you not a fan of the way he carries himself off the field?

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by dogboy23
Not a fan of his playing ability or are you not a fan of the way he carries himself off the field?

Both.

Don't like his attitude off the field (egotistical and arrogant so and so), but i also think we have better options in the midfield.

He is a talented player, no doubt, but i think his output so far hasn't matched the hype.

When he last played our midfield depth was decidedly weaker then it is now, thus he has been usurped by guys like Ling, Enright, Corey, Chapman and Kelly.

Despite what some believe, he will not be a walk up start in what we think is a quality young midfield.

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by OldSchool
There may have been a change of 'policy' at the club because I think Salopek might have been the safest bet of all the players available when we had our selection.
With Walsh focusing on his studies this year I suppose we will not see a lot of him at Werribee and we will have to wait until 2004 to really see how good he can be.

Sorry, should of specified. Best available tall. Mackie's value was assessed as a potential KP player and in the end Walsh won out in that regard.



BTW Old School, do you reckon that it was to Walsh's advantage that he ended up with us rather than at North? I mean with his dad being at North as well.

[SCRAY72]

Will discuss the Cats game after watching this Saturday's Probables v Possibles match. This should give us clues on what Rohde is planning.
All I ask for is for guys with niggles like Darcy and Croft do not play and they won't by all reports and some young guys are given a chance to strutt their stuff. Guys like Wiggins, Bowden,Harris and Power.

[dogboy23]

Originally posted by SCRAY72
Will discuss the Cats game after watching this Saturday's Probables v Possibles match. This should give us clues on what Rohde is planning.
All I ask for is for guys with niggles like Darcy and Croft do not play and they won't by all reports and some young guys are given a chance to strutt their stuff. Guys like Wiggins, Bowden,Harris and Power. I cant make it on saturday because of cricket could someone post something like a player by player run down of the intra club match.As many contributions as possible would be appreciated.

[SCRAY72]

Originally posted by dogboy23
I cant make it on saturday because of cricket could someone post something like a player by player run down of the intra club match.As many contributions as possible would be appreciated.

Its going to be tough DB, its a 9am start and I am going out Friday night but I am sure there are several Bigfooty posters who will witness most or all of the match.

[stefoid]

Heres the team for the wizzer match v. geelong:

FB: Robbins, Basset, Hargreave
HB: Murph, Grant, Smith
W: Gilbee, West, Alvey
HF: Guido, Bandy, Power
F: Brown, Harris, McGuiness

R: Wiggins, Johno, Garlo

Int: Hahn, Harrison, Dimma, Skipper, Bowden, Birrs

Out: Darce, Croft, MacMahon, Kritter,


(proposed by me)

Yep, even with the OUTS, I cant find a spot for Eagleton -- and I havent heard his name mentioned in any of the practive match or training reports, which you might expect if he was serious about breaking back into the side on a permanent basis.

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by localyokel
BTW Old School, do you reckon that it was to Walsh's advantage that he ended up with us rather than at North? I mean with his dad being at North as well.

It may, but it is possibly no different to father son players. It probably depends on the kid and the parents. The Walsh's seem like a very good family so I doubt that it would have limited Tim's progress.

I wonder if Bones McGhie did all the right things by his boy ?

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by stefoid
Heres the team for the wizzer match v. geelong:

FB: Robbins, Basset, Hargreave
HB: Murph, Grant, Smith
W: Gilbee, West, Alvey
HF: Guido, Bandy, Power
F: Brown, Harris, McGuiness

R: Wiggins, Johno, Garlo

Int: Hahn, Harrison, Dimma, Skipper, Bowden, Birrs
Out: Darce, Croft, MacMahon, Kritter,


Not concerned about Geelong going in with four talls in the forward line ?

[stefoid]

Originally posted by OldSchool
Not concerned about Geelong going in with four talls in the forward line ?

Who are they?

[The Doctor]

I reckon you would have to play the Eagle.

Give him a run first up will help his confidence. This could be crucial in the post Plough Bulldogs make up. I think he struggled under the weight of expectation that was unfairly placed on him.

Secondly, he kicks the ball out of sight without trying so if you have him running through the wings or even off half back pushing forward (a la Smith) he could kick us a few goals from outside 50 which will give us more points, 9 isn't it?

Play the Eagle I say. I suspect he'll land this year ;) .

[stefoid]

Originally posted by The Doctor
I reckon you would have to play the Eagle.

Give him a run first up will help his confidence. This could be crucial in the post Plough Bulldogs make up. I think he struggled under the weight of expectation that was unfairly placed on him.

Secondly, he kicks the ball out of sight without trying so if you have him running through the wings or even off half back pushing forward (a la Smith) he could kick us a few goals from outside 50 which will give us more points, 9 isn't it?

Play the Eagle I say. I suspect he'll land this year ;) .

If hes playing well, he'll win his own spot I guess. Rhodey will be picking on form... Its just that hes only going to get a gig on the wing or half forward, and there are so many guys lining up for those spots, its hard to see him beating the likes of Gilbee, MacMahon, Guido, Alvey, Murph, Garlo, Power, Robbo. etc... for a spot.

And I reckon he will be even less likely to impress under an accountable strategy than under Ploughs run wide into space policy. Happy to be proven wrong.

On a different note, it sounds like Rhode has Johno playing midfield a lot more this year, and Brown playing more up forward. My guess is he will rotate those two guys with each other, with Johno spending 2/3rds of his time in the middle and Browny 1/3rd. Imagine being the poor sap of a back pocket who has just manged to get the mercurial brown under control, only to have Johno (lead and strong mark) take his place! >:->

[OldSchool]

Originally posted by stefoid
Who are they?

As Phat pointed out, players like Kingsley, Mooney, King, Graham, McCarthy and Playfair are all good candidates to play as tall marking forwards.

[stefoid]

Of those I only know the first three - I guess we can always throw Haris into the mix if things look too tall.