Preview Footscray vs Willamstown @ Whitten Oval

[TheHoneyBadger]

I'd say he's safe, if not for injury earlier in the year he'd have played plenty of AFL footy. The coach loves him.

Believe this was his first game back from a serious injury (knee troubles in the last 18 months) sustained against Collingwood at Vic Park earlier in the year.

 

[Tommycash]

Interesting Nathan, my son was born a year after the name change. He heard the Footscray chant at the Whitten oval. He then heard the bulldogs chant during the 3rd quarter at Docklands.

He turned and said to me, one had passion and meant something, the other a bit Naf. Went on to say that he just realised, North chant North, Essendon Essendon, Collingwood Collingwood and so on. We are the only established club that chants a moniker. It will never sound passionate as there is no meaning, history or passion behind it

Similarly geographic, should we instead chant Western? The Eagles fans chant Eagles. There's no passion in it because we are losing.

 

[littlenails]

After that final I have changed my mind about Jong We are allowed to do that I think. I no longer think that he is possible delisting material but believe that he may have a future and would like to see him have another season to see how he goes. He seems to improved beyond my expectations.

He now looks like a huge massive turret of muscle with speed and tormentuous power like a raging bull.

 

[BRG93]

Official Crowd Number for Yesterday: 7108
Brilliant Effort!

 

[True Dog]

Big Jong fan here. Was the strongest player around the stoppage all day. Still has work to do, yet I believe he has a big upside and could go past players like Wallis who has limitations.

Better than Wallis.... That's a mighty big call IMO ...

 

[lachy]

Similarly geographic, should we instead chant Western? The Eagles fans chant Eagles. There's no passion in it because we are losing.

North chant North Melbourne and the Eagles are not a traditional Victorian club

 

[inyourfacedunk]

Better than Wallis.... That's a mighty big call IMO ...

Very different players.
I don't think Jong could ever be as effective at stopping his opponent while still racking up possessions. Wallis can run that 50/50 mix quite well. Jong I think is either mostly attacking or mostly defensive. I see him more as a Griffen type (no, I'm not saying he is or ever will be as good). Able to run out through packs using his acceleration and speed and kicking it long inside 50 as opposed to getting under a pack and handpassing to an outside runner.

 

[Tommycash]

North chant North Melbourne and the Eagles are not a traditional Victorian club

If people aren't getting into the chant, it is surely a lack of passion on their part. Look at the USA, franchised system that is highly commercialised and hardly passion inducing, yet it holds a lot of extremely passionate sporting fans. I personally think this idea of Western Bulldogs is a name that kills passion is bogus.

 

[timtamWB]

Official Crowd Number for Yesterday: 7108
Brilliant Effort!

I could've sworn there were more than that. It certainly felt/looked/sounded like more. Still a great effort.

 

[doggies ftw]

Just re Jones. All his last quarter marks were taken from our own kicks. He didn't float back in defence, but he went onto the Doug Hawkins wing and half back flank to contested mark from the kick out. As good as he was in the last quarter, it was an offensive marking performance rather than a defensive one.

He showed once again he is so much more deadly in the air when he's up the ground, very very rarely does he take a big contested mark inside 50 (well he does occasionally in the VFL I guess but in the AFL he doesn't). Not sure why that is, probably has a bit to do with our delivery inside 50 but also him being the number one target in our congested as * forward line and getting double and triple teamed, and forced into a wrestle where up the ground he has more space. I definitely think he's a CHF/2nd target type. I'm actually pretty confident he will use the ball well when he gets it too, does some really nice things but also can turn it over a bit too (inconsistent, pretty much sums him up doesn't it? )

He really does have so so much to work with, it will click eventually I'm telling ya. A guy with his size, aerial ability, speed and power is just deadly. Such a good tackler when he wants to as well. Jones, Stringer, Crameri, Bonts will kill it next year, just need that one number 1 target, although when these guys hit their peak it might not be necessary but it would still help.

 

[fargy]

 

[Testekill]

Think the best bet for one of our guys to win is Lower.

 

[Dav1d]

Tom Young and Peter Gordon both write in the Wyndham Star (my local paper) and I read that Tom Young said he would have been disappointed if you told him at the start of the year that he would be playing in the 2nds all year, because Footscray were predicted to be near bottom of the ladder and said the playing group has developed a strong camaraderie with one another playing in a successful team

I'll grab it next time I'm in town and type up what he wrote for all to read, because it was a nice little article

 

[VitalDread]

Tom Young and Peter Gordon both write in the Wyndham Star (my local paper) and I read that Tom Young said he would have been disappointed if you told him at the start of the year that he would be playing in the 2nds all year, because Footscray were predicted to be near bottom of the ladder and said the playing group has developed a strong camaraderie with one another playing in a successful team

I'll grab it next time I'm in town and type up what he wrote for all to read, because it was a nice little article

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2014-08-21/youngs-column-second-but-best

 

[Dav1d]

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2014-08-21/youngs-column-second-but-best

That is it, I like it
I'm sure his team mates (Talia) share his sentiments to

 

[Norm De Guerre]

It really was a fantastic day at Whitten oval yesterday afternoon. It was also incredibly nostalgic, beginning with my father and I retracing our once traditional journey from the Mona Castle Hotel in Seddon, to what was once our secret parking space behind the old power sub-station that was located under the nw demolished footbridge that ran across the railroad tracks. Then a short few steps across Cross st and into Whitten Oval and up onto what remains of the hill at the Geelong Rd end. Where we got to indulge in the relative luxury of a few cans! of ice cold Carlton draught. I must say the sunshine was a new experience, but the wind blowing straight down the ground wasn't. It was his first time watching Footscray play at the Whitten Oval since the final West Coast game in '97, and judging by how much he enjoyed himself, it wont be the last.

As an aside, it was pretty funny listening to a number of obvious Bulldogs supporters nearby, who obviously had a little trouble working out who their allegiances really belonged to indulge in a little bit of venting when it came to our listed players. I suspect that they may have even been a member(s) of this very board!

Then onto Telstra...

 

[King Harold]

Think the best bet for one of our guys to win is Lower.

Think Goodes will be a huge chance .
Or did he get rubbed out ?

 

[Testekill]

Think Goodes will be a huge chance .
Or did he get rubbed out ?

Pretty sure he got rubbed out earlier in the year.

 

[King Harold]

It really was a fantastic day at Whitten oval yesterday afternoon. It was also incredibly nostalgic, beginning with my father and I retracing our once traditional journey from the Mona Castle Hotel in Seddon, to what was once our secret parking space behind the old power sub-station that was located under the nw demolished footbridge that ran across the railroad tracks. Then a short few steps across Cross st and into Whitten Oval and up onto what remains of the hill at the Geelong Rd end. Where we got to indulge in the relative luxury of a few cans! of ice cold Carlton draught. I must say the sunshine was a new experience, but the wind blowing straight down the ground wasn't. It was his first time watching Footscray play at the Whitten Oval since the final West Coast game in '97, and judging by how much he enjoyed himself, it wont be the last.

As an aside, it was pretty funny listening to a number of obvious Bulldogs supporters nearby, who obviously had a little trouble working out who their allegiances really belonged to indulge in a little bit of venting when it came to our listed players. I suspect that they may have even been a member(s) of this very board!

Then onto Telstra...

Thanks Idle that "secret parking spot " is now not so secret

 

[StringyDog]

I'd say he's safe, if not for injury earlier in the year he'd have played plenty of AFL footy. The coach loves him.

Believe this was his first game back from a serious injury (knee troubles in the last 18 months) sustained against Collingwood at Vic Park earlier in the year.

He has been back playing for a month now, each game has been poor, has been unlucky with injuries but even before them last year he was struggling at VFL level, he is big chance to be cut.

 

[yebiga]

Good to see you all today, was a bloody good feeling winning that.

Seeing Honey absolutely rip it apart in the second half and watching Jones take several mark of the year contenders, just magic.

Credit to Tutty too, was out on his feet but ran his guts out from start to finish and was instrumental.

Bloody proud of our Footscray boys.

What was it with jones in the last quarter
He did very little in the this game for 3/4
Then and we needed to. Hold tight against the wind in the last - he took 9 towering marks on all parts of the ground - it was an imperial last quarter with the game in the balance. His talent is extraordinary. Amazing performance.

 

[yebiga]

Footscray will be a lot stronger in two weeks time (with ins from the firsts).

But today, a few boys really stood up in the most pleasing of ways:

Jones - unsighted in the first half in very difficult conditions. Took six contested marks (no joke) in the last quarter, and they were increasingly big. Could have been the difference in the last quarter. Stood up in a huge way.

Honey - was brilliant.

Tutt - we all knew he was clutch, but a really important player today.

Goodes - say no more.

Ayce - the most surprising one for me. I know a lot have had him written off for years, but like a previous poster, I have him as best on ground today. Rucked beautifully, took a couple of great contested grabs (important ones, too) and he's like a midfielder with the ball in hand. What is this, I'm excited about Ayce Cordy?? Seriously, he was a colossus today.

Jong - he's really starting to put it together. Pretty dominant performance - very pleased for him.

That was 9 marks
And Jong was best a field by a kilometre.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Thanks Idle that "secret parking spot " is now not so secret

Hence the use of "once secret."

 

[yebiga]

In fairness I said I didn't think he was any good either He's still the worst coach I've had But have to admit he's done a great job!

After watching this game today, I have to agree, I don't think this man has the slightest idea how to coach. I know it does not make sense when the team is winning but he really has no idea. I want to apologise to black pup and others. We played the conditions at WO like drunk parrots. It was pure random luck the players cottoned on to the direct approach late in the third and got a few quick goals to give us a chance. The conditions were such that Redpath could dink a kick from 60 out if you were directly in front and it would sail thru.

Willi got goal after goal with dinky shots from outside 50. Our team just never tried it and were never instructed too. We really should won this very comfortably.

Jong is a beast - beware when the beast awakens.

 

[fargy]

No Bulldogs were mentioned (first ten rounds pre counted) down to 6 votes so must have had a big share of players with votes.