Preview Round 4, 2021: St.Kilda v West Coast - Marvel Stadium, Saturday 10th April, 4:35PM AEST

[joop]

He's kicked more goals than our three top goal kickers combined this year. He's already on 14 and with the supply they are giving their forwards he should kick the most goals he's ever kicked in a season easily. The sh*t think is Hickey was made redundant after we were using him well with the third man up rule. Bruce has become the prototype forward for the new rules.

We really do seem cursed, we gave him away pretty much. What's insane is that Membrey is not quite as good as a lead hard at the ball type forward but not far off it either. Instead we use him right up the ground and then he kicks goals if he gets back. We really have to adjust our planning. Even King is being used in a way that does nothing for him or the team. Our forwards coach must still be on holiday or not watching much footy.

Bit early to call Bruce the prototype for the new rules after 3 games. Sure he kicked 10 in one game, but 4 in 2 would put him as a standard forward.

 

[phantom13]

8 goals in 16 games mate, that’s sh*t kicker material on 500+ clams. Missing out on that is not hurting us one bit.

14 goals from 3 games, our best is 6 from 3...

I think its a bit more nuanced than that personally but whatever.

 

[kernelT]

14 goals from 3 games, our best is 6 from 3...

I think its a bit more nuanced than that personally but whatever.

Went goal-less in 9 out of 17 last year... we need that like a hole in the head.

 

[Joffaboy]

Bruce moving was good for the Bulldogs and for us.

He gives Naughton a chop out and we have a bloke called King and despite a few hiccups will be a fantastic full forward.

 

[SaintJunior]

I have felt for a while that we struggle with teams that move the football by foot using short kicks.

We get picked apart, whereas we have play well against sides that handball or bomb the football.

It takes our pressure out of the game and makes zone defence worthless.

Unfortunately the new rules have made it easier to do this and we have not adjusted.

So for me we need to start winning the contest , and controlling the game and play man on man and get rid of zone defence.

And above all else turn up and actually have a crack.

 

[bird_man]

Went goal-less in 9 out of 17 last year... we need that like a hole in the head.

We also need someone that's gonna turn up for a big final and get 6 touches

 

[Geary Is GOAT]

More importantly as it relates to our club it’s another example of not reading the league and making a smart decision.

Naa I disagree with this.

He was ******* awful last year and wasn't up to it in a defensive league. We couldn't possibly have predicted when trading him that this years rule change would totally change the way the league plays and suit players like him.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Bruce moving was good for the Bulldogs and for us.

He gives Naughton a chop out and we have a bloke called King and despite a few hiccups will be a fantastic full forward.

If only we had the brains to use a bloke called Battle to give the bloke called King a chop out too. The Doggies seemed to think it was important enough to pay their bloke a fortune, yet we do nothing but misuse both of our blokes...

 

[CaptainRisky]

Longer-Hickey anyone ?

 

[SaintJunior]

The rules have no doubt helped forwards.

But Josh Bruce

17

Josh Bruce

Age

31

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

did what Josh Bruce

17

Josh Bruce

Age

31

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

has always done, dominated against weak opposition. Always kicks goals against
North, he has a great midfield kicking to him but until he can start kicking goals against good opposition then he is not a loss.

Have a look at his record over the years , finishes with a reasonable tally of goals but usually it is a couple of bags and nothing else for the majority of games.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Lol. Yup.

Now we are on to infighting rumours. FMD this joint delivers.

Hey Joff , see Ryder is back in town

 

[kernelT]

Longer-Hickey anyone ?

Need a ‘where are they now?’ Episode.

 

[phantom13]

Anyone who thinks that not having Bruce to split contests against Melbourne (who took alot of intercept marks) and also this weekend against West Coast is kidding themselves. King is getting two bodies blocking him from the contest while the oppos spare back takes an uncontested mark.

He absolutely had limitations but as a big pack forward he was always there to split a contest. Right now none of of forwards are doing that, even Membs (mostly because hes on his bike on the wing trying to help out our backs).

 

[gringo2011]

So who out of Membrey, Marshall or Ryder would you remove from the best 22 then?

Considering only Membrey is available it's not a very hard equation.

 

[gringo2011]

The bloke played 17 games last year in a top 8 side, outside of kicking 6 goals against north he managed 8 goals from 16 games... and that’s playing as their biggest forward 50 target.

Putrid stuff.

If we are playing two rucks, the only way Bruce gets a game with us is if we’re playing King at Sandy. And considering King kicked more goals than Bruce last year in his first season that would be a strange move.

he's really there to develop Naughton and spread the defence for him though. What he should be doing with King instead of turning him into Kosi.

 

[gringo2011]

Spot on. If anyone is going to complain about us moving him on, then they need to say who we would move out of the best 22 for him. And not last weeks best 22, our full fitness one because you dont keep someone paid as well as Bruce on the list as a back-up option.

I think sometimes people forget that a player who was traded can play a good game for their new club without the decision to move him on being a bad one.

Mc Kernan.

 

[phantom13]

Naa I disagree with this.

He was ******* awful last year and wasn't up to it in a defensive league. We couldn't possibly have predicted when trading him that this years rule change would totally change the way the league plays and suit players like him.

I take your point WE certainly couldnt have predicted it and at the time we traded him i doubt anyone could have but ultimately that is the job of the coaching and list management staff.

 

[stavro#4]

Anyone who thinks that not having Bruce to split contests against Melbourne (who took alot of intercept marks) and also this weekend against West Coast is kidding themselves. King is getting two bodies blocking him from the contest while the oppos spare back takes an uncontested mark.

He absolutely had limitations but as a big pack forward he was always there to split a contest. Right now none of of forwards are doing that, even Membs (mostly because hes on his bike on the wing trying to help out our backs).

Find our slick ball movement again and these rules prevent any numbers getting back and double teaming king.

Play anything like the previous fortnight and expect the same outcome.

 

[phantom13]

We dont have some massive influx of Key forwards, our issue with too much depth is smalls and flankers.

If we play the forward line with Bruce its King, Bruce and Membs (with membs and king getting up the ground more).

Marshall and Ryder floating in and then the small and mids at their feet.

Higgins/Lonie - Bruce - Butler
Membs - King - Gresh

 

[kernelT]

Anyone who thinks that not having Bruce to split contests against Melbourne (who took alot of intercept marks) and also this weekend against West Coast is kidding themselves. King is getting two bodies blocking him from the contest while the oppos spare back takes an uncontested mark.

He absolutely had limitations but as a big pack forward he was always there to split a contest. Right now none of of forwards are doing that, even Membs (mostly because hes on his bike on the wing trying to help out our backs).

Sure if both Marshall & Ryder are out I think he plays... full strength he’s just a backup on a massive salary, its exactly why we got rid of him.

 

[phantom13]

Find our slick ball movement again and these rules prevent any numbers getting back and double teaming king.

Play anything like the previous fortnight and expect the same outcome.

Melbourne still had May, Level and Gawn getting back. WCE will still have Barass, McGovern and Nic Nat.

 

[gringo2011]

Bit early to call Bruce the prototype for the new rules after 3 games. Sure he kicked 10 in one game, but 4 in 2 would put him as a standard forward.

Tex Walker, Bruce, Stringer, Mc Kay types are working really well, guys that run hard leads in straight lines are back in vogue. WCE have three of them in Kennedy, Darling and Allen. If we don't find a way to control the midfield minus Shuey we will get a lesson in 2021 footy. If I was Ratts I'd be playing Membrey and King starting deep and leading up at the ball coming in. Ben King plays as a lead up marking forward and seems to be able to do it well so hopefully it's genetic.

******* ridiculous that we are playing Mc Kernan and King forward and neither run leads. We just drop it on their heads and in Kings case he really struggles to hold that exact type of mark and with our smalls looking like they can't be bothered it a recipe for routine losses.

 

[Saintbloke]

Why don't we drop Steele this week as reward for carrying the team..give him a weekend at the Gold Coast- that will send a signal to the group. Similar to giving an employee who has exceeded expectations, a bonus.

 

[gringo2011]

The rules have no doubt helped forwards.

But Josh Bruce did what Josh Bruce has always done, dominated against weak opposition. Always kicks goals against
North, he has a great midfield kicking to him but until he can start kicking goals against good opposition then he is not a loss.

Have a look at his record over the years , finishes with a reasonable tally of goals but usually it is a couple of bags and nothing else for the majority of games.

he looked terrible last year but he's playing well on top of the 10 goals last week.

 

[kernelT]

We probably got Crouch with the money saved from Bruce.

Lets see how that looks over the next 3-4 years.