Teams v Western Bulldogs Friday

[Kildonan]

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jordan McMahon, Brian Harris, Dale Morris
HB: Andrejs Everitt, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Farren Ray, Scott West, Nathan Eagleton
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Brad Johnson, Robert Murphy
F: Shaun Higgins, Chris Grant, Jason Akermanis
FOLL: Luke Darcy, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd

I/C: Daniel Cross, Sam Power, Wayde Skipper, Stephen Tiller

EMG: Jarrod Harbrow, Josh Hill, Andrew McDougall

In: Cross, Grant, West
Out: Jarrod Harbrow, Josh Hill, Cameron Wight


ST KILDA
B: Leigh Fisher, Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire
HB: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Steven Baker
C: Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
HF: Xavier Clarke, Nick Riewoldt, Shane Birss
F: Stephen Milne , Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke
FOLL: Matthew Clarke, Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball

I/C: Jayden Attard, Jason Blake, Aaron Fiora, Sam Gilbert

EMG: Clint Jones, Brett Voss, Raphael Clarke


In: Koschitzke
Out: Michael Rix (omitted)

 

[sainter]

Pretty standard selection for us.

Rixy has been good this season but with Kosi back into the team it became a decision on who our best ruck option was and at this stage Clarke is a better ruckman. Not only is he a better tap ruckman but he's more likely to gather a few kicks and take a few marks around the ground.

Some big inclusions for the Doggies, I was hoping that at least Cross would be another week away.

I expect they will lift after a terrible few weeks. They've been embarrassed on the big friday night stage for the past two weeks and they've got one more chance to not only redeem themselves but to keep their finals hopes alive.

Despite our poor performance last week we've won 5 out of the past 6 and with our injury list as small as it currently is we can't afford to drop this game. In recent years they've struggled to match up on our key forwards, our backline is finally looking settled and our midfield is starting to look dangerous.

One clubs finals chances will be hanging by a thread at the end of tomorrow nights game. With things finally starting to improve for us it would be a massive setback to lose this game. Especially with Sydney in Sydney to come the following week.

 

[ChrisFooty]

This should be a ripper of a game. The western bulldogs won't put together three poor games in a row. The WB have some good inclusions, plus both the teams that embarrased the doggies in the last couple of weeks are really good sides.

 

[sauce_head]

That is a sexy team list, the sort we have been waiting for for a while.

I think we have two important aspects in our favour.

1. Our returned players have had at least two weeks, where as the Doggies have a number of great players returning fresh. They are the teams leaders and will tire towards the end, which is when a team needs strong leadership.

2. Our recent record over the Muts will play on their mind. Three talls in the forward line is simply too much for them. I would not be suprised to see Grant (so glad he ia back but why against us!) move back after the first five minutes so plug the gaps. With our scare last week, we will not be taking this lightly. Perhaps we avoided but still benefited from "the loss we had to have"?

Looking forward to it, but I expect a tough fight but us to go ahead by about 45 via a surge from mid third quarter.

Nostradamus_head

Would love to see Voss instead of Fiora, but guess the poor bloke is just not fast enough for this match in particular. Still, would further stretch the Dogs backs with a genuine marking target. Instaed of Briss?

 

[Persevering Saint]

Great to have so few injuries now, especially in comparison to the Doggies. Do you think maybe a reason for our slowing down in the Blues match was to protect players from injury, particularly people like Maxy? I'd rather we won by only ten every week but didn't get any more injuries, then thrash the Blues but lose a few key players to injury.

No surprises that Rix has been dropped - unless Gehrig quits and Kosi takes FF, I think Rixy's better get used to this, especially next year. He's not going to take the spot from Gardiner or the Van, or Clarke if he stays (do you think he will?). I even heard Lyon say in an interview that BROOKS is starting to clamor for selection (could Mad-Saint-Guy and StKildonian's dreams finally come true?!).

I think Rocket is blowing smoke with the three inclusions, or at least one or two of them.

I expect the team'll push hard for three quarters, then take the pedal off, let the Doggies back into the game, make all of us freak out a little, then win by 10-15, just like they have for a fair few games so far. Ah! Life as a Saints fan is never dull, is it?

 

[St DAC]

I wonder whether Cross will actually play ... he hasn't played since about R11, so to rush him back in could be a furphy.

 

[Kildonan]

Great to have so few injuries now, especially in comparison to the Doggies. Do you think maybe a reason for our slowing down in the Blues match was to protect players from injury, particularly people like Maxy? I'd rather we won by only ten every week but didn't get any more injuries, then thrash the Blues but lose a few key players to injury.

Give the Blues their due - they were really trying - played a good match - we didn't have a good one and yet we were able to hang on.

 

[ChrisL#12]

Nice inclusions for the Dogs. I can suddenly smell percentage slipping away. We will win, but not by as much now that those three are back.

 

[Qsaint]

Maybe Too many talls especially down back (three)?? Plus two on the Bench

 

[lifelike_]

I wonder whether Cross will actually play ... he hasn't played since about R11, so to rush him back in could be a furphy.

The last time he was in doubt he didn't come up.

From our point of view it would be a huge boost if he came up, but I've got a feeling there'll be a late change tonight, whether it be Grant, Cross or West that misses.

 

[St DAC]

The last time he was in doubt he didn't come up.

From our point of view it would be a huge boost if he came up, but I've got a feeling there'll be a late change tonight, whether it be Grant, Cross or West that misses.

Yeah, he's a ball-magnet, but he was listed as another week away, then suddenly named in the side, so your feeling may be right. If not, a terrific inclusion for the Dogs.

 

[nick_savo]

Who will play on Johnson?

 

[Red.White and Blue]

i think cross has been named as a withdrawal tonight with harbrow to come in . harbrow shouldnt be too much of a worry to you guys.

 

[St DAC]

Who will play on Johnson?

Max, when he's forward. Perhaps Birss onball.