AFL site Derby preview

[Ruddiger]

From AFL - http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=matchdetails&spg=display&articleid=194195

THE MEDICAL ROOM: Fremantle defender Robert Haddrill (ankle), a late withdrawal last week, and reliable utility James Walker (hip) will have to prove their fitness later in the week. The Eagles have been dealt a massive blow with ruckman Michael Gardiner to miss at least this week with a hamstring injury as will star midfielder Ben Cousins who is yet to overcome a finger injury.

We won without Gardi and Cousins last Derby....and Cousins looks like a starter for Saturday.

THE WHITEBOARD: With both sides lacking a dominant forward, this match is likely to be decided in the middle where the Dockers, with Gardiner injured, hold a slight advantage.

When was the last time Gardi contested the centre bounce ?

Giant ruckman Adam Sandilands should return to make life difficult for West Coast's back-up ruckman, Dean Cox,

When has Sandilands ever made life difficult for Dean Cox ?
And Cox has been our Number 1 ruckman for over a year now.

ensuring that the likes of Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Chad Fletcher in the Eagles' midfield do not consistently get first use of the ball.

That's alright...Sandilands taps are usually to Eagles midfielders anyway. Only his marking and running ability are worse.

With Josh Carr and Paul Hasleby firing in the engine room for the Dockers, runners such as Heath Black and Peter Bell should get enough of the ball to give forwards Paul Medhurst and Jeff Farmer enough opportunities to kick a winning score.

Yeah, Farmer and Medhurst had a great game last derby If Chick can shut down Ablett, he can certainly take care of the lucky troll Medhurst. Plus Banners > Farmer.

THE VERDICT: West Coast has enjoyed a massive edge over Fremantle since their inception in 1995 but the Dockers, who won the corresponding clash last year by 10 points,

The corresponding clash would be the Eagles away Derby in Round 21. Which West Coast won by 48 points.

are finally showing that they can match it with their cross-town rival. In defeating the Power and pushing the Saints to the brink of defeat, the Dockers have shown they are a force to be reckoned with in 2005

They have got a lot better than they were, I'll give him that.

and with Gardiner and Cousins missing for the Eagles,

....again with Gardiner and Cousins....

should be able to win the first Western Derby of the year. Fremantle by eight points.

Has he looked at our list lately ? I imagine he's pulling names from the hat to make his match report. I doubt this chump Andrew Wu has even watched the Eagles or Freo in the last year.

 

[jod23]

Yeah I laughed reading the preview.

 

[masai]

Have to agree that this was written by a person who aint seen these two teams play this year.

No dominant forwards?, I thought Pav was doing ok.

Cox is in good form, JLo is in good form and is the one more likely to offer trouble, rather than 211.

Oh well that's the media.

 

[ImperialPurple]

From AFL - http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=matchdetails&spg=display&articleid=194195


Giant ruckman Adam Sandilands should return to make life difficult for West Coast's back-up ruckman, Dean Cox,

When has Sandilands ever made life difficult for Dean Cox ?
And Cox has been our Number 1 ruckman for over a year now.

ensuring that the likes of Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Chad Fletcher in the Eagles' midfield do not consistently get first use of the ball.

That's alright...Sandilands taps are usually to Eagles midfielders anyway. Only his marking and running ability are worse.

From EFH:


Mead
Veteran


Joined: 31 Mar 2004
Posts: 881

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

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If I were your lot, I'd give full votes to Sandilands- the most decisive winner on the ground, and the guy who tipped the midfield balance in your favour. With him on top, we were never going to be able to kick away, and really the best we could hope for was a even scrap, which is what we got for the first half.

The first ten minutes or so of the third term cost us- just a shocking lapse of concentration and a few moments of brilliance from Pavlich, and we were in trouble. Judd going off with an ankle didn't help either, but in the end, we just couldn't get around Sandiland's dominance. Even in the last quarter, we just couldn't get a run on because we weren't getting good use from stoppages.


Of course, I do believe that Cox's improvement has far, far out stripped Sandi's over the last 12 months. But just answering your question.

 

[Reveler]

Here is the another that tips the dockers

WALKING WOUNDED
Dockers defender Robert Haddrill (ankle) is a chance of returning but former Power midfielder Jarrad Schofield (back) may come back next week. The Eagles have important duo Ben Cousins (finger) and Michael Gardiner (hamstring) listed as requiring tests, with the skipper the more likely of the pair to line up.

FORM
The Dockers showed they will be a force again at home, defeating reigning premiers Port Adelaide in Round 1, but then came the heartbreaking one-point loss to the Saints in Launceston. The unbeaten Eagles are third on the ladder, following their first-round victory over Adelaide with an impressive 22-point win against the Cats.

KEY MATCH-UPS
With both sides lacking a dominant forward, this match will be decided in the midfield. Missing last week due to the wet conditions, Fremantle giant Adam Sandilands will return and fancy his chances against the Eagles' second ruckman Dean Cox, giving the likes of Peter Bell, Paul Hasleby and Josh Carr an edge in the midfield over Chris Judd, Chad Fletcher and Daniel Kerr.

WE THINK
Much will depend on Gardiner's availability, with the Eagles looking much more imposing with their ruckman up and running. But the Dockers are no longer intimidated by their cross-town rivals and will be fuming after blowing a golden opportunity against the Saints. Expect them to atone this week. Dockers by 14 points

I wonder if its writen by the exact same person, but he can't decide on a margin.

 

[coasting]

From EFH:


Mead
Veteran


Joined: 31 Mar 2004
Posts: 881

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If I were your lot, I'd give full votes to Sandilands- the most decisive winner on the ground, and the guy who tipped the midfield balance in your favour. With him on top, we were never going to be able to kick away, and really the best we could hope for was a even scrap, which is what we got for the first half.

The first ten minutes or so of the third term cost us- just a shocking lapse of concentration and a few moments of brilliance from Pavlich, and we were in trouble. Judd going off with an ankle didn't help either, but in the end, we just couldn't get around Sandiland's dominance. Even in the last quarter, we just couldn't get a run on because we weren't getting good use from stoppages.


Of course, I do believe that Cox's improvement has far, far out stripped Sandi's over the last 12 months. But just answering your question.

Thats a strange thing for Mead to say. Can't say I agree with it.

 

[Mead]

From EFH:


Mead
Veteran


Joined: 31 Mar 2004
Posts: 881

Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If I were your lot, I'd give full votes to Sandilands- the most decisive winner on the ground, and the guy who tipped the midfield balance in your favour. With him on top, we were never going to be able to kick away, and really the best we could hope for was a even scrap, which is what we got for the first half.

The first ten minutes or so of the third term cost us- just a shocking lapse of concentration and a few moments of brilliance from Pavlich, and we were in trouble. Judd going off with an ankle didn't help either, but in the end, we just couldn't get around Sandiland's dominance. Even in the last quarter, we just couldn't get a run on because we weren't getting good use from stoppages.


Of course, I do believe that Cox's improvement has far, far out stripped Sandi's over the last 12 months. But just answering your question.

Was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. Sandilands certainly did have the better of Cox in derby I last year, but things have changed rather a lot since then.

That was Cox's 3rd real game as senior ruck after Gardie went down, and the entire league was having troubles with Sandi just because he was too damn tall and noone had really given serious thought to how to play him- about a month later he was figured out.

That was then, this is now. The next two times they matched up, Cox butchered Sandilands, and there's no reason to suppose it won't happen again this weekend.

I think the dockers will need to look at starting Longmuir in the ruck, but that beggars the question what Sandilands is doing in the side? Not sure whether you can afford to have a totally one dimensional backup ruckman who is of no value up forward or around the ground.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Sandilands certainly did have the better of Cox

Yeah, that's what I said. I answered his question.

 

[Ruddiger]

Good call on the game Andrew Wu