Akermanis MUST play foward.

[cisek19]

If we are any chance of winning this game, Akermanis has to do something very, very special. He can't do that from the defensive 50.
He has to play foward and just create like he did at Brisbane so many times in finals. This is what we got him for, too stand up in the big games.
This is a huge game.

 

[lemmon]

I agree, but without Addison we really lack another small defender and I can understand why he is playing back. The problem is if we want Gilbee to be freed up someone else has to play back. Maybe Griffen could be put back on the half back line but then we miss him in the midfield. So IMO one of Gilbee, Aker or Griffen has to play in the backline.

 

[fronkalicious]

Couldnt agree more. We cant run with Welsh, Minson and Harbrow in our forward 50m as we did against them last time. Gotta throw acker forward and leave him there. We need to be dangerous when the ball hits the ground. I dont think Harbow gives us this. He has good closing/defensive speed, but we need to kick a score to be a chance of winning this game.

I'd even consider going small and not playing Will in the forward line much at all. Change he and Hudson off the bench. I'd also like to see the ruckmen really push hard forward to compete in the air as much as possible. I know it might open us up a little at the back, but we need to back Lake, Morris, Shaggy etc in to beat their opponents 1 on 1. Hahn and Johnno also need to compete in the air, and have Aker, Hill, Higgins and Gia lurking. I reckon thats our chance.

 

[Spectre]

I agree, but without Addison we really lack another small defender and I can understand why he is playing back. The problem is if we want Gilbee to be freed up someone else has to play back. Maybe Griffen could be put back on the half back line but then we miss him in the midfield. So IMO one of Gilbee, Aker or Griffen has to play in the backline.

What about Harbrow or Hill? They offer far less up forward than Aker (for now). Aker's job is to be the finisher. So let him finish.

 

[lifelike_]

After criticising the decision a couple of weeks ago, I've realised there's a method in the madness.

Aker was given the role on Buchanan last Friday as he was apparently bookmarked for the job on Gilbee.

Buchanan had little influence, Aker had a good game and Gilbee was close to best on ground.

I'm not sure who Geelong will play on Gilbee (IMO one of Stokes or Varcoe), but if Akermanis was to go back again:

- Gilbee would be freed up, giving us the clean disposal out of defence that we lacked against Hawthorn
- Aker could pinch hit up forward
- There's a fair chance the influence of Gilbee's original opponent will be somewhat less that it would have been

Aker wore Buchanan like a glove on Friday. If he's sent back and does another decent job this week we'll be far better off.

 

[cisek19]

Could Addison be ready to come back in for Harbrow perhaps and play that role that Akermanis has been playing the last few weeks?
I don't think Harbrow offers us much up foward apart from his foward line pressue, which don't get me wrong is important but we need Akermanis foward.

Perhaps Timmy Callan could play that role to free up Gilbee. I would love to see Addison picked this week, heard he had a pretty solid game in Willy's win this week.
Is he a chance?

 

[RevDog]

I would start him on the half forward flank, and keep him there. If he floats up to the wing a bit that is ok, but mainly staying on the half forward line.

 

[Dogma84]

switch Harbrow into defence to play as a stopper with the sole responsibilty of shutting down his opponent, do net let him get a kick and wear him like a second skin..this will free Aker up to move forward, playing across half forward preferably where he can be creative and dangerous

 

[johntravoltron]

After criticising the decision a couple of weeks ago, I've realised there's a method in the madness.

Me too..

Especially since Aker's kicking penetration is back to where it used to be a few seasons ago (since he grew that huge ass over the summer ) ..

So alongside Gilbee it gives us two pretty awesome users of the ball coming out of the backline and this worked well the other night against the Swans.

Miss him down front though, but Hill is much improved, his basketballer- style leap brought the ball down to advantage numerous times the other night, resulting in goals to Hahn and Welsh , as well as kicking a few himself ,so maybe we dont need Aker up forward as much as we used to .

Missy is looking good up forward too.

Pity we cant clone him though and have two Akers ..but probably the universe couldn't handle the both of them

 

[stmookeyj]

I'd probably start him in the guts and get him in the game early. Certainly he should be more on-ball than back.

 

[Libba39]

Aker started mostly on the wing and kicked a goal. Not saying he is playing forward but I wouldn't say he's playing back either.

 

[vandalay industries]

Aker needs to kick 3+ goals for us to have a chance.

 

[wian]

Couldnt agree more. We cant run with Welsh, Minson and Harbrow in our forward 50m as we did against them last time. Gotta throw acker forward and leave him there. We need to be dangerous when the ball hits the ground. I dont think Harbow gives us this. He has good closing/defensive speed, but we need to kick a score to be a chance of winning this game.

agree- whatever we do, we cant afford to let them get a lose man in defence - i think last time that milbourn guy had about 15 possies in the forst quarter alone by playing lose - we must make them accountable and earn every kick !

i look at this game like David versus Goliath - But if we attack their heart ( Their Goliath - players such as Ablett, Scarlett, Ling and Bartel and we get on top of them and intimidate them) Like the story of David and Goliath - Once their leaders are down, the rest of them will flee !

cheers


cheers

 

[richskee]

Tottally agree with the O.P..

I've watched pretty much every Buldogs match and even with a bit of frustration the last few weeks because Aker is in the back pocket.

He's a game breaker the man who can turn a game on its head. For the last two weeks you've had no mopper in the forward line, countless times Hahn, Welsh and Minson have lost the ball in a contested mark and there is know one to mop it up. The ball dribbles around and then gets swooped up by there defenders. We saw how damaging he was against the Hawks, he was playing on Rioli for HALF the match and then finally gets the green light to go inside 50 and kick 3 goals! I guarantee Paul Roo's and Alistair Clarkson would of been absolutely delighted when they saw Akermanis start in the back line or in a tagging role. Akermanis is a bloody Head Ache for coaches because they know of his capabilities in the Forward line...

As a keen observer of the doggies, i almost get the feeling that he has had strict instruction to stay out of the Forward Line. You see him skirting on the 50m ark like its out of bounds and you can just tell he's so hungry to get in there and play his natural game but fears it will only come off as selfish and arrogant.

It's only in the last 5 weeks i have really questioned Rockets Motives we even heard Leigh Matthews say it last friday night "Akermanis should be in the forward line". And when Lethal says something it defiantly has it's credibility...

Feel better after Venting My Spleen!

Anyway, good luck with this friday...

 

[The Big Woofer]

We wouldn't get away with Harbrow in defence, he's too small & they would take him back to the goal square & destroy his confidence....he's a small forward or out of the team.

I don't mind Aker playing for short bursts across HB, but let's face it against both Haw & Syd he's looked very dangerous when he's been forward of centre & we can't think about saving this game, we have to take it on & win it....to do this Aker needs to kick & set-up goals.

Gia is one who has played back effectively before & is a great kick so he's an option back there to assist Gilbee.

I think Minson is a chance to get under their guard as i reckon they don't rate him at all....he might just be starting to have enough confidence to make an impact with his energy--& he's usually a reliable kick at goal.

All of Welsh, Johnson, Murphy & Hahn will have to have an impact to some extent, can't have one who gets thrashed & who's man gets 30 poss.

 

[trev106]

agree- whatever we do, we cant afford to let them get a lose man in defence - i think last time that milbourn guy had about 15 possies in the forst quarter alone by playing lose - we must make them accountable and earn every kick !

i look at this game like David versus Goliath - But if we attack their heart ( Their Goliath - players such as Ablett, Scarlett, Ling and Bartel and we get on top of them and intimidate them) Like the story of David and Goliath - Once their leaders are down, the rest of them will flee !

cheers


cheers

I just cant help but think of the Simpsons quote "it was a David and Goliath battle expect this time David won". But yeah Id love to see Aker up foward, he loves these big games and I woulnt mind beting he'd kick a bag if he got to play up foward.

 

[maddog37]

What about Missy playing down back a bit. He basically tagged Kennelly (can't spell his first name!) and did a good job.

If lake beats Mooney we will be in with a chance. He is a leader and can send bad messages(body language) to his team-mates when he is down.

 

[trev106]

What about Missy playing down back a bit. He basically tagged Kennelly (can't spell his first name!) and did a good job.

If lake beats Mooney we will be in with a chance. He is a leader and can send bad messages(body language) to his team-mates when he is down.

Lake vs Mooney and Morris vs Johnson the 2 key match ups. Remebering last time how Johnson beat Morris,1 out of only 2 players I can think of who have actually beaten Morris this year . If Morris hits back then it will go a long way to us winning.