Changes Round 11 vs Demons

[Doggies7]

Let's shuffle those deckchairs on the Titanic shall we.

Need to make a raft of changes, unfortunately the cupboard is still quite bare. English will be a watch throughout the week, but finger's crossed if he passes all of his tests and no issues, we should get him back. Lose Bailey Williams which is another massive out. Libba still probably 2-3 weeks away and Garcia hurt again. One of Hynes or Davidson probably comes out again, flip a coin...

Cleary impressed in the VFL and deserves a run. Jaques was pretty good too and might be time to get him back in. Carmichael might get a debut, but we are already so young and have a few in the same position which might work against him. Dolan and Croft didn't do enough imo.

In - English, JOD, Cleary, Jaques (to play a bit of wing)
Out - Emmett, Williams, Coff? Hynes?

 

[Libba39]

Only thing I know is Hynes needs to go. Kid is an absolute spectator at this point in his career.

 

[Golden_6]

Davidson is a horrific footballer. Hynes, McNeil, Emmett all aren’t up to it but there’s the cupboard is bare. Very poor depth this year. Hopefully English & JOD are right to go.

In: English, JOD, Jacques, Cleary, Dolan
Out: Emmett, Coffield, Davidson, Hynes, Williams (inj)

 

[DueWest]

Davidson is a horrific footballer. Hynes, McNeil, Emmett all aren’t up to it but there’s the cupboard is bare. Very poor depth this year. Hopefully English & JOD are right to go.

In: English, JOD, Jacques, Cleary, Dolan
Out: Emmett, Coffield, Davidson, Hynes, Williams (inj)

Out Emmett, Hynes, Williams

In JOD, Cleary (was our best at VFL), Jaques

JOD full back and move Buku forward / second ruck, he will be more competitive than Emmett.

Cleary back and move Bramble to wing to replace Williams

English will be out for a couple more unfortunately

 

[DognBones]

In: Craig-Peters, B Crofts, Orgill - at least these 3 are genuine goers
Out: Any of our worst 3 spuds.

OK, I'll be serious.
In: O'Donnell, Jaques, Cleary, L Kennedy
Out: Williams, Hynes, Davidson, McNeil
These others are lucky the cupboard is empty:
Kennedy, Baker, Lewis, West
You might ask why I haven't dropped Emmett. The talls in the VFL are worse.

 

[Mofra]

Is JOD ready? I thought he was out for a couple more.

 

[lachy]

In: Craig-Peters, B Crofts, Orgill - at least these 3 are genuine goers
Out: Any of our worst 3 spuds.

OK, I'll be serious.
In: O'Donnell, Jaques, Cleary, L Kennedy
Out: Williams, Hynes, Davidson, McNeil
These others are lucky the cupboard is empty:
Kennedy, Baker, Lewis, West
You might ask why I haven't dropped Emmett. The talls in the VFL are worse.

I would and have gone further with agreeing with your Emmett decision going forward. No point dropping him particularly as the coaching group do not rate contest at stoppage. Dropping him to the VFL to play the same role he is clearly not suited to is wasting his development.

Play him as the 3rd tall forward and have Buku back up Lobb in the ruck. At least he may start to develop. It was good to see Croft down back in the VFL. We need to start developing our young KPP's as KPP's.

Agree with the ins and outs though would play Hynes ahead of Baker now to get the 40 to 50 games into him.

 

[Doggies7]

English will be out for a couple more unfortunately

They'll absolutely be cautious with him, but if he passes all the tests and no lingering effects, he should be back after a 16 day break from the concussion. Big unknown still sure, but unless an issue on the testing side I expect him back.

 

[Doggies7]

Is JOD ready? I thought he was out for a couple more.

Bevo mentioned during the week that he hopes/expects Lobb and JOD to return the following week (Melbourne game). JOD did a fair bit of the training during the week but sat out match sim. Would expect he got put through a session this weekend and trains during the week, if no setbacks we should get him back hopefully.

 

[Marsy]

Good luck if you think English will be back this week. Will miss at least a month based on his history.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Expecting JOD back, hoping English is back but considering his history I would be surprised if he plays. Both obviously automatic selections

Will be an interesting call for JOD. I think Coffield is probably the one that gets replaced. Buku's best has been this year and think he deserves to stay, has been good whenever not playing on the big banana. Busslinger has shown signs and we just need to keep giving him games to see what he makes of himself. Think Coffield has been the best performed of the three since he has come in so perhaps unlucky but think it's the right call for him to go out

Can we bring Jaques back in and move Bramble away from half back please. Another bizarre selection call that I don't understand. Bramble was really good the first few weeks at half forward/wing, think that's where he is best suited, been bog average at half back but we seem intent on playing him back. The guys who have replaced Bramble in the half forward/wing role have been really poor too so don't know why they keep doing it

Emmett out obviously. Hopefully English is right but Smith is clearly a better option as of now. Another tactical miss that they keep going back to because of philosophies

Hynes is not even close to being ready and needs a solid stint in the VFL to get his mojo back. Don't think these games are helping his development at all. Looks more lost every week. Davidson was awful (and has been all year) but without Williams now im lost for answers, I don't think Gallagher is the answer

Wonder if they consider Treloar. He can't run anymore and will be on reduced minutes but as he showed vs Sydney he can still find the ball. Smith and Emmett can only play 50% TOG and don't think you can get away with two on the bench on reduced minutes so it's probably only an option if English is back. Will just be about weighing up the pros and cons because he can't burst away like old Treloar and there will be no defensive running but he'll win the ball and not many were able to do that last night

B: Busslinger, O'Donnell, Khamis
HB: Dale, Sellwood, Jaques

R: English/Smith, Sanders, Richards
C: Bramble, Bontempelli, Baker

HF: Freijah, West, Jones
F: Lobb, Naughton, Lewis

I: Budarick, Kennedy, McNeil, Davidson, Dolan

Out: Williams (inj), Emmett, Hynes
In: O'Donnell, English/Smith, Dolan

 

[Mojorisin]

I'd have Lobb ruck Centre bounces and then concede the ruck everywhere except defensive 50 and try to create a free man in defence. M.Kennedy can ruck around the ground, he is moving and kicking like a ruck anyway.
I'd love to see Jones play a full game on the wing, he looked dangerous when he was roaming, just dont have him man key forwards maybe.

I dream of a week without injury.

Out: Emmett, Williams, Hynes
In: JOD, Jaques, L.Kennedy

FB. Sellwood JOD Khamis
HB. Dale Buss Budarick
C. Jones Freijah Jaques
HF. Bramble Naught M.Kennedy
FF. West Lewis Bont
R. Lobb Sanders Richards
INT. Coffield Mcneil Baker Davidson L.Kennedy

 

[lachy]

I'd have Lobb ruck Centre bounces and then concede the ruck everywhere except defensive 50 and try to create a free man in defence. M.Kennedy can ruck around the ground, he is moving and kicking like a ruck anyway.
I'd love to see Jones play a full game on the wing, he looked dangerous when he was roaming, just dont have him man key forwards maybe.

I dream of a week without injury.

Out: Emmett, Williams, Hynes
In: JOD, Jaques, L.Kennedy

FB. Sellwood JOD Khamis
HB. Dale Buss Budarick
C. Jones Freijah Jaques
HF. Bramble Naught M.Kennedy
FF. West Lewis Bont
R. Lobb Sanders Richards
INT. Coffield Mcneil Baker Davidson L.Kennedy

Not bad. Definatley would have Cleary in for Davidson. You can run 8 through defense with 5 on the bench.

Like Freijah on ball, give him more responsabilty in the rotation to rest Bont, Richards and Kennedy M.

Would leave Hynes in with more mid time and leave out either Mc Neil or Baker.

 

[Mojorisin]

Not bad. Definatley would have Cleary in for Davidson. You can run 8 through defense with 5 on the bench.

Like Freijah on ball, give him more responsabilty in the rotation to rest Bont, Richards and Kennedy M.

Would leave Hynes in with more mid time and leave out either Mc Neil or Baker.

Don't mind the inclusion of Cleary. I'd also be tempted to give Coffield some time as a defensive wingman.
I feel like with our current personal we're better off to load up the defence and slingshot forward.

 

[fred cook]

Don't mind the inclusion of Cleary. I'd also be tempted to give Coffield some time as a defensive wingman.
I feel like with our current personal we're better off to load up the defence and slingshot forward.

I am shaking thinking if English does not return the thought of Emmett rucking against Gawn

 

[fred cook]

Good luck if you think English will be back this week. Will miss at least a month based on his history.

So I gather your part of the Bulldogs medical team with the above comments and data. Oh you copied the sentence from Facebook now that makes sense

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Let's shuffle those deckchairs on the Titanic shall we.

Need to make a raft of changes, unfortunately the cupboard is still quite bare.

Top shelf metaphors.

I might have to borrow them sometime.

In: Meh.

Out: Meh.

 

[crankydog]

I rate Emmett but just let him do his thing in the vfl for the next two years.

 

[Golden_6]

I rate Emmett but just let him do his thing in the vfl for the next two years.

It’s mind baffling what they’re doing with him. So utterly pointless.

We’re genuinely better off letting Matthew Kennedy take the backup ruck centre bounces and pick an extra runner.

 

[cecil]

In: JOD, Cleary, Jaques
Out: Williams, Emmett, Hynes

Bramble to play HF/Wing, Buku to play forward/ruck

 

[Pocket Terrace]

Given his time with us, King will know exactly how to exploit our weaknesses defensively and at clearance. Not that he’s alone there. Anyone with a passing interest in footy would know this these days.

I was at the VFL game and nobody really stood out. Jacques and Kennedy were ok. There are no options for the areas of the ground we need to fill the most.

 

[Shacf501]

If Tim comes back then lobb and him rotate forward and play that second marking option to give naughts some help. Will Lewis tries but ain’t up to it. Backline going ok, possibly rotate Baku forward if the lobb forward option doesn’t work and when lobb goes into the ruck to relieve Tim then Baku goes back.
Jacques in for Davidson.
Hynes out, he doesn’t try
Dolan to replace him.
Cleary probably deserves and opportunity and comes in for truck.

 

[Oliver G]

If Tim comes back then lobb and him rotate forward and play that second marking option to give naughts some help. Will Lewis tries but ain’t up to it. Backline going ok, possibly rotate Baku forward if the lobb forward option doesn’t work and when lobb goes into the ruck to relieve Tim then Baku goes back.
Jacques in for Davidson.
Hynes out, he doesn’t try
Dolan to replace him.
Cleary probably deserves and opportunity and comes in for truck.

We're roughly 4 goals a week worse off than last year, and conceding an extra 2 and a bit goals. Bearing in mind that scoring overall in the competition has increased by an average of 1 goal per team over the last year.

WB - Avg Points For
2026: 85.6
2025: 108.4

-22.8 differential

WB - Avg Points Against
2026: 93.3
2025: 79.1

+14.2 differential

A 37-point swing overall.

Not having any significant support for Naughton after Darcy went down has been a huge problem. It's probably been overlooked largely due to the likes of English going down as well, but we're the only team other than West Coast to only have 2 or fewer players take 10+ set shots this year (the other being Darcy). This is being compounded by our small forwards largely being out of form as well.

We're just struggling to score full-stop and the data says that as the game goes on, the less we score. We've won just 6 out of our 20 second half quarters this year, with 3 of those coming in the first 2 games of the season. In fact we've not won a Q3 or Q4 since the Geelong game, crazy. That's 8 second half quarters in a row without a win.

WB - Percentage of Quarters Won (2026 / 2025 / Differential)
Q1: 70% / 52% (+18%)
Q2: 50% / 70% (-20%)
Q3: 40% / 61% (-21%)
Q4: 20% / 78% (-58%)

 

[Scragger77]

I’d bring in Cleary and JOD - Khamis and Dale move forward or even try Dale midfield for some run and carry and move Kennedy forward. Williams and Davison out

 

[Doggies_13]

Realistically all of the below should be out

Emmett, Davidson, Hynes, McNiel.

But we can’t.

I’m assuming none of the injuries return.

Out: Emmett Williams (inj) Davidson

In: Smith, Jacques, Dolan

Jacques back and bramble back to his early season wing/half forward role. Arty more wing.