Changes Round 5 vs Hawks

[dogwatch]

If English can't play next week and we go with somebody new like Emmett, Croft or Smith I think we have to have a clear Plan B and be ready to switch to it early in case Meek is totally dominating. No point waiting until just before 3QT. It will be too late then.

That Plan B probably involves some rotation of Lobb, Darcy and whoever the Plan A ruck is. Maybe even a bit of Naughton to keep changing it up. I notice even Bont recorded 1 HO yesterday but I would prefer he's not in the ruck duels.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

Hawks likely to play three talls with Chol, Lewis and Gunston.

Assuming Lobb last ruck - then would probably need to go JOD, Gardner (I know! But Buss has not been up to it and Emmett is just too young though looks huge upside so wound the surprised if Bevo gives him a crack) and give Khamis the big job on Gunston.

Croft was completely off until later in the game in ruck when he really lifted and looked dangerous - I wouldn’t be surprised if Bevo plays Emmett and tries to deal with Hawks rucks by rotating three on them/ don’t think it will work but Emmett playing more forward and Croft more on the ball and up the ground could work.

Hopefully Richards and Libba back in for McNeil and Artie (so disappointed/ he was flying!).

If either above not playing then Trelor if fit or Hynes or Lewis. Hynes was probably best listed player along with Emmett.

Lewis has mongrel we need against the Hawks that always try and bash us. Love how he tackles in the forward line. May come in for Davidson.

So all up:

West Darcy Dolan

Croft Naughton Kennedy

Lobb Bont Libba
Baker Richards Williams

Dale JOD Jacques

Khamis Gardner Buderick

Trelor Sanders Bramble Lewis Emmett

 

[dogwatch]

Hawks likely to play three talls with Chol, Lewis and Gunston.

Assuming Lobb last ruck - then would probably need to go JOD, Gardner (I know! But Buss has not been up to it and Emmett is just too young though looks huge upside so wound the surprised if Bevo gives him a crack) and give Khamis the big job on Gunston.

Croft was completely off until later in the game in ruck when he really lifted and looked dangerous - I wouldn’t be surprised if Bevo plays Emmett and tries to deal with Hawks rucks by rotating three on them/ don’t think it will work but Emmett playing more forward and Croft more on the ball and up the ground could work.

Hopefully Richards and Libba back in for McNeil and Artie (so disappointed/ he was flying!).

If either above not playing then Trelor if fit or Hynes or Lewis. Hynes was probably best listed player along with Emmett.

Lewis has mongrel we need against the Hawks that always try and bash us. Love how he tackles in the forward line. May come in for Davidson.

So all up:

West Darcy Dolan

Croft Naughton Kennedy

Lobb Bont Libba
Baker Richards Williams

Dale JOD Jacques

Khamis Gardner Buderick

Trelor Sanders Bramble Lewis Emmett

Given our emphasis on run I think it's unlikely that we'd bring Lewis in for Davidson. Much as I do like a bit of mongrel.

Davidson is no star but he runs all day and that gives oppositions one extra player they have to keep tabs on between the arcs (and sometimes at HFF). That fits our 2026 strategy much better than Lewis.

If Richards and Libba aren't ready (while a Treloar selection would be huge shock) then Bevo might throw the challenge out to Rhylee West to play some serious midfield time. West had always believed he'd make a good midfielder. This could fire him up after an uncharacteristically invisible start to the season.

 

[BrisDog]

He’s an experienced ruck, so it makes sense.

Would have to plug the hole down back (maybe Buss or, dare we say it, Gardy).

I would prefer Gardner over Buss. Gardner would give his best, no matter that his ceiling is low.

 

[0utsider]

Hawks likely to play three talls with Chol, Lewis and Gunston.

Assuming Lobb last ruck - then would probably need to go JOD, Gardner (I know! But Buss has not been up to it and Emmett is just too young though looks huge upside so wound the surprised if Bevo gives him a crack) and give Khamis the big job on Gunston.

Croft was completely off until later in the game in ruck when he really lifted and looked dangerous - I wouldn’t be surprised if Bevo plays Emmett and tries to deal with Hawks rucks by rotating three on them/ don’t think it will work but Emmett playing more forward and Croft more on the ball and up the ground could work.

Hopefully Richards and Libba back in for McNeil and Artie (so disappointed/ he was flying!).

If either above not playing then Trelor if fit or Hynes or Lewis. Hynes was probably best listed player along with Emmett.

Lewis has mongrel we need against the Hawks that always try and bash us. Love how he tackles in the forward line. May come in for Davidson.

So all up:

West Darcy Dolan

Croft Naughton Kennedy

Lobb Bont Libba
Baker Richards Williams

Dale JOD Jacques

Khamis Gardner Buderick

Trelor Sanders Bramble Lewis Emmett

That’s a lot of changes.

Outs: McNeil, Arty, Davidson, Sellwood English, Freijah
In: Emmett, Lewis, Gardner, Richards, Treloar, Libba

One tall out, three in. 5 key forwards selected plus a ruckman (that would have to be a first in AFL history). Freijah dropped for some reason. Treloar back despite having just pulled out of the VFL because his body still isn’t right. Massive drop off in running capacity which we’ve based our rise on this season.

I think it’s a safe bet this isn’t what will be happening.

 

[JTCWBFC]

I said in the pre season and it’s real now

It’s wild we don’t have a backup ruck on the list

Smith hasn’t played a game yet and moving Lobb or Darcy ruins our structure

Look what fort helped the lions achieve

 

[go_sports_team]

I said in the pre season and it’s real now

It’s wild we don’t have a backup ruck on the list

Smith hasn’t played a game yet and moving Lobb or Darcy ruins our structure

Look what fort helped the lions achieve

Was a scary realisation last night at the game. We're massively exposed.

 

[Anja_Nees]

I would prefer Gardner over Buss. Gardner would give his best, no matter that his ceiling is low.

While he’s played some good games in his career and I wouldn’t count him out totally, his game against Hawthorn last year was Hall of Fame bad.

 

[glenashley]

English, Richards and Jones confirmed outs for next week according to the club.

 

[bresker]

I doubt if Bev plays L Smith. Since he first dropped Minson for Ayce Cordy

Ayce Cordy

Age

35

Ht

204cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

4.3

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

0.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.0

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.2

3star

& 3rd man, he's rarely gone for a trad ruck outside of Stef Martin . He's continued to play English all through the development years even when he had us tearing our pubes out.

I can see Smith giving away a heap of frees in the big league if things don't go his way.

I think Bev will be happy to go for Emmet/Croft , lose the hit outs & trust our mids to clean up.

Is this the right strategy? Only if it works , to state the obvious.

 

[Doggy]

English, Richards and Jones confirmed outs for next week according to the club.

I'm not bothering to go to that

 

[WAbulldog]

So with English out does that mean Emmett is a chance to debut this week?

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

Hawks should pants us with no English, Liber and Richards.

 

[cleveland]

English, Richards and Jones confirmed outs for next week according to the club.

Where was this

 

[bresker]

While he’s played some good games in his career and I wouldn’t count him out totally, his game against Hawthorn last year was Hall of Fame bad.

Yeah , I think Gardner might go ok if he had a run of games and some confidence . But we don't have the luxury of that .

 

[Doggy]

Hawks should pants us with no English, Liber and Richards.

Watch them be out for the entire shir 4 game stretch..

 

[Doggy]

Where was this

Gabelich tweet..

 

[WAbulldog]

Where was this

 

[Angak]

 

[Doggy]

Lol we are ****ed for a while now

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Lol we are ****ed for a while now

Good thing we are 4-0. We have some breathing room. Never know, we still might be able to do it.

 

[geoffjennings79]

...he had us tearing our pubes out.

I think you and I react to our coach's level of Bevo-ness in different ways bresker, but each to their own...

 

[Bulldogs85]

I will continue to have some faith a few players don’t make a team

 

[BrisDog]

Lachie Smith - come on down. Give him a stretch, he may surprise.

 

[Doggy]

Good thing we are 4-0. We have some breathing room. Never know, we still might be able to do it.

Look forward to being pantsed by the likely top 4 - 6 over the coming month