Changes Round 8 vs Freo

[Doggies7]

As much as I understand the idea of dropping Gardner for a 3rd tall in Coffield (or Cleary) and backing Khamis in to be the 2nd tall, this isn't the week you do it. Cox off the bench rucking but playing some forward, Treacy, Amiss and Voss are all strong forwards that will absolutely monster Coffield or Khamis.

We can still bring in Coffield (or Cleary) as an option, being a bit taller in defence generally. Bramble will simply go back to playing wing/half forward (replacing Hynes or West that we drop instead of Gardner). Maybe a bit of speed lost out of defence, but Fremantle move the ball slowly and without risk, hence why they're only rank 9 for points for (while being rank 2 for points against). You can go with a taller defensive group line, because they're not going to expose your lack of defensive speed/groundball winning via sharp, open forward line ball movement.

Gardner wasn't good at all, I agree, but you hope that he can get some of his contest losts vs Amartey/Curnow out of his system and he's better for how to play these contests. He showed enough by closing contests, putting a body on forwards and spoiling the ball effectively when some of our other defender failed to.

Yeah I definitely understand your point. I'm really trying to shoe-horn Coffield in, more as just don't want to turn to Gardy again personally and not many other options, but not a great week with the Freo's talls. He suits more the next few weeks with smaller forward lines in Port, Carlton etc so may just be biting the bullet to get him a run in the 1s before the next block of "easier" games. He offers a bit more than Gardner at ground level and with link up and disposal out of the back line, so we give up a bit in the air, for improvement in other areas also.

I think it's a really interesting week for selection and fascinated to see what the MC do.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Yeah I definitely understand your point. I'm really trying to shoe-horn Coffield in, more as just don't want to turn to Gardy again personally and not many other options, but not a great week with the Freo's talls. He suits more the next few weeks with smaller forward lines in Port, Carlton etc so may just be biting the bullet to get him a run in the 1s before the next block of "easier" games. He offers a bit more than Gardner at ground level and with link up and disposal out of the back line, so we give up a bit in the air, for improvement in other areas also.

I think it's a really interesting week for selection and fascinated to see what the MC do.

Yeah though with our injury crisis we're going to have to pick at least two of Gardner, Hynes, West, the three players that all probably shouldn't bet getting a game right now. Nothing's ideal in an injury crisis. Even if I rate Gardner more highly than most on here, obviously even with a normal amount of injuries I don't think he should be anywhere near getting a game.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I'm hardly fully optimistic but it's pretty deflating coming on here mostly seeing sky is falling crap all the time. Some of us log in to have a bit of an escape from our busy lives and don't only want to see negativity. It's draining.

Yeah I've learnt to stay away after a bad loss (or string of losses).

I've found a happy medium with my footy supporting. Enjoy the game, the strategy, the draft and trades. Soak it up when we win and ride that buzz. But if we lose, shrug and remember it is literally just a game. Pay it almost no more thought. Coming here after a bad loss(es) to a wall of sky is falling makes no sense (from a mental health perspective).

 

[Doggy]

Yeah I've learnt to stay away after a bad loss (or string of losses).

I've found a happy medium with my footy supporting. Enjoy the game, the strategy, the draft and trades. Soak it up when we win and ride that buzz. But if we lose, shrug and remember it is literally just a game. Pay it almost no more thought. Coming here after a bad loss(es) to a wall of sky is falling makes no sense (from a mental health perspective).

I'm with you there. Especially when we have a couple of posters who revel in those losses and enjoy trolling.

 

[AFDogs]

Unfortunately I just think we are gonna get slaughtered again this week so we may as well rest anybody who's hurt and save them for when we finally play a team below us.

This fixture is just unreal. We have only played one bad team so far.

 

[Doggy]

Unfortunately I just think we are gonna get slaughtered again this week so we may as well rest anybody who's hurt and save them for when we finally play a team below us.

This fixture is just unreal. We have only played one bad team so far.

Yeah that will bring people to the football, raising the white flag before a game.

There is talk of a few back this week as well.

 

[Foxman98]

Yeah that will bring people to the football, raising the white flag before a game.

There is talk of a few back this week as well.

Sometimes it's better to lose a battle to win the war

Given we have been ****ed over with short turn arounds since our bye we haven't had time to get Bont/Richards time to heal

Who gives a **** if they're out there or not we are the not the Marcus Bontempelli's we are the Western Bulldogs

 

[Doggy]

Sometimes it's better to lose a battle to win the war

Given we have been ****ed over with short turn arounds since our bye we haven't had time to get Bont/Richards time to heal

Who gives a **** if they're out there or not we are the not the Marcus Bontempelli's we are the Western Bulldogs

It's a mindset.

If you rest all of the mature bodies and bring in more kids to be slaughtered that doesn't do them any good and noone is going to attend to see that.

The club isn't going to do it as much as it gets paraded around online. Bont has refused to have a rest already.

 

[Foxman98]

It's a mindset.

If you rest all of the mature bodies and bring in more kids to be slaughtered that doesn't do them any good and noone is going to attend to see that.

The club isn't going to do it as much as it gets paraded around online. Bont has refused to have a rest already.

It's not a mindset at all

I'd rather we have 10k on Friday night and win the flag then drag Marcus and Ed out underdone for the 3rd straight week and the club will absolutely do it if they believe it is needed as they have done it countless times before

 

[Doggy]

It's not a mindset at all

I'd rather we have 10k on Friday night and win the flag then drag Marcus and Ed out underdone for the 3rd straight week and the club will absolutely do it if they believe it is needed as they have done it countless times before

Did they do it last week? If it was apparently needed they didn't do it then.

You do realise that tanking percentage to bottom of the barrell levels will also mean many of those behind will also get in front of us which means (by the logic above), we should keep resting these guys for these shit teams too.

 

[Foxman98]

Did they do it last week? If it was apparently needed they didn't do it then.

You do realise that tanking percentage to bottom of the barrell levels will also mean many of those behind will also get in front of us which means (by the logic above), we should keep resting these guys for these shit teams too.

Percentage is irrelevant without wins without wins which since Ed/Bont and co have been underdone we are yet to have

They should've done it as neither has trained yet this week as again they aren't fully fit

Why would we keep resting them against the shit teams we actually have to win games

 

[Doggy]

Percentage is irrelevant without wins without wins which since Ed/Bont and co have been underdone we are yet to have

They should've done it as neither has trained yet this week as again they aren't fully fit

Why would we keep resting them against the shit teams we actually have to win games

Again, the logic above is keep resting them until we play teams below us... there won't be many below us soon. So that logic is obviously flawed.

Bont will train tomorrow as will Ed, Libba, English and Arty. Fair chance the bulk of those play this week, and certainly next week. But Port might be above us so maybe not.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Percentage is irrelevant without wins without wins which since Ed/Bont and co have been underdone we are yet to have

They should've done it as neither has trained yet this week as again they aren't fully fit

Why would we keep resting them against the shit teams we actually have to win games

Even with everything going to crap I'd still hope we're good enough to get 8 more wins on the season - with games against the other bottom 4 teams to come that's half of those wins - to make wildcard

 

[Foxman98]

Even with everything going to crap I'd still hope we're good enough to get 8 more wins on the season - with games against the other bottom 4 teams to come that's half of those wins - to make wildcard

I think we can easily make finals and top 10 however if we want to be challenging in them having our best players fit is a bigger priority then "saving percentage" also lol how did that go for us the last 2 weeks

 

[Optimistic Dog]

The whole place is down at the moment, terrible run of injuries, loss of form of some players and the need to play a host of players not ready. Not sure why some dog's posters are unhappy with reality posters.

Facts are we are little or no chance of beating Freo just hoping for a competitive effort. This is not being negative it is just facing reality until we get back some troops. the likes of Bont, Red and Asto play injury free and the players down recover some form.

I will be there supporting the boys hoping for a small miracle.

 

[BigFloppa]

I knew as soon as this stupid wildcard crap was announced that we would be playing in it. What a joke.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I'm not sure where the doomerism comes from.

We finally have an 8 day break vs Freo's 6 day break and long travel (while we get to stay in Melbourne again). It's a breather after all of our 6 day breaks have contributed to our injuries

Naugton looking like playing and potentially others (including English) returning

And Freo were simply not that good last week. Only a narrow win, at home, that they also lost on xScore against a rank poor Carlton team. They're a better team than that, but that it still their most recent form. They bring it to us, and they lose

Yes we're underdogs and rightfully so, but we're not playing the premiership favourites undermanned and physically exhausted like we were last week. We have more of a sniff.

 

[Shacf501]

The whole place is down at the moment, terrible run of injuries, loss of form of some players and the need to play a host of players not ready. Not sure why some dog's posters are unhappy with reality posters.

Facts are we are little or no chance of beating Freo just hoping for a competitive effort. This is not being negative it is just facing reality until we get back some troops. the likes of Bont, Red and Asto play injury free and the players down recover some form.

I will be there supporting the boys hoping for a small miracle.

good post... I'll be there too, will make the wifey come with me as well so I can send her to gets lots of beers to get me though

 

[BigFloppa]

I'm not sure where the doomerism comes from.

We finally have an 8 day break vs Freo's 6 day break and long travel (while we get to stay in Melbourne again). It's a breather after all of our 6 day breaks have contributed to our injuries

Naugton looking like playing and potentially others (including English) returning

And Freo were simply not that good last week. Only a narrow win, at home, that they also lost on xScore against a rank poor Carlton team. They're a better team than that, but that it still their most recent form. They bring it to us, and they lose

Yes we're underdogs and rightfully so, but we're not playing the premiership favourites undermanned and physically exhausted like we were last week. We have more of a sniff.

Josh Treacy will be lining up against Ryan Gardner. We're ****ed.

 

[Shacf501]

Josh Treacy will be lining up against Ryan Gardner. We're ****ed.

not if our players upfield are manic defensively like they should be and stop the ball transitioning.

Have faith

 

[BigFloppa]

not if our players upfield are manic defensively like they should be and stop the ball transitioning.

Have faith

When was the last time that happened?

 

[Shacf501]

When was the last time that happened?

lol... trying to be positive here mate!

 

[LondonBulldog]

I think we can easily make finals and top 10 however if we want to be challenging in them having our best players fit is a bigger priority then "saving percentage" also lol how did that go for us the last 2 weeks

Unless we make top 6, I'm personally not interested in finals. 5 straight finals wins is a step to far...money gauging fans as well. Going to be tough to make top 6 though.

 

[Mofra]

I would also prefer Bramble out of the backline. Think he was very decent as half forward / wing

He's been serviceable enough there the past few years but don't think he adds many traits that add to the side. He's not a great lockdown player, not an interceptor, an ok kick but there was still an unhealthy reliance on Dale being the one to get us out of defense the last few years. He's sort of just ok at everything. Thought he added more further up the ground but until Carmichael is ready there seems like very few options. Gallagher played there last year but think he is far to poor of a user to be the replacement

Bramble is the best defensive HF we have. He's better than VDM/McNeill/Hynes/Dolan in the role.

I actually think he's great for us, plays a role anywhere we need him. For an SSP selection we should be doing cartwheels

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Unless we make top 6, I'm personally not interested in finals. 5 straight finals wins is a step to far...money gauging fans as well. Going to be tough to make top 6 though.

Especially when we might be "rewarded" with a "home" MCG final against Collingwood or Melbourne if we finish 7th or 8th