Prediction Changes v Freo (3:15pm Sunday @ Marvel)

[Sheikh from Boggy Creek]

Block the cheap 45 exit kick from defence. Block the easy switch kick. Try and slow the opposition ball movement a much as possible on transition.

Basically run your arse off for little reward. It's why VDM often leads obscure stats like "repeat sprints" and can go long periods without touching the ball.

The other players love him for it. I'm still not convinced we need two players doing that as (as we've played most of this year).
We're arguably a lot more dangerous just playing one of them, and I expect if/when Weightman comes back that's what happens.

I'm also wondering what happens after a pre-season when Dolan has a bigger tank because his ball handling is way better than the two guys we often play in that role (VDM & McNeill).

Thank you. Appreciate it.

 

[fred cook]

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Is anyone aware of the biggest crowd the Bulldogs have achieved against a interstate side at Marve Telstra done etc .? Could be a big crowd on Sunday.

 

[Bulldog Brent]

Is anyone aware of the biggest crowd the Bulldogs have achieved against an interstate side at Marve Telstra done etc .? Could be a big crowd on Sunday.

We got 41K v Crows last month.

Swans - flag unfurling in ‘17 drew almost 43K. Think these are the only two.

Surely a third beckons this Sunday.

 

[low impact and reckless]

Thank you. Appreciate it.

Thanks Mofra - do other teams employ a similar player in that role?

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Wow I didn't realise that Fremantle have only played one game at Marvel so far this year? It was probably their worst game of the season too losing to the Saints in round 8 by 61 points... interesting

It's interesting in this thread that people are marvelling (pardon the pun) at why the bookmakers are considering us such strong favourites, and it's precisely this - with a good crowd expected and the fact we get to play in the same stadium in the same conditions in consecutive weeks, it's a rare thing that we are enjoying a very strong home ground advantage.

We are in this game.

That as an aside that is typical for the 4 western teams for 10 of their home games a year (much more experience at the ground than their opponents, strong crowd support, travel advantages), but they love to whinge that they are somehow disadvantaged.

 

[Mofra]

Thanks Mofra - do other teams employ a similar player in that role?

Arguably, Richmond did even more in 2017-2020. This was pre 6-6-6 era so they'd play 2-3 players specifically in the role and Dusty would run forward to be that 3 or 4th forward while everyone basically covered for him - even Cotchin sacrificed some of his game to cover defensively at CBAs. They sacrificed a more 'dangerous' forward to do it though - our very own Sam Lloyd.

Most teams do have 1-2 players who do this though, in various guises (Carlton especially - with limited success).
Sometimes they're as big whipping boys as ours guys are - some are freakishly good enough to do it both ways (Darcy Jones from GWS is incredible at it).

FWIW GCS are using Connor Budarick in the role as he's normally a BP and he's such a hard worker they've "found" a role for him in the side as a purely defensive forward. Only mentioning it as we've apparently met with him and he's on our radar as a small defender.

 

[low impact and reckless]

Arguably, Richmond did even more in 2017-2020. This was pre 6-6-6 era so they'd play 2-3 players specifically in the role and Dusty would run forward to be that 3 or 4th forward while everyone basically covered for him - even Cotchin sacrificed some of his game to cover defensively at CBAs. They sacrificed a more 'dangerous' forward to do it though - our very own Sam Lloyd.

Most teams do have 1-2 players who do this though, in various guises (Carlton especially - with limited success).
Sometimes they're as big whipping boys as ours guys are - some are freakishly good enough to do it both ways (Darcy Jones from GWS is incredible at it).

FWIW GCS are using Connor Budarick in the role as he's normally a BP and he's such a hard worker they've "found" a role for him in the side as a purely defensive forward. Only mentioning it as we've apparently met with him and he's on our radar as a small defender.

Cheers

 

[DiamondDogs8]

If my maths is correct, we’ve lost 8 games this season for a combined total of 110 points.

Would really sting to miss the 8 from here

Edit: My maths was not correct. But the point still stands

 

[bresker]

You have time bring Treloar in. Anyone can get injured at any time. We've seen players do their ACL in their first few games after a reco. Woukd you just put a line through them ? We thought JJ was finished but hes having a glorious revival . Adz may have got his body just right.

I think we will win this comfortably. We're a much better side now than we were in May. The pressure is way more on Freo than us. Let them worry about stopping our boys . We're on.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Geez Freo board very hostile, suggest you all stay away.

For me I am nervous, I thought we would have brought it against Hawks in our home game at Marvel and we were insipid, I hope to god we are ready for them. The media will be roasting them all week, including singling out individual players for criticism.

 

[bresker]

I know it's not something we often do but please please please put some time into Serong. He is so crucial to everything they do and his impact in their wins compared to their losses is huge.

Brisbane completely blanketed him last week, I don't know if they had one player tagging him or just put a lot of work into stopping him. But it showed. He was anonymous & they had no creativity at all.

Come on Bev you stubborn old mule , it's not like rubbing sandpaper on the ball. Just tag the campaigner.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Brisbane completely blanketed him last week, I don't know if they had one player tagging him or just put a lot of work into stopping him. But it showed. He was anonymous & they had no creativity at all.

Come on Bev you stubborn old mule , it's not like rubbing sandpaper on the ball. Just tag the campaigner.

We used to have a player who could do this better than anyone. Oh, he plays for the lions now.

 

[MaxiBont]

Geez Freo board very hostile, suggest you all stay away.

For me I am nervous, I thought we would have brought it against Hawks in our home game at Marvel and we were insipid, I hope to god we are ready for them. The media will be roasting them all week, including singling out individual players for criticism.

Far out you’re not wrong. The throwing and cheap free stuff is so boring to read. Victim mentality is crazy in there.


This is my personal favourite:

I am dreading it. The Optus game this year was deadset cheating, 27-15 in the Dogs favour and never seen a home crowd so mad at the umpiring. I think this has potential to be even worse.

There will be unpunished throws galore from the Dogs, and we won't be able to lay a finger on Darcy or Naughton.

 

[bresker]

Far out you’re not wrong. The throwing and cheap free stuff is so boring to read. Victim mentality is crazy in there.


This is my personal favourite:

I am dreading it. The Optus game this year was deadset cheating, 27-15 in the Dogs favour and never seen a home crowd so mad at the umpiring. I think this has potential to be even worse.

There will be unpunished throws galore from the Dogs, and we won't be able to lay a finger on Darcy or Naughton.

A bad workman always blames his tools.

They dropped from 4th to 9th last year . You can smell the fear wafting across the Nullabor.....

 

[TommyD13]

Isn’t it actually less risky to start Treloar than use him as sub? If he makes it through injury free, that’s great, or we sub him off 3 quarter time or something. If he gets injured again we can sub him off and replace. Alternatively, if he is sub and comes on and then injured again, we are unable to replace him. I’d be having a throw at the stumps and starting him

 

[BEaston]

Isn’t it actually less risky to start Treloar than use him as sub? If he makes it through injury free, that’s great, or we sub him off 3 quarter time or something. If he gets injured again we can sub him off and replace. Alternatively, if he is sub and comes on and then injured again, we are unable to replace him. I’d be having a throw at the stumps and starting him

It's a fair point on the injury risk.

The main reason I like him as sub is to do with the speed of the game. In his games back from injury this season he was noticeably a bit behind the pace. Probably not exerting himself fully for risk of another injury. Having him as sub and coming on against tired players means he can impact a bit more without necessarily needing to go full throttle. I'd take 85% Treloar over any other option we have tbh.

 

[Cudi]

I don't really get the Treloar as sub thing.

If you're picking him then you think he can get through a full game, if you're only confident he can play a half there no way in the world should he play. A fit Ads is easily in the best 18.

In: Treloar
Out: McNeil

Sanders sub again, Treloar to take Garcia mid minutes and Garcia to spend more time forward.

 

[Sharkey66]

I don't really get the Treloar as sub thing.

If you're picking him then you think he can get through a full game, if you're only confident he can play a half there no way in the world should he play. A fit Ads is easily in the best 18.

In: Treloar
Out: McNeil

Sanders sub again, Treloar to take Garcia mid minutes and Garcia to spend more time forward.

This'
A player can get concussed in the first few minutes of the game, so Treloar would be forced to play a full game.
You cant start him and plan to sub him halfway through the game either as someone else may be injured and needs to be subbed
Ideally I would play him for another game in the VFL this week, but as there is no VFL this week for us he plays seniors.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Brisbane completely blanketed him last week, I don't know if they had one player tagging him or just put a lot of work into stopping him. But it showed. He was anonymous & they had no creativity at all.

Come on Bev you stubborn old mule , it's not like rubbing sandpaper on the ball. Just tag the campaigner.

Last year when we played them at Marvel we didn't exactly tag Serong but someone (mainly Libba) was shoving him/into his his chest at every single contest. He had 28 touches but the impact was definitely nullified.

 

[Sentinel]

If we can't get it done this week for Caesar's last game, we'll never do it.

 

[adogsfan5]

No change.

Tag Serong.

Minimal zoning off their key fwds.

Is that too hard to ask?

 

[JTCWBFC]

No change.

Tag Serong.

Minimal zoning off their key fwds.

Is that too hard to ask?

If 10 years are anything to go by? Yes.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

If we can't get it done this week for Caesar's last game, we'll never do it.

A quote from Caesar

1. "we came, we saw, we conquered."
   This famous phrase, "Veni, Vidi, Vici," reflects Caesar's swift and decisive victories in battle.
2. https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=d658...Y29tL2F1dGhvci8yMzE4LUp1bGl1c19DYWVzYXI&ntb=1
   
   
   
   

 

[Unorth]

Caesar delivering a pregame rev up?

 

[DognBones]

I think Garcia is the ideal player to hassle Serong. He'll tackle as if his life depended on it and may be able to restrict him to an average game.