Preview Changes versus Swans

[lachy]

If we pick the best players for the role now and balance youth we will have a competetive team that could beat Sydney, providing our pressure is high and for 3 quarters

 

[VitalDread]

 

[Frewy]

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Time to unleash the 2025 VFL Team of the Year fullback, gloves are off.

 

[Werewolf]

Any chance we can ask Gold Coast if we can borrow JUH for a few weeks?

 

[Fossie 32]

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[my plums]

VFL Match report: 'Scray come out snarling

Footscray have defeated Geelong by 33 points at GMHBA Stadium.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Was feverishly reading the VFL in the middle of the night searching for something, anything

 

[DueWest]

Was feverishly reading the VFL in the middle of the night searching for something, anything

And you got ? Well I got Gardiner, VDM and McNeil

 

[weltschmerz]

Lobb and JOD out, Buss and Gardner in.

Libba out, Treloar in.

Darcy out, I guess we go smaller and bring Dolan in.

Emmett and/or Lewis out if possible, but I'm not sure we have enough AFL tier players to replace them.

 

[iambrilliant]

I think the only chance of salvaging this season is sending lobb forward when he’s back and get weightman and jones in asap too. Desperately need more avenues to goal and to help Naughton

 

[Doggies7]

I think the only chance of salvaging this season is sending lobb forward when he’s back and get weightman and jones in asap too. Desperately need more avenues to goal and to help Naughton

Haha yep this was a big part of the coping thread I just posted also and what I've been pondering this morning. Bevo is reluctant to move him out of the back line, but it has to be the play now IMO and as good support for English when he is back.

 

[Doggies7]

Lobb being cleared of any (serious) hamstring damage is good news. Not sure if that means there is still a slight strain there or fingers crossed something like Gunston had against the Cats where he looked done but then ended up just being a cramp and he played off a 5 day break.

 

[BigFloppa]

It's annoying that after having 1 home game in our first 5 games, we now have 2 unwinnable home games due to injury.

 

[Leon]

About the only silver lining from last night’s injuries (and yes I know it’s a stretch) is that, aside from Darcy, most of the current injuries will theoretically be rectified by the second half of the year when our draw gets a bit easier.

For the next few weeks, we should be resting the players who are not only injured but aren’t fully fit.

English - I read that he was a chance to come back last night. No idea how close he is, but if he’s not ready next week, so be it. Give him the time he needs to get himself right and don’t play him underdone.

Richards - I didn’t think he was too bad last night, but he definitely did not look 100%. The match committee should be also looking to get him right. So rest him next week.

Libba - I was concerned about him even before he was concussed last night. Best case scenario is he misses the one game he’s mandated to miss with concussion. But if his hammy ain’t right, give him more than the one week.

Lobb - I read today that he’s been cleared of major damage to the hammy. Does that mean he can play? I have no idea. But let’s assume he misses at least next week.


For the next few weeks:

O’Donnell probably at least three weeks out.

Assume Lobb misses at least the Sydney match.

Give Libba, Richards and English 1-2 weeks to get right.


IN: (for Libba and Richards)

Treloar. Has to come in. Hopefully his body also holds up.

Gallagher. Not his biggest fan, but bring him in to cover Ed and Libba until they are right.


(For Darcy and Lobb)

Bring Smith in. Big ask for him but what else is there? Emmett can’t continue in the ruck. Darcy and Lobb - two back-ups for English, are out.


(For O’Donnell and Lobb)

Busslinger simply has to come in.

Not a big fan of his, but also bring in Gardiner. Again, there’s not a lot of other options. They’re the back-ups at the moment.


OUT: Darcy, Libba, Lobb, O’Donnell, Richards

IN: Treloar, Gardiner, Busslinger, Gallagher, Smith


Essentially:

- Give these players (O’Donnell, Libba, Richards, Lobb, English) the weeks they need to regain fitness

- Bring in these players (Treloar, Gardiner, Busslinger, Gallagher, Smith) as cover

- Get what we can in next few weeks against Swans and Freo (probably nothing)

- After the next few weeks, hopefully the injured players (minus Darcy) are right again

- Second half of the year opens up with our draw. English, Libba, Richards, Lobb, O’Donnell all are fit again. Maybe even Weightman is fit again.

- Second half of the year, better draw, we have a healthier looking list where hopefully we’re only missing Darcy from Best 22.

And also, hopefully, some better freaking luck too.

 

[Iamspock]

Any chance we can ask Gold Coast if we can borrow JUH for a few weeks?

As a decoy/witches hat in the forward line?

 

[iambrilliant]

Haha yep this was a big part of the coping thread I just posted also and what I've been pondering this morning. Bevo is reluctant to move him out of the back line, but it has to be the play now IMO and as good support for English when he is back.

The midfield is fine when English is back will be laughing again . I think the most important thing is to give naughton support by getting lobb forward with also weightman and jones gives us more threats at goal. The backline will sort its self out with lobb moved up forward . Think we can still salvage the season

 

[Werewolf]

As a decoy/witches hat in the forward line?

At this point, anything will do

 

[Anja_Nees]

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[Snarls Barkley]

B: Coffield, Busslinger, Khamis
HB: Dale, Sellwood, Jaques

R: Smith, Kennedy, Richards
C: Williams, Bont, Davidson

HF: Baker, Croft, Freijah
F: West, Naughton, Dolan

I: Bramble, Sanders, Treloar, Emmett, McNeil

Out: Lobb (inj), O'Donnell (inj), Libba (inj), Darcy (inj), Lewis, Hynes
In: Coffield, Busslinger, Smith, Treloar, McNeil

 

[Iamspock]

At this point, anything will do

True dat...

 

[glenashley]

If Lachie Smith can't get a game at this point, he'll be going down the Jordan Sweet path at minimum.

 

[Doggies7]

The midfield is fine when English is back will be laughing again . I think the most important thing is to give naughton support by getting lobb forward with also weightman and jones gives us more threats at goal. The backline will sort its self out with lobb moved up forward . Think we can still salvage the season

Lobb's role down back is so important, but with Buku's emergence this year and JOD's improvement, we have to back Buss to come in and be able to hold down that third KPD spot now. He isn't a skinny 19 year old anymore, he's in his fourth season, a talented first round pick who has some good VFL form and showed some decent signs last year at AFL level also.

Have to take the training wheels off him now and see what we have. We don't have another viable option to push forward and help Naughty and Tim out, so Lobb has to come out of the backline and be that guy.

 

[Spiritof82]

As a decoy/witches hat in the forward line?

JUH is the league champion at being a stationary witches hat

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

I want us to surprise the Swans with something a bit higher risk and perhaps higher return:

FF: Dolan Lewis Emmett

HF: Kennedy Naughton Artie

RR: Lobb Bont West
C: Williams Red Baker

HB: Friejah Buss Dale

FB: Buderick Gardner Khamis

Trelor, Sanders, Coffield, Smith, Bramble

- no point worry about defence if the ball walks away from stoppages. Grundy will feat on a kid as will the Freo Duo (if Darcy is back)

- trying to bring something new and I think West will take up the challenge. Has Trelor in rotation with others he will free up Richards. Will rotate Bont forward much more with Kennedy

- also trying to force a lift in form from Bont, West, Dale, Williams and Trelor - we need them to be in our top players.

- VDM one more game in VFL but need his fight soon - could replace Dolan

- Jacques unlucky but probably need the experience of Bramble and Dale - but they will have to turn it around

- Lewis to play but his role is be a big body and block for Naughton and taking a KDP away from Naughton - bring that defender back close to the square or block them

- Emmett or Croft not both - give Emmett first shot as a forward - tell him to use his tank and run freely. Has a booming kick so top of the Arc run backwards and forwards until he kills his defender and then take Mark’s open as the alternate to Naughton - top of 50 and deep in pocket. Run run run.

- Lobb takes first ruck and Smith gets an exposure without having to hold the whole position

- One of Emmett and Croft is all we can manage.

- Lewis will be better if he is given a more focussed role / he has experience and size on his side

- our back three has been our strength in the VFL - it is slow but MacDonald and Amartey are not stars and Buss and Gards will give an honest account. Coffield to go to Curnow if Gards can’t hold him or allows Friejah to have a run in defence.

- Khamis will be eaten by Curnow - give Gards and Coffield the job. Amarty is tall but I think Buss can play well on him. MacDonald is OK but give will give Khamis an ability to play closer to the man / he just didn’t play defence / too far away playing his own game. Coffield will keep him honest but isn’t fast or fit enough to play the whole game.

Was surprised McNeil was one of the best for VFL playing in defence? Not sure what that means but still see Artie, Dolan, VDM and probably Bramble ahead of him.

 

[lachy]

The midfield is fine when English is back will be laughing again . I think the most important thing is to give naughton support by getting lobb forward with also weightman and jones gives us more threats at goal. The backline will sort its self out with lobb moved up forward . Think we can still salvage the season

Can't beleive we are talking about salvaging the season. Re group and take the season on

 

[hutchy31]

He’s going to pick Gardner, McNeil and VDM isn’t he?

This is torture.