Preview Changes vs Melbourne

[DelRe]

I loved that '92 side and Wheeler was a ripper coach who was definitely treated unjustly by those in charge of the club.

The Diamond Dogs. I have a real soft spot for Terry Wheeler, I didn't have any personal connection with him but he always struck me as someone with genuine integrity and think in some ways his contribution to the club was/is undervalued. He was a great speaker too; I got to see him speak about the Kolynuik goal when he ran around Wright that time. His coaching in some ways was ahead of its time - I think he'd do very well today as a senior or perhaps development coach in generating the sense of team and belief.

As for 92, we just kept running into the Cats! I sometimes wonder how it might've played out in a different finals format as in reality they were still experimenting at that time with the 6 etc. Perhaps we might've even avoided the Cats like last year - realistically we'd have needed to I think.

 

[Wetdog]

Serious question. Is MD still about? Normally, he would have gone ballistic right about now.

 

[LittleG]

Serious question. Is MD still about? Normally, he would have gone ballistic right about now.

I think he got baited into a ban by an orange idiot.

 

[Wetdog]

I think he got baited into a ban by an orange idiot.

Haha really? Permanent?

 

[Dog Rising]

Can't for the life of me understand the love for Webb from some fans in this thread. He's shown bugger all at Afl level during all his chances.
Not writing him of coming good eventually but he's that far off at the moment.

I'd like to see him get some decent game time at HBF before we write him off. Much more reliable kick than Suckling and probably better overhead too. Hasn't had a good run in his preferred position.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

I'd like to see him get some decent game time at HBF before we write him off. Much more reliable kick than Suckling and probably better overhead too. Hasn't had a good run in his preferred position.

The issue with this is that he's competing with JJ, Murph, Boyd, Williams and Suckers for this role and he's at the tail end of this bunch.
Williams has shown he'll take the next step so has been rewarded accordingly.

Which two out of the players mentioned would you be playing in the VFL so Webb can get his game time ?
If we were in a full rebuild stage then yes, happy to give him a run of games on the HB line but we are needing to get a run of wins together so he needs to hold his spot when given his chance which he hasn't.

If you think of it like this, Williams, Dale, Daniel, McLean, Dunkey, Cordy have all either taken the next step or are on the verge of after being given their chance.
Webb hasn't.

You see it a lot at local level too. Player dominates in the 2's but doesn't take any of that good footy to the next step. Honeychurch a perfect example.

I'm a fan of Webb in that he could be a good AFL player. He just hasn't shown it yet and unfortunately for him, he's not taking the chances he's been given.

 

[Dog Rising]

Yes your points are valid. Williams comes in and plays in his preferred role at HBF. Much easier to cope and adapt to AFL pace in his preferred position. Webb comes in plays HFF rotating mid. Do you think Williams would have been able to take his chances if played in those positions?
I agree that Webb may have to adapt to get a spot because he is down in the pecking order at HBF. I'd still have him before Suckling who hasn't delivered a whole heap.

 

[The City Boyz]

It's a joke this on a Sunday, I can understand a team like Melbourne but the Bulldogs have moved beyond that.


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Tbh, I love Sunday games. Get the whole weekend to look forward to the game. Hate Friday nights.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Tbh, I love Sunday games. Get the whole weekend to look forward to the game. Hate Friday nights.

Ha I am the opposite. Feels like I am wasting the weekend waiting for the game

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Yes your points are valid. Williams comes in and plays in his preferred role at HBF. Much easier to cope and adapt to AFL pace in his preferred position. Webb comes in plays HFF rotating mid. Do you think Williams would have been able to take his chances if played in those positions?
I agree that Webb may have to adapt to get a spot because he is down in the pecking order at HBF. I'd still have him before Suckling who hasn't delivered a whole heap.

Maybe the club doesn't see him as a HBF. Can understand as doesn't play that role at either level.
The probable worry from a club perspective is that he's not good enough in certain areas to cover the areas he's not as strong in.
Skills are elite, decision making only ok, strength is extremely poor, pace is only ok. Marking is good but won't outmark a player who's taller than him which will be most of the blokes he plays on as he's also on the small side.
He offers almost Zero for us defensively in the games I've seen at both level. Looking at it like that there's just not enough.

Decision making gets better, he gets stronger and finds a way to get more of it at AFL level the he's where most of us would like him to be. The reality is that he's not there yet.

When push comes to shove, Suckers has Webb covered comfortably at the moment. Has the runs on the board and like the coaches and MC, I'd be more comfortable with Suckers in the side at crucial times of big games than I would Webb. Suckers doesn't instill a heap of confidence in me but he does more so than Webb.
That's currently. Which I hope changes down the track.

 

[rip it up]

Can't for the life of me understand the love for Webb from some fans in this thread. He's shown bugger all at Afl level during all his chances.
Not writing him of coming good eventually but he's that far off at the moment.

Exactly my thought.
I certainly haven't and won't write him off but this fascination and obsession a few have on the board is quiet bizarre.
I have watched a bit of VFL and yes he is good user of the ball but at AFL level he just doesn't get enough of it. He needs to take his opportunities when they arrive.

 

[Fossie 32]

The issue with this is that he's competing with JJ, Murph, Boyd, Williams and Suckers for this role and he's at the tail end of this bunch.
Williams has shown he'll take the next step so has been rewarded accordingly.

Which two out of the players mentioned would you be playing in the VFL so Webb can get his game time ?
If we were in a full rebuild stage then yes, happy to give him a run of games on the HB line but we are needing to get a run of wins together so he needs to hold his spot when given his chance which he hasn't.

If you think of it like this, Williams, Dale, Daniel, McLean, Dunkey, Cordy have all either taken the next step or are on the verge of after being given their chance.
Webb hasn't.

You see it a lot at local level too. Player dominates in the 2's but doesn't take any of that good footy to the next step. Honeychurch a perfect example.

I'm a fan of Webb in that he could be a good AFL player. He just hasn't shown it yet and unfortunately for him, he's not taking the chances he's been given.

He showed plenty in his first game or two at least which were at HBF - thought it was a great debut. Not sure he will make it but still hopeful.

 

[Clay]

A lot of energy wasted worrying about Webb recently.

I won't bother, other than to say he's a good player, a good kid, has plenty of upside due to his kicking and overhead marking Contrary to previous post, he's 6'2). He's been asked to change his game in the VFL and play as a primary midfielder, and he's doing that now and is in the bests every single week.

More importantly he passes the eye test with flying colours.

He'll step up. We've just been spoiled by early bloomers recently.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

He showed plenty in his first game or two at least which were at HBF - thought it was a great debut. Not sure he will make it but still hopeful.

That's actually true. You forget his early career impact.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

A lot of energy wasted worrying about Webb recently.

I won't bother, other than to say he's a good player, a good kid, has plenty of upside due to his kicking and overhead marking Contrary to previous post, he's 6'2). He's been asked to change his game in the VFL and play as a primary midfielder, and he's doing that now and is in the bests every single week.

More importantly he passes the eye test with flying colours.

He'll step up. We've just been spoiled by early bloomers recently.

Surprised with that height. He looks shorter.

 

[Proffessor]

We need to see more of him. The quicker he can get to 50 games the more we will know about his future. He's not in our best team but he has shown some potential to grow into a decent player. As you say, he hasn't done it consistently but not any 20 gamers have.

Would love to see him in for 5 games in a row with a familiar role. Not just plonking him at half forward for the whole game.

I disagree with the 50 games comment. He needs to show better and more consistent form or he won't make it to 50 games.

Don't get me wrong. I like Webb and think he has loads of potential, but he has missed a lot of opportunities to establish himself, and he needs to realise this before the parade marches by.

 

[Doggies_13]

On the Webb discussion I'm a fan of him, he looked a natural hbf in his first year and played some good football back there. He is now playing a new role and just hasn't quite been able to translate his vfl form to afl form. On his vfl form he actually has more upside than both dale and Williams. He hasn't grabbed his opportunity as a mid-forward but I also think he hasn't had the continuity of others like dale and Williams who has been given runs of 3+ games to adjust and show what they are capable of. Webb does seem to be first out, the only time he got continuity was in his first year and was very good.

I would love to see him get a block of 4-5 games to adjust and show what he can do but it's difficult to do that when your trying to be a contender.

 

[SayerTheCreator]

WB

Tbh, I love Sunday games. Get the whole weekend to look forward to the game. Hate Friday nights.

I hate Friday nights if we have a loss. Puts a real damper on the weekend. Sunday at Etihad tends to be the most soul-less time/place for footy though.

Saturday night ftw

 

[Clay]

He does look shorter, but can confirm as I was next to him at a supermarket a few weeks ago and he's every bit of his listed height of 187cm.

Surprised with that height. He looks shorter.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Why is Cloke rested. Why not pay him CHF in reserves and see if he can do a Liam Jones.
Depending on who plays in the Dees this week Roughy may play back this week and Campbell in the ruck.

I can see why so many changes after last week but we cannot keep having so many changes we need to settle on our best for a few weeks barring injury.

 

[Clay]

A

Why is Cloke rested. Why not pay him CHF in reserves and see if he can do a Liam Jones.
Depending on who plays in the Dees this week Roughy may play back this week and Campbell in the ruck.

I can see why so many changes after last week but we cannot keep having so many changes we need to settle on our best for a few weeks barring injury.

agree that we do need to settle in the back end of the year. The side has been very different week to week and it must be impacting our cohesion. I think this week is closer to our best 22 than last week though.

How important has Tom Boyd become to us?

 

[Dogs 13]

WB


I hate Friday nights if we have a loss. Puts a real damper on the weekend. Sunday at Etihad tends to be the most soul-less time/place for footy though.

Saturday night ftw

Even worse when you lose on a Thursday night

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Boyd, Morris, Cordy and Libba obvious ins from that list.

Have a hunch we'll pick Honey over Williams for the last spot.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

A

agree that we do need to settle in the back end of the year. The side has been very different week to week and it must be impacting our cohesion. I think this week is closer to our best 22 than last week though.

How important has Tom Boyd become to us?

Agree - Tom is important if he could only start clunking a majority of the marks like GF day he gets his hands on he would truly be a star.

 

[BRWB]

A question for the Webb fans... Is it that you're just a fan of him as a player or do you honestly think we are a better side with him in it ? And if it's the latter, could you give an explanation because it confuses me a little.

Webb has seemed stiff to me - just yo yo's in and out. If he got a sustained run at selection despite lukewarm form in a game or two (like some players seem to have managed), well we might have a better line of sight on him. Can't answer your question based on the on the odd game here and there. You can only look at VFL form where he is dominant, and trust your eyes. When Webb gets time and space to kick, he is the best and most damaging kick in our team IMO. And that is a standout skill in a team full of hack kicks.

Wouldn't be surprised if Webb left at year's end - which would be pretty disappointing as he will be a better player than our recent departures like Hrovat, Hamling and Stevens IMO .