Matches Thread - Round 15, 2010

[swannies]

Bulldogs v Tigers - Will this come to be known as the Bulldogs finest hour in Wagin, beneath the shadows of the giant ram? Can they stop the rampaging Tiger cubs, who seem to unearth talent at will?

The Bulldogs are just struggling to cope with a never ending string of injuries that won't allow them to replicate last year's form. Their prime mover for 2010, Phillips, has suffered a season ending knee injury, Reece Adams was also injured, leaving their midfield stocks at a low ebb, especially if McGrath doesn't get up this week. Hunt's loss will also be felt in defense. Wilson and Murphy up forward are in the top 5 or 6 WAFL goal kickers, so there is still some firepower.

Claremont brought in Eagles listed Neates for his WAFL debut last week and he shone, so there must be about 10 in form midfielders in their rotations. Blackwell, Schammer, Brabazon, Foster, Walton, Mitchell, Swift, Neates, Ninyette and the list goes on....They've strung together impressive performances without Thomson in the back half, but having B Jones is a little bonus. I expect C Jones, Richardson, the 4 people they pull out of the crowd to play the flanks, all to get plenty of opportunities to put the footy through the big sticks.

Teams

Bulldogs
B:C White C Bossong K Hams
HB:H North A Mccarrey A Hams
C Mugambwa T Mcgrath A Guglielmana
HF:J Winter C Wilson J Klause
F:K Miller R Murphy C Dell-olio
Foll:S Delmenico T Bairstow S Fielding
I/C:B.Dunkeld, A.Collica, C.Amato, M.Cornell
Emg:M.Carter, M.Miller, D.Easter
In:B.Dunkeld, J.Klause, M.Cornell, S.Fielding, T.Mcgrath
Out:R.Adams, N.Phillips, J.Head, S.Hunt, M.Carter

Tigers
B:J Murphy J Laurie K Mitchell
HB:C Rudeforth B Franz N Chidgzey
C:T De nardi A Browne J Ninyette
HF:A Foster D Ross R Walton
F:B Schammer C Jones L Blackwell
Foll:A Ruck I Richardson A Holt
I/C:J.Mcallister, K.Yu, B.Nisbett, T.Willett, T.Lee, D.Crawford, T.Derickx
Emg:Nil
In: D.Ross, N.Chidgzey, J.Laurie, A.Holt, J.Mcallister, K.Yu, B.Nisbett, T.Willett
Out:R.Brabazon, B.Jones, T.Swift, B.Anderson, L.Stevenson, R.Neates

So why are Stevenson and Neates out? Injured?

 

[swannies]

Lions v Sharks - This is the proverbial 8 point game for the Sharks. They can solidify 3rd position, leaving open the chance of a shot at the top 2, or they fall back into the fray that are fighting for that 4th spot.

The Lions seemed to lack a bit of run last week as the youthfull exuberance of Perth looked to overrun them. The Lions need to rely on closing up the game, not allowing the Sharks to run. The midfield has some pace with Keevers and Cossom, and Webb, Hilde, Bristow, Read, Kerr, Blechynden seem to be able to run all day and they will need to stick with their player and counter attack off them. Parker and Rumble should have their hands full with Brown and Dodd and the forward line of hot and cold (Campbell) and youngsters Re, Sheehan, and the indomitable Ali Pickett will need to be at their best against the Sharks defence.

The Sharks will need to make sure they use the run of Hall, Bucovaz, Stephen, Fasolo, Brennan. They have enough inside bodies like McNamara, McGough, Monteath to get the contested ball. In defense Spangher and Weller should have a good battle with the key forwards, whilst up forward Brown, Dodd and Dunn should be able to provide a decent focal point for the midfielders. The Sharks also need to win to build that belief that they can challenge the other top 4 sides, having only beaten 1 this year.

Teams

Lions
B:C Phelan D Rumble R Kerr
HB:B Broadhurst A Parker B Randall
C:B Keevers K Horsley S Hildebrandt
HF:C Cossom A Campbell T Richards
F:A Pickett J Adamson-holmes R Muller
Foll:M Rix P Hassett R Blechynden
I/C:M.Smith, B.Heffernan-roper, T.Viney, M.Webb, L.Newick, R.Sheehan, R.Stack
Emg:Nil
In:B.Heffernan-roper, T.Viney, M.Webb, L.Newick, J.Adamson-holmes
Out:G.Broughton, M.Re

Sharks
B:J Brennan L Weller A Stephen
HB:L Teakle M Spangher J Sgherza
C:S Dodd M Mcgough T Houlihan
HF:A Ciotti A Monk J Mcnamara
F:R Young M Brown K Monteath
Foll:M Warren L Fasolo A Ware
I/C: D.Chidlow, J.Murray, R.Cooyou, A.Kyanga, S.Lee-steere, J.Simpson, J.Venturini
Emg:Nil
In:R.Cooyou, J.Sgherza, A.Ware, L.Teakle, J.Venturini, J.Murray, A.Kyanga, J.Simpson
Out:K.Green, R.Dunn, B.Bucovaz, C.Masten, C.Hall

Why are Bucovaz and Hall out? I presume Dunn is injured?

 

[swannies]

Swans v Royals - is critical from both teams point of view. The Royals need to stay close to the top 4 and Swans need to get as many wins without Hansen, Spaanders and Simpson as they can, whislt it also widens the gap between 2nd and 3rd and the other challengers.

The Royals have been very hot and cold this year and, as I've stated before, it's their experienced players that are performing, as well as a couple of newcomers, Sweet and Cadwallader. They need a lift from the mid tier players. Their midfield will be tested this week, as will the forwards. They have the chance to perform well in defense as Simpson and Hansen are out and Clarke has the chance to dominate from the middle. This should bring the likes of Swan, Wulff, Sweet, Glancy, Noakes into the game more.

Swans defense has been really well led by Ames, Casserley, Spencer and Pratt, with Graham Jetta being a huge improver in 2010. They should be able to counter the Royals forward line. Roberts, Krakouer, Walters, Hinkley, Garlett, Davis, Twomey, Pearce will need to be at their defensive best, limiting Clarke's impact on the game and sharking his hit outs. Notte and Geappen should provide decent targets up forward, with Krakouer, Colreavy and Daly being the opportunists that could benefit. This should be a tense struggle (they all are for me) as the Royals fight for their season.

Teams

Swans
B:L Pratt T Ames G Jetta
HB:W Twomey M Spencer T Casserly
C:C Hinkley J Roberts T Roach
HF:B Colreavy T Geappen J Pullman
F:M Walters T Notte A Krakouer
Foll:W Lammie R Davis M Riggio
I/C:B.Wolfenden, C.Garlett, C.Pearce, B.Van groningen
Emg:L.Daly, R.Manton, J.Menegola
In:J.Pullman
Out:L.Daly

Royals
B Travers L Sampey J Keath
HB:A Pickering B Hancock J Oakley-nicholls
C:J Delborrello A Sweet C Wulff
HF:M Seal Z Clarke A Prior
F:A Lovett H Shepheard J Derickx
Foll:Z Beeck L Webster M Swan
I/C:B.Lee, J.Eastwell, B.Dobson, F.Clutterbuck, S.Payne, J.Lalich, D.Stirling
Emg:Nil
In:J.Delborrello, J.Derickx, M.Swan, B.Lee, J.Lalich, S.Payne, F.Clutterbuck, D.Stirling
Out:A.Merrington, C.Glancy, T.Noakes, T.Howlett, D.Macaulay

 

[swannies]

Demons v Falcons - Well, haven't the demons breathed some life and interest into the season with their improved showings in the past few weeks. With the Falcons coming off the break, can the Demons pounce?

The demons need to keep the enthusiasm and running they have been showing. Mzungu is having a fantastic year and even McDougall looked lively in a midfield role last week, with Siekerka looking like he is coming back into some good form after his injuries and Ross Young playing a blinder, Sullivan having the second most hit outs in the league, the midfield should be able to challenge most sides. Houghton is developing quickly up forward, Ferguson is a quality player and Armstrong has looked good in his forward role. Billings has been fantastic down back and Smith is starting to show some good form over the past month, whilst Ruffles is coming back from injury and Bollenhagen seems to be developing well, they look solid defensively. Michael Johnson is a bonus, if they have him.

The Falcons will look to the old crew to get them up and going, with Salecic, Guadagnin, Rice, Bewicks, Crossland, Batholomew giving them plenty of run and grunt from the midfield. Taslikis has been a little disappointing for mine, but he can explode and LeCras, Saylor and Gobbels provide a more than handy forward line. Defensively, their strength is the stability of Lasscock, Hunt, Tedesco, Zanetti and Strijk, although he should still be with the Eagles. This should be another tense struggle, but their should be too much at stake for the Falcons.

Teams

Demons
B:S Siekierka A Thornton C Sibosado
HB:M Rogers H Busher D Robinson
C:T Ruffles S Armstrong T Mzungu
HF:A Smith J Houghton M Ferguson
F:A Mcdougall B Davis A Elari
Foll:W Sullivan D White B Sneeuwajt
I/C:J.Bollenhagen, R.Young, C.Mclernon, B.Hodge, L.Smith, C.Rodgers, D.O'sullivan
Emg:Nil
In:B.Davis, H.Busher, L.Smith, M.Rogers, A.Thornton, D.White, J.Bollenhagen, C.Rodgers
Out:C.Billings, J.Fiegert, M.Johnson, K.Lang, K.Ransted

Falcons
B: DBurns D Fleay C Lasscock
HB:M Tedesco D Hunt E Mcclintock
C:R Bewick M Guadagnin J Rice
HF:L Harvey B Lecras C Shadbolt
F:J Salecic A Tsalikis A Saylor
Foll:C KeunenJ TindallR Bartholomew
I/C:S.Bewick, S.Dearle, F.Stockley, R.Duckworth, N.Carney, A.Elisseou, M.Andrews
Emg:Nil
In:Nil
Out:J.Darling, T.Crossland, J.Gobbells