Round 1 Team vs Essendon

[bulldogsman]

Sorry to intrude guys but went to the NAB Challenge game against us and was very impressed with Barlow. Looked your classic sub type. Very mobile for a big man - did good stuff across half forward and half back as well as ruck stints. Skills looked good too.

Not sure if I'm missing something but does not seem a lot of love for him here?

Think you guys will be easily too strong for the Dons BTW.

Every report that I've seen from that game mentioned Barlow as having poor skills. Even the AFL report said his skills were not that good.

 

[Libba39]

Stacky had eye sight problems last season that he tried to hide from the club, eventually told the club who got the problems fixed.

I reckon Stack's going to have a blinder on Sunday...

 

[Gus]

I reckon Stack's going to have a blinder on Sunday...

We have a winner. Much worse pun than the one I tried

 

[BenF]

What's up with Gilbee?

 

[Libba39]

Not sure but Eade said on the club website that he's looking at returning about round three.

 

[Pigdog]

What's up with Gilbee?

Hurt his hammy in our final practice match against North.

 

[Godzke]

Without Harbrow and with Lake/Gilbee injured it gives our forwards a big chance. Just a question of getting the ball down there often enough.

 

[doggies ftw]

wheres roughy?

 

[_Mike_]

Who would you have preferred we went with across HB?

And don't say anyone.

I thought Sherman was recuited for that position - attacking defender. To see Stack there is certainly a suprise. I hope they arent just putting him there on the hope that he can play the position

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

I thought Sherman was recuited for that position - attacking defender. To see Stack there is certainly a suprise. I hope they arent just putting him there on the hope that he can play the position

Good point. Where is Sherman to play? Likewise Djekerra and Vez. If they can't play in defence there aren't that many places they can play. Can't see Gia, Ward, Higgins, Grant or Jones playing back and Murphy is best used as a forward IMO. We don't seem to have a lot of flexibility to cover injuries to defenders.

 

[_Mike_]

Murphy is best used as a forward IMO.

Not sure on that one VP, Bob played his best footy last year when moved back across the HBF

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

Not sure on that one VP, Bob played his best footy last year when moved back across the HBF

Ok the match committee agree with you rather than me at the moment.

He is our best lead up forward. The forward line looks so much better when he is there.

 

[Igloo]

Good point. Where is Sherman to play? Likewise Djekerra and Vez. If they can't play in defence there aren't that many places they can play. Can't see Gia, Ward, Higgins, Grant or Jones playing back and Murphy is best used as a forward IMO. We don't seem to have a lot of flexibility to cover injuries to defenders.

I think Sherman was recruited more for a wing/half forward role.
Also, with all the depth we have now, not everyone is gonna get a game every week. I don't know if Vez is injured, but if he isn't, then he will just have to work harder to get a game. This will put pressure on others to perform better in games as well. Depth is only a good thing

 

[Beasley]

I thought Sherman was recuited for that position - attacking defender. To see Stack there is certainly a suprise. I hope they arent just putting him there on the hope that he can play the position

You obviously havent been following the pre-season reports very closely.

 

[Libba39]

wheres roughy?

I went to a training session earlier in the year and noted Roughy's lacodaisical attitude in a post. Big Will on the other hand was focused and leading the pack, probably a result of him knowing this was his make or break year.

I'm sure Roughy will get in at some stage but think he has some maturing to do before he's a walk-up start.

 

[GRUB5]

Congratulations to Lucas Markovic and Tom Liberatore on being selected to debut. Really looking forward to seeing Tom in particular at the top level, and Lucas gets a well earned chance to show what he can do at this level.

While Tom is not a suprise based on his pre season form, I am suprised we have selected another inside mid.

Lucas did perform well in a couple of practice matches and is the obvious replacement for Lake, again, I think we needed to be smaller and quicker. It does allow Dale Morris to play small I guess.

Jones, well...highly tipped on here by the majority, again, based on his form and the fact that I think we need more smaller quicker options I think we have erred here. Hope I'm wrong and the boy tares them apart.

Minson has to play. Picken certainly. Sherman I think should play . I would have thought Hill on form should be in. Djerrkurra I thought was great in the preseason, but he might be in trouble if Barlow is elevated they would be expecting to play him surely? I doubt Wallis gets in this week. So the 4th spot is out of Sherman, Djerrkura and Hill......

Gilbee is a loss and Stacky has big job. I'm relieved that Lake is not playing and that they have learned from last year.

Well...I must say...pretty surprised by the team. I'm thinking all week we need speed and more speed. Instead we have gone the other way....

Hate to say it, but I don't like it. I think we have got it wrong. I'll be very disappointed if we get done for pace.

I like the sound of that mate! Does this team finally get confirmed tonight? Cant wait for sunday. Gonna be a good game. I expect us to get up on top. Our depth is gonna be fantastic this year. Got a good feeling Sherman is gonna be a massive impact for us. Hope he plays.

Just for ya own interest, this is how i would line up against the bombers

FB: Wood, Markovic, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Stack
C: Griffin, Boyd, Ward
HF: Higgins, Jones, Gia
FF: Grant, Hall, Cooney
R: Hudson, Cross, Libba
I/C: Minson, Picken, Sherman, Hill - Sub

GO DOGS! 2011 is ours!

 

[JJHunter]

I think they will go...

Bench: Minson, Picken, Sherman
Sub: Barlow

I say barlow cause he can play back (in case Bombers go tall), forward and because they suggest he has a massive tank that would allow him playing on a wing (where eade has said cordy may play as a sub later in year). I also dont think they would have promoted him off rookie to not play Sunday.

Hill probably my second pick as a sub, Djureaka my next pick on that bench.

 

[Igloo]

I think they will go...

Bench: Minson, Picken, Sherman
Sub: Barlow

I say barlow cause he can play back (in case Bombers go tall), forward and because they suggest he has a massive tank that would allow him playing on a wing (where eade has said cordy may play as a sub later in year). I also dont think they would have promoted him off rookie to not play Sunday.

Hill probably my second pick as a sub, Djureaka my next pick on that bench.

I agree Barlow will be the sub, for the reasons you have said. I also think you got the bench right. Minson will play, and so will Picken, and I expect Sherman to play over the others who were listed.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

I think they will go...

Bench: Minson, Picken, Sherman
Sub: Barlow

I say barlow cause he can play back (in case Bombers go tall), forward and because they suggest he has a massive tank that would allow him playing on a wing (where eade has said cordy may play as a sub later in year). I also dont think they would have promoted him off rookie to not play Sunday.

Hill probably my second pick as a sub, Djureaka my next pick on that bench.

Fully agree on that assessment and reasonably content with the overall team.

We will rely on Wood, Markovic and Morris being very good defensively and need Williams to provide some rebound normally found from Lake.

Expect Murphy to be the main rebound option.

We do need to win the midfield and we should.

Perhaps Tom Liberatore for the inaugaural rising star nominee of 2011.

We know he has the work ethic and his performances in the last 2 TAC Grand Finals highlight he has the right temperament.

GO DOGGIES!!!!

 

[GRUB5]

NOT STACK! Every week people ask to give him another chance, but what has he done ever to warrant it?? We arn't going anywhere with him in our 22.

On a positive note, very happy to see libba playing! and jones too!

sad to see no Ves, something must be wrong, and sadly its a day after i put the number 32 on my jumper

i hope DJ plays, i really think he will take the chance and relish in the spotlight, looks like a player that strives on pressure, ala Buddy Franklin, and if the coaches give him the gig, he'll be more then up to it.

Im also excited to see Marko. Imagine if he was the wildcard of the season, and we could get a functionable Back 50 with him, Lake and Williams in it. Marko takes the slow gorrilas or resting ruckman, Lake plays as a spare man in defence, chopping off eveyrthing, whilst Willo takes the mobile talls. Morris then gets to play on the smalls, and Woody, Gilbee, and Smurphy can be the dash and run. That'd be amazing.

I like the sound of that mate! Does this team finally get confirmed tonight? Cant wait for sunday. Gonna be a good game. I expect us to get up on top. Our depth is gonna be fantastic this year. Got a good feeling Sherman is gonna be a massive impact for us. Hope he plays.

Just for ya own interest, this is how i would line up against the bombers

FB: Wood, Markovic, Morris
HB: Murphy, Williams, Stack
C: Griffin, Boyd, Ward
HF: Higgins, Jones, Gia
FF: Grant, Hall, Cooney
R: Hudson, Cross, Libba
I/C: Minson, Picken, Sherman, Hill - Sub

GO DOGS! 2011 is ours!

 

[GRUB5]

Sorry bout be4. i quoted the wrong person. But yeh, updated now. GO DOGS for sunday!

 

[FishCreekBandit]

Bar with me here as this is more your modern looking set ups

FB: Wood, Markovic, Morris
HB: Williams, Stack
Loose Defender: Murphy

High Half Back: Sherman

C: Cross, Boyd, Picken (question is who does he run with, you would think Watson)

High Half forward: Higgins

HF: Jones, Grant
FF: Hall, Gia
R: Hudson, Cooney Griffin
I/C: Minson, Libba, Ward , Hill/Barlow - Sub

This is how i expect us to line up on the weekend. Its pretty standard that each side has a extra man in the backline these days and against Essendon im happy to allow that. Hall and Gia will start as the 2 deep forwards with Cooney and Griffen mixing in when they are rested. I feel against Essendon and without lake its better for us to play the 5 man forward line with one of them being the high half forward then having Essendon with the 5.

Jones and Grant will play the more hit up forward role with Grant able to double back and also add in the other traditional pocket type role at times, Higgins will play more the high half forward role that sees him pushing up with contest and onto the wings at time.

Down back we will see Sherman playing the high half back role with Murphy being our loose man across half back. I feel that he is the best man for the job because he reads the play very well and is a strong overhead mark. Morris will chop out Markovic as much as he can and it will be interesting to see how they work together. Stack and Wood will be used as our attacking defenders for the start of the year and the big challenge will be to see how Stack goes with the defensive aspect of his game. Its a big few weeks for Stack.

The sub will come down to Hill or Barlow, Barlow is a decent option but if we do decided that we can use Barlow as a sub i would go close to only playing 1 ruckman and bring in Djer to the bench instead of Minson but i feel Eade wont play 1 ruck vs Hille/Ryder/Bellchambers. Against sides with a weaker combo i could see the 1 ruck being used.

On a side note the AFL website has Moles down as injured, if fit he would be in my side instead of Libba.

 

[Martyn_30_]

It looks like there will be about 8 changes to last years prelim team

 

[_Mike_]

You obviously havent been following the pre-season reports very closely.

Thanks for the sarcasm, no I havent. Stack in the past struggled to make an impact across the forward line. Why should I automatically believe that he's now going to be a competent defender capable of shutting down his opponent & producing attacking football?

 

[TheScribe]

It looks like there will be about 8 changes to last years prelim team

Happy to see Markovic and Jones in the side for this week. Both had solid years in 2010 and have obviously continued too develop. These are the future along with Cordy and the 2011 draftees. Get rid of Hill, Tutt and Hooper off the list and we are starting to resemble a list that will be solid over the next 5 years taking into account natural attrition.