Preview Round 21: Western Bulldogs vs Essendon, Docklands, Sunday 8/08/2021 @ 3:20 PM

[raskolnikov]

I don't have anything planned for the weekend yet but I'm sure I can come up with something.

 

[Bipolarbear]

Might be the first game I don't tune in for in a few years.
I don't think I can handle the 100 point drubbing, the Doggies feast on us.

 

[Cold Sober]

Come all ye faithful. We are going to shake the shit out of The Doggies, we have been building up to a big one.

 

[citizen-erased]

Come all ye faithful. We are going to shake the sh*t out of The Doggies, we have been building up to a big one.

Dogs should take it as a good sign that a premiership fancy is beaten by one that isn't in this fixture....yeah?

Ins:
Hooker. Need hands that can grab a mark & Francis down back for Laverde
Hird. Premature i imagine, and not a good debut game, but let's blood the kid and bring the name back on the big stage.

Out
Laverde (Inj)
Dev -> Mozzing him here, cos he won't get dropped, but maybe if i call for it he'll play a blinder.

Watch on Heppell & Langford with their knocks.

Ridley Stewart Redman
Heppell Francis Hind
Cox Stringer Merrett
Langford Wright Perkins
Tippa Hooker Hird
Draper Parish Shiel
Snelling Cutler Durham Clarke
S: Ham (if no VFL, Guelfi if there is)

 

[andleanback]

Be a good test to see how far we’ve actually come, against a side that usually has their way with us. Perkins needs a spell.

 

[eth-dog]

If both Heppell and Laverde miss, play Francis back still and bring in McBride or Bryan for the last 3 games.

 

[citizen-erased]

Be a good test to see how far we’ve actually come, against a side that usually has their way with us. Perkins needs a spell.

Yup. Be interesting to see if we give him one, or do the Cox treatment and play him through it.
Depth isn't there to be called on and we're looking at potentially playing 2-3 players with knocks (langford, heppell & tippa)

If both Heppell and Laverde miss, play Francis back still and bring in McBride or Bryan for the last 3 games.

I would like to see Bryan get a run at the next 3 games primarily as a forward to see how he slides in alongside Wright.

 

[Inspecta Gadget]

Can we just not and say we did?

 

[MiguelM]

Where is Jones at with the injury?

 

[owen87]

Where is Jones at with the injury?

Last I heard it had progressed from bone awareness to complete foot removal.

 

[pazza]

Out: Laverde (injured), Langford (injured), Heppell (injured)
In: Phillips, Gleeson, Guelfi

B: Gleeson, Francis, Redman
HB: Ridley, Stewart, Hind
C: Snelling, Shiel, Guelfi
HF: Ham, Wright, Smith
F: Stringer, Cox, Phillips
R: Draper, Merrett, Parish
Int: Cutler, Durham, Perkins, Clarke
Sub: McDonald-Tipungwuti
Emerg: Bryan, Zerk-Thatcher, Hird

 

[rumply]

Little bit surprised at all the doom & gloom & talk of a thrashing in this thread.

Bombers improved substantially yesterday on recent efforts & that was with a couple of passengers & players played out of position.

Dogs are very good & will win but there's a fair chance we can hold our own again against a better opponent.

 

[Lemons_]

Laverde has revitalised his career down back this season, and the squad is all the better for it. Holding Buddy to 2 goals in a shootout for technically a 20-game defender is outstanding. Would be sad to see him miss with injury but kudos to Jayden and the coaching staff for turning it around. Can see Francis swinging back to replace him as an interceptor, with Chook returning fresh from the break up front.
In each of the Dogs losses this year they have been well down on Inside-50 conversion rate. With their incredible midfield it will be hard to stop them getting the ball, so the key will be defensive transition and structure behind the ball. Forward half pressure will give our defenders time to set up and reduce 1-on-1 contests, which I am sure Bruce, Naughton, English, Bont, even Weightman will dominate if allowed. Walla, Dev and Ming will need to be in top form. Limiting turnover will also play a massive role in stopping easy leaks. If Langford misses we are in major trouble. Prefer being the underdog but I've had enough of that. Let's scare the pants off the Dogs and go into the last fortnight firing. Go Dons.

 

[crackers65]

Last I heard it had progressed from bone awareness to complete foot removal.

Sounds like windy hill flu.
Foot should grow back in 7 days.

 

[DallasCrane316]

A bit concerned that apparently we’ve got a number of injury concerns after the game yesterday.

Ones that have been spoken about Heppell, Laverde, Redman and Langford are pretty key players for us.

Would leave our defence is all sorts. Hopefully the 7 day break helps.

Rutten seemed to indicate that Francis would be playing forward for a few weeks. Guessing we won’t have Hooker back in the side then?

Phillips played well over the weekend, wonder if we’d consider two rucks.

 

[eth-dog]

A bit concerned that apparently we’ve got a number of injury concerns after the game yesterday.

Ones that have been spoken about Heppell, Laverde, Redman and Langford are pretty key players for us.

Would leave our defence is all sorts. Hopefully the 7 day break helps.

Rutten seemed to indicate that Francis would be playing forward for a few weeks. Guessing we won’t have Hooker back in the side then?

Phillips played well over the weekend, wonder if we’d consider two rucks.

I'd hope if we did we'd be playing Bryan instead

 

[DallasCrane316]

 

[Albertross]

Playing 3.20 on Sunday at Marvel apparently.

 

[eth-dog]

Put them all on ice. We aren't making finals. Give Zerk and a couple of others the chance to press their claims for a list spot

 

[DallasCrane316]

Put them all on ice. We aren't making finals. Give Zerk and a couple of others the chance to press their claims for a list spot

That’s the thing though - we are still a very good chance to make finals. If we win against GC and Pies…

 

[Mikevk123]

Updated team selection. Give Laverde a rest and put the others on ice.

In- Zerk-Thatcher, Ham, Guelfi, Waterman
Out- Perkins(Rest), Langford(Inj), Laverde(Inj), Heppell(Inj)

B Hind Stewart Francis
HB Redman Zerk-Thatcher Ridley
C Durham Merrett Guelfi
HF Stringer Wright Snelling
F Smith Hooker Tipungwutti
FOLL: Draper Shiel Parish
INTER: Ham, Cutler, Cox, Clarke
Sub: Waterman

 

[eth-dog]

That’s the thing though - we are still a very good chance to make finals. If we win against GC and Pies…

If Freo beat Brisbane it means there's literally one spot we can take, as Freo and West Coast play the week after. We aren't making finals.

 

[DallasCrane316]

If Freo beat Brisbane it means there's literally one spot we can take, as Freo and West Coast play the week after. We aren't making finals.

Freo have Brisbane, Eagles and Saints (Marvel).

We most certainly are a big chance for finals.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Essendon just confirmed

Laverde - cleared of damage to the shoulder. Test for this week.

Langford- out for three weeks.

Heppell - out for one week.

 

[eth-dog]

Freo have Brisbane, Eagles and Saints (Marvel).

We most certainly are a big chance for finals.

Dude, let it go. We aren't making it. Freo is in better form than all three sides, Brisbane have won 1 of their last 4 and just lost to second last, St. Kilda haven't won in 3 weeks and West Coast just lost to Collingwood. We aren't making finals