Preview Round 7: Western Bulldogs vs Essendon, Docklands, Sunday 01/05/2022 @ 3:20 PM

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eth-dog

eth-dog

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Jan 11, 2007
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AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Coburg Lions, All Boston sides
Last Week

Western Bulldogs: The Bulldogs had a very tight loss against Adelaide, going down by a solitary point, sending them to a 2-4 start and a tough road to get to finals from here. Tom Liberatore was at his prolific best with 33 disposals and 7 clearances in the middle for the dogs whilst Aaron Naughton, Josh Schache and Adam Treloar had 2 goals apiece up front.

Essendon: The Dons had a tight game against arch rivals Collingwood on ANZAC Day, the Pies insanely accurate kicking guiding them to an 11 point loss for the Dons. Darcy Parish had 44 disposals and 12 clearances for Essendon, whilst medium forwards Alec Waterman and Jake Stringer were the best forward of centre with 4 and 3 goals respectively.


Head to Head (last 5)

Western Bulldogs 4-1 Essendon


Form Guide

Western Bulldogs: 2W 3L
Essendon: 1W 4L


Possible sides

Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

FB: Buku Khamis - Ryan Gardner - Taylor Duryea
FF: Nick Bryan - Peter Wright - Alec Waterman
HB: Bailey Dale - Tim O'Brien - Ed Richards
HF: Matthew Guelfi - Jake Stringer - Archie Perkins
MF: Anthony Scott - Tom Liberatore - Hayden Crozier
MF: Sam Durham - Andrew McGrath - Nic Martin
HF: Adam Treloar - Aaron Naughton - Zayne Cordy
HB: Dyson Heppell - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - Jordan Ridley
FF: Marcus Bontempelli - Jamarra Ugle-Hagan - Cody Weightman
FB: Jake Kelly - Zachary Reid - Mason Redman
OB: Stefan Martin - Josh Dunkley - Jackson Macrae
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Jye Caldwell
IC: Josh Schache - Josh Dunkley - Caleb Daniel - Rhylee West
IC: Ben Hobbs - Dylan Shiel - Nick Hind - Zachary Merrett
MS: Bailey Williams
MS: Tom Cutler

Western Bulldogs in: Hayden Crozier, Buku Khamis; out: Lachlan McNeil, Robbie McComb
Essendon in: Zachary Reid, Nick Bryan, Tom Cutler (sub); out: Jayden Laverde (knee), Nik Cox, Kaine Baldwin (omitted)


Western Bulldogs defence vs Essendon forward line

Essendon are 13th in terms of goals per inside 50, kicking a goal 21.93% of the time it enters forward 50. Western Bulldogs have conceded a goal 23.93% of the time it enters defensive 50, 9th in the AFL currently. The main match up here will be Ryan Gardner on Peter Wright, the big bomber kicking 7 goals last time he received this match up and will be hoping to replicate similar form, whilst Jake Stringer will probably get attention from former Hawk Tim O'Brien, a match up he'll try to exploit as much as possible to expose O'Brien's lack of pace and power, and Alec Waterman will receive attention from young Buku Khamis as a plausible 3rd target up front.


Midfield/rucks battle

Essendon are 17th and 15th for contested possession and clearance difference so far in 2022, a marked step down from last season whilst the Dogs are 9th and 1st for those two statistics so far as well. Darcy Parish seems to have found some form in the middle over the past few games whilst Zach Merrett's return last week adds some very useful kicking penetration to the midfield group that it lacked over recent weeks, Jye Caldwell also steadily influencing his sides fortunes. The Dogs have been very reliant on Bailey Smith and Josh Dunkley in the middle so far, although Tom Liberatore's form has been improving since they moved him to the coal face as well. On the outside, the Dogs have struggled to get much run and carry through their side so might have a fresh look on the wings with Hayden Crozier and possibly Bailey Dale moving up onto the wings, whilst the Dons will be looking to youngsters Sam Durham and Nick Martin to continue to build on their early season form. Rucks wise, Essendon might decide to tag team Stefan Martin with Sam Draper and Nick Bryan, the aging Bulldogs ruck having not much support in there.


Western Bulldogs forward line vs Essendon defence

The Dogs have kicked a goal 21.14% of the time they enter their forward 50, which is 14th in the AFL. Essendon's defence has been very leaky, conceding a goal 28.44% of the time it enters defensive 50, which is dead last in the AFL currently. Essendon might bring Zach Reid into the mix and play him against Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, the pair having played all their junior football against each other, whilst most eyes will be on how Essendon plan to stop Aaron Naughton, with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher having done a solid job in recent weeks. Cody Weightman cut the Bombers up last time the two sides met and may receive attention from former Crow Jake Kelly to curb his influence.


X-Factor Player

Mason Redman's form has done a complete 180 the past few weeks, getting his run and carry game really going. Might be time for him to keep the burn going and kicking goals again.


Key stat

Western Bulldogs: Clearances. They simply don't compete anywhere near as well when they lose this area of the game.

Essendon: Goals/inside 50. Last year they were very effective in this area, this year the struggles have been there.


Tip

We struggle against the Dogs. It's the way it is. Western Bulldogs by 22
 
Last edited:
Do we turn up with the effort 2 weeks in a row? I doubt it.
 

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Apart from the game late last year, this fixture hasn't been kind for us in recent seasons. Doubt we can afford to keep carrying Coxy in his present form, he'll get badly exploited . I like the idea of bringing in Reid if , as those keeping a close eye on VFL are suggesting, his form there is strong enough to say he is close enough to being ready. Tough if he has to play on Naughton though.
 
Preferred McGrath/Merrett combo at half back. Just gives us a bit more polish than Hind and yet is still mobile enough to give us some run.

Need to try and get Cox where his strengths will be more damaging. Be happy to see him play forward for a block. Sure he may wind up In defense but if he works forward that's where we want him most right now.

Cutler has been serviceable and should get a run over Baldwin (who had a mare but is in good company for big forwards under 20 games). Steinger and Merret should both be better for the run and the remainder of the younger brigade were OK to good so would expect a pretty good performance next week.
 
Cant even

Anyone watch the vfl and have any reports on anyone?

In: francis, reid, cutler
Out: laverde (inj?), hind (bleh), baldwin

Ridley BZT kelly
Mcgrath reid francis
Redman hobbs durham
Perkins cox guelfi
Waterman wright stringer
Draper parish merrett
Redman martin heppell caldwell
Sub - cutler

Id piss shiel off too but who's gonna come in.
 
Gotta play 2 rucks and work over Stef Martin

IN Bryan, Jones (if fit), Reid, Cutler
OUT Cox, Laverde, Baldwin, Hind
 
Need two rucks. Keep 2MP at FF.

Bryan in.
 

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citizen-erased said:
Cant even

Anyone watch the vfl and have any reports on anyone?
Click to expand...

Bryan (11): didn’t get a disposal until well into the 2nd quarter. Played mostly ruck up against Cox, and found the going tough.
Smith (28): started out quietly. Played midfield. After the slow start found the ball everywhere.
Cutler (17): started out on fire 13 disp in 1st quarter, then quietened off a bit
Hird (27): is getting more of the ball. One of his better games. Hit scoreboard too with 2 goals.
Ham (27): also through the middle. His running game is strong at VFL level.
Tippa (15) kicked 2 goals but doesn’t have his fitness back yet
Lord (15) played half back and found a nice path through the middle with pace. Has great acceleration
Reid (17) good game with composed kicking
I didn’t watch the last quarter.
 
Last edited:
andleanback said:
I know Baldwin was average today, but let him back up next week. Being a yo-yo doesn’t help a key forward.
Click to expand...
Not sure we can have both Waterman and Baldwin in the same forward line atm. They are both slow but Waterman at least is kicking goals. Baldwin needs time in the VFL IMO.

Watching the VFL today it is clearly miles off AFL standard. Has really dropped of as a comp.
 
Duckworth said:
Bryan: didn’t get a disposal until well into the 2nd quarter. Played mostly ruck up against Cox, and found the going tough.
Smith: started out quietly. Played midfield. After the slow start found the ball everywhere.
Cutler: started out on fire, then quietened off a bit
Hird: is getting more of the ball. One of his better games. Hit scoreboard too.
Ham: also through the middle. His running game is strong at VFL level.

I didn’t watch the last quarter.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure Cutler didn't play the second half in case of an injury in the warmup for the AFL
 
I don't expect a win but with Laverde a chance to miss and not rating BZT as a long-term option I'd like to see us take the opportunity to go with a Reid and Cox KPD tandem for a few weeks.

We desperately need more forward pressure so I'd try Hind there given he's not giving us a lot at HB, and would put McGrath back for more run.

B: Ridley Reid Kelly
HB: Redman Cox McGrath
C: Martin Merrett Durham
HF: Perkins Stringer Guelfi
FF: Waterman Wright Hind
R: Draper Parish Shiel
Int: Heppell Caldwell Hobbs Bryan
Sub: Smith

In: Reid Bryan Hind
Out: Laverde (inj.) BZT, Baldwin
 
I don't even know, just going to keep it simple. Keep playing the kids.
Bryan maybe a good addition, to share ruck duties. Keep Wright forward, he tends to like playing the Dogs.

Ins: Reid
Outs: Laverde (inj)

B: Ridley Reid Kelly
HB: Redman BZT McGrath
C: Martin Stringer Durham
HF: Perkins Baldwin Caldwell
F: Waterman Wright Guelfi
R: Draper Merrett Parish
INT: Shiel Cox Heppell Hobbs
SUB: Hind
 
Initial thoughts are:

We desperately lack a small forward with polish so Wanga must play - I’d have Tippa as SUB also can't hurt to play him a quarter or two - who else have we got really…!! Heppell needs a spell but we all know that won’t happen so Cox out instead and he needs to be played in a key position in the reserves until his form warrants being picked. Baldwin is a long way off AFL standard. Reid and Bryan both deserve a run

OUT: Lav, Cox, Baldwin
IN: Reid, Wanga, Bryan

Team;-

Reid Zerk Kelly
Redman Ridley McGrath
Shiel Caldwell Durham
Perkins Waterman Martin
Stringer 2MP Wanga

Draper Parish Merrett

Bench: Heppell Hobbs Guelfi Bryan
SUB: Tippa
 
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Bryan has to play, simple as that.

If Laverde and Parish are out then bring in Reid and maybe Wanganeen and push Perkins into the middle.
 
JT_the_Man said:
The Dogs haven’t been looking too flash. I know they generally have the wood over us, but we are in with a chance here.
Click to expand...

lol

we are going to get belted.
 
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