Preview Western Bulldogs VS GWS @ Marvel 31st July 2025

[Libbaaaa]

Just watched the highlights of the 2016 prelim v GWS. Still get goosebumps' watching that game. It is the best game of footy I have seen. I have never been at a more intense game. Stringer was in the red, white and blue and Rory in the orange. After 9 years the colours are in reverse hope Lobby has a big smile at the end.

Lobby kicked the ball into Roughy as well, then a minute later Cordy delivered his finishing knee to Ward as well.

 

[SPower]

Who's taking Stringer.
Williams?
Chrs

 

[maddog37]

Who's taking Stringer.
Williams?
Chrs

Whoever it is should be running off him every chance they get. Jakey boy is better shut down by medium defenders too.

 

[Dog 36]

A backline that includes all of Jones, Lobb, JOD, Busslinger and Cleary looks very top heavy and slow.

Agree but thought Lobb to the wing, forward and ruck and if any of Cadman or Hogan giving us problems then he goes back.

 

[Doggies7]

Who's taking Stringer.
Williams?
Chrs

Yeah I think truck is a decent match up if he plays down back. If not, maybe a Bramble who can then cause him fits running off him.

 

[Mucat]

Geez selection night tonight. These Thursday night games sneak up on you

Well I want jones x 2 in Baker Poulter out.

Need L Jones for Hogan given grub is out he is the one we need to stop.

TBH i'M kind of nervis myself lose this and it's all over by the shouting and the list we've got it's a complete waist

 

[Dogman 1]

TBH i'M kind of nervis myself lose this and it's all over by the shouting and the list we've got it's a complete waist

I don't care who plays, just get rid of McNeil. To many chances given and to many times he's let us down. Vfl player at best.

 

[Marsy]

McNeill had pressure acts against a VFL standard side. He consistently spuds it up against any sort of capable opponent. If he plays in a high pressure game he ultimately fails.He poses no attacking threat so his opponent runs off him with confidence. Tried to see an upside but geez that bloke has had some chances

You rubbish a player for the standard he played against in the AFL, yet the player he will be replaced with played against a VFL team at the bottom of the ladder.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

I feel we have played well enough to play finals just needed to grab one or two of those close ones to be fighting for top 4. However, I guess because the gap is so big between the top 9 and the rest there is 8 other teams saying the same thing.

 

[JTCWBFC]

Peak dogs would be win the gws and freo games and lose to eagles or demons

Aka the exact inverse of the rest of the year

 

[Mofra]

Peak dogs would be win the gws and freo games and lose to eagles or demons

Aka the exact inverse of the rest of the year

This post is so spot on we need an emoji that simultaneously laughs and cries.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Changes will be interesting

Obviously won by a lot and no one was overly terrible (admittedly against a very weak opponent). You'd assume no change

But in a must win feel like we should be playing best 22 and Harmes and Davidson are clearly that in my opinion and should definitely be in. Think Khamis is too but with Darcy and Naughton's form, maybe they believe the two tall setup is what is working the best

 

[Mofra]

Changes will be interesting

Obviously won by a lot and no one was overly terrible (admittedly against a very weak opponent). You'd assume no change

But in a must win feel like we should be playing best 22 and Harmes and Davidson are clearly that in my opinion and should definitely be in. Think Khamis is too but with Darcy and Naughton's form, maybe they believe the two tall setup is what is working the best

Poulter is taller than Khamis and plays much higher too. I thought he was pretty good in the second half. That stats say his 4th quarter was quiet though

 

[Sentinel]

No change

 

[Doggies7]

No changes. Harmes not even an emergency so fitness must not be back to 100% yet... Same with Arty but that was more expected.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

I told youse.

 

[MaxiBont]

Really unsure how Davidson lost his starting wing spot to Baker

 

[Doggies7]

The bottom 6 looked good against Essendon, but they are only slightly above a VFL team currently. Huge test this week to see who stands up in a massive game. I'm nervous but backing in the boys to get it done...

 

[Foxman98]

The bottom 6 looked good against Essendon, but they are only slightly above a VFL team currently. Huge test this week to see who stands up in a massive game. I'm nervous but backing in the boys to get it done...

None of them looked good

They all were serviceable but none played well

 

[Hutchymundo]

How the hell do Davidson and harmes not get in over baker and poulter, and how does Cleary stay in, bevo ball at its finest.
I can already picture Cleary panicking and turning it over and poulter running the wrong way

 

[lachy]

How the hell do Davidson and harmes not get in over baker and poulter, and how does Cleary stay in, bevo ball at its finest.
I can already picture Cleary panicking and turning it over and poulter running the wrong way

You mean the Cleary who got coaches votes last week

 

[Hutchymundo]

You mean the Cleary who got coaches votes last week

If Cleary is in our best 23 we are in trouble, he’s a good VFL player that’s it. His decision making is close to the worst I’ve seen at the club

 

[Golden_6]

You mean the Cleary who got coaches votes last week

Which is even more baffling.

Good reader of the ball and gets in good spots to intercept. Weak at the contest and has abysmal decision making and skills under moderate pressure.

 

[dogwatch]

 

[ExRoyboy]

Would have loved to have Davidson back in the team, still not sure why he was dropped. Would also have liked to see Harmes in, he kicked a bag of goals against them last time from memory. I also feel like he brings a hardness that we need. Still not sure how McNeil keeps his place in the team week after week. Hasn’t played a really good game in a while. This is a huge game for us and I worry about him panicking.

Their forwards really worry me when I look at our backline and think of Hogan on either JOD or Buss. Although I remember Buss played not too bad on him last time. But Cadman is a big worry like Thilthorpe. Just in general we are poor one on one defenders and our mids don’t work hard enough defensively to help, so that’s where I think we will come undone. Thing is we don’t have many other options at this point so just have to hope that Buss, JOD and Lobby can hold up and our midfield can get on top at home.