Round 15 - Western Bulldogs Match Preview
By No32
Well Well Well,
This week will be a true test of 1) The depth of this side 2) The resolve in the face of adversity and 3) The flexibility in the head coach to make some moves which might not be conventional
We will be without Fletcher, McVeigh, Hird and Davey…. that’s some massive outs for this side as you could bet right now all 4 of them would be in the top 6-7 of the Club B&F on the years play so far. All of them pretty much impossible to replace, but the guys will have to do it.
Into the side comes Campo for his 250th (well done), Lloyd back from suspension, GusFries and Stanton also come back into the side and NatRat who has had some issues with injuries is in for a run.
Now the one thing we do know is that the Dog’s play a small mobile forward line and last year Spike stitched up the Smiling Assassin in the Round 3 clash where Lloyd tore his hammy off the bone. With no Spike to play the shutdown role who will it go to???
Well knowing Sheedy the job will be given to Mark Johnson!!! Make no mistake MJ has been a superb player for us during his time BUT not once can I think of an opponent over the past 13 rounds which he as at the end of the game been able to say “I Got The Points”….
MJ is really being shown up for lack of pace, lack of desire to chase hard and poor reading of the play… as real unwillingness to check his man and he isn’t the only one Adam McPhee is starting to grate my patience also…. for someone with sooo much talent and ability why does he not back it. He is either out of confidence or just not trying hard enough… we need more running and breaking the lines from Mr McPhee.
Key Match Ups
Slattery vs Akermanis – The Human Headline had his best game for the Doggies last week and iced the game with a couple of great goals, so look for him to be chock full of Aker Juice and looking to light it up. The job will go to Slat’s to provide a good tough hard body on Aker and to gee him up as Aker can get a little distracted with some physical attention
Welsh vs Gilbee – Woosha will play that floating forward role again this week and as Lindsay likes to hang off the back and side of packs Welsh will expose him for his limited marking and checking ability…. I would look for Woosha to kick 4 goals and shut down Gilbee’s drive from the back line
Michael vs Darcy – This will be a lucky match up for Mal, as Luke has lost a few yards with his knee injuries, but he still has height and great ability to read the game. Big Mal needs to exploit Darcy and run off him, create and explode through the half back line ala 2004 GF vs Port Adelaide and in his prime…. This is the perfect time for him to make the plays with no Fletcher there
The X Factor
Rama, after a game under his belt the nerves and anxiety is gone, now it’s down to business. Also as the Bullies are not renowned as a close checking tackling side this could allow Rama some space to receive and create and I know it’s a little much to expect but he needs to produce a really really good game if we are to get over the line. The same needs to be said for Pev, Campo, MJ, JJ as these old farts need to STAND UP in this time of need, lift when we need the lift.
The Y Factor
The Johnson’s, sorry if I harp on this one each week but they are not performing to the level required and they are not as a senior player in our or anywhere near our top 10 players each week. Something needs to happen at some stage with 1 or both of them
All in All this is a game we just CAN NOT drop, because it hurts our run to the final 8 and the next 4 weeks after this one are not much easier either.
Predictions
BOG – Jobe Watson
First Goal – Scott Lucas
Result – Bulldogs by 15 points
| The Team | |||
| B: | Nash | Hislop | Michael |
| HB: | M. Johnson | Lovett-Murray | Ramanauskas |
| C: | McPhee | Peverill | Camporeale |
| HF: | Slattery | Laycock | Welsh |
| F: | Lovett | Lloyd | Lucas |
| R: | Ryder | Stanton | Watson |
| INT: | Dyson | Hille | J. Johnson |
| Monfries | |||
| EMG: | Bolton | Bradley | Heffernan |
| Western Bulldogs Team | |||
| B: | McMahon | Harris | Morris |
| HB: | Gilbee | Williams | Hargrave |
| C: | Higgins | Eagleton | Akermanis |
| HF: | Giansiracusa | Johnson | Hahn |
| F: | Grant | Darcy | Robbins |
| R: | Street | Cooney | Boyd |
| INT: | Everitt | Harbrow | Murphy |
| Ray | |||
| EMG: | Addison | Minson | Wight |
| Last Time – Round 22 2006 – Phone Dome | ||||
| 1 / 4 | 2 / 4 | 3 / 4 | Full Time | |
| Essendon | 2.3 | 10.9 | 14.14 | 18.17.125 |
| Western Bulldogs | 8.2 | 13.5 | 18.9 | 22.15.147 |
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| Best Players | |
| Essendon | Lucas, Peverill, J. Johnson, Dyson, Stanton, Lovett-Murray |
| Western Bulldogs | Johnson, S. West, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Boyd |
| Goals | |
| Essendon | Lucas 8, J. Johnson 5, Hird 2, Heffernan, Johns, Solomon |
| Western Bulldogs | Johnson 5, Giansiracusa 4, Montgomery, Robbins 3, Smith 2, Cooney, McMahon, Minson, Power, Wight |
| TV Coverage | ||
| Ten Victoria | 7:30pm | Delayed |
| Ten SA | 6:30pm | Live |
| Ten WA | 6:30pm | Delayed |
| Ten NSW/ACT | 10:30pm | Delayed |
| Fox Sports Plus NSW/ACT/QLD | 7:00pm | Live |
| Fox Sports 1 | 12:30am AEST (15/7) | Replay |
| Radio Coverage | |
| 3AW Melbourne | 6:00 PM |
| Triple M Melbourne | 6:00 PM |
| 5AA Adelaide | 6:30 PM |
| Triple M Adelaide | 5:30 PM |
| 6PR Perth | 5:00 PM |
| IASbet.com Betting | |
| Essendon | $2.82 |
| Western Bulldogs | $1.44 |
| BomberBlitz.com ‘Expert’ Tips | |
| Andy | Western Bulldogs by 27 points |
| Mr. Charles Bronson | Western Bulldogs by 26 points |
| Pazza | Essendon by 12 points |
| Bomberman007 | Western Bulldogs by 18 points |
| Awesome_Scotty | Essendon by 23 points |
| Koala | Essendon by 13 points |
| No32 | Western Bulldogs by 15 points |
Posted 13 July 07 in Match Preview News
Next Article: Round 15 - Western Bulldogs Match Review
