TonyK
CibbuanoRound eight preview: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
May 15th 2009 15:00
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Saturday 16 May, 2.10pm (AEST).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 151, Melbourne 83, Western Bulldogs 67, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) def. Melbourne 9.10 (64), Round 15 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won three of their past four against Melbourne.
FORM: Melbourne has lost its past three matches but was competitive in all of those losses. It’s only their lack of class that has prevented them from securing a win. The Western Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 32-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Sunday afternoon. The result saw the Dogs move back into the top four with a 4-3 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne lost defenders James Frawley (thigh) and Jared Rivers (ankle) in the loss to West Coast. Paul Wheatley (quad) is a chance to play in two weeks while promising young defender Colin Garland is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. Brad Green is likely to return next week from a fractured jaw. Ruckmen Mark Jamar and Jake Spencer also remain on the sidelines with foot injuries while lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) won’t play his first game of the year until after the mid-season break. John Meesen (foot) and youngster Sam Blease (fractured leg) will miss the rest of the season. The Western Bulldogs are virtually at full strength with classy youngster Shaun Higgins the only notable absentee. Higgins was a late withdrawal against Adelaide last weekend with a groin complaint.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clint Bartram vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was instrumental in his side’s win over the Crows last weekend with 29 disposals, one goal and four inside 50’s.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Demons if they are going to keep the Bulldogs’ mid-sized forwards quiet.
Bartram did a superb blanketing job on West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr last weekend, restricting him to just eight possessions before the Eagles star went off the field with a groin injury.
Expect Bartram to be given the task of tagging Cooney in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
Bartram will need to deny Cooney any time or space otherwise he will cut the Demons to shreds with his ability to break the lines and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Matthew Boyd vs. Aaron Davey
Davey has arguably been his side’s best player so far this season, averaging 25 disposals per game.
The 25-year-old is damaging with his clean use of the football.
The Bulldogs will be keen to limit his influence through the middle as Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply without Davey having a meaningful impact.
Boyd is the Dogs’ best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with Davey.
The 122-gamer, who has averaged just under 27 possessions per game so far this season, will try and hurt Davey going the other way.
Dale Morris vs. Russell Robertson
Robertson booted just two goals against the Eagles but he could have easily finished with four had he made the most of his chances.
The 30-year-old is one of the few Melbourne players that is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
The Demons will need him to fire if they are going to have any hope of overcoming a Bulldogs side that is the fourth most potent in the AFL so far this season.
Morris has shown during his 94-game career that he is more than capable of playing on key and mid-sized forwards.
He is capable of matching Robertson in the air and at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the enigmatic Demons veteran.
Their was no questioning Melbourne’s endeavour against the Eagles last weekend but once again their poor use of the football and decision making let them down.
They will need to be more direct on Saturday to give the likes of Robertson the best chance of having an impact as they simply don’t have the skills to play a possessions brand of football.
Stefan Martin vs. Robert Murphy
Murphy showed his class against the Crows with 18 quality disposals, 10 marks and four goals.
The 26-year-old looks set to return to his form of last year after his season was delayed by knee surgery.
Frawley would have been the obvious candidate to match-up on Murphy but with him out of the side the Demons will most likely go with Martin who is capable of matching the Bulldogs forward in the air.
If Martin is going to be any hope of containing Murphy who can turn a game on its head with a quick burst of two to three goals, he will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure otherwise the likes of Daniel Cross, Ryan Griffen, Cooney and Boyd will be able to continually deliver the football cleanly inside 50.
VERDICT: Melbourne has shown signs this season that they are slowly heading in the right direction but they are still one of the least skilled sides in the competition. Expect them to be continually punished on the rebound by the Western Bulldogs who have too much class and too many options in attack for the inexperienced Demons to contain. Bulldogs by 38 points.
MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
MELBOURNE
B: Clint Bartram, Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd
HB: Cameron Bruce, Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson
F: Nathan Jones, Stefan Martin, Matthew Bate
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Matthew Whelan, Addam Maric, Shane Valenti, Kyle Cheney
Emg: Mark Jamar, Neville Jetta, Michael Newton
In: Whelan, Cheney, Valenti
Out: Jared Rivers (ankle), James Frawley (thigh), Jamie Bennell
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Dale Morris, Brian Lake
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Josh Hill
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Daniel Giansiracusa, Scott Welsh, Liam Picken
Emg: Dylan Addison, Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward
No change
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 151, Melbourne 83, Western Bulldogs 67, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) def. Melbourne 9.10 (64), Round 15 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won three of their past four against Melbourne.
FORM: Melbourne has lost its past three matches but was competitive in all of those losses. It’s only their lack of class that has prevented them from securing a win. The Western Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 32-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Sunday afternoon. The result saw the Dogs move back into the top four with a 4-3 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: Melbourne lost defenders James Frawley (thigh) and Jared Rivers (ankle) in the loss to West Coast. Paul Wheatley (quad) is a chance to play in two weeks while promising young defender Colin Garland is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. Brad Green is likely to return next week from a fractured jaw. Ruckmen Mark Jamar and Jake Spencer also remain on the sidelines with foot injuries while lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) won’t play his first game of the year until after the mid-season break. John Meesen (foot) and youngster Sam Blease (fractured leg) will miss the rest of the season. The Western Bulldogs are virtually at full strength with classy youngster Shaun Higgins the only notable absentee. Higgins was a late withdrawal against Adelaide last weekend with a groin complaint.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clint Bartram vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was instrumental in his side’s win over the Crows last weekend with 29 disposals, one goal and four inside 50’s.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Demons if they are going to keep the Bulldogs’ mid-sized forwards quiet.
Bartram did a superb blanketing job on West Coast midfielder Daniel Kerr last weekend, restricting him to just eight possessions before the Eagles star went off the field with a groin injury.
Expect Bartram to be given the task of tagging Cooney in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
Bartram will need to deny Cooney any time or space otherwise he will cut the Demons to shreds with his ability to break the lines and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Matthew Boyd vs. Aaron Davey
Davey has arguably been his side’s best player so far this season, averaging 25 disposals per game.
The 25-year-old is damaging with his clean use of the football.
The Bulldogs will be keen to limit his influence through the middle as Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply without Davey having a meaningful impact.
Boyd is the Dogs’ best stopper in the midfield and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with Davey.
The 122-gamer, who has averaged just under 27 possessions per game so far this season, will try and hurt Davey going the other way.
Dale Morris vs. Russell Robertson
Robertson booted just two goals against the Eagles but he could have easily finished with four had he made the most of his chances.
The 30-year-old is one of the few Melbourne players that is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
The Demons will need him to fire if they are going to have any hope of overcoming a Bulldogs side that is the fourth most potent in the AFL so far this season.
Morris has shown during his 94-game career that he is more than capable of playing on key and mid-sized forwards.
He is capable of matching Robertson in the air and at ground level and will most likely be given first crack at the enigmatic Demons veteran.
Their was no questioning Melbourne’s endeavour against the Eagles last weekend but once again their poor use of the football and decision making let them down.
They will need to be more direct on Saturday to give the likes of Robertson the best chance of having an impact as they simply don’t have the skills to play a possessions brand of football.
Stefan Martin vs. Robert Murphy
Murphy showed his class against the Crows with 18 quality disposals, 10 marks and four goals.
The 26-year-old looks set to return to his form of last year after his season was delayed by knee surgery.
Frawley would have been the obvious candidate to match-up on Murphy but with him out of the side the Demons will most likely go with Martin who is capable of matching the Bulldogs forward in the air.
If Martin is going to be any hope of containing Murphy who can turn a game on its head with a quick burst of two to three goals, he will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure otherwise the likes of Daniel Cross, Ryan Griffen, Cooney and Boyd will be able to continually deliver the football cleanly inside 50.
VERDICT: Melbourne has shown signs this season that they are slowly heading in the right direction but they are still one of the least skilled sides in the competition. Expect them to be continually punished on the rebound by the Western Bulldogs who have too much class and too many options in attack for the inexperienced Demons to contain. Bulldogs by 38 points.
MELBOURNE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
MELBOURNE
B: Clint Bartram, Matthew Warnock, Ricky Petterd
HB: Cameron Bruce, Lynden Dunn, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson
F: Nathan Jones, Stefan Martin, Matthew Bate
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Matthew Whelan, Addam Maric, Shane Valenti, Kyle Cheney
Emg: Mark Jamar, Neville Jetta, Michael Newton
In: Whelan, Cheney, Valenti
Out: Jared Rivers (ankle), James Frawley (thigh), Jamie Bennell
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Dale Morris, Brian Lake
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Josh Hill
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Daniel Giansiracusa, Scott Welsh, Liam Picken
Emg: Dylan Addison, Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward
No change
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