TonyK
CibbuanoRound eighteen preview: Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
July 31st 2009 16:05
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 1 August, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Western Bulldogs 11, Fremantle 7
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157) def Fremantle 13.16 (94), Round 1 2009 at Subiaco
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won their past four matches against Fremantle.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won eight of their past 11 matches but their poor run against top four sides continued last weekend when they went down to ladder leaders St Kilda by 45 points. The Bulldogs are 0-4 against top four teams and find themselves in third place on the AFL ladder with an 11-6 win-loss record. Fremantle snapped a nine-game losing streak and maintained its recent dominance over West Coast with a hard-fought five-point win - their fifth in a row over their cross-town rivals. The Dockers are in 15th spot with just four wins for the season.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Western Bulldogs will be without star duo Robert Murphy and Shaun Higgins for two to three weeks with hamstring injuries while Scott Welsh (ankle) will also miss. Lindsay Gilbee returns after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Saints due to personal reasons but Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is at least three weeks away from resuming. Stephen Tiller and Sam Reid are also on the sidelines with groin injuries. For the Dockers, Des Headland returns from a hamstring injury while Chris Mayne who has battled with foot stress fractures all year plays his first game for the season after playing three matches in the WAFL reserves .Brett Peake (ankle) will miss while Luke McPharlin (calf) and midfielder Byron Schammer (calf) remain unavailable. Roger Hayden (leg) is still up to a fortnight away from resuming while Michael Johnson (ankle) is sidelined indefinitely. Ryan Crowley (foot), Rhys Palmer (knee), Ryan Murphy (finger) and youngster Tim Ruffles (knee) won’t play again in 2009.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Garrick Ibbotson vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney has been instrumental in his side’s success this season, averaging just under 26 possessions per game.
The 2008 Bronwlow medallist is able to hurt sides with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Dockers if they are going to have any hope of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Ibbotson has the pace to go with Cooney and will most likely be given the task of running with the classy Dogs’ midfielder.
Fremantle will need Ibbotson who collected 21 disposals against West Coast last weekend to be proactive and try and hurt Cooney going the other way as it will force him to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a damaging midfielder.
Liam Picken vs. Matthew Pavlich
Pavlich played a key role in the win over the Eagles, helping himself to a game-high 36 possessions and nine inside 50’s.
The Bulldogs will be keen to limit his influence on the contest as the Dockers will struggle to receive enough quality supply to kick a winning score without Pavlich having an impact.
Picken has impressed in a tagging role this season and will most likely be given the job on Pavlich when he is in the middle while Brian Lake will take him when he pushes forward.
It is vital for the Dogs that Picken applies relentless pressure for the full four quarters and denies Pavlich any time or space in which to work in.
Chris Tarrant vs. Mitch Hahn
When these two sides met in round one Hahn was his team’s most productive forward with five goals.
Like a lot of his teammates, Hahn was well below his best in the loss to the Saints and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Tarrant who has been a revelation down back this season likely to be his direct opponent.
If Tarrant is going to have any hope of winning his duel with the Bulldogs forward he will need his teammates to suffocate the Bulldogs’ running game with their pressure skills otherwise Hahn will receive silver service from his classy on-ball division.
Matthew Boyd vs. Paul Hasbleby
Hasleby has been his side’s most consistent player in 2009, averaging nearly 26 touches per game.
The 28-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and use it cleanly to find his runners in space.
Keeping him quiet will go a long way towards shutting down Fremantle’s running game.
Like Hasleby, Boyd is highly effective in close and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the Dockers midfielder.
Not only will Boyd make Hasleby earn every possession but he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Dogs midfielder has averaged a team-high 28 possessions per game in 2009.
VERDICT: Fremantle may have secured the four premiership points last weekend but like West Coast their use of the football was well below AFL standard. Expect the Western Bulldogs who are regarded as one of the most skilled sides in the competition to continually punish the Dockers on the rebound and cruise to a convincing win. Bulldogs by 55 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Lindsay Gilbee, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Josh Hill, Will Minson, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Liam Picken, Brennan Stack, Callan Ward
Emg: Wayde Skipper, Guy O’Keefe, Easton Wood
In: Everitt, Gilbee, Stack
Out: Shaun Higgins (hamstring), Scott Welsh (ankle), Robert Murphy (hamstring)
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Kepler Bradley, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Chris Mayne
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Scott Thornton, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Des Headland, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Michael Walters
Emg: Adam Campbell, Marcus Drum, Zac Clarke
In: Headland, Mayne, Walters
Out: Brett Peake (ankle), Tim Ruffles (knee), Zac Clarke (omit)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 18, Western Bulldogs 11, Fremantle 7
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 25.7 (157) def Fremantle 13.16 (94), Round 1 2009 at Subiaco
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won their past four matches against Fremantle.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won eight of their past 11 matches but their poor run against top four sides continued last weekend when they went down to ladder leaders St Kilda by 45 points. The Bulldogs are 0-4 against top four teams and find themselves in third place on the AFL ladder with an 11-6 win-loss record. Fremantle snapped a nine-game losing streak and maintained its recent dominance over West Coast with a hard-fought five-point win - their fifth in a row over their cross-town rivals. The Dockers are in 15th spot with just four wins for the season.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Western Bulldogs will be without star duo Robert Murphy and Shaun Higgins for two to three weeks with hamstring injuries while Scott Welsh (ankle) will also miss. Lindsay Gilbee returns after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Saints due to personal reasons but Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) is at least three weeks away from resuming. Stephen Tiller and Sam Reid are also on the sidelines with groin injuries. For the Dockers, Des Headland returns from a hamstring injury while Chris Mayne who has battled with foot stress fractures all year plays his first game for the season after playing three matches in the WAFL reserves .Brett Peake (ankle) will miss while Luke McPharlin (calf) and midfielder Byron Schammer (calf) remain unavailable. Roger Hayden (leg) is still up to a fortnight away from resuming while Michael Johnson (ankle) is sidelined indefinitely. Ryan Crowley (foot), Rhys Palmer (knee), Ryan Murphy (finger) and youngster Tim Ruffles (knee) won’t play again in 2009.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Garrick Ibbotson vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney has been instrumental in his side’s success this season, averaging just under 26 possessions per game.
The 2008 Bronwlow medallist is able to hurt sides with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Dockers if they are going to have any hope of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Ibbotson has the pace to go with Cooney and will most likely be given the task of running with the classy Dogs’ midfielder.
Fremantle will need Ibbotson who collected 21 disposals against West Coast last weekend to be proactive and try and hurt Cooney going the other way as it will force him to be accountable which in turn will help limit his impact on the contest as a damaging midfielder.
Liam Picken vs. Matthew Pavlich
Pavlich played a key role in the win over the Eagles, helping himself to a game-high 36 possessions and nine inside 50’s.
The Bulldogs will be keen to limit his influence on the contest as the Dockers will struggle to receive enough quality supply to kick a winning score without Pavlich having an impact.
Picken has impressed in a tagging role this season and will most likely be given the job on Pavlich when he is in the middle while Brian Lake will take him when he pushes forward.
It is vital for the Dogs that Picken applies relentless pressure for the full four quarters and denies Pavlich any time or space in which to work in.
Chris Tarrant vs. Mitch Hahn
When these two sides met in round one Hahn was his team’s most productive forward with five goals.
Like a lot of his teammates, Hahn was well below his best in the loss to the Saints and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Tarrant who has been a revelation down back this season likely to be his direct opponent.
If Tarrant is going to have any hope of winning his duel with the Bulldogs forward he will need his teammates to suffocate the Bulldogs’ running game with their pressure skills otherwise Hahn will receive silver service from his classy on-ball division.
Matthew Boyd vs. Paul Hasbleby
Hasleby has been his side’s most consistent player in 2009, averaging nearly 26 touches per game.
The 28-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football at the stoppages and use it cleanly to find his runners in space.
Keeping him quiet will go a long way towards shutting down Fremantle’s running game.
Like Hasleby, Boyd is highly effective in close and looms as the obvious candidate to go head-to-head with the Dockers midfielder.
Not only will Boyd make Hasleby earn every possession but he will also try and hurt him going the other way - the Dogs midfielder has averaged a team-high 28 possessions per game in 2009.
VERDICT: Fremantle may have secured the four premiership points last weekend but like West Coast their use of the football was well below AFL standard. Expect the Western Bulldogs who are regarded as one of the most skilled sides in the competition to continually punish the Dockers on the rebound and cruise to a convincing win. Bulldogs by 55 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v FREMANTLE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Lindsay Gilbee, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Josh Hill, Will Minson, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Andrejs Everitt, Liam Picken, Brennan Stack, Callan Ward
Emg: Wayde Skipper, Guy O’Keefe, Easton Wood
In: Everitt, Gilbee, Stack
Out: Shaun Higgins (hamstring), Scott Welsh (ankle), Robert Murphy (hamstring)
FREMANTLE
B: Greg Broughton, Chris Tarrant, Nic Suban
HB: Antoni Grover, Kepler Bradley, Paul Duffield
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Chris Mayne
HF: Stephen Hill, Matthew Pavlich, Dean Solomon
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Scott Thornton, Jay van Berlo
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Steven Dodd, David Mundy
I/C: Des Headland, Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Michael Walters
Emg: Adam Campbell, Marcus Drum, Zac Clarke
In: Headland, Mayne, Walters
Out: Brett Peake (ankle), Tim Ruffles (knee), Zac Clarke (omit)
| 19 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
