TonyK
CibbuanoRound fifteen preview: Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
July 9th 2009 18:36
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Friday July 10, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 141, Collingwood 99, Western Bulldogs 41, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 15.9 (99) def Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89), Round 13, 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won five of the past six matches against Collingwood.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won seven of their past eight and were particularly impressive in their clinical 88-point demolition of reigning premiers Hawthorn last Saturday night. The Bulldogs currently occupy third place on the AFL ladder with a 10-4 win-loss record. Collingwood stretched its winning streak to six with a 35-point win over Essendon at the MCG. The Magpies are in fourth spot with nine wins.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Western Bulldogs welcome back defender Tom Williams from a foot injury but will be without Sam Reid (groin) while classy forward Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) will be sidelined for at least another four weeks. For the Magpies, Ben Johnson will play just his fourth game for the season after recovering from a broken leg sustained in round three but forwards Anthony Rocca (Achilles) and Sean Rusling (hip flexor) are still unavailable.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Sharrod Wellingham vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was among his side’s best in the win over Hawthorn with 32 possessions.
The last time these two teams met in round 13 last year the 2008 Brownlow medallist helped himself to 27 disposals and pumped the football inside 50 four times.
Shutting down Cooney’s run and carry will be a key for Collingwood if they are going to contain the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Wellingham has been given some big run with roles in the past and could well line-up on Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
While it is vital for the Magpies that Wellingham pays close attention to Cooney he also needs to be proactive and win his fair share of the football and test out the defensive side of Cooney’s game.
Brian Lake vs. Travis Cloke
Cloke has hit his straps after a poor run of form, booting seven goals in his last two matches including four in the win over the Bombers.
The Pies will need another big performance from Cloke on Friday night if they are going to kick a big enough score to overcome a Dogs side that has the second best attack in the AFL.
However, he faces a tough night at the office with the in-form Lake who kept Hawthorn star Lance Franklin goalless last weekend likely to be his opponent.
If Cloke is going to have any chance of having an impact he will need his midfield to be smart with their use of the football going forward.
The Magpies can’t afford to just bomb the football haphazardly into the forward line otherwise Lake, who is ranked fifth in the AFL for marks per game with an average of 7.9, will continually mark the football and set up his side’s attacking forays forward.
Harry O’Brien vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson was influential in the victory over the Hawks with 24 touches, 11 marks and three goals.
The 338-game veteran has not only booted 24 goals this season but he also leads the AFL for goal assists with 21.
O’Brien has the ability to match Johnson in the air and also at ground level and will be given first crack at the Bulldogs skipper in what will be yet another pivotal match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
The underrated Magpies defender will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure all night otherwise Johnson will feast on plenty of quality supply from his classy on-ball division which is currently in top form.
Liam Picken vs. Dane Swan
Swan continued his brilliant season with 30 possessions and one goal against the Bombers.
The 25-year-old has averaged a league-high 32 disposals per game so far in 2009.
Swan also leads the AFL for total kicks and is ranked fourth for total inside 50’s.
The Dogs will need to shut-down the drive he provides through the middle if they are going to contain the Pies’ multi-pronged attack.
Picken has quelled the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders so far this season and will be given the task of running with Swan.
Swan will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages as Picken will apply relentless pressure all night and not give Swan any time or space in which to work in.
VERDICT: Both sides are in good form and have plenty of options in attack so this match could go either way but the Western Bulldogs’ pace through the middle should prove to be the difference in what promises to be an engrossing contest. Bulldogs by 15 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD
Western Bulldogs
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Dale Morris
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Scott Welsh, Robert Murphy
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Will Minson, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Tim Callan, Andrejs Everitt
In: Williams
Out: Sam Reid (groin)
Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell, Leigh Brown, Dale Thomas
C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Sharrod Wellingham, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Martin Clarke, Ryan Cook, Ben Reid
In: Johnson
Out: Nathan Brown
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 141, Collingwood 99, Western Bulldogs 41, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Collingwood 15.9 (99) def Western Bulldogs 13.11 (89), Round 13, 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won five of the past six matches against Collingwood.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won seven of their past eight and were particularly impressive in their clinical 88-point demolition of reigning premiers Hawthorn last Saturday night. The Bulldogs currently occupy third place on the AFL ladder with a 10-4 win-loss record. Collingwood stretched its winning streak to six with a 35-point win over Essendon at the MCG. The Magpies are in fourth spot with nine wins.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Western Bulldogs welcome back defender Tom Williams from a foot injury but will be without Sam Reid (groin) while classy forward Daniel Giansiracusa (knee) will be sidelined for at least another four weeks. For the Magpies, Ben Johnson will play just his fourth game for the season after recovering from a broken leg sustained in round three but forwards Anthony Rocca (Achilles) and Sean Rusling (hip flexor) are still unavailable.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Sharrod Wellingham vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was among his side’s best in the win over Hawthorn with 32 possessions.
The last time these two teams met in round 13 last year the 2008 Brownlow medallist helped himself to 27 disposals and pumped the football inside 50 four times.
Shutting down Cooney’s run and carry will be a key for Collingwood if they are going to contain the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Wellingham has been given some big run with roles in the past and could well line-up on Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
While it is vital for the Magpies that Wellingham pays close attention to Cooney he also needs to be proactive and win his fair share of the football and test out the defensive side of Cooney’s game.
Brian Lake vs. Travis Cloke
Cloke has hit his straps after a poor run of form, booting seven goals in his last two matches including four in the win over the Bombers.
The Pies will need another big performance from Cloke on Friday night if they are going to kick a big enough score to overcome a Dogs side that has the second best attack in the AFL.
However, he faces a tough night at the office with the in-form Lake who kept Hawthorn star Lance Franklin goalless last weekend likely to be his opponent.
If Cloke is going to have any chance of having an impact he will need his midfield to be smart with their use of the football going forward.
The Magpies can’t afford to just bomb the football haphazardly into the forward line otherwise Lake, who is ranked fifth in the AFL for marks per game with an average of 7.9, will continually mark the football and set up his side’s attacking forays forward.
Harry O’Brien vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson was influential in the victory over the Hawks with 24 touches, 11 marks and three goals.
The 338-game veteran has not only booted 24 goals this season but he also leads the AFL for goal assists with 21.
O’Brien has the ability to match Johnson in the air and also at ground level and will be given first crack at the Bulldogs skipper in what will be yet another pivotal match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
The underrated Magpies defender will need his midfield to apply relentless pressure all night otherwise Johnson will feast on plenty of quality supply from his classy on-ball division which is currently in top form.
Liam Picken vs. Dane Swan
Swan continued his brilliant season with 30 possessions and one goal against the Bombers.
The 25-year-old has averaged a league-high 32 disposals per game so far in 2009.
Swan also leads the AFL for total kicks and is ranked fourth for total inside 50’s.
The Dogs will need to shut-down the drive he provides through the middle if they are going to contain the Pies’ multi-pronged attack.
Picken has quelled the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders so far this season and will be given the task of running with Swan.
Swan will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages as Picken will apply relentless pressure all night and not give Swan any time or space in which to work in.
VERDICT: Both sides are in good form and have plenty of options in attack so this match could go either way but the Western Bulldogs’ pace through the middle should prove to be the difference in what promises to be an engrossing contest. Bulldogs by 15 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD
Western Bulldogs
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Dale Morris
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Scott Welsh, Robert Murphy
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Will Minson, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Tim Callan, Andrejs Everitt
In: Williams
Out: Sam Reid (groin)
Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell, Leigh Brown, Dale Thomas
C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: Ben Johnson, Sharrod Wellingham, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Emg: Martin Clarke, Ryan Cook, Ben Reid
In: Johnson
Out: Nathan Brown
| 45 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
