TonyK
CibbuanoRound seventeen preview: St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
July 24th 2009 15:34
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 25 July, 7.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, St Kilda 72, Western Bulldogs 70, Drawn 3
LAST TIME: St Kilda 14.20 (104) def Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) Round 6 2009 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won two of their past three matches against St Kilda.
FORM: St Kilda made it 16 wins in a row with a 57-point demolition of the highly-rated Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium last Sunday. The Western Bulldogs consolidated their place in the top four with a 33-point win over Essendon. The Bulldogs have won eight of their past ten matches and find themselves in third spot on the AFL ladder with an 11-5 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda welcomes back veteran defender Max Hudghton from an ankle injury but they will still be without in-form ruckman Michael Gardiner (calf) who was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Crows. Xavier Clarke is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. For the Bulldogs, Daniel Giansiracusa is expected to miss at least another month after undergoing knee surgery while Stephen Tiller (groin) and Sam Reid (groin) remain on the sidelines.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was among his side’s best against Essendon, collecting 28 possessions and booting one goal.
The 2008 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
If the Saints are going to have any chance of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards they will need to shut-down Cooney’s run and carry.
Jones has quelled the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders so far in 2009 and will be given the job of tagging Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
Expect Jones who laid a game-high seven tackles the last time these two sides met in round six to apply relentless pressure all night and not allow Cooney to run with the football.
Cooney will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages otherwise he will struggle to have his usual impact.
Brian Lake vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt continued his brilliant season with 19 possessions, 12 marks and four goals against Adelaide.
The St Kilda skipper looms as the main danger man for the Bulldogs given that he helped himself to 17 disposals, 14 marks and four goals when these two sides met earlier in the year.
On form Lake is arguably best defender in the competition and he will line-up on Riewoldt in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
The Western Bulldogs have stepped up their defensive pressure in recent times - they will need to play with the same level of intensity as they have in the past few weeks otherwise the likes of Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and co. will run riot and provide Riewoldt who is virtually unstoppable on the lead with enough quality football to kick a bag.
Sam Fisher vs. Mitch Hahn
Hahn was instrumental in his side’s win over the Bombers, booting five goals - three of which came in the third quarter after his side trailed by eight points at half-time.
The Bulldogs will need Hahn to fire once again but he faces a tough task against the best defence in the competition.
Fisher has the height and mobility to match Hahn and will most likely be given first crack at Hahn who will play his 150th game on Saturday night.
If Hahn is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Fisher he will need his midfield to be quick and precise with their use of the football going forward otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
Expect Fisher, who has averaged nearly 22 disposals per game so far this season, to run off Hahn at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.
Liam Picken vs.Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo has been one of his side’s most damaging midfielders so far in ‘09, averaging nearly 28 touches per game.
The 25-year-old is an integral part of St Kilda’s midfield with his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.
Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Dogs if they are going to have any chance of containing a St Kilda attack that is the fourth most productive in the AFL.
Picken has been given some big tagging jobs this year and has been far from disgraced - expect him to line-up on Dal Santo.
The Bulldogs will need Picken to employ a tight tag for the full four quarters and not give Dal Santo any time or space otherwise he will cut them to shreds with his sublime skills.
VERDICT: The Western Bulldogs may be third on the ladder but they are yet to defeat a top-four side and will be keen to come away with the four points on Saturday night as it will give them confidence heading into September. St Kilda is coming off two days less extra best than the Bulldogs and will be without key forward Justin Koschitzke and in-form defender Zac Dawson due to suspension so a win to the Dogs wouldn’t be a major surprise. However, the ladder leaders have the players to cover their absence and if they apply the same sort of pressure that they did against Adelaide the free-wheeling Bulldogs will struggle to get enough quality supply into their mid-sized forwards to kick a winning score. Saints by 16 points.
ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, Luke Miles, Matt Maguire
In: Hudghton, Gwilt
Out: Koschitzke (susp), Zac Dawson (susp)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Andrejs Everitt, Brennan Stack
No change
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, St Kilda 72, Western Bulldogs 70, Drawn 3
LAST TIME: St Kilda 14.20 (104) def Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) Round 6 2009 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won two of their past three matches against St Kilda.
FORM: St Kilda made it 16 wins in a row with a 57-point demolition of the highly-rated Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium last Sunday. The Western Bulldogs consolidated their place in the top four with a 33-point win over Essendon. The Bulldogs have won eight of their past ten matches and find themselves in third spot on the AFL ladder with an 11-5 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda welcomes back veteran defender Max Hudghton from an ankle injury but they will still be without in-form ruckman Michael Gardiner (calf) who was a late withdrawal from the clash against the Crows. Xavier Clarke is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. For the Bulldogs, Daniel Giansiracusa is expected to miss at least another month after undergoing knee surgery while Stephen Tiller (groin) and Sam Reid (groin) remain on the sidelines.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Clinton Jones vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney was among his side’s best against Essendon, collecting 28 possessions and booting one goal.
The 2008 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
If the Saints are going to have any chance of containing the Bulldogs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards they will need to shut-down Cooney’s run and carry.
Jones has quelled the influence of some of the competition’s premier midfielders so far in 2009 and will be given the job of tagging Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
Expect Jones who laid a game-high seven tackles the last time these two sides met in round six to apply relentless pressure all night and not allow Cooney to run with the football.
Cooney will need his teammates to block for him at the stoppages otherwise he will struggle to have his usual impact.
Brian Lake vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt continued his brilliant season with 19 possessions, 12 marks and four goals against Adelaide.
The St Kilda skipper looms as the main danger man for the Bulldogs given that he helped himself to 17 disposals, 14 marks and four goals when these two sides met earlier in the year.
On form Lake is arguably best defender in the competition and he will line-up on Riewoldt in what will be a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
The Western Bulldogs have stepped up their defensive pressure in recent times - they will need to play with the same level of intensity as they have in the past few weeks otherwise the likes of Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and co. will run riot and provide Riewoldt who is virtually unstoppable on the lead with enough quality football to kick a bag.
Sam Fisher vs. Mitch Hahn
Hahn was instrumental in his side’s win over the Bombers, booting five goals - three of which came in the third quarter after his side trailed by eight points at half-time.
The Bulldogs will need Hahn to fire once again but he faces a tough task against the best defence in the competition.
Fisher has the height and mobility to match Hahn and will most likely be given first crack at Hahn who will play his 150th game on Saturday night.
If Hahn is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Fisher he will need his midfield to be quick and precise with their use of the football going forward otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
Expect Fisher, who has averaged nearly 22 disposals per game so far this season, to run off Hahn at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the rebound.
Liam Picken vs.Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo has been one of his side’s most damaging midfielders so far in ‘09, averaging nearly 28 touches per game.
The 25-year-old is an integral part of St Kilda’s midfield with his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.
Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for the Dogs if they are going to have any chance of containing a St Kilda attack that is the fourth most productive in the AFL.
Picken has been given some big tagging jobs this year and has been far from disgraced - expect him to line-up on Dal Santo.
The Bulldogs will need Picken to employ a tight tag for the full four quarters and not give Dal Santo any time or space otherwise he will cut them to shreds with his sublime skills.
VERDICT: The Western Bulldogs may be third on the ladder but they are yet to defeat a top-four side and will be keen to come away with the four points on Saturday night as it will give them confidence heading into September. St Kilda is coming off two days less extra best than the Bulldogs and will be without key forward Justin Koschitzke and in-form defender Zac Dawson due to suspension so a win to the Dogs wouldn’t be a major surprise. However, the ladder leaders have the players to cover their absence and if they apply the same sort of pressure that they did against Adelaide the free-wheeling Bulldogs will struggle to get enough quality supply into their mid-sized forwards to kick a winning score. Saints by 16 points.
ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: Brendon Goddard, Andrew McQualter, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Robert Eddy
F: Clint Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
I/C: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Ben McEvoy, Adam Schneider
Emg: Jarryn Geary, Luke Miles, Matt Maguire
In: Hudghton, Gwilt
Out: Koschitzke (susp), Zac Dawson (susp)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Tom Williams, Ryan Hargrave
C: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Josh Hill, Liam Picken, Callan Ward
Emg: Dylan Addison, Andrejs Everitt, Brennan Stack
No change
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