TonyK
CibbuanoRound six preview: Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
April 29th 2010 14:18
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Friday April 30, 7.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, St Kilda 74, Bulldogs 70, Draw 3
LAST TIME: St Kilda 9.6 (60) def Western Bulldogs 7.11 (53), 1st preliminary final 2009 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda won all three matches against the Western Bulldogs in 2009.
FORM: The Bulldogs bounced back from a disappointing loss to Brisbane with a comfortable 49-point win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium last Friday night to improve their win-loss record to 3-2. The Saints suffered their first loss of the season when they went down to Port Adelaide in a low-scoring affair at AAMI Stadium last Saturday night.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Dogs welcome back defender Ryan Hargrave from a neck injury but will be without promising midfielder Brodie Moles (ankle). Key on-baller Matthew Boyd - who missed the clash against the Crows after undergoing hand surgery - could be a late inclusion after being named as an emergency but tagger Liam Picken (ankle) and Callan Ward (groin) will be out for another month. For St Kilda, Farren Ray returns from an ankle injury but skipper Nick Riewoldt (hamstring) is eleven to thirteen weeks away from resuming.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Zac Dawson vs. Barry Hall
Hall will head into this match with plenty of confidence given that he booted seven goals against the Saints in the NAB Cup grand final to help the Dogs secure their first piece of silverware in 40 years.
Dawson - who matched up on the former Sydney premiership captain that night - has been backed by coach Ross Lyon to do the job on Hall who has kicked 19 goals in the opening five rounds of the home-and-away season.
Instrumental to St Kilda’s success last season was their ability to win the contested football and suffocate the opposition with their tackling pressure.
The Saints will need to be at the top of their game in both the aforementioned areas otherwise Hall - who is virtually unstoppable on the lead - will receive ample quality supply from his star-studded on-ball division to kick yet another bag on Dawson.
Brian Lake vs. Justin Koschitzke
Koschitzke struggled in his return from a three-game suspension, failing to kick a goal against the Power.
The Saints will need him to have an impact if they are going to have any hope of maintaining their recent dominance over the Bulldogs.
However, Koschitzke’s task won’t be an easy one as he will be matched up Lake who held him goalless in the NAB Cup grand final.
It is vital for St Kilda that Koschitzke gets his hands on the football and converts early as he is very much a confidence player.
Clinton Jones vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney is an integral part of the Bulldogs’ midfield with his ability to break the lines and use the football cleanly.
The 24-year-old is ranked seventh in the AFL for long kicks and second for inside 50’s.
Shutting down the drive Cooney provides will be vital for the Saints if they are going to contain the Dogs’ multi-pronged attack.
Jones is regarded as one of the best midfield stoppers in the league and will be given the job of tagging Cooney.
Not only has Jones claimed some major scalps during his 55-game career but he has also shown the ability to win his fair share of the football - he has averaged 24 disposals per game so far in 2010 - and has racked up 30-plus possessions in the past two weeks.
Cooney will need to work hard going both ways.
Dylan Addison vs. Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo averaged 30 touches in three matches against the Bulldogs last year.
Limiting the influence of the Saints star in the middle will be a key for Rodney Eade’s men if they are going to starve St Kilda’s forwards of quality supply.
Addison has performed admirably in a tagging role in the absence of the injured Picken and will most likely be given the task of trying to quell the influence of Dal Santo.
The young Dog will need to apply relentless pressure all night otherwise Dal Santo will cut the Bulldogs to shreds with his sublime skills.
VERDICT: St Kilda may have had the wood over the Western Bulldogs in recent times but they will be without Riewoldt who was instrumental in all three wins over the Bulldogs in 2009, booting a total of 13 goals. And with Koschitzke struggling for form it is hard to see how last year’s grand finalists will kick enough goals to overcome a Dogs outfit that has the fourth most potent attack in the competition. Bulldogs by 20 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v ST KILDA
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Ryan Hargrave, Tom Williams, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Nathan Eagleton, Daniel Cross, Andrejs Everitt
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Daniel Giansiracusa, Barry Hall, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Dylan Addison, Jarrad Grant, Shaun Higgins, Jordan Roughead
Emg: Matthew Boyd, Josh Hill, Easton Wood
In: Hargrave
Out: Brodie Moles (ankle)
ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Farren Ray, Nick Dal Santo, Raphael Clarke
HF: Andrew McQualter, James Gwilt, Adam Schneider
F: David Armitage, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Jack Steven, Jarryn Geary, Clinton Jones, Steven King
Emg: Robert Eddy, Brett Peake, Ben McEvoy
In: Ray, Steven
Out: Brett Peake, Robert Eddy
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