TonyK
CibbuanoRound twelve preview: Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
June 12th 2009 14:57
VENUE and TIME: TIO Stadium, Saturday 13 June, 7.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 17, Western Bulldogs 6, Port Adelaide 11
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135) def Port Adelaide 11.15 (81), Round 14 2008 at TIO Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won three of their past four against Port Adelaide.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won four of their past five to move to third spot on the AFL ladder with a 7-4 win-loss record. Port Adelaide snapped a two-game losing streak with a hard-fought 24-point win over Fremantle at AAMI Stadium last Saturday night. The Power have won six of their first 11 matches and are only just inside the top eight.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Bulldogs welcome back classy forward Robert Murphy from a hamstring injury but they are still without defender Tom Williams who is the only notable absentee with a foot complaint. For Port, dangerous forward Daniel Motlop returns from an ankle injury while Robert Gray will also play against the Dogs after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Dockers with a thigh injury. Alipate Carlile (virus) will miss while star utility Chad Cornes (4-6 weeks), Shaun Burgoyne (3-4) and Travis Boak (4-6) are out with knee injuries.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Liam Picken vs. Danyle Pearce
Pearce played a key role in the win over the Dockers, helping himself to 22 possessions, one goal and seven inside 50’s.
When the 2006 NAB Rising Star winner is up and firing the Power are a much better side.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Bulldogs if they are going to contain Port Adelaide’s multi pronged attack.
Picken claimed the scalp of Richmond young gun Brett Deledio for the second time this season last weekend and looms as the obvious candidate to tag the dangerous Pearce.
Expect Picken to make Pearce earn every possession and push forward at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the scoreboard.
Kane Cornes vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney has returned to his best after a sluggish start to the season and was best afield against the Tigers with a game-high 33 possessions and one goal.
The last time these two sides met in round 14 last year Cooney collected 33 touches.
If the Power is going to have any hope of keeping the Bulldogs’ mid-sized forwards quiet they will need to quell the influence of Cooney who is damaging with his ability to break the lines.
Cornes is Port’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.
Not only is Cornes highly effective at blanketing some of the premier midfielders in the competition he is also capable of winning his fair share of the football - he racked up a game-high 34 possessions against the Dockers and has averaged 28 disposals in his past three games.
The Power will need Cornes to apply relentless pressure all night and also test out the defensive side of Cooney’s game.
Brian Lake vs. Warren Tredrea
Tredrea struggled against Fremantle, managing just seven possessions and one goal.
Port will need him to fire if they are going to have any chance of kicking a big enough score to overcome a Bulldogs side that has the second best attack in the AFL.
Lake has done a good job on Tredrea in the past and will line-up on the former Port skipper once again in what will be yet another crucial match-up.
If Tredrea is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to be smart with their use of the football going forward otherwise the Power will be punished on the rebound by the Dogs.
Troy Chaplin vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson looms as a danger man for the Port given that he has booted 16 goals in his past four matches against the Power.
Chaplin, who kept Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich relatively quiet last weekend, has the ability to match Johnson in the air and also when the football hits the deck, so you would expect him to be given first crack at the 335-game veteran.
The Port defender will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Johnson any time or space in which to work in as he is still capable of turning a game on its head with a quick two to three goal burst.
The Power is ranked 14th in the AFL for tackles per game - they will need to lift their intensity otherwise the much-vaunted Bulldogs on-ball division will be able to run riot and deliver the football cleanly inside 50 to the likes of Johnson.
VERDICT: Port Adelaide may have secured the four premiership points against Fremantle but they were far from convincing and they will need to take their game to another level if they are going to have any hope of beating a Western Bulldogs side that has hit its straps. Port has the edge in the ruck but the Bulldogs have more class through the middle and they should provide their multitude of dangerous mid-sized forwards with plenty of quality supply. Bulldogs by 37 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v PORT ADELAIDE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris, Liam Picken
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Robert Murphy, Callan Ward
Emg: Brennan Stack, Tim Callan, Stephen Tiller
In: Murphy, Welsh
Out: Brennan Stack, Stephen Tiller
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Steven Salopek, Troy Chaplin, Peter Burgoyne
C: Danny Meyer, Domenic Cassisi, Tom Logan
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Daniel Motlop
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Marlon Motlop, Josh Carr, Matthew Westhoff, Justin Westhoff
Emg: Nick Lower, Jason Davenport, Matthew Broadbent
In: Daniel Motlop, Robbie Gray, Danny Meyer
Out: Travis Boak (knee), Alipate Carlile (virus), Nick Lower
New: Danny Meyer (Richmond)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 17, Western Bulldogs 6, Port Adelaide 11
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 20.15 (135) def Port Adelaide 11.15 (81), Round 14 2008 at TIO Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Western Bulldogs have won three of their past four against Port Adelaide.
FORM: The Western Bulldogs have won four of their past five to move to third spot on the AFL ladder with a 7-4 win-loss record. Port Adelaide snapped a two-game losing streak with a hard-fought 24-point win over Fremantle at AAMI Stadium last Saturday night. The Power have won six of their first 11 matches and are only just inside the top eight.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Bulldogs welcome back classy forward Robert Murphy from a hamstring injury but they are still without defender Tom Williams who is the only notable absentee with a foot complaint. For Port, dangerous forward Daniel Motlop returns from an ankle injury while Robert Gray will also play against the Dogs after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Dockers with a thigh injury. Alipate Carlile (virus) will miss while star utility Chad Cornes (4-6 weeks), Shaun Burgoyne (3-4) and Travis Boak (4-6) are out with knee injuries.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Liam Picken vs. Danyle Pearce
Pearce played a key role in the win over the Dockers, helping himself to 22 possessions, one goal and seven inside 50’s.
When the 2006 NAB Rising Star winner is up and firing the Power are a much better side.
Shutting down his run and carry will be a key for the Bulldogs if they are going to contain Port Adelaide’s multi pronged attack.
Picken claimed the scalp of Richmond young gun Brett Deledio for the second time this season last weekend and looms as the obvious candidate to tag the dangerous Pearce.
Expect Picken to make Pearce earn every possession and push forward at every available opportunity and try and hurt him on the scoreboard.
Kane Cornes vs. Adam Cooney
Cooney has returned to his best after a sluggish start to the season and was best afield against the Tigers with a game-high 33 possessions and one goal.
The last time these two sides met in round 14 last year Cooney collected 33 touches.
If the Power is going to have any hope of keeping the Bulldogs’ mid-sized forwards quiet they will need to quell the influence of Cooney who is damaging with his ability to break the lines.
Cornes is Port’s best stopper in the midfield and will be given the task of running with Cooney in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.
Not only is Cornes highly effective at blanketing some of the premier midfielders in the competition he is also capable of winning his fair share of the football - he racked up a game-high 34 possessions against the Dockers and has averaged 28 disposals in his past three games.
The Power will need Cornes to apply relentless pressure all night and also test out the defensive side of Cooney’s game.
Brian Lake vs. Warren Tredrea
Tredrea struggled against Fremantle, managing just seven possessions and one goal.
Port will need him to fire if they are going to have any chance of kicking a big enough score to overcome a Bulldogs side that has the second best attack in the AFL.
Lake has done a good job on Tredrea in the past and will line-up on the former Port skipper once again in what will be yet another crucial match-up.
If Tredrea is going to have any hope of having an impact he will need his midfield to be smart with their use of the football going forward otherwise the Power will be punished on the rebound by the Dogs.
Troy Chaplin vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson looms as a danger man for the Port given that he has booted 16 goals in his past four matches against the Power.
Chaplin, who kept Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich relatively quiet last weekend, has the ability to match Johnson in the air and also when the football hits the deck, so you would expect him to be given first crack at the 335-game veteran.
The Port defender will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Johnson any time or space in which to work in as he is still capable of turning a game on its head with a quick two to three goal burst.
The Power is ranked 14th in the AFL for tackles per game - they will need to lift their intensity otherwise the much-vaunted Bulldogs on-ball division will be able to run riot and deliver the football cleanly inside 50 to the likes of Johnson.
VERDICT: Port Adelaide may have secured the four premiership points against Fremantle but they were far from convincing and they will need to take their game to another level if they are going to have any hope of beating a Western Bulldogs side that has hit its straps. Port has the edge in the ruck but the Bulldogs have more class through the middle and they should provide their multitude of dangerous mid-sized forwards with plenty of quality supply. Bulldogs by 37 points.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v PORT ADELAIDE
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris, Liam Picken
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen
I/C: Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Robert Murphy, Callan Ward
Emg: Brennan Stack, Tim Callan, Stephen Tiller
In: Murphy, Welsh
Out: Brennan Stack, Stephen Tiller
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Steven Salopek, Troy Chaplin, Peter Burgoyne
C: Danny Meyer, Domenic Cassisi, Tom Logan
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Daniel Motlop
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Marlon Motlop, Josh Carr, Matthew Westhoff, Justin Westhoff
Emg: Nick Lower, Jason Davenport, Matthew Broadbent
In: Daniel Motlop, Robbie Gray, Danny Meyer
Out: Travis Boak (knee), Alipate Carlile (virus), Nick Lower
New: Danny Meyer (Richmond)
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