Selection this week

[older saint]

Will be interesting.
As much as i like Robbo can we afford to have him and Wilkie in the same team. Tried to use him at CHB but really meant we were one big down. I would say Carlisle in for Robbo .
Bruce and Naughton the 2 KF and Bont pushes there for a rest. Wilkie gets Bont when forward . Howard on Bruce and let him go up tot he wing and Carlisle on Naughton.

Battle in for Ryder ( shorter quarters don't need 2 ruckman and English no Goldstien or Grundy. Battle can back up ruck against Bruce when rest needed.

Apart from that assuming injured parties all available no more changes. Kick straight first 5 min of third we win by 8 goals- yes we didn't but did a lot right before that and Gresh injury really hurt. Kent could be under pressure also

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Butler
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Jones, Paton, Kent

[shanegrambeau]

Are Membrey and Gresh in good Nick? Carlisle hasn't had a kick for so long...I hope we have a backup but there is no one who can sort of fill that role.

[skeptic]

Will be interesting to see wha happens with Battle.

Many thought that was a shock exclusion from rd1... on the assumption that there are no fitness issues, seems essential IMO

[Gershwin]

Will be interesting.
As much as i like Robbo can we afford to have him and Wilkie in the same team. Tried to use him at CHB but really meant we were one big down. I would say Carlisle in for Robbo .
Bruce and Naughton the 2 KF and Bont pushes there for a rest. Wilkie gets Bont when forward . Howard on Bruce and let him go up tot he wing and Carlisle on Naughton.

Battle in for Ryder ( shorter quarters don't need 2 ruckman and English no Goldstien or Grundy. Battle can back up ruck against Bruce when rest needed.

Apart from that assuming injured parties all available no more changes. Kick straight first 5 min of third we win by 8 goals- yes we didn't but did a lot right before that and Gresh injury really hurt. Kent could be under pressure also

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Butler
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Jones, Paton, Kent

I would be happy enough with that side but in saying that I think a better side would include Roberton for Carlisle, Marsh for Battle and Hind for Kent.
Carlisle hasn't played a pre-season game, Round one or the intra-club match. He can't run and carry or kick long. Just dinky little kicks across ground or backwards.
Marsh is energetic and has x-factor and will compete in the ruck. Battle unlucky but has no vertical leap for ruck work.
Kent can get the ball but doesn't use it. Stops and props and then wastes it.

[bigcarl]

Roberton will play, surely. Carlisle has a head cold apparently, but it shouldn’t be a case of either/or. Both are good players, so you need to find a way to get both in the side if fit.

[Gershwin]

Roberton will play, surely. Carlisle has a head cold apparently, but it shouldn’t be a case of either/or. Both are good players, so you need to find a way to get both in the side if fit.

So what is your back six to achieve that bigcarl?

[ace]

I suspect all players will be underdone. Especially with respect to match play.
Roberton was clearly not ready for round one but was played anyway.
There is no reserve competition so players will only get match ready for later in the season by being played now.

[ace]

Roberton will play, surely. Carlisle has a head cold apparently, but it shouldn’t be a case of either/or. Both are good players, so you need to find a way to get both in the side if fit.

I hope it is a head cold and not just excessive sniffling.

[ace]

Will be interesting.
As much as i like Robbo can we afford to have him and Wilkie in the same team. Tried to use him at CHB but really meant we were one big down. I would say Carlisle in for Robbo .
Bruce and Naughton the 2 KF and Bont pushes there for a rest. Wilkie gets Bont when forward . Howard on Bruce and let him go up tot he wing and Carlisle on Naughton.

Battle in for Ryder ( shorter quarters don't need 2 ruckman and English no Goldstien or Grundy. Battle can back up ruck against Bruce when rest needed.

Apart from that assuming injured parties all available no more changes. Kick straight first 5 min of third we win by 8 goals- yes we didn't but did a lot right before that and Gresh injury really hurt. Kent could be under pressure also

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Butler
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Jones, Paton, Kent

I would be happy enough with that side but in saying that I think a better side would include Roberton for Carlisle, Marsh for Battle and Hind for Kent.
Carlisle hasn't played a pre-season game, Round one or the intra-club match. He can't run and carry or kick long. Just dinky little kicks across ground or backwards.
Marsh is energetic and has x-factor and will compete in the ruck. Battle unlucky but has no vertical leap for ruck work.
Kent can get the ball but doesn't use it. Stops and props and then wastes it.

Roberton ,Wilkie and Battle are undersized for centre half back.
Opposing sides can be expected to play at least but probably only 2 off genuine tall forwards.
Then one undersized tall forward.
Roberton, Wilkie and Battle are competing to play on this guy.
Wilkie was clearly the fitter of the three in round one.
Roberton would then need to displace one of Geary, Long or Clark in that side.
Teams are unlikely to play resting ruckmen up forward.
Yes they can take marks and certainly do when they are rucking but when resting forward not being agile they become a serious weakness in forward defensive pressure.
Their opponents become the loose man that enables the ball to be cleared easily.
Marshall is one of the few ruckmen who could be rested forward but you can't waste a bench position with shortened quarters on a second ruckman.

That forward line is seriously undersized with 4 small forwards, one genuine tall and medium Membrey being asked to play 10cm taller.
That is where Battle should come in.
He needs to play tall forward even though in that role he is undersized.

[Ghost Like]

Are Membrey and Gresh in good Nick? Carlisle hasn't had a kick for so long...I hope we have a backup but there is no one who can sort of fill that role.

Who has had a kick SG? I'll trust Membrey & Gresh in front of goal before Bruce.

[bigcarl]

Roberton will play, surely. Carlisle has a head cold apparently, but it shouldn’t be a case of either/or. Both are good players, so you need to find a way to get both in the side if fit.

So what is your back six to achieve that bigcarl?

Does Roberton have to play back six? I’d get him in the 22 before, say, Kent or Paton - for example - to name just a couple.

Why? Because he’s a better footballer.

Team balance is important, sure, but getting your best players into the 22 is more so for mine.

I think Roberton is a best 22 player, so you find a way to get him in.

[Ghost Like]

Roberton will play, surely. Carlisle has a head cold apparently, but it shouldn’t be a case of either/or. Both are good players, so you need to find a way to get both in the side if fit.

So what is your back six to achieve that bigcarl?

Does Roberton have to play back six? I’d get him in the 22 before, say, Kent or Paton - for example - to name just a couple.

Why? Because he’s a better footballer.

Team balance is important, sure, but getting your best players into the 22 is more so for mine.

I think Roberton is a best 22 player, so you find a way to get him in.

Totally agree BigCarl, Roberton plays, Carlisle plays & Coffield should play. All three will be a part of our next finals campaign. 2020!

[shanegrambeau]

That forward line is seriously undersized with 4 small forwards, one genuine tall and medium Membrey being asked to play 10cm taller.
That is where Battle should come in.
He needs to play tall forward even though in that role he is undersized.

FWIW, this might be them,


B: Easton Wood, Zaine Cordy, Jason Johannisen
HB: Hayden Crozier, Alex Keath, Bailey Williams
C: Bailey Smith, Marcus Bontempelli, Matthew Suckling
HF: Bailey Dale, Josh Bruce, Patrick Lipinski
F: Mitch Wallis, Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd
Foll: Tim English, Josh Dunkley, Jackson Macrae
I/C: Caleb Daniel, Toby McLean, Tom Liberatore, Josh Schache

Emerg: Ed Richards, Ryan Gardner, Tory Dickson, Lewis Young


The Bulldogs backs are not biggens. Keath excepted..and he's a cricketer.

Eastern Wood 186cm
ZAind Cordy 191cm
Jason Johannisen 180cm
HAyden Crozier 185cm
Alex Keath 198cm
BAiley Williams 187cm

BTW ...is Battle not a leaper and could Carlisle play forward as a pinch hitter, despite his personal preference to intercept across the backline?

[To the top]

Agree Ghost Like

Roberton is a class footballer able to turn onto either foot with precision plus having someone with his height and skills sitting on a flank is a decided point of difference

Carlisle also is among our best players again with size and skills

Coffield is right up there with Clark

The emergence of Long as a rebounding class defender frees Clark so an advantage to this team

I would be rucking Ryder and playing Marshall forward meaning Membrey is matched against the opposition 3rd tall defender - and good luck to them if we can generate from the midfield and rebound with carry and precision from defence

[skeptic]

This would be my choice

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: Hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Jones
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Hind, Paton, Coffield

Roberton stiff to miss out. Dunstan, Geary and Lonie the most vulnerable

[shanegrambeau]

This would be my choice

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: Hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Jones
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Hind, Paton, Coffield

Roberton stiff to miss out. Dunstan, Geary and Lonie the most vulnerable

Geary is captain. He won’t miss. You must know that.Or am I missing something huge.

[Ghost Like]

This would be my choice

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: Hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Jones
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Hind, Paton, Coffield

Roberton stiff to miss out. Dunstan, Geary and Lonie the most vulnerable

Looks quite good and perhaps the Battle selection is horses for courses.

Personally I'd have Roberton in, Ryder in, Butler in and Battle, Hind and Lonie as the unlucky ones.

[desertsaint]

no idea who is fit or showing good form in training but our best team imo, all things considered (including getting games into Long at hb, and further developing Battle and King up forward), is something like:
B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Hill, Ross, Clark
HF: Billings, Membrey, Jones
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Hind, Hannebury, Coffield

like the idea of Clark as a winger, mirroring Hill.
Coffield we also need to develop, Lonie deserves a spot, but could see Butler in, and Paton in for Hind.

[skeptic]

This would be my choice

B: Geary, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Long, Carlisle, Clark
C: Hill, Ross, Hannebry
HF: Billings, Membrey, Jones
F: Lonie, King, Gresham
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Dunstan
Int: Battle, Hind, Paton, Coffield

Roberton stiff to miss out. Dunstan, Geary and Lonie the most vulnerable

Geary is captain. He won’t miss. You must know that.Or am I missing something huge.

Not at all. Just my choice.
Geary p stays in for now. IMO however we’re past the era where players where non-KPP should be selected primarily based on a defensive game and intangibles like pressure and leadership.

If I had a choice btw an elite tagger with no offensive game and a decent tagger that gets hurts the opposition on the rebound... i would pick the latter each time.

Much like resting mids up forward are better value than FP that don’t win the ball.

Personal choice

[samoht]

So it's almost the Jacks on one side vs the Joshes and the Baileys on the other.

[Nick_BlueNRG]

Coffield Austin Wilkie
Long Howard Carlisle
Hill Steele Ross (C)
Gresham King Billings
Butler Battle Membrey (VC)

Marshall Jones Hanners

Clark Dunstan Parker Sinclair

If everyone is fit and firing then this is the team I would like to see.

[stkfc1]

Must have a 2nd tall forward as we can't expect Membrey to play that main forward role every week. At some stage King will blow out most games, especially now he's put on a bit more weight.
It's putting a lot of pressure for Members to kick 3-4 every week which he may well do, if he's playing against the 3rd defender. If he gets shut down and we dont have anyone else, we'll struggle to kick winning scores.

HF Gresh/Lonie Battle/Marsh Billings
F Membrey King Butler

Battle probably gives us more flexibility around the ground but don't discount Marsh.
He looked very good in practice games. His speed and size is a serious weapon. The four smalls doesn't work. Gresh, Butler and Lonie for mine. Battle or Marsh in for Kent.

[To the top]

I do agree that we are trying to fit in too many “small forwards” under the guise of bringing a defensive capacity

What this does to structure is it pushes Membrey into a KPP role, at midfielder size

I just happen to have the opinion that Marshall is a sensational footballer and I would love to see him patrolling from CHF creating havoc

The other area of concern to me on structure is our “big bodied” mids where we are trying to fit 3 into the side.

So we lose offensive run and carry skills which breaks lines and create the havoc we trust Hill will evidence

But it takes more than one Hill

So Clark (freed from defence by Long), Billings and Gresham need to compliment Hill and take pressure off him

And anyone else we can identify on our List

Past that we get to Player A v Player B and skill set including being dangerous with ball in hand which is, to me, a not negotiable requirement in today’s game

[shanegrambeau]

Are Membrey and Gresh in good Nick? Carlisle hasn't had a kick for so long...I hope we have a backup but there is no one who can sort of fill that role.

Who has had a kick SG? I'll trust Membrey & Gresh in front of goal before Bruce.

Yeah, I know and agree, but Carlisle has really not had a full tilt for so, so long. Almost as bad as Robbo. I know he kind of played last season toward the end, but not smoothly. I think he is a rusty old steam loco hauled out when the diesel has packed up. And we finished the season like a pile of sh&t. Fair enough, all told, but nothing to be excited about. We fell to Adelaide, Carlton and Sydney wiped us out. We just scraped over the line to beat Fremantle. That was our last set of four games last year! Under Ratts! Dismal.

We have a new side now. How best to exploit it?

The Bulldogs (heresay SEN) got smashed by Grundy in the ruck against Collingwood. They will be keen to make amends and they finished in great shape last year absolutely belting Essendon, Adelaide and GWS in the final rounds.

I think we ought to consider Carlisle and Robbo as marginals that just have to get back and bloody..somehow. That's why I am wondering if players like Brown and Parker should get a second look and Wilkie could swing forward like MacDonald at Melbourne.

Marshall and Ryder, Battle and King, Lonie and Dunstan...what a mess. How do they figure those out?

I haven't got a clue about our new players. Time for a new thread about this.

[Trixilver]

I don't know if Roberton is up for it. Missed so much footy and looked off the pace in Round 1.