The dullbogs say they are going to get physical against saints

[saynta]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/aar ... 55zh9.html

[Vortex]

This will be a massive test for our on field leadership. Players like Billing's will need to be up to the task, there's no room for bruise free footy in finals.

[Devilhead]

All the pressure is on the Dogs

[shanegrambeau]

Big Jake the snake will be ready. Boiled and coiled.

[Ghost Like]

Bulldogs can say what they like, finals do not allow you the opportunity to pick & choose when to get physical. Finals pressure will magnify skill errors and make two sided players worth their weight in gold. I suspect Hunter Clark is built to play finals.

[asiu]

Big Jake the snake will be ready. Boiled and coiled.

hope so
and doesn’t play like a cross between pollyanna
and sunny ernest

[SaintPav]

Why are they telegraphing their strategy?

Morons.

[asiu]

good question

[Impatient Sainter]

If we can regather our early season form and confidence, we should get this. We will need our talls in the forward line to really work hard screening for each other.

Would be nice to have Gresham out there, he stands up in these games.

Should be a great game but my prediction is Saints win by 14pts.

[shadrock]

Why are they telegraphing their strategy?

Morons.

Because they are still in their own heads after being manhandled by GWS in week 1 of the finals last year.

[saynta]

Why are they telegraphing their strategy?

Morons.

Because they are still in their own heads after being manhandled by GWS in week 1 of the finals last year.

Spot on.

[WellardSaint]

I suggest our guys have a closer bond than the Doggies, who give this outsider the impression that they're not quite as cohesive, and the Doggies seem to be unable to focus.

Physicality is one thing, but if we bring the type of game that pounced on the Power, the Dogs will just play selfish and find it hard to stop us.

Hoping that's the case

[Waltzing St Kilda]

With two forwards nursing injuries, probably not the wisest strategy to invite some hard bits.

[The Peanut]

Well, I have a bit more confidence than some that our coaching staff will prepare our lads for the occasion. If this info came from the kennel, they must be worried. Now that Roughie is up in Noosa I'm sure that we'll be ready for a finals game - and we'll all find out on Saturday whether we are up to it or not, but I'd be more worried this week if I was a filth supporter. [Edit from the Couch potato]

[Sainter_Dad]

Well, I have a bit more confidence than some that our couching staff will prepare our lads for the occasion.

Count me in as Couching Staff - I will be cheering from my Couch!!!!

[bigcarl]

We won’t get sucked into this. Beat them by getting more of the ball and kicking more goals.

If there is any physical stuff, I’m pretty confident we can match them.

[Devilhead]

Only once this year did they win the game when they were behind on the scoreboard at QT - against an injury smashed Eagles.

Get an early lead and %s say they will crumble

[asiu]

yep

you think this is about putting ‘fight’ in our head
whilst they try n get a 5 goal head start

rather we did that

[asiu]

i’m surprised how tetchy i’m getting
‘n its only Sunday

i might be a little tightly wound myself
in a week

c’mon Sainters

[beebarry]

i’m surprised how tetchy i’m getting
‘n its only Sunday

i might be a little tightly wound myself
in a week

c’mon Sainters

oh yeah ...I am tightly wound AF. In a way I wish we were the Thursday or Friday game to just bring it closer but it is what it is.

come on Saints its been a goddamn awful year in so many ways.....lets ride this 2020 wave as far as we can ...

[Scollop]

Didn't want to mention this publicly but the Dogs lack leadership. With the inclusion of Hannas, Ryder, Hill, and even guys like Howard and Butler we have added to our on field leaders.

I think since the retirement of Bob Murphy, Dale Morris, and Matt Boyd the Dogs don't have as many experienced players and especially as many good leaders as we do.

As far as the game is concerned, we are better off losing the fights and winning on the scoreboard. Showing how tough we are or how angry we are is not going to win you a final

[Jacks Back]

It's reverse psychology. We think they'll go the man, so we'll go the man and they'll go the ball.

And don't forget, the umps seemed to like the doggies back in the year they won the finals. Hopefully we'll be the ones they favour this year.

[minneapolis]

Why are they telegraphing their strategy?

Morons.

I think the topic line of the thread is wrong.

When I read the article it said that the Bulldogs were a bit surprised that GWS concentrated on a physical game plan. In the end they absorbed the physicality and won the game.

Their coach is saying that this will be good experience for their team.

Who would the Dogs target physically? Billings? Hill? It doesn't make sense to me.

[Saintmatt]

This will be a massive test for our on field leadership. Players like Billing's will need to be up to the task, there's no room for bruise free footy in finals.

Agree. Similarly - I'd very much like to see our forwards throw their weight around - in particular Battle and Kent. Wouldn't at all be unhappy if Battle nails JJ with a knee to the kidneys in an early marking contest and similarly, Kent wraps up Caleb in huge bone-crunching tackle. In some ways - the Dogs are like us - not an overly aggressive team.

I'd love our boys to focus on the footy first but take our chances to hit and hurt hard as and when they inevitably present. I'd be very surprised if the Dogs haven't got a Billings/Hill in the gun.

[Saintmatt]

Bulldogs can say what they like, finals do not allow you the opportunity to pick & choose when to get physical. Finals pressure will magnify skill errors and make two sided players worth their weight in gold. I suspect Hunter Clark is built to play finals.

I've been thinking the same thing. Skills stand up. I have a bit of faith that Jack Sinclair's vision and classy disposal will be huge when then heat of the game is on. The Dogs have some amazing ball users and we're a bit down in that department so, we need to get it into the hands of those who can be efficient and effective.