St Kilda Vs Western Bulldogs - Pre-Match Discussion

SaintBot · Post: # 540007Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 12:58pm

Early Week Teams:

ST KILDA
B: Geary (183), Hudghton (191), Gilbert (194)
HB: Gram (186), S.Fisher (192), X.Clarke (182)
C: Blake (191), Hayes (186), Montagna (178)
HF: Harvey (181), Riewoldt (193), Schneider (179)
F: Milne (178), Koschitzke (197), Gehrig (195)
FOLL: King (201), Dal Santo (186), Ball (184)
I/C: M.Gardiner (199), L.Fisher (188), Fiora (186), Goddard (191)
EMG: C.Gardiner (190), Jones (183), R.Clarke (189)

IN: Goddard
OUT: R.Clarke

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Gilbee (180), Lake (195), Morris (190)
HB: Griffen (188), Wight (200), Hargrave (190)
C: Eagleton (180), West (178), Cross (187)
HF: Murphy (186), Hahn (188), Johnson (182)
F: Akermanis (177), Minson (199), Welsh (188)
FOLL: Hudson (199), Boyd (184), Cooney (186)
I/C: Hill (186), Callan (181), Giansiracusa (182), Addison (186)
EMG: Harbrow (178), Tiller (191), Street (211)

IN: Eagleton
OUT: Higgins (Inj)

Notes: Very very difficult decision coming up for selection committee. Goddard looks fairly certain to be played, after resting for the 2nd half of the Casey game. Jones also rested, pehaps as a precaution.

The candidates for omission are Geary, Gilbert, R.Clarke, King, Fiora and L.Fisher. I think Geary, Fiora, L.Fisher and King have all played well enough to retain their spots. That leaves Gilbert and Raph. Eventually i decided that Ross will want to stick with Gilbert, as he appears to be moulding him into a more defensive role - once he becomes comfortable with that we will hopefully see him begining to rebound regularly out of defence once again. Gilbert played the entire game against Carlton, Raph 80%. Very hard decision to make.

Bulldogs will have to lose Higgins to an ankle(?) injury and will probably regain Eagleton if he is fit. If not Harbrow would be next in line.

Tough week for the selection guys at St Kilda and also for the fringe players at training. A very good problem to be having mind you.

i_luv_nick_riewoldt · Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:02pm

Yes, i like that team. I would love to see geary retain his spot i think at times he showed he was calm under pressure which is great!

I hope the boys are up for the game this week and get off to a better start. Probably carlton caught them flat-footed and a bit tentitive in 1st Q.

CURLY · Post: # 540011Post **CURLY** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:05pm

Im pretty sure Eagleton has a broken leg. Raph wont get dropped id say Fiora for BJ.

fonz_#15 · Post: # 540012Post **fonz_#15** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:06pm

CURLY wrote:Im pretty sure Eagleton has a broken leg. Raph wont get dropped id say Fiora for BJ.

where did you hear that?

if that is the case, a huge loss for the dogs.

CURLY · Post: # 540015Post **CURLY** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:08pm

Im pretty sure it was Doc Larkin Sunday morning.

SaintBot · Post: # 540018Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:10pm

wasnt aware of that curly - heard it was just soreness and bruising

CURLY wrote:Raph wont get dropped id say Fiora for BJ.

I know that Raph is a favourite of Ross', but then so was Clinton Jones. I doubt that Fiora will be dropped against a pacey side like the Bulldogs. With the already tall team that we are playing we need the quicks such as Fiora (and Jones possibly).

mad saint guy · Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:12pm

CURLY wrote:Im pretty sure it was Doc Larkin Sunday morning.

I've got no idea where that came from. Eagleton is available for selection this week. Bruising on the ankle, nothing more.

HarveysDeciple · Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:16pm

Gilbert or Raph seem the likely casualties in Goddard's return.

I still would love to see Goddard play on a HFF.

CURLY · Post: # 540022Post **CURLY** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:18pm

Eagletons injury happened against the Crows. Larkin spoke about it Sunday morning.

Unforgiven · Post: # 540026Post **Unforgiven** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:31pm

I dont think Gilbert should be dropped. IMO he is playing poor at the moment, but this is due to him being played out of position. I dont think he is suited to be a defender or a key position defender. He is better in the middle or wings, tackling, chasing, with his quick running.

Dan Warna · Post: # 540029Post **Dan Warna** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:33pm

I see it as our strength and height versus their speed.

The Peanut · Post: # 540044Post **The Peanut** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:50pm

CURLY wrote:Eagletons injury happened against the Crows. Larkin spoke about it Sunday morning.

... Eade agreed his team is reasonably well-placed for next Friday night's assignment against St Kilda considering it will be coming off successive six-day breaks.

Forward Shaun Higgins is set to miss the next two matches with a sprained ankle but the Dogs are likely to have veteran midfielder Nathan Eagleton, a late withdrawal against Melbourne with an ankle problem, available for the Saints clash.

http://sportal.com.au/AFL-news-display/ ... fort-45693 29/03/2008

aussiejones · Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:58pm

"I see it as our strength and height versus their speed"

OK RL ....lets play to our strengths

Also how about picking up the man a bit more ????

SaintBot · Post: # 540050Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 1:58pm

Dan Warna wrote:I see it as our strength and height versus their speed.

Avg Height

St Kilda - Just over 188

W.Bulldogs - Just under 187

El Wood · Post: # 540053Post **El Wood** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:02pm

Avg Height

St Kilda - Just over 188

W.Bulldogs - Just under 187

Yes, but what's the standard deviation?

Dan Warna · Post: # 540055Post **Dan Warna** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:09pm

SaintBot wrote:
Dan Warna wrote:I see it as our strength and height versus their speed.
Avg Height

St Kilda - Just over 188

W.Bulldogs - Just under 187

really?

I felt that our team is very tall, maybe its because im short 175cmish guy

Armoooo · Post: # 540057Post **Armoooo** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:12pm

For the record, Eagleton was originally thought to have had a broken leg, however after further examination it was just severe bruising.
He is probably about a 60% chance to play this week.

Bulldogs are a far different side to the team that we seem to love to beat by 50 points. They now have a solid ruckman and a mobile forward line.

I still believe that our forwardline will beat their backline and ours backline can break even so if we can gain control in the midfield we should win this one.

Hudghton should get first go on Johnson after his last two weeks form. S.Fisher to go on Welsh. Gilbert on Murphy. Geary on Hill. Blake on Akermanis.

The midfield contest should be a good one, I would like to see L.Fisher get the job on Cooney but I would like to se the rest of the matchups as a one on one contest because I believe our midfield to have too much class.

Our tall forwards should be able to do a number on their backline, it will all come down to communication, this is what held us back last week and I'm sure RL will have this as his number 1 priority this week. I just hope that Lake plays on Gehrig, he can continue his campaign for the coleman

Otiman · Post: # 540058Post **Otiman** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:12pm

IMO Raph is ahead of Gilbert at the moment. Neither are being played to their strengths though. I'd expect a mid to go out for Goddard, most likely fiora due to him having low game time (and Goddard to be given low game time for the next few weeks also)

SaintBot · Post: # 540060Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:16pm

Dan Warna wrote:
SaintBot wrote:
Dan Warna wrote:I see it as our strength and height versus their speed.
Avg Height

St Kilda - Just over 188

W.Bulldogs - Just under 187
really?

I felt that our team is very tall, maybe its because im short 175cmish guy

to be honest - those stats are really quite useless

to get a better idea of the height difference between the teams would be to break the players into groups of "players who play tall", "players who can play tall" or "players who play medium", "players who play small" etc and for the point of pace vs height we would have to classify "endurance/pace/etc"

for example the bulldogs have Murphy (186cm) and Welsh (188cm) who both really play as key forwards

on paper, we really should win this game - shut down 2 of Johnson, West, Cooney, Cross and our job is half done

SaintBot · Post: # 540063Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:26pm

Otiman wrote:IMO Raph is ahead of Gilbert at the moment. Neither are being played to their strengths though. I'd expect a mid to go out for Goddard, most likely fiora due to him having low game time (and Goddard to be given low game time for the next few weeks also)

Midfielders and % of Gametime vs Carlton

Montagna - 81%
Hayes - 84%
Ball - 74%
X.Clarke - 71%
Dal Santo - 87%
Fiora - 83%
Harvey - 74%
L.Fisher - 80%

+

Gram - 100%
Schneider - 86%
Geary - 90%
Blake - 84%

Then look at fringe players:

Gilbert - 100%
R.Clarke - 80%
King - 48% (M.Gardiner - 61%)

Dan Warna · Post: # 540064Post **Dan Warna** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:27pm

is peter street still on their list?

In fairness to my assumption, he does drag their average up a centremetre or two on his own

SaintBot · Post: # 540065Post **SaintBot** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:29pm

Dan Warna wrote:is peter street still on their list?

In fairness to my assumption, he does drag their average up a centremetre or two on his own

he is - listed as an emegency

i only added up my predicted 22 for both teams

but yes, Street's 211cm wouldve made quite a difference

kaos theory · Mon 31 Mar 2008 2:43pm

In: Goddard
Out: Blake

Blake plays as a utility, link man and floating HB. Goddard can play this role much better. More skill, fantasic long kick, better vision and far better decsion-making, similar pace, with slightly more endurance to blake.

If we dump Raph or Gibert, we lose out on pace, and that would mean slowish defence on paper, compared to the mid-sized nimble dogs.

We are well suited to corraling the dogs. We can bottle up their run, force them to kick to contests where we have the aerial strength to get the ball and take it forward through our quick movement through the corridor. We have too many guns up forward and a slightly better midfield.

Our real worry is our kicking for goal and disposals at times. We need to sharpen up our skills here, especially for the cats the following week.

Expect a 25+ point win...

BigMart · Post: # 540082Post **BigMart** » Mon 31 Mar 2008 3:03pm

B: Geary (183)/Akermanis (177) - Hudghton (191)/Johnson (182) - S.Fisher (192)/Welsh (188)
HB: Gram (186)/Hill (186) - Blake (191)/Hahn (188) - R.Clarke (188)/Murphy (186)
C: Dal Santo (186)/Boyd (184) - Hayes (186)/Cross (187) - X.Clarke (182)/Eagleton (180)
HF: Harvey (181)/Griffen (188) - Riewoldt (193)/Hargrave (190) - Schneider (179)/Gilbee (180)
F: Milne (178)/Morris (190) - Koschitzke (197)/Wight (200) - Gehrig (195)/Lake (195)
FOLL: King (201)/Hudson (199) - L.Fisher (188)/Cooney (186) - Montagna (178)/West (178)

I/C: M.Gardiner (199), Fiora (186), Goddard (191), Ball (184)
I/C: Callan (181), Giansiracusa (182), Addison (186), Street (211)

EMG: C.Gardiner (190), Jones (183), S.Gilbert (194)

IN: Goddard
OUT: Gilbert (194)

IN: Street, Eagleton
OUT: Minson, Higgins

Iratedebate · Mon 31 Mar 2008 3:45pm

IN: Goddard
OUT: R.Clarke

That is the most obvious change for mine. If it comes down to a choice between Gilbert and Raph then i hope Gilbo keeps his spot. Both have had fairly ordinary starts to the year, but i see more upside with Gilbert. Gilbert needs to be played HBF/WING with occasional bursts in through our midfield rotation for us to get the best out of him. His main attributes are his pace, ability to break lines, and his tackling skills, and we are not getting the most out of him from the back pocket. Unfortunately he looks to be lacking in confidence at the minute, probably due to him getting touched up while playing as a key backman (which he is not) in the pre season.