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Again, forgive me for being skeptical of a poster with 3 posts and no previous record on inside words.Murray Pitts wrote:I have some pretty good mail that M. Gardiner wont play this week. Has a strained calf from midweek training. Raph will take his spot in the selected side with Kosi sharing ruck duties with King.
Would think it's a pure runs on the board decision between the 2; Gilbert had a great '07, Raph hasn't done anything to warrant putting the word "great" next to his name. On '08 for it was 50/50.saintsrus wrote:Welcome back BJ
Bad luck Raph, Gilbert lucky IMO
who knows that new poster suggested raph is coming in through an injury...CURLY wrote:Id almost think Raphs omission was due to match ups, the dogs really dont have a player that he could match up on with his height. With Blake playing as a third tall down back at present that has them all covered.
Bulldogs forwardsCURLY wrote:Id almost think Raphs omission was due to match ups, the dogs really dont have a player that he could match up on with his height. With Blake playing as a third tall down back at present that has them all covered.
That leaves Josh Hill without an opponent who can spoil. In the past two weeks he has shown that he will hurt you if ignored. Without Raph we have to either play Hudghton on a taller player with Leigh Fisher on Johnson or play someone like X (can anyone else defend?) on Josh Hill an concede a fair bit of height.CURLY wrote:Max has done the job on Johnson before id say hed get first crack. Minson will be the second ruck. Blake on Hahn, Fisher to Welsh leave Gilbert to Murphy who is more nimble to get Murphy at ground level. L Fisher youd think would have a mid field tag.
The guys matching up on the mentioned Bulldogs players aren't necessarily going to be stuck in the backline all day. A few of the mentioned Bulldogs players are mainly midfielders who play forward of the ball and are prepared to run inside 50 and be a scoring option (but the same goes for the majority of small/medium forwards these days).CURLY wrote:How many do you want to play down back? Gram X and Goddard will more than likely spend time across half back. Hill has played across the middle as well so Fiora may be a chance.
saintsRrising wrote:Max plays his best football deep......and Johnno is the Dogs forward that I fear most.
So when Johnno is forward I would put Max on him.
Give L Fisher first crack at West.
West is out of form, possibly for good.JuanTheSydSainter wrote:saintsRrising wrote:Max plays his best football deep......and Johnno is the Dogs forward that I fear most.
So when Johnno is forward I would put Max on him.
Give L Fisher first crack at West.
I agree. Fisher has been successful with two hard tags on midfielders. Keep him in the same role. Johnson has too much pace for him. West is the ideal match up. Max, when fit, has always done a nice job on Johnson, mostly because of his closing speed.
And Welsh is one of the few players in the competition who has beaten Max in the last 4 years. I wouldn't be confident with that match up.vacuous space wrote:Hudghton used to play on Welsh when he was at the Crows. That's who I'd expect him to line up on tonight if Leigh Fisher gets Johnson. I'd expect Sam Fisher to line up on Robert Murphy.
I'm trying to remember the last time the Saints and Crows played where both were in the lineup. IIRC, Last year Max was out when we met the Crows, Welsh missed most of '06, and Max missed the '05 QF... and my mind certainly fails me for matchups for Max during the '05 and '04 season for a lot of games. Not that I'm doubting you (quick look at the stats says Welsh kicked 5 against the Saints during the H&A in '05), I just can't remember, and Max's off nights normally stand out.mad saint guy wrote:And Welsh is one of the few players in the competition who has beaten Max in the last 4 years. I wouldn't be confident with that match up.vacuous space wrote:Hudghton used to play on Welsh when he was at the Crows. That's who I'd expect him to line up on tonight if Leigh Fisher gets Johnson. I'd expect Sam Fisher to line up on Robert Murphy.
Welsh kicked 5 on Max in 05, with some sublime ball movement from the Crows through the middle.....BAM! (shhhh) wrote:I'm trying to remember the last time the Saints and Crows played where both were in the lineup. IIRC, Last year Max was out when we met the Crows, Welsh missed most of '06, and Max missed the '05 QF... and my mind certainly fails me for matchups for Max during the '05 and '04 season for a lot of games. Not that I'm doubting you (quick look at the stats says Welsh kicked 5 against the Saints during the H&A in '05), I just can't remember, and Max's off nights normally stand out.mad saint guy wrote:And Welsh is one of the few players in the competition who has beaten Max in the last 4 years. I wouldn't be confident with that match up.vacuous space wrote:Hudghton used to play on Welsh when he was at the Crows. That's who I'd expect him to line up on tonight if Leigh Fisher gets Johnson. I'd expect Sam Fisher to line up on Robert Murphy.
I'll remain confidant in Max until Welsh turns it on (and since he'll probably follow around S Fisher, that'll make life interesting), I'm interested in the Johnson-L. Fisher matchup/// he's got the experience down back, Johnson sjhouldn't be able to lose him pushing up the ground, but Johnson is one of the AFLs most dynamic talents and has the runs on the board and L Fisher doesn't.
IMO this game will com down to clearances (oh yeah, go out on a limb Bam, what fantastic insight!), but I'm pretty happy with how we stack up over the rest of the ground.
