2008 - Preseason Preview - 13th of 16 - Bulldogs

[pahoffm]

Probably not my best work but at this stage I'm trying to get these done quickly.

Western Bulldogs
Many changes at the Bulldogs from last year. Biggest of all is that the ageless Chris Grant is no longer there, but there are other changes too.
Outside of the President & the coach, nearly every football admin position has changed.
Rodney Eade continues as senior coach. His only listed assistant is Leon Cameron, the only one left from from last season.

Fig.1, The List
Scott West	178	83	33
Brad Johnson	182	87	31
Jason Akermanis	177	85	31
Ben Hudson	199	108	29	new
Scott Welsh	188	89	29	new
Nathan Eagleton	180	84	29
Peter Street	211	110	28
Mitchell Hahn	188	99	27
Brian Harris	195	104	26
Ryan Hargrave	190	85	26
Robert Murphy	186	82	26
Danny Giansiracusa	182	83	26
Lindsay Gilbee	180	83	26
Andrew McDougall	197	103	25
Wayde Skipper	193	95	25
Dale Morris	190	92	25
Daniel Cross	187	86	25
Matthew Boyd	184	90	25
Tim Callan	181	82	24	new
Cameron Wight	200	97	23
Will Minson	199	106	23
Farren Ray	187	84	22
Adam Cooney	186	90	22
Gavin Hughes	181	80	22	rookie
Tom Williams	196	101	21
Stephen Tiller	191	88	21
Ryan Griffen	188	86	21
Dylan Addison	186	83	20
Shaun Higgins	184	89	20
Brennan Stack	184	80	20
Malcolm Lynch	178	68	20
James Mulligan	199	93	19	new rookie
John Shaw	198	91	19	new rookie
Andrejs Everitt	193	87	19
Paul O'Shea	192	86	19
Josh Hill	186	79	19
Henry White	185	70	19	new rookie
Jarrod Harbrow	178	74	19
Jarrad Boumann	196	85	18	new
Jarrad Grant	192	80	18	new
Sam Reid	188	77	18	new
Guy O'Keefe	185	77	18	new
Callan Ward	185	76	18	new
Easton Wood	185	82	18	new

The List, fig.1, has the standard 44 players, of which 11 are new players, and 4 rookie players.
Last year, the Bulldogs had 6 of their players over 30yo. This year they've cut that down to three, with those remaining being West, Johnson & Akermanis.

Fig.2 - The Spread
	<180	180-184	185-189	190-194	195-199	200+
28+	West M	Johnson F	Welsh F		Hudson R	Street R
	Akermanis M
	Eagleton F
25-27
		Giansiracusa M	Hahn M	Harris D	McDougall F
		Gilbee D	Murphy F	Hargrave D
		Boyd M	Cross M	Skipper F
				Morris D
22-24
		Callan D	Cooney M		Minson R	Wight R
		Hughes M	Ray M
18-21
	Lynch M	Higgins M	Griffen M	Everitt D	Williams D
	Harbrow M	Stack F	Addison F	O'Shea D	Tiller F
			Hill F	Grant U	Mulligan R
			White M		Shaw R
			Reid M		Boumann D
			Okeefe F
			Ward D
			Wood M

The Spread, fig.2, indicates more clearly where the Bulldogs are building their list. Five junior talls indicate that they definitely wish to put the Wallace legacy to rest.
Also, the success of Cooney, Ray & Griffen seems to have over-influenced the Bulldogs to over-recruit more of these outside midfield types.
The weakness is their lack of inside midfielders with seemingly more reliance being placed on the aging body of West.

Fig.3 - Positional Depth
B:	Gilbee 180 26 D	Everitt 193 19 D	Hargrave 190 26 D
			Morris 190 25 D
			Shaw 198 19 R
HB:	Griffen 187 21 M	Harris 194 26 D	Giansiracusa 182 26 M
	Ward 185 18 D	Williams 196 21 D	Callan 181 24 D
		O'Shea 192 19 D
		Boumann 196 18 D
C:	Cross 187 25 M	West 178 33 M	Cooney 186 22 M
	Ray 186 22 M		Hughes 181 22 M
	White 185 19 M
	Reid 188 18 M
	Wood 185 18 M
HF:	Murphy 186 26 F	Skipper 193 26 F	Johnson 182 31 F
	Addison 186 20 F	Grant 192 18 U	Stack 184 20 F
	Hill 186 19 F
	Okeefe 185 18 F
F:	McDougall 197 25 F	Welsh 188 29 F	Akermanis 177 31 M
	Tiller 195 21 F		Eagleton 179 29 F
R:	Hudson 199 29 R	Hahn 188 27 M	Lynch 178 20 M
	Street 211 28 R	Boyd 184 25 M	Harbrow 178 19 M
	Minson 198 23 R	Higgins 184 20 M
	Wight 200 23 R
	Mulligan 199 19 R

Positional Depth, fig.3, indicates that the Bulldogs have over-covered themselves in some places, and are a bit sparse in others. Why would any list want so many medium tall stick sized outside runners? They lack for ground level players.
On a positive note, again, they are gathering significant depth in their key positions & ruck.

Conclusion:
One suspects that the Bulldogs may have a lull inbetween during the time their current "aged" stars retire and the "new" stars take over.
As more experience comes into the group, over the full range of players, to me, if they can continue to recruit in this fashion, ultimate glory is very likely over the next few years.
That was my conclusion last year.
Apart from their concerning lack of ground level inside midfielders, it still holds.

 

[Freezer]

Why would any list want so many medium tall stick sized outside runners?

Might be worth asking Miller and Wallace next time you're down at Punt Rd.

 

[pahoffm]

Might be worth asking Miller and Wallace next time you're down at Punt Rd.

Yes.

I've made the point that we currently have about 2 or 3 too many down at Tigerland.
But then again, we also have 3 - Johnson, Bowden & Tivendale -, possibly 4, of these types about to retire.
That would bring us back in 2009 to a reasonable number.

In the Bulldogs case, all of theirs are young.
Reckon 9-10 of these taller medium types are ok on a list.
Bulldogs have 14. They have too many.

 

[Freezer]

Yes.

I've made the point that we currently have about 2 or 3 too many down at Tigerland.
But then again, we also have 3 - Johnson, Bowden & Tivendale -, possibly 4, of these types about to retire.
That would bring us back in 2009 to a reasonable number.

In the Bulldogs case, all of theirs are young.
Reckon 9-10 of these taller medium types are ok on a list.
Bulldogs have 14. They have too many.

Very true.

 

[Djevv]

Just reading through this I was under the impression that Cross was more of an inside type than and outside runner.

 

[pahoffm]

Just reading through this I was under the impression that Cross was more of an inside type than and outside runner.

Yep.
It's my belief that the Bulldogs are often caught in the position, through their list, of having to play outside players in inside roles.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Just reading through this I was under the impression that Cross was more of an inside type than and outside runner.

Cross is excellent over the ball, as you've noticed, Djevv. I don't even read the numbers but he'd get 5 clearances a game easily.

His outside game is his marking game. He is outstanding overhead, one of a dozen or so outstanding 6'2 smalls in the comp. He runs forward into holes and is regularly spotted up. Check his mark stats. All outside play.

A bit light so he can be targeted successfully. You wanna beat Footscray you take Cross out of the stoppages. You can do it because he's light and he's largely unsupported by other players with mass. He's an outside build.

Is he missing a few games due to injury? Might need to spend more time outside.

 

[Dyer'ere]

The Dogs’ starting 18 looks set to take a turn for the better in 08. A couple of the youngsters are maturing into nice types and, desperate for onfield success, Eade has added some experience to his group.


The backline is coming along nicely. Harris (an inveterate jib) but he’s still one of the best handful of fullbacks in the comp and his rebound game continues to improve. Dale Morris likewise is doing a good job.

Ryan Griffin is a good type. If he can overcome his ongoing knee problems he’ll be a bonus to the backline. A solid type in the making. Who knows? He may yet make a midfielder.

And Tom Williams, coming off a knee showed quite a bit last year. Looks like he might make a good player. The success of this backline any many ways depends on how good he gets.

A. Everitt is a comer. High quality talls usually cement a senior place at a young age. Everitt may do this at 19. A very good indicator. Or he may take another year and it’s not the end of the world.

Ryan Hargrave is no star but the pressure is off him to take on players half his size again. He’s blue collar but not a bad number five defender.

And Lindsay Gilbee can keep doing what he does. If he gets chopped up he can move up the park. Or to the pine. Gilbee’s a good player when you’re winning. By no means indispensable if the Dogs can get their act together. Maybe they can get selection #18 for him at the end of the year if they continue their runt purge.

This backline looks better without McMahon in it. Two lightweights, Gilbee and McMahon was too many. Maybe one’s too many.

FB R.Hargrave B.Harris D.Morris
HB L.Gilbee T.Williams R.Griffin

It’s a pretty fair backline. And Gilbee is the only scrawn and easily replaced if it gets willing. Definite improvement on 07 in terms of personnel.


The Midfield is not changed and this is where the Bulldogs are most suspect. Their main ball winners are West, Cross and Boyd. It’s not a new combo. That’s good for their understanding. But we know what they can do and it has been scientifically proven that it’s not enough.

Cross and West have shown a susceptibility to close attention at times. And Boyd is no match winner. They need help.

The first thing you’d hope for if you were a Dog is more inside stuff from Cooney. He’s still a youngster and a good player already. But he’s the bloke that carries the hopes of the Scraggers for major improvement in the engine room. He is a way short of a star ATM and there is still the chance that he will become one. This year.

Giansiracusa has improved his work rate. But he’s very much a Footscray scrawn. He’s got no presence. A neat skills type. But he’ll roll through the middle.

Farren Ray is a neat footballer but he’s not athletic and he’s not strong. His name is his best feature. And to be fair that C&W hair goes nicely with the name. Wingtip footy boots with Cuban heels would set him off beautifully. But this Cowboy is no Neale. Meh.

Eagleton, as almost everybody knows, is a jib and a downhill skier. The worst thing about Wallet targeting this player is that he was so young at the time. That meant a long sentence for Footiscray supporters who still have to put up with him. No time off for good behaviour so why behave well? Dud. But maybe he can be replaced in the midfield rotations.

Aker is probably too old to play a lot of mid these days. But if he can get his body right he might be able to add a bit more to the depth.

But these players (excepting a theoretical improved Cooney) are proven failures as a group at the very top level. And improvement from Cooney alone will not be enough. What else can they do?

Well one thing that has always troubled the dogs is that they leak. In the guts. They are not physically imposing and can get swamped.

Mitch Hahn has had a year to get over that knee. (IIRC…?) He hits packs with all of his 100kg. If his body is right he can be used to soften up the tough guys from the other team. West and Cross can’t do this and Boyd plays 20kg lighter than Hahn.

Eade set him to this at times in 07. He’s seen the opportunities. Mitch could be used very effectively in 08. (Let’s hope he kicks the ball, eh?) But again it’s not enough by itself.

There is a lack of depth in the rotations. And an all-new hard-arse tagger is needed (although West might get this gig as he ages disgracefully).

Mids: West Cross Cooney Boyd Hahn Giansiracusa Aker Eagleton


Rucks have been a real problem for the Dawgs since Darcy’s first knee. Was that five years ago?

Hudson was a real good get. He’s the right type for the Scraggers. He gives them badly needed muscle around the ball. And plenty of it. He takes some heat off Cross and West and if Hahn can’t lay down the law Hudson might do the job. He won’t just be brushed aside if the other team tries to storm the centre clearances. He is imposing.

Hudson BTW was first year back from an ACL last year. He should improve this year.

What I like about the idea of Hudson and a fit Hahn at the bounces at the same time is that it gives the Scrays the option of a blood bath. Brutal clearance football. Not many will beat them at a game of attrition if they can get their act together.

And this is where I see the major improvement in Footscray’s midfield setup in 08.

Backup ruck Minson has not improved since his debut season. He hasn’t gone backwards. He’s just stagnating so fast it seems that way.

Wade Skipper is an impostor but he’s the perfect foil for Hudson. Clever, light, mobile, a sneak. And Street has improved a little under Eade’s coaching without setting the world on fire.

A classy athletic ruck would be nice. But they don’t got one this year.

Rucks: Hudson Street Skipper Minson


The forward line has always been a problem. Without dominant, large key forwards the Dogs have to resort to sneak tactics to get a goal. But these are precisely the tactics that Eade used in his setup at Sydney. And that Roos still uses.

Robbins became a very effective little player under Eade. Welsh is a similar type of a much higher calibre. A bigger gun. Whoa, I can feel a pun rush coming on.

There that’s good it passed.

Welsh is not just there to plug holes (and I thought it had passed). He’s a first class avenue to goal. And will take a lot of heat off the aging star small tall Brad Johnson. Of course it all turns to *smile* if Welsh succumbs to injury. But he was clear last season.

Murphy was first year back from an ACL last season so I expect him to improve. That’s three high quality forwards. If Footscray just had a big bloke to hold it together for them they could be near complete for marking targets. But the marking targets they’ve got have ground game.

Giansiracusa is a productive unit but he’s just not the type you want in a tough game. Not a bad fifth forward. At least he runs. And he has improved over the years. Another petite.

Aker will do his thing on a flank. Eagleton can roll through for some bite. Ray can post up for some Jamie Eliot plays. I’m not sure about Harbrow but if he can further improve in 08 he’ll be handy at the fall.

Higgins I am sure bout. He’s a sagger and a seagull. Won’t get a kick in a real game. Impostor. Cannot win a contest. Bludger. Not fair dinkum. Leper. Can’t beat an opponent. I’d punt him. In fact I’d have already punted him. #19 for McMahon? What will you give us for Judd, I mean Higgins?

HF Akermanis Murphy Giansiracusa
FF Welsh B.Johnson Street/Harbrow


There is still a lack of structure up forward and a need to find some new inside ball winners but the addition of Welsh and Hudson has partly addressed this. The Bulldogs are beefier for 08 and that is a welcome change.

Cooney, Hudson, Welsh, Williams the big hopes for significant improvement in 08. Likely final 8 I reckon.

 

[mb64]

Reckon Doggies will go okay this year.Will finish 5-8

 

[Dyer'ere]

Backup ruck Minson has not improved since his debut season. He hasn’t gone backwards. He’s just stagnating so fast it seems that way.

I got this bloke wrong. i can bbe sure of that even six rounds in. He's improved and become a very useful backup ruck.

Assault ruck duties were invented for this bloke. Good to see him taking advantage of that.

Not a bad kick for goal this year. ullhair

 

[pahoffm]

Bullies did well.