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GVGjr
29-03-2013, 09:11 AM
When and Where
Round One - Western Bulldogs vs Brisbane - Saturday 30 March 1:40pm AEDT

The last time they met
Round 23, 2 Sep 2012 Gabba Brisbane defeats Western Bulldogs 128-61

Best Players - Bulldogs - Boyd (37), Cooney (29) Griffen (27)
Most Disposals - Lions - Redden (26), Beams (26), Rich (26)

Major Goal Kickers
Bulldogs - Higgins - 2
Lions – Brown - 5 , Rich 4 and Berwick 2

Brownlow Votes
3 - Rich (BL)
2 - Redden (BL)
1 - Beams (BL)


The previous 8 games against the Lions
Round 23, 2 Sep 2012 Gabba Brisbane defeats Western Bulldogs 128-61
Round 13, 23 Jun 2012 Etihad Stadium Western Bulldogs defeated by Brisbane 56-114
Round 2, 3 Apr 2011 Etihad Stadium Western Bulldogs defeat Brisbane 123-45
Round 12, 13 Jun 2010 Etihad Stadium Western Bulldogs defeat Brisbane 121-56
Round 4, 17 Apr 2010 Gabba Brisbane defeats Western Bulldogs 101-79
Second Semi Final, 11 Sep 2009 MCG Western Bulldogs defeat Brisbane 107-56
Round 20, 15 Aug 2009 Gabba Brisbane defeated by Western Bulldogs 84-102
Round 20, 16 Aug 2008 Gabba Brisbane defeats Western Bulldogs 90-79


NAB Cup Formline
Bulldogs - Struggled throughout but had a hard fought win against the Hawks.
Lions - Outstanding NAB cup campaign winning convincingly against the Blues in the final.

Definite advantage to the Lions.

Selection conundrums and debutants

Injuries to key senior players has provided a number of opportunities to introduce our 4 new players that we acquired during the 2012 season trade and free agency periods.

Please welcome aboard key defender Tom Young, midfield lockdown specialist Nick Lower, the exciting attacking midfielder Koby Stevens and the very late developer defender Brett Goodes. All players were named in the starting line-up.

The Bulldogs also welcome back star defender Dale Morris from a serious injury and say hello Jason Johannisen for his first game as a senior listed player.
Cooney and Higgins shrug off injury concerns and are available to play.

Injuries
Despite a great preseason from an injury perspective the Bulldogs have copped a few to key senior players including the club captain Matthew Boyd who is a prolific ball winner and typically has very good games against the Lions.

Adam Cooney (knee) test (Selected in the side)
Easton Wood (hamstring) test
Tom Williams (foot) 1-2 weeks
Matthew Boyd (calf) 2-3 weeks
Fletcher Roberts
Jarrad Grant
Nathan Hvorat


Key Match-ups
Lower vs Rich - Rich tends to hurt us with his effective and penetrating kicking skills and Lower appears to be the right man to curb his influence. I would be half tempted to run Clay Smith against him as part of a longer term development of Smith but Lower should get first crack at Rich.
Rich was the dominate player in the last encounter and he is the first player I would be looking to shut down

Roughead vs Brown - Roughead will get a lot of the big name key forwards this year and while Brown is closing in on the end of a stellar career his is still more than capable of being a match winner. Browns 5 goals in the last encounter is testament that he is far from finished.

Picken vs McGrath - Ash McGrath is often a player that can ignite the Lions forward line and Picken is the ideal player to get first crack at him.

Minson vs Longer/Martin - Minson has been in very good form but is pitted against the highly talented but inexperienced Billy Longer. I certainly see this as a good match-up for the Bulldogs and the one that can provide our midfield group first use of the football.
The Lions will need to use newly acquired and highly athletic Stefan Martin to assist Longer while the Dogs will look towards Cordy to provide Minson with some well earned breaks.

Johannisen vs Zorko - Zorko had a terrific season in 2012 and his likely opponent in Johannisen will have his work curt out to curb his influence. As JJ's career develops he will be given bigger names to play against and this is the first of many big challenges for him.

Cordy vs Merrett - The Dogs desperately need Cordy to hold his marks and convert his chances as a key forward but he will be pitted against the physically powerful Daniel Merrett who is coming off a vastly improved 2012 season where he was often used as a dangerous key forward. If Cordy can jag 2 or 3 goals then it will go a long way towards a Bulldogs win.

Selected side

FB - Morris, Roughead, Picken
HB - Johannisen, Young, Goodes
C - Cooney, Lower, Stevens
HF - Murphy*, Jones, Giansiracusa
FF - Dickson, Cordy, Dahlhaus
Fol - Minson, Griffen, Liberatore

Int - Wallis, Cross, Higgins, Smith
Emg - Tutt, Markovic, Campbell
* Captain

For the Dogs to Win

The Lions beat us twice last year mainly because we couldn't handle their superior athleticism. This is an area we have improved on and the match against the Lions will be the first of many tests for us.
Players like Murphy, Dahlhaus, Dickson and Higgins must keep the scoreboard ticking over and the back line must somehow need to adjust to life after Brian Lake.

Wallis, Griffen, Stevens, Smith, Cross and Liberatore must all lift their intensity to cover the huge loss of Matthew Boyd to the midfield group.

Summary and prediction
The Lions have everything working their way especially when you consider their stellar NAB cup campaign and the way they thrashed us last year however, despite the form guide I'm going with a spirited 3 goal win by the Dogs.

Hotdog60
29-03-2013, 09:32 AM
Great write up GVGjr.

I'm with you on Rich who is developing into a very good player and one that you can't afford to give space to. If we get down to task early and play the game on our terms I think we can pip the Lions. Boyd will be missed but it opens an opportunity for Stevens to prove to the Eagles he should have got more opportunity in their midfield.

One for the match committee, what happens if Boyd's replacement in his absence averages 30+ possessions and has a 90% kicking efficiency. :-P

Should be a good opener for us to make an early statement.

Go Dogs

SlimPickens
29-03-2013, 09:57 AM
Great write up GV,

Another who has carved us up in recent outings is Rockliff. Usually he has gone head to head with Boyd and the closest they have got to each other was when sitting on the pine. Do you see someone shutting him down or does Griffen go head to head and we hope to get a win out of the contest?

bornadog
29-03-2013, 10:22 AM
You have set the bar for 2013, great summary.

This will be JJ's 4th game for us and he deserves a place in our best 22 after a very good preseason and deserved the upgrade to the senior list

I just hope we are competitive in this game. Brisbane will be hard to beat.

Greystache
29-03-2013, 11:05 AM
Great write up GVG

Who do you see Morris lining up on? I thought McGrath might have been a good fit. Interesting choice of JJ on Zorko, despite his size and attacking instinct he actually seems to be able to defend too which is a bonus.

F'scary
29-03-2013, 12:03 PM
After my initial disappointment in seeing that Stringer was not selected, I have looked at the side again and been struck by how many new faces there in fact are. Then there is the return of Morris and Cooney with the best pre-season he has had in 5 years. Go on lads, surprise the footy world tomorrow!

GVGjr
29-03-2013, 12:40 PM
Great write up GVG

Who do you see Morris lining up on? I thought McGrath might have been a good fit. Interesting choice of JJ on Zorko, despite his size and attacking instinct he actually seems to be able to defend too which is a bonus.

It's a real option and I considered the same but guess is that the Lions will throw some taller guys forward like Cornelius, Merrett or even Karnezis and Morris will be shuffled around a bit.
Let Picken and Johannisen take the smaller guys with Morris matching up on the taller guys.

Scraggers
29-03-2013, 12:55 PM
Great preview GVG ... I am really hoping for a Dogs win, but think the loss of Boyd might be too great ... Lions by 3 points after a last term comeback by the Doggies.

Go_Dogs
29-03-2013, 05:36 PM
Terrific write up GVGjr. I like the match ups you've proposed and I'm really looking forward to seeing how Lower goes tomorrow shutting down a player like Rich. Going to be a good test for him, but one I think he's capable of doing well in.

On paper and based on the form guide, it's hard to go past Brisbane, but I have a bit of faith we may surprise and take the chocolates.

The Bulldogs Bite
29-03-2013, 07:32 PM
Good write up GVG.

I think Zorko needs to get either Morris (unlikely -- probably needed elsewhere) or Picken. I think he's an outstanding player and a real key to the Lions rise.

lemmon
29-03-2013, 07:44 PM
Great write up GVG, Im looking forward to a massive game from Minson, he's in a position to really dominate Longer and Martin, we desperately need first use

jeemak
30-03-2013, 03:50 AM
Great write up GVGjr.

Agree that Rich is the danger man for us. With our inexperienced backs we'll be exposed by quick and accurate penetrating kicking from the Lions midfield.

It's so important that our midfield work their arses off to break even at every contest, and our half forwards keep their defenders honest by chasing, tackling and being dangerous when we have the ball.

If we give Brisbane any sort of sniff towards moving the ball freely we'll be in trouble on the scoreboard.

Bulldog Revolution
30-03-2013, 09:52 AM
Great preview GVGjr

Good to have the footy back

Rich has become a prime mover and killed us last year. Redden is pretty important for them also

As discussed Minson should get a hold of Longer, and then we need him to really wear Longer down

The Tom Young selection was interesting, but I guess Brizzy dont have that many key forwards, so we dont need another tall key defender.

McGrath is a player who has gotten under our guard on more than one occasion

Brisbane have recruited well over the past 3-4 years post the nightmarish Fevola off season

ratsmac
30-03-2013, 10:48 AM
Great review! Thanks.

Can't wait to see a fit Cooney for the first time in 5 years. We need his dash with Dal, Grif and JJ spreading them. With good ball movement and a real physical contest we will challenge the lions.

Always the pessimist though, I think Brisbane will beat us by 5+ goals. Sorry:(

ratsmac
30-03-2013, 07:36 PM
Great review! Thanks.

Can't wait to see a fit Cooney for the first time in 5 years. We need his dash with Dal, Grif and JJ spreading them. With good ball movement and a real physical contest we will challenge the lions.

Always the pessimist though, I think Brisbane will beat us by 5+ goals. Sorry:(

Wow am I glad to be wrong. Carn the dogs!!!