The men in the guts: Who goes in, who clears it, best combos

[Bulldog4life]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-05-08/stuck-in-the-middle-with-you-your-clubs-centrebounce-specialists

Western Bulldogs
Men in the middle: Tim English (151 attendances), Marcus Bontempelli (119), Tom Liberatore (112), Jack Macrae (111), Mitch Wallis (80), Josh Dunkley (58), Bailey Smith (30), Josh Schache (18), Billy Gowers (10), Bailey Williams (8), Jackson Trengove (3), Zaine Cordy (3), Toby McLean (2), Lachie Hunter (2), Aaron Naughton (1)

Go-to guys: English has been backed by coach Luke Beveridge as the first-choice ruckman all season. Liberatore provides the grunt contested work, Macrae is top five in the competition for disposals and superstar Bontempelli is the enviable combination of brute and polish. The midfield trio are all in the top 15 players for contested possessions this season. Wallis is an able deputy and Dunkley has been deployed as a back-up ruckman at times

Most successful starting four: English, Liberatore, Macrae, Bontempelli Clearance record: 17 wins, 12 losses

Ruck and roll: English / Bontempelli with eight successful takeaways. The No.1 ruck tapping to the Bulldogs' best player is predictable. Interestingly, last season's rover in this category was Toby McLean, who has attended centre bounces just twice in 2019.

Average centre clearance differential: 10 Ranked: 5th

Average points from centre bounces differential: 10.3 Ranked: 8th

Analysis: The return of Liberatore from an ACL injury has made a significant difference to the midfield dynamic. Only Carlton beast Patrick Cripps has had more centre clearances than Bontempelli, and Liberatore is not far behind in equal 10th to emphasise why the Dogs have consistently used the same quartet. Melbourne aside, no team has used its top four more regularly. - Paul Bastin

[comrade]

Put Toby in the guts more, put Dunkley in the guts more.

Put Wallis in the guts less.

[hujsh]

Put Toby in the guts more, put Dunkley in the guts more.

Put Wallis in the guts less.

Yeah and those 10 to one Billford Gowington should also have been McLean instead

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Put Toby in the guts more, put Dunkley in the guts more.

Put Wallis in the guts less.

Both Toby and Dunks made a big difference in the middle against Richmond which helps ease the pressure on the likes of Bont Libba and Macrae. These five gives us the capability together with English to match the best of midfield combinations

[Ghost Dog]

Put Toby in the guts more, put Dunkley in the guts more.

Put Wallis in the guts less.

Where else would Wallis go?

[bornadog]

Where else would Wallis go?
Forward

[Ghost Dog]

Forward

Fair enough. I just assumed he was a bit slow to apply defensive pressure. But with Wally, he tries his heart out and will never be a statue in a game. At least you know what you get.

[Twodogs]

Fair enough. I just assumed he was a bit slow to apply defensive pressure. But with Wally, he tries his heart out and will never be a statue in a game. At least you know what you get.

He kicks straight too. Dickson is one of the best shots for goal I have seen but Wally is getting better all the time. Somebody practices his goalkicking!

[ledge]

Wallis does all the 1%ers you can never question his effort it’s at 100% all the time, one bloke you know will try and do everything he is asked of.
I like him as forward flanker, his tank is also unquestionable, he is a good shot at goal and does present closer to goal, which we sadly lack, we seem to have a lot of shots around the 50 metre mark at the moment.

[Twodogs]

Wally turns up in good paces too. He is often at the drop of a mongrel kick forward.