Greetings from the 2023 Wish-Come-True-Magical-Genie!!!

[mjp]

IF you ran into the 2023 Wish-Come-True-Magical-Genie and he told you that:

1/. You can have ONLY one wish.
2/. The wish CANNOT be anything other than a positional move relating to the 2023 Western Bulldogs

THEN:

- What would you wish for???
- Why do you think it would make 'so much' difference??

Examples of wishes might be:

- Bont as a permanent mid, JJ back to half-back, Caleb to the wing, Darcy to key back, Bruce to key back, Garcia as a small forward, West as a midfielder...

I'm sure you get the idea.

Please stick to the rules...only ONE wish - and it MUST be positional. And explain why you want it.

[Mantis]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

[F'scary]

My wish is for Toby McLean to get serious time in the midfield as part of the strategy to replace Dunkley's output.

[mjp]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

Better suited than McLean??

[mjp]

My wish is for Toby McLean to get serious time in the midfield as part of the strategy to replace Dunkley's output.

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??

[weltschmerz]

Caleb Daniel to become an effective half-forward flanker. His delivery by foot is second to none, and I'd love to see him collecting Sherrins from Bont or Macrae out of stoppages and putting them on the chest of our best positioned forward. Delivery inside forward 50 hasn't always been great, and that also opens up that backline spot for someone who can play a more defensive game rather than Daniel's attacking half-back.

[GVGjr]

This one won't work for many but Bailey Dale to a wing. He was a very handy forward and he has been an AA level defender but with his running and long kicking he could be the player that gets it in to our tall forwards quickly plus he can score a goal.

[Sedat]

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??
He has a naturally defensive-minded attitude, and is not just a "see ball get ball" type. Gee, we could have used someone like him in the centre square for the last 8 minutes of the 3rd qtr in the 2021 GF.

He can easily become our George Hewitt style defensive-minded mid. His outstanding performance in the 2022 EF, off the back of zero senior footy, shows how valuable he is and how much more desperately needed balance he can give to our midfield rotations.

[bornadog]

Bont to stay only in midfield and never a marking forward or any other position . Bont is one of the best mids in the AFL and is wasted in a forward role. With the recruitment of Lobb and the development of JUH, he is not needed in the fwd50.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Laith Vandermeer to half back.

It was where he played his junior footy and where he first impressed at VFL level. The position suits his instinct and with his pace he could offer something. It requires less 'thought' and tact, which I'd argue would help his game.

I don't see him as a forward whatsoever, and he could quickly find himself on the outer if he doesn't adjust.

[1eyedog]

I’ll play along.

My wish is for Jack Macrae to become a tagger… we have too many offensive mids and I see Jack best suited to the role.

Too slow and not defensively minded enough. Will never happen.

Rhylee West back pocket specialist. This will be Duryea's last year and we need another defensive minded medium to move into this role ASAP.

West is a man hunter and there looks to be meagre opportunities in the middle and, with the selection of Parker as a natural forward, up the front half as well. This may put pressure on West and Bevo to look at broadening West's skill set with a move to the men's department.

[jeemak]

Libba as a shut down player, letting others do the heavy lifting he's amazing at - but they can also do.

Libba's foot/ hand skills and pace make him the perfect counter to whoever he's negating. If I was to give anyone twenty touches to hurt the opposition by usage after stopping one of them it would be him.

[Bulldog Joe]

Aaron Naughton to the wing.

He is a cat at ground level, but would dominate the air and oppositions would just have to change how they play, because any pressured kick in the air is coming straight back.

We have enough forward options but stopping the opposition from clearing defensive 50 is one of our greatest needs.

[F'scary]

What is it about his game that you think will add to the midfield??

Great vision, great handling and disposal skills, creative and efficient - I would take 18 possessions a game from him over 30 from a volume merchant with only servicable skills. McLean is not a big body but has an inside game a bit like Libba. He has shown us all what he can do when he came back from injury late last season.

[westbulldog]

Jordan Sweet gets a fair run of games instead of being the whipping boy for all and sundry.

[mjp]

Aaron Naughton to the wing.

The wish-come-true-magical-genie admires your passion and appreciates your argument. He has however used his power of veto on this proposal.

Naughton stays forward.

[mjp]

Libba as a shut down player, letting others do the heavy lifting he's amazing at - but they can also do.

Libba's foot/ hand skills and pace make him the perfect counter to whoever he's negating. If I was to give anyone twenty touches to hurt the opposition by usage after stopping one of them it would be him.

The genie is just happy you have recovered from NYE.

[Grantysghost]

Treloar as a permanent inside mid / take the Dunkley role.
Because I think that's his best position / where he plays his best footy.
I thought about him on a wing, however I've seen the light that he's a see ball get ball type. His power away from stoppages could be a real point of difference to our other inside mids.

[Mantis]

Better suited than McLean??

Maybe... but I think McLean can play elsewhere (wing, HF) effectively whereas Jack is pretty much only a mid, and his impact was greatly reduced last season so looking for him to fill a different type of role.

[bornadog]

The wish-come-true-magical-genie admires your passion and appreciates your argument. He has however used his power of veto on this proposal.

Naughton stays forward.

Yeah, you don't move a bloke who is one of the best young forwards in the AFL and has kicked 100 in two years, with the potential to kick 60 plus this year

[chef]

So i shouldnt suggest Naughton to CHB:cool:

[weltschmerz]

Yeah, you don't move a bloke who is one of the best young forwards in the AFL and has kicked 100 in two years, with the potential to kick 60 plus this year

"What if Naughton goes back" says everyone. When you have a fair few KPFs and not as many KPDs then moving a forward down back makes sense, but the star forward should just maybe stay forward.

[Eastdog]

Bailey Smith to stamp his authority in the midfield.

[soupman]

English to CHB?

Super mobile, great user, good contested mark behind the ball, a threat drifting forward, and more gametime for Sweet for those that are into that kind of stuff.

[comrade]

So i shouldnt suggest Naughton to CHB:cool:

Of course you should, it’s where he should be playing.

[Bulldog Joe]

The wish-come-true-magical-genie admires your passion and appreciates your argument. He has however used his power of veto on this proposal.

Naughton stays forward.

I am looking at something the opposition can't handle and Naughton is our best weapon to do something radically different.

I repeat we have enough forward options.
Let's do something that can make it really difficult for the other 17 teams

[mjp]

I am looking at something the opposition can't handle and Naughton is our best weapon to do something radically different.

I repeat we have enough forward options.
Let's do something that can make it really difficult for the other 17 teams

The Genie reiterates his veto.

[mjp]

Of course you should, it’s where he should be playing.

The Genie will issue a veto for any attempt to move Naughton.

[mjp]

English to CHB?

Super mobile, great user, good contested mark behind the ball, a threat drifting forward, and more gametime for Sweet for those that are into that kind of stuff.

The Genie likes this very much.

[Bulldog Joe]

The Genie reiterates his veto.

Can I get a new genie that grants wishes rather than impose a veto.

[Mofra]

Can I ask the genie do something the opposite - no batshit crazy moves that play players to their weakness rather than their strength?

For every 'player X to the backline' there is also the taking away of a Dale or Richards from their best spots to counter the move (make a position available).

[comrade]

The Genie likes this very much.

If Naughton is vetoed, I can live with English at CHB.

[mjp]

Can I get a new genie that grants wishes rather than impose a veto.

You are most welcome to create your own threads with your own rules.

:-)

[GVGjr]

English to CHB?

Super mobile, great user, good contested mark behind the ball, a threat drifting forward, and more gametime for Sweet for those that are into that kind of stuff.

I remain to be convinced that this improves us at all or if English could thrive in this position.
While I agree English is very mobile he isn't quick and I think he would get burned by quicker forwards.

Would a Sweet and Lobb combination in the ruck be better than what we had last year?

Please enlighten me Soup?

[The Underdog]

I remain to be convinced that this improves us at all or if English could thrive in this position.
While I agree English is very mobile he isn't quick and I think he would get burned by quicker forwards.

Would a Sweet and Lobb combination in the ruck be better than what we had last year?

Please enlighten me Soup?

I don’t necessarily hate the move in isolation, but as you say, the knock on effect to our ruck situation is a huge problem. An already thin position becomes even weaker with an unproven Sweet backed up by Lobb and nothing else aside from moving English back to the ruck in the case of injury. Also ignores a lot of the intercept defensive work that Tim does when playing ruck already
I actually hope this is the year that Sweet takes a big step to being a viable senior option, but he’s going to need to really show something.

[soupman]

I remain to be convinced that this improves us at all or if English could thrive in this position.
While I agree English is very mobile he isn't quick and I think he would get burned by quicker forwards.

Would a Sweet and Lobb combination in the ruck be better than what we had last year?

Please enlighten me Soup?

Well if I'm gonna get a genie i might as well try something interesting and that won't happen without magical intervention. No point wasting a wish on moving Mitch Hannan to a wing.

It would improve our defence, aside from Gardner spoiling we were pretty meek in the air last season and English has all the attributes to be good there. With a zonal defence I think the pace issue is basically irrelevant, if you can find a way to get a super tall guy who can intercept mark you force the opposition to go around him otherwise he is marking everything. Added bonus if that guy is good at everything else.

It's why I am keen for Darcy to play back for a few years. I do think it'll be easier for him, and alo means we don't have to figure out how to fit 5 talls in our forwardline, but also like English he is stupid tall, a great mark, a good user and while slow again I am not fussed about that.

As for ruck yeah we aren't amazing in English's absence, but that wasn't really what I was interested in.

Besides I think there is an argument that English would improve our defence by more than our ruck division would get worse through his absence.

[jeemak]

I think it's bullshit Soup but it's also pretty good and if I was to be convinced it would need to be on the basis of English doing at least one thing hard and team oriented, and then doing it as many times as a key defender needs to do it.

[azabob]

You are most welcome to create your own threads with your own rules.

:-)

Have you somehow managed to block TwoDogs from contributing to this thread?

[GVGjr]

Have you somehow managed to block TwoDogs from contributing to this thread?

He's having some internet challenges at the moment. He should be back soon.

[mjp]

He's having some internet challenges at the moment. He should be back soon.

Which only goes to prove the power that the Genie has!!

[MrMahatma]

Can I move Chris Grant from his position as Footy Director, to CHB (and turn the clock back so he's at his 1997-98 capability level?)

[The Doctor]

Bont to CHB

He will bring the kind of leadership to the back half we have been sorely lacking. In recent years we have had Wood, Murph, Boyd & Morris providing outstanding leadership from the back half. We don't have that now. Bont will fill this void and direct play in the back half better & I'm sure his team mates will appreciate this a lot. He is also a great contested mark in defence. When we are applying the forward press he would be our go to man in central midfield to bring the ball into the forward line. Remember when the ball would end up in Zaine's hands in this situation?

I think the team will benefit upfield as well. There will be numerous opportunities for some of our quality players to shine. Bailey Smith gets more centre square time where the team should benefit from his burst speed out of the middle making us less one paced & predictable. Treloar to in this regard. Jamarra takes on more responsibility as the 3rd tall up forward. I am greatly buoyed by his Bont like game v Melbourne last year. The time is right for him.

Now come at me with your pitchforks and torches.

[GVGjr]

I don't hate or love this suggestion Doc. A couple of years back I thought given our surplus of midfielders that moving either Bontempelli to CHB or Dunkley to HB might make some sense. I also gave it another thought when we added Treloar to our midfield.

Two or three years later and after losing Dunkley I'm not as convinced such a radical change would work as well.

From a leadership perspective in the back line I don't see this as a problem that needs a Bontempelli fix. Duryea, Jones, Daniel and Keath are vocal members of the defensive unit and if Bruce is added there as well we have more than enough leadership and experience.

Lets have a look at our impressive midfield:
Bont at times last season it appeared he was working through some injury challenges. Treloar gets a few niggles and needs to be managed, Macrae is showing some signs on slowing down and despite a terrific 2022 I'm not convinced Liberatore can keep backing up seasons like that. We are fortunate that Bailey Smith is so impressive and Garcia seems to be on the improve but after a couple years of investing in Darcy and Ugle-Hagan and then taking a long term view with Busslinger I think we are just a bit light on with the next wave of midfielders coming though.

A couple of years back I might have been all over the suggestion of moving Bontempelli to CHB for the reasons the Doc highlighted but now I think we need to ride it out and make the most of our much vaunted midfield and this needs to be with Bontempelli in it.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Bont to CHB

He will bring the kind of leadership to the back half we have been sorely lacking. In recent years we have had Wood, Murph, Boyd & Morris providing outstanding leadership from the back half. We don't have that now. Bont will fill this void and direct play in the back half better & I'm sure his team mates will appreciate this a lot. He is also a great contested mark in defence. When we are applying the forward press he would be our go to man in central midfield to bring the ball into the forward line. Remember when the ball would end up in Zaine's hands in this situation?

I think the team will benefit upfield as well. There will be numerous opportunities for some of our quality players to shine. Bailey Smith gets more centre square time where the team should benefit from his burst speed out of the middle making us less one paced & predictable. Treloar to in this regard. Jamarra takes on more responsibility as the 3rd tall up forward. I am greatly buoyed by his Bont like game v Melbourne last year. The time is right for him.

Now come at me with your pitchforks and torches.

Nets.

[Happy Days]

Bont to CHB

He will bring the kind of leadership to the back half we have been sorely lacking. In recent years we have had Wood, Murph, Boyd & Morris providing outstanding leadership from the back half. We don't have that now. Bont will fill this void and direct play in the back half better & I'm sure his team mates will appreciate this a lot. He is also a great contested mark in defence. When we are applying the forward press he would be our go to man in central midfield to bring the ball into the forward line. Remember when the ball would end up in Zaine's hands in this situation?

I think the team will benefit upfield as well. There will be numerous opportunities for some of our quality players to shine. Bailey Smith gets more centre square time where the team should benefit from his burst speed out of the middle making us less one paced & predictable. Treloar to in this regard. Jamarra takes on more responsibility as the 3rd tall up forward. I am greatly buoyed by his Bont like game v Melbourne last year. The time is right for him.

Now come at me with your pitchforks and torches.

This is an unbelievably terrible idea but respect for making it and stepping it out.

[mjp]

Bont to CHB


This is the kind of radical thinking the genie is looking for.

Personally I hate it. I'm not real excited about English to CHB to be honest. But I do think they are both the sort of moves that have the potential to cause real on-field problems to the oppo...

If I was coaching against us I would probably LIKE the suggestion(s) - both players are goal-kickers so getting then out of the forward half seems good to me - but at the same time they are both attacking with their ball movement and would really challenge my forwards to defend and could have my defenders under serious pressure.

It's the sort of move that - if it went wrong - would 100% lead to the coach being removed but I dont think Bevo even things about possibilities like that...

[hujsh]

Bont to CHB

He will bring the kind of leadership to the back half we have been sorely lacking. In recent years we have had Wood, Murph, Boyd & Morris providing outstanding leadership from the back half. We don't have that now. Bont will fill this void and direct play in the back half better & I'm sure his team mates will appreciate this a lot. He is also a great contested mark in defence. When we are applying the forward press he would be our go to man in central midfield to bring the ball into the forward line. Remember when the ball would end up in Zaine's hands in this situation?

I think the team will benefit upfield as well. There will be numerous opportunities for some of our quality players to shine. Bailey Smith gets more centre square time where the team should benefit from his burst speed out of the middle making us less one paced & predictable. Treloar to in this regard. Jamarra takes on more responsibility as the 3rd tall up forward. I am greatly buoyed by his Bont like game v Melbourne last year. The time is right for him.

Now come at me with your pitchforks and torches.

Maybe not right now in his prime ala Hodge but I can see this being a future masterstroke move in the twilight of Bont's career ala Boyd.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Maybe not right now in his prime ala Hodge but I can see this being a future masterstroke move in the twilight of Bont's career ala Boyd.

Nets aside, I agree.

The pull will be to stick him forward given his agility/creativity, so that'll be an interesting decision when the time comes to move him from the midfield.

[AshMac]

Would love to see Caleb higher up the ground playing the linking role he did in 2016.

[jeemak]

Would love to see Caleb higher up the ground playing the linking role he did in 2016.

I'm a fan of having your best kick as the second/ third kick moving out of defence and avoiding the zoning defenders, which is something I think Caleb could do really well.

The first and second kicks out are often conceded to set up the intercept and it's on the second/ third where much of the pressure comes.