bornadog
25-04-2011, 12:17 PM
Craig O'Donoghue, The West Australian
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/4181815846.jpg
The Western Bulldogs have enlisted an SAS soldier and the emotion of relatives with war experience in a bid to topple Fremantle in tonight's Anzac Day game at Patersons Stadium.
The Bulldogs have played only one game on Anzac Day in the past 20 years despite it falling on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday 10 times during that period. They lost that game, against Port Adelaide in 2004. In contrast, Fremantle have been Anzac Day regulars and have won six of their eight games on the big stage.
Bulldogs assistant coach Peter Dean said the players understood the significance of the day because injured defender Easton Wood's brother was serving overseas.
"The club has organised a gentleman to be around the club. The boys are very respectful. A number of them have got relatives who have been in wars. Easton Wood's brother is in the army," Dean said.
"It's the ultimate sacrifice. Everyone knows that. You go to war and you don't know what's going to happen. We go out here and we know that the worst thing that can happen is you get an injury, you might do a knee or get knocked out.
"To be out there on Anzac Day, the whole nation showing that respect and the players having the ability to play on that day, they love it. They liken themselves to soldiers in a way. You don't get killed, that's the ultimate sacrifice, but these guys go out and give their all."
The Bulldogs arrived in Perth on Saturday afternoon and trained at Patersons Stadium yesterday.
Key forward Barry Hall, midfielder Adam Cooney and full-back Brian Lake barely participated, but Dean said they always had light duties the day before a game.
The match will be notable for the debut of Mitch Wallis, son of former Bulldog captain Steve Wallis.
Best on ground in last year's Victorian under-18 grand final, Wallis will join Tom Liberatore as the second father-son debutant for the club in 2011.
Dean heaped praise on the youngsters and predicted they would become a dominant midfield duo.
"They're two ripper kids, two very professional kids and are probably going to have a good and long career," Dean said.
"Him and Tommy in club football, representative and State football - I liken them to my era as a Greg Williams-Gerard Healy combination. Tommy's an inside who gets the ball, like a Greg Williams. He'll dish it out to Mitch, who can still get it himself, but they complement each other really well."
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/4181815846.jpg
The Western Bulldogs have enlisted an SAS soldier and the emotion of relatives with war experience in a bid to topple Fremantle in tonight's Anzac Day game at Patersons Stadium.
The Bulldogs have played only one game on Anzac Day in the past 20 years despite it falling on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday 10 times during that period. They lost that game, against Port Adelaide in 2004. In contrast, Fremantle have been Anzac Day regulars and have won six of their eight games on the big stage.
Bulldogs assistant coach Peter Dean said the players understood the significance of the day because injured defender Easton Wood's brother was serving overseas.
"The club has organised a gentleman to be around the club. The boys are very respectful. A number of them have got relatives who have been in wars. Easton Wood's brother is in the army," Dean said.
"It's the ultimate sacrifice. Everyone knows that. You go to war and you don't know what's going to happen. We go out here and we know that the worst thing that can happen is you get an injury, you might do a knee or get knocked out.
"To be out there on Anzac Day, the whole nation showing that respect and the players having the ability to play on that day, they love it. They liken themselves to soldiers in a way. You don't get killed, that's the ultimate sacrifice, but these guys go out and give their all."
The Bulldogs arrived in Perth on Saturday afternoon and trained at Patersons Stadium yesterday.
Key forward Barry Hall, midfielder Adam Cooney and full-back Brian Lake barely participated, but Dean said they always had light duties the day before a game.
The match will be notable for the debut of Mitch Wallis, son of former Bulldog captain Steve Wallis.
Best on ground in last year's Victorian under-18 grand final, Wallis will join Tom Liberatore as the second father-son debutant for the club in 2011.
Dean heaped praise on the youngsters and predicted they would become a dominant midfield duo.
"They're two ripper kids, two very professional kids and are probably going to have a good and long career," Dean said.
"Him and Tommy in club football, representative and State football - I liken them to my era as a Greg Williams-Gerard Healy combination. Tommy's an inside who gets the ball, like a Greg Williams. He'll dish it out to Mitch, who can still get it himself, but they complement each other really well."