Changes dogs v GWS

[JTCWBFC]

Spoke on first crack tonight about how the giants struggle v teams who defender the ground well and have good team defence.

We’re apparently #1 in this area. Will be interesting to watch.

 

[Pencil case]

Spoke on first crack tonight about how the giants struggle v teams who defender the ground well and have good team defence.

We’re apparently #1 in this area. Will be interesting to watch.

GWS are our bunnies, we’ve won 7 of the last 8 and that loss was due to losing all our key defenders mid game and Giants making a big comeback.

I’m quite confident this week, I also think Harmes and Vanders will be huge ins as they started the season like a house on fire.

 

[dogwatch]

We need to talk about Khamis.

A couple of weeks ago I went into bat for him against his detractors because he was going OK (not brilliant, but OK) as an intercepting defender. But that was while O'Donnell was playing as a third tall forward.

However MC must have been concerned they weren't getting enough out of JOD and they have switched him back to defence. Probably thinking that he would offer more than Khamis in that role. Rightly in my view.

Unfortunately that meant another role had to be found for Khamis if he wasn't going to be omitted. So they switched him forward. To both my eye and the stats sheet he was very disappointing in that role. Only 9 disposals, only 1 CP, didn't score, no GAs, no i50 tackles, only one i50 entry, only 50 MG, 2 FA, etc. And he had 83% ToG. Apart from the stats he just looked uncomfortable and uncertain. He didn't seem to WANT the ball. Didn't hunt it or go in hard for it. And often didn't know what to do once he had it. His strength is marking but he had no CMs. When he did get a standing possession (on receipt of a chip kick) he didn't have the confidence or vision to pull the trigger and preferred to kick sideways to a safer target. This is the antithesis of what the side is trying to do in 2025 (fast line breaking and incisive ball movement, riskier kicks with higher reward). At one stage a team mate had a mark or a free and Buku didn't know where to run so he just hovered in the background parallel with the kicker in a tactically dead spot on the boundary. He did compete in the ruck for a while which was handy with Darcy off the field, but it's not what I'd like as Plan A for chopping out Timmy. He has a good leap but he's lightly framed and can't be expected to win many taps.

Put simply, Khamis had no hurt factor for the opposition. We were lucky it was an out-of-sorts St Kilda. GWS will be a much tougher proposition where we can't afford to carry any player.

All this suggests that he either had a very bad/low-confidence day at the office or he is just lost as a high forward and has no instincts for it. If that's the case he should be in the side as a defender (where he had been showing gradual improvement) or not at all. Yes, maybe sub is an option, but I'm not enthusiastic about it.

It might be that O'Donnell gets moved forward again this week to cover for Darcy's absence. That would create an opportunity for Buku to go back to a more accustomed role. But if they aren't moving JOD then I think there are others who could offer more even though they are very different types of player ... Harmes (if fit), Hynes, Smith, Baker, Poulter, maybe even Jaques.

 

[scooter600x]

GWS are our bunnies, we’ve won 7 of the last 8 and that loss was due to losing all our key defenders mid game and Giants making a big comeback.

We lost because Bevo refused to put anyone behind the ball when GWS were kicking with a gale and they kicked 5 goals in about 10 minutes

 

[Philthy1]

We need to talk about Khamis.

A couple of weeks ago I went into bat for him against his detractors because he was going OK (not brilliant, but OK) as an intercepting defender. But that was while O'Donnell was playing as a third tall forward.

However MC must have been concerned they weren't getting enough out of JOD and they have switched him back to defence. Probably thinking that he would offer more than Khamis in that role. Rightly in my view.

Unfortunately that meant another role had to be found for Khamis if he wasn't going to be omitted. So they switched him forward. To both my eye and the stats sheet he was very disappointing in that role. Only 9 disposals, only 1 CP, didn't score, no GAs, no i50 tackles, only one i50 entry, only 50 MG, 2 FA, etc. And he had 83% ToG. Apart from the stats he just looked uncomfortable and uncertain. He didn't seem to WANT the ball. Didn't hunt it or go in hard for it. And often didn't know what to do once he had it. His strength is marking but he had no CMs. When he did get a standing possession (on receipt of a chip kick) he didn't have the confidence or vision to pull the trigger and preferred to kick sideways to a safer target. This is the antithesis of what the side is trying to do in 2025 (fast line breaking and incisive ball movement, riskier kicks with higher reward). At one stage a team mate had a mark or a free and Buku didn't know where to run so he just hovered in the background parallel with the kicker in a tactically dead spot on the boundary. He did compete in the ruck for a while which was handy with Darcy off the field, but it's not what I'd like as Plan A for chopping out Timmy. He has a good leap but he's lightly framed and can't be expected to win many taps.

Put simply, Khamis had no hurt factor for the opposition. We were lucky it was an out-of-sorts St Kilda. GWS will be a much tougher proposition where we can't afford to carry any player.

All this suggests that he either had a very bad/low-confidence day at the office or he is just lost as a forward and has no instincts for it. If that's the case he should be in the side as a defender (where he had been showing gradual improvement) or not at all. Yes, maybe sub is an option, but I'm not enthusiastic about it.

It might be that O'Donnell gets moved forward again this week to cover for Darcy's absence. That would create an opportunity for Buku to go back to a more accustomed role. But if they aren't moving JOD then I think there are others who could offer more even though they are very different types of player ... Harmes (if fit), Hynes, Smith, Baker, Poulter, maybe even Jaques.

Bevo in his presser said they JOD back in the longer term.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

McNeil's 2nd goal...I thought.
The camera cut away pretty quick, but it looked like he pulled up lame.
Now he is injured.... just seeing if it connected.

That goal near the end when he ran in, as he turned back to the field he gave a bit of a hop and I straight away thought he might have tweaked a hammy. He also waved to the bench and was off when the siren went.

 

[lachy]

We lost because Bevo refused to put anyone behind the ball when GWS were kicking with a gale and they kicked 5 goals in about 10 minutes

Incorrect, he put Lobb behind the ball and was lambasted for it as Lobb would never make it as a defender

 

[lachy]

Bevo in his presser said they JOD back in the longer term.

Needs to be. Improving and developing as a third tall who can also cover a mid. Good and improving skills

 

[Mojorisin]

Incorrect, he put Lobb behind the ball and was lambasted for it as Lobb would never make it as a defender

I was one of them, what a stupid idea. . .

 

[scooter600x]

Incorrect, he put Lobb behind the ball and was lambasted for it as Lobb would never make it as a defender

He sent Lobb to full back, certainly, but never put a spare behind the ball and we got caught out over the back.
GWS left Oden behind the ball when we had the wind in the last and he mopped up everything

 

[MaxiBont]

Incorrect, he put Lobb behind the ball and was lambasted for it as Lobb would never make it as a defender

To be fair, Lobb looked really bad in defence that day if I remember correctly. How quickly that changed…

 

[1Bally1]

At your western bulldogs club training and they announced that Jedd Bussingler is debuting.

 

[iambrilliant]

At your western bulldogs club training and they announced that Jedd Bussingler is debuting.

Elite if true

 

[weltschmerz]

At your western bulldogs club training and they announced that Jedd Bussingler is debuting.

 

[Philthy1]

At your western bulldogs club training and they announced that Jedd Bussingler is debuting.

We find out from an oppo supporter!

 

[Mojorisin]

Elite if true

I can verify it is true. The reaction from the playing group was next level.

Edit to add, going off of training it apears a backline of Jones, Lobb & Buss and a forward line of Naughton, JOD and Khamis/Poulter.

 

[Golden_6]

I can verify it is true. The reaction from the playing group was next level.

Edit to add, going off of training it apears a backline of Jones, Lobb & Buss and a forward line of Naughton, JOD and Khamis/Poulter.

It really is interesting. There’s genuinely 10 different combos of forward & backs that Bevo can work with.

 

[Golden_6]

It’s not a terrible game for Buss to debut. He can match up on either Cadman or Riccardi and not be too exposed. Seemingly having the experience of Lobb & Jones next to him should help as well.

 

[Scott Tracy]

Buss is debuting!!

 

[MJG14]

Confirmation from the club about a Busslinger debut!

 

[Struggle]

 

[JohnnySteel]

YESSSSSSSS! The Buss has arrived.
Stoked for him. Has had to work hard for it.

 

[RWnBluey]

Are you ready for the Bus?

 

[Royale]

Buss stays in defence with Lobb/Khamis/O'Donnel rotating forward and back. Good to have some flexibility. Lobb's best position is back but he's also the best forward outside of Naughton.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I can verify it is true. The reaction from the playing group was next level.

Edit to add, going off of training it apears a backline of Jones, Lobb & Buss and a forward line of Naughton, JOD and Khamis/Poulter.

Khamis should be out, but with a backline that lumbering we really need that last forward slot to be filled by him so we have the option to swing him back for Lobb if we're not getting enough mobility down back.