Bulldogs likely Rd 1 line up

[Doggoneit]

Interested to get your thoughts on the round 1 line up

Boyd, Wood, Williams are all out. Cooney is a test and i think should play

B: Johannisen, Morris, Goodes
HB: Lower, Roughead, Murphy
C: Cooney, Cross, Griffen
HF: Higgins, Jones, Dickson
F: Dalhaus, Cordy, Giansiracusa
R: Minson, Picken, Liberatore
IC: Wallis, Smith, Stevens, Grant (SUB)

E: Addison, Howard, Pearce

Markovic misses out in backline due to Brisbanes forward line, Roughead takes Brown and Morris takes Martin- they only really have the 2 talls - If they want another tall in the backline I would go for Tom Young.
The rest of the backline is agile, has speed, and with good ball use can combat the Brissy smalls.
Lower may get a run with role on Zorko.
I realise Murphy will be used forward this year but while Wood is out and against Brissy I would play him back.
Johannisen gets a go infront of Howard and Addison - really like this kid.

thoughts?

[nrich102]

Clark,  I was not aware there was a Clark at Brisbane :o

[Toga]

Very tempted by lower for te first few rounds now that Boyd is out- do you think it'll make a difference to his scoring?

[Ringo]

If as Doggoneit speculates he has a run with role with Zorko can see scoring of both being effected, Both good players but may cancel each other out.

Interesting to see who Picken takes probably Rich but who will take Rocky.

Can see Brisbane possibly playing the three talls with Berger in extreme doubt, Brown, Cornelius and Martin with Martin providing Ruck back up although Longer pretty well Rucked the whole game against Carlton.

[Doggoneit]

my bad - I meant Martin not Clark

[Doggoneit]

Agreed Ringo I think Picken may take Rich - he is too dangerous to let run loose.

But watching through the pre season Picken has been let loose a bit more and possibly being set as a permanent defender - It might be Picken to Zorko and Lower to Rich - either way IMO they are the 2 key Lions to match up on.

[Ringo]

Agreed Ringo I think Picken may take Rich - he is too dangerous to let run loose.

But watching through the pre season Picken has been let loose a bit more and possibly being set as a permanent defender - It might be Picken to Zorko and Lower to Rich - either way IMO they are the 2 key Lions to match up on.

Picken kept Zorko relatively quiet in the final game at the Gabba last season and was the basis of some of my comments as to whether Zorko was tiring being first year or ability to handle a tag.  Will be watching with interest if Picken runs with Zorks.
Where do you think Higgins will line up?  If he lines up at half forward can see Golby matching up on him but not sure who will go to him if he lines up in centre maybe Raines.  No obvious match up for Raines with Boyd out.

[Doggoneit]

I would personally like to see Higgins at half forward due to his scoreboard impact - 2nd highest goalkicker last year. but he will rotate through the middle.
Good question on who Raines will pick up - maybe Griffen - probably most damaging Dog (unless Coons is back to best)

[nrich102]

I would personally like to see Higgins at half forward due to his scoreboard impact - 2nd highest goalkicker last year. but he will rotate through the middle.
Good question on who Raines will pick up - maybe Griffen - probably most damaging Dog (unless Coons is back to best)

I hope he lines up with Griffen, I really hope it's not Cooney

[Anubis]

picken will take zorko and lower will take rich
griffen will dominate if he isn't tagged, such an underrated player

[Doggoneit]

yes based on how the side was named it looks like that will be the case - Zorko supporters could be in for a shock

If Raines goes to Griffen then Cooney can run loose - I'm so looking forward to watching him bursting out of the middle again (its been a while now)

[kilbluff1985]

yes based on how the side was named it looks like that will be the case - Zorko supporters could be in for a shock

If Raines goes to Griffen then Cooney can run loose - I'm so looking forward to watching him bursting out of the middle again (its been a while now)

Andrew Raines named as Emg

[Doggoneit]

ok - no Raines - can't see any other taggers in the Lions line up - are there any who will get run with roles

Golby named on wing - will he run with Griff?

[Ringo]

Karnezis may get a run with role - Polkinghorne also has had run with roles in the past.

Will the dogs let Hanley, Moloney, Redden and Roclkliff roam loose,  Think there will be some match ups on the fly. 

[Doggoneit]

Libba could go head to head with Moloney - will be a very interesting match up

If Hanley plays off half back then Murph could match up

Cross may go head to head with Redden or Rocky

with the exception of Rich, McCartney may be happy to just let our mids go head to head with your mids because you would expect Minson to clearly win the Ruck duel.

mids overall
Redden, Moloney, Rich, Rocky, Zorko, Hanley, Karnezis, Polkinghorne, Beams
v
Cross, Griffen, Cooney, Picken, Lower, Higgins, Libba, Wallis, Dalhaus, Smith, Stevens

I think we can beat you in the Mids, (we certainly bat deeper) but you clearly have a very solid back 6 and a much better forward line than us - I m tipping the Lions but I think we can give you a scare.

If Boyd and Wood were playing I might have even tipped us. This is a stronger line up than any team we fielded last year.