Pre Match and Game On. NAB Challenge - Pies v. Dogs

[Jezza]

Date: Saturday March 21 2015
Stadium: Etihad Stadium, Docklands
Start: 7:10pm (AEDT)

Our last practice match for the pre-season takes place this Saturday night against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

The biggest question heading into this match is how we will line-up. I suspect Bucks and the coaching staff will decide to play a near full-strength side as we won't be playing for another two weeks after this match so we need all the match fitness that we can gain before round 1.

After a disappointing effort on Sunday we need to see more intensity around the contest, better forward line delivery and of course aim to sustain no more injuries before the season officially begins two weeks later.

The Bulldogs have lost a lot of experienced players during the off-season and with Tom Liberatore gone for the season with a knee injury I think they'll struggle this season as a whole. They beat a reserves Richmond side in their first practice match and fell short against Melbourne despite trailing by about 50 points at one stage against them on Saturday. The Bulldogs will benefit from an extra days break but that shouldn't make a difference overall heading into this game.

I expect us to win but I'm really hoping that we start fine tuning our structures and mindset heading into the season now. I suspect this game will be taken most seriously out of the three pre-season matches we have this year.

[swoop42]

Hoping for a far more polished performance this week and a win.

[Piesnchess]

Once again, only a practice match, but id like to think we will hit back hard and win again, tune the lads up more, we need a good hitout and good win, just for pre season confidence. !

[RudeBoy]

Regardless of our personnel we need to play a game with our correct structure. This means having a forward line with 3 talls, one of whom is a resting ruckman. Only then will we get some idea if Cloke is going to improve, or if he is going to be a liability.

Similarly, in defence we need to play 3 talls; ideally Brown, Reid and Frost.

[droversdog65]

Frost seems to be travelling OK but both Brown and Reid certainly appear to need the run.

As for the forward line I'd elevate Gault because of the LTI as the third tall and move White upfield or into the VFL until he can demonstrate some consistancy and impact.

This is the best draw we have had for absolutely AGES and we need to take advantage of it.

[Joeboy]

i feel we should firm up our backline, carlton jumped us in the first qtr and we played catch up from then on.with reid back in backline and joey degoey also back there we look much stronger

[Dave The Man]

[leonmagic]

shame there's no de goey / freeman / maynard etc to watch out for

[swoop42]

I would have liked Freeman to be given another opportunity at the expense of Ramsay, Blair or Williams.

[MagpieMad]

mattys123′s Match Preview NAB Challenge – Collingwood vs Bulldogs is up on the site.

http://www.magpies.net/nick/?p=1552


Thanks for Contributing Matt, appreciate it.
Steve.

[Dave The Man]

[TimetoFly]

why is punt road closed?

[Pies4shaw]

[TimetoFly]

I think Oxley Thomas Ramsay will make way from the squad. Although Oxley Ramsay & thomas may get a game if they decide to rest a couple more senior players.

SO I think the team will be:

Toovey Brown Williams

Langdon Frost Sinclair

Varcoe Swan Sidebottom

Fasolo Cloke Goldsack

Elliot White Gault

Foll: Grundy Pendelbury Greenwood

Inter: Adams Broomhead Blair Crisp Karnezis Kennedy

Crisp Kennedy Blair Karnezis gault all fighting for the last two spots for round 1

[Pies4shaw]

Yes, I forgot about Crisp - he isn't a walk-up start.