Rd 5 2008 Centrals v North @ Adelaide Oval (ANZAC DAY)

[Big Phil]

I know North Adelaide still haven't played their round 4 game yet, but for Doggies fans, who do we think will be back in the league team for the ANZAC day clash at Adelaide Oval ? I've made a couple of points below which I reckon will make for interesting discussion ?

Not only would you say the selectors have a few tough decisions to make, but there will also be a few guys that will consider themselves unlucky to miss out after contributing in the win over the Redlegs last saturday night. Obviously young Matty Westhoff was good up forward on debut with 3 goals, as was Cameron Faulkner in his first senior appearnace since coming back home from the Western Bulldogs. I think that Cam deserves to keep his spot based on his efforts of last week.

If his shoulder is fine, then clearly Daniel Schell comes straight back into the line up. I would have thought he needs to slot back into CHB after having a pretty good record on North's CHF Clint Alleway, including last years GF ? If Sponge is okay with his knee, does this mean Matty Westhoff finds himself back in the 2's at Luke's expense ? He would be very unlucky if that was to be the case. I think Sponge will miss the game and be back the following week, just to make sure he gets it right in an attempt to play the rest of the year out uninterupted.

If Sponge does come in and the weather is nice and dry, we could try and expose North down back with a really tall forward line of Cowan, Havelberg, M.Westhoff (and who knows, possibly even his brother Justin if he has another shocker with the Power ?!!) The good thing with Dan Havelberg though is having the versatility to send him down back if this option wasn't working or even if there was a mismatch in our defence ? Could be an option, but who knows... ?

Surely, our veteran Luke McCabe would need to have a run in the 2's first to test out his ageing hammies ? I wouldn't complain if the ex Hawk did come straight back because of his experience, but he hasn't played in about a month now and it would be pure match fitness he'd be lacking so a run in the ressies would have to be the best option ? If he did come in, it would probably be at the expense of Lee Spurr. Regardless of this though I think young Spurry will be playing in the early game anyway. I think there is some guy called James Gowans to come back into the team for his first appearance of the year ??!!

Then there is Noodles who is back from his honeymoon and would surely have to be considered for selection after playing in the reserves last week. In saying that though, I think Leigh Westhoff has probably done enough to date on his wing to not lose his spot, so Noodles may come in either come in as crumbing forward or interchange player ? Maybe for Chad O'Sullivan, but I reckon Sully is just easing back into form after a interrupted preseason so I think he at least deserves a spot on the bench ? Whatever decision(s) the match commitee make, no doubt, they will be in the best interest of both team balance and match ups against our opposition, North Adelaide.

Good luck to those gentleman who have to make the final choices, I'm sure there will be a few unlucky guys, like I mentioned above that wil miss out. I guess the one positive is that our depth will improve through the proceeding grades underneath with quality players coming back through the lower grades. Depth has clearly been a big key to the majority of our success in recent years.

Bring on Friday 25th April I say, can't wait to get down to the pristine Adelaide Oval to see our legends and heros of the past with the Anzac diggers, then hopefully our 2 mighty Doggies outfits can show the same kind of strength and determination to get another win on the board. I really do reckon that our boys lift that extra notch for these games and obviously the North boys wouldn't have played in one of these special days before so I reckon our experience on all levels will win out on the day. Or so I hope at least... !!??

GO U DOGGIES...

Big Phil...

[am Bays]

This game will be a slaughter IMO, Dogs coming off the bye cherry ripe for teh ANZAC day clash, North with a five day break after playing Port at Alberton......

to give North a chance they should have played Port today (as originally scheduled) and Sturt v South tomorrow.

[lesthemechanic]

This game will be a slaughter IMO, Dogs coming off the bye cherry ripe for teh ANZAC day clash, North with a five day break after playing Port at Alberton......

to give North a chance they should have played Port today (as originally scheduled) and Sturt v South tomorrow.

South would then only have had 5 days break before fronting up to Norwood ( with 7 days break ) this friday night. I don't think the 2 teams in the Grand Final rematch should get a bye the week before - doesn't seem fair for a game that has always held a bit more bite than a normal home/away match.

[Royal City]

This game will be a slaughter IMO, Dogs coming off the bye cherry ripe for teh ANZAC day clash, North with a five day break after playing Port at Alberton......

to give North a chance they should have played Port today (as originally scheduled) and Sturt v South tomorrow.

Wish Id gone to MCG instead love JMO .

hilarious.

[Royal City]

just to point out this wasn't me, but still hilarious anyway!!!

[bayman]

can't you wait until the round is complete ? at least that's what they say to me

[am Bays]

South would then only have had 5 days break before fronting up to Norwood ( with 7 days break ) this friday night. I don't think the 2 teams in the Grand Final rematch should get a bye the week before - doesn't seem fair for a game that has always held a bit more bite than a normal home/away match.

Good point, both Sturt v South and North v Port should have been played today then.

[lesthemechanic]

South would then only have had 5 days break before fronting up to Norwood ( with 7 days break ) this friday night. I don't think the 2 teams in the Grand Final rematch should get a bye the week before - doesn't seem fair for a game that has always held a bit more bite than a normal home/away match.

Good point, both Sturt v South and North v Port should have been played today then.

Probably wouldn't happen because of the Crows playing at the same time. Why is there 2 ANZAC day games anyway? I've always thought there should only be the GF rematch. All the focus on that IMHO.

[am Bays]

Probably wouldn't happen because of the Crows playing at the same time. Why is there 2 ANZAC day games anyway? I've always thought there should only be the GF rematch. All the focus on that IMHO.

The Norwood adminstration are hell bent on not playing finals footy so they have scheduled another fri night game where under lights at Coopers Norwood are 3-9. Its all about the marketing and giving teh pubs on the Parade a steady stream of customers post 10:30 pm as opposed to winning footy games....unless they are playing Glenelg under lights...

[lesthemechanic]

Probably wouldn't happen because of the Crows playing at the same time. Why is there 2 ANZAC day games anyway? I've always thought there should only be the GF rematch. All the focus on that IMHO.

The Norwood adminstration on hell bent on not playing finals footy so they have scheduled another fri night game where under lights at Coopers Norwood are 3-9. Its all about the marketing and giving teh pubs on the Parade a steady stream of customers post 10:30 pm as opposed to winning footy games....unless they are playing Glenelg under lights...

[Adelaide Hawk]

The Norwood adminstration are hell bent on not playing finals footy so they have scheduled another fri night game where under lights at Coopers Norwood are 3-9. Its all about the marketing and giving teh pubs on the Parade a steady stream of customers post 10:30 pm as opposed to winning footy games....unless they are playing Glenelg under lights...

What a ridiculous comment.

[lesthemechanic]

Lighten up, it was obviously tongue in cheek. Geez.

[Dogwatcher]

I will be there and I will remember them.

[Big Phil]

I will be there and I will remember them.

Lest We Forget...

[Wedgie]

If North get within 10 goals it will be a morale victory.
Alas I don't think that will be the case.
4 full days break after playing a team running into the bye who through everything including the kitchen sink at us.
Cental having about 12 full days break.
North will have at least 2 or 3 players from today's game who will be out injured.
Hate to say it, but no chance.
Almost glad I'll be at the MCG.

[Big Phil]

If North get within 10 goals it will be a morale victory.
Alas I don't think that will be the case.
4 full days break after playing a team running into the bye who through everything including the kitchen sink at us.
Cental having about 12 full days break.
North will have at least 2 or 3 players from today's game who will be out injured.
Hate to say it, but no chance.
Almost glad I'll be at the MCG.

Valid points there Wedgie, BUT...

We have been in similar positions in the past and not produced the goods when required...

I'll just be happy with a Doggies win full stop but I reckon it will be a close game for 3 quarters and we will run them off their tired legs in the last quarter and get up by 4 or 5 goals. James Gowans to win the Bob Quinn medal in his first game back for the year !!!

I think that's who the BOG medal is named after, sorry if I'm wrong, I get confused with the reserves GF BOG, think that's the Bob Lee medal ??

At least you'll be able to tape the game Wedgie and watch it when you get home from the Mighty G !!!

GO U DOGGIES...

Big Phil...

[Wedgie]

If North get within 10 goals it will be a morale victory.
Alas I don't think that will be the case.
4 full days break after playing a team running into the bye who through everything including the kitchen sink at us.
Cental having about 12 full days break.
North will have at least 2 or 3 players from today's game who will be out injured.
Hate to say it, but no chance.
Almost glad I'll be at the MCG.

Valid points there Wedgie, BUT...

We have been in similar positions in the past and not produced the goods when required...

North aren't Central's mate.

If the situations were reversed it MIGHT be a close game, but even then I'd still expect the Dogs to win.

[NO-MERCY]

What was the league thinking scheduling a sunday game & expecting one of those sides to back up again the following friday, anzac day? What sort of break is that?
Talk about not having the interest of players in mind, the leagues putting players welfare at risk.
I'm surprised North didn't do something about this earlier.

[Wedgie]

What was the league thinking scheduling a sunday game & expecting one of those sides to back up again the following friday, anzac day? What sort of break is that?
Talk about not having the interest of players in mind, the leagues putting players welfare at risk.
I'm surprised North didn't do something about this earlier.

North have no say in away games, crikey, some times North have no say in home games (although they did this year).
Must admit it bamboozled me, when I saw the fixture last year I just assumed the Power were playing on the Saturday and the Magpies requested a Sunday game.
The fact that the Power played today obviously kills that one off.
Originally South v Sturt was also programmed for the Sunday,why they didn't leave that one alone and move the Alberton game is completely beyond me.

[lesthemechanic]

Wedgie, probably because South were in the same situation as North. See my previous post in this thread about how I feel about all this.