2010 AFL Season Preview - Western Bulldogs
By Allblack
The Doggies werent too far off last year. They recruited the key forward they were craving in the off season to give themselves one last real shot at a flag before their aging players sign off.
Their backline always looks undermanned and undersized. Lake is obviously quality and is their most important player. Should he go down for any reason at all you can put a line through the Dogs. Morris is undersized but still reliable. They have some young KP backs in Everitt and Williams but neither have shown enough at this stage to put a lot of faith in them. Runners from the backline have never been an issue for the Dogs, last year saw Harbrow start to come of age and Griffen finally looked like he may start to show why many rate him above Franklin as the best player of his draft although he generally belongs in the midfield. Hargraves was solid and Callan looks like a good find. Eagleton is important and probably playing his last year. Gibee saw a little more time upfield last season but he should still be around the half back line and there for kickins. He is a great user of the ball.
The midfield is where the strength of the Doggies lays. Cooney gets better each year and with a trouble free preseason may really announce himself. Boyd last year stepped up and showed that he is one of the best inside/outside mids in the competition. Ward and Picken look like players as does Addison although he needs to work on his sloppy disposal. I think Higgins will move more into the middle last year and if he builds on a great year in 09 he will star. Daniel Cross is another without great footskills but again one of their real important players. Their midfield will also see rotations of the likes of Gia, Griffen and Hill to boost them when needed. It is an A grade midfield.
Strangely they had the highest scoring forwardline of 09. What they did lack though was a player who could impose himself when the game started to slide. A big man to make an impact which they would hope they have now in Barry Hall. A lot relies on him. Small forwards like Gia and Hill whilst classy players arent made to be primary targets. Murphy needs and injury free year, Johnson showed last year the first signs of age catching up with him and seemed to have lost his explosive pace on the lead. One player who seems to defy age is Aker. He was outstanding last year. Hahn should find it easier this year with Hall taking the spot of first forward. So much rests on Hall staying of sound mind and body this year that you could mount an argument he is the most important player after Lake.
The rucks are passable. Not in the top half dozen in the comp but enough to make a contest. Hudson is aging but quality and Minson makes a contest and may improve from not spending so much time up forward. They have a couple of good young kids in Roughead and Cordy who we may see a little more of this year.
The coach is astute. He took the Doggies further than most expected last year and despite being known as a defensive coach he let the team off the leash and we saw some good scores from the team without too much sacriface of his defensive structures. I rate Eade prett highly, higher than some coaches still going around with premierships to their name. Footy can be a cruel sport like that.
The doggies are in do or die mode. So many of their important players are in the last years of their careers that if they dont win one this year or possible next then it is too late. The Dogs have thrown their weight behind Hall as the answer and despite thinking earlier it may be enough I have changed my mind. He will make a difference if he stays on the paddock but not enough of a difference for mine. I think they will drop a little. Nothing frightening… yet.. 4-5 for mine.