| Trade Game 2007 - Western Bulldogs - Final Team
B: M.Wilson, B.Harris, S.Gilham
HB: A.Everitt, T.Chaplin, R.Griffen
C: T.Lockyer, A.Cooney, M.Nicoski
HF: S.Higgins, Q.Lynch, N.Eagleton
F: N.G.Brown, M.Lloyd (VC), R.Robertson
R: D.Jolly, M.Boyd, S.West (C)
I/C: M.Gardiner, M.Morton, T.Simmonds, S.Power
EMG: M.Leuenberger (ruck), T.Williams (key back), B.Moloney (mid/HBF/BP), J.McMahon (HBF/wing/BP), A.Thomson (mid), W.Skipper (key forward/ruck), J.Harbrow (small forward)
Draft Picks: 20 (Tony Notte), 22 (Scott Selwood), 54 (Cale Hooker), 60 (Adam Donohue), 70 (Eljay Connors)
The backline is very versatile and adaptable - it will stop more goals than it has in the past and provide plenty of rebound. Harris, the rock of the backline, is one of the top 5 full backs and best contested marks in the competition and is equally adept at accumulating plenty of the ball himself. Wilson provides an experienced head and will take on a tagging role of a smaller/medium player, as well providing rebound from defense. Gilham, an underrated component of Hawthorn's resurgence this year (most improved Hawthorn player 2007), is a versatile tall backman who will take the opposition 2nd/3rd tall or even a small forward if need be as well as accumulating plenty of possessions. Griffen, Everitt and Chaplin form a young half back line and all 3 are very attacking defenders which is essential in today's game. Chaplin and Everitt are two of the most promising young tall mobile defenders in the league (the epitome of the modern style of key backman) and big things are expected of both in 2008 after breakout seasons in 2007. Griffen is a highly rated dashing rebounding defender (should eventually develop into a damaging winger) that loves to run the lines and kick 55m+ trailblazers - unlucky with injury in 2007, but expect a big 2008.
The midfield has a good blend of both pacy outside and hard inside midfielders. West is one of the best extractors of the footy and along with his apprentice, Boyd (WBD B&F 2007) one of the leading clearance midfielders in 2007, equally adept at playing a run with role, and Lockyer, a small hard nosed utility that finds the footy with ease and can count himself unlucky to miss out on AA selection in 2007, they form a formidable inside trio. On the outside is the pace and class of Adam Cooney and Mark Nicoski (can also play in the backline), two young guns that love to run and carry, unload a booming kick into attacking 50 and to kick a goal.
The ruck division has been greatly bolstered through trading with Jolly, the leading tap ruckman in 2006 and in the top 5 in 2007 for hitouts, improving himself as a mobile target around the ground and up forward in 2007, as a starting ruckman and Michael Gardiner, a mobile ruckman/forward, 2003 AA ruck, who has had injuries and off-field issues in past seasons hold him back and Troy Simmonds, who plays in a similar fashion to Gardiner (probably more of a forward), unlucky to miss out on AA in 2006, as strong back-ups.
This forward line is the powerhouse of the side and on paper it looks absolutely deadly. Matthew Lloyd, one of the best full-forwards of the modern era, and the best current full-forward, heads the line-up, with the pocket rocket Russell Robertson and the freakish Nathan G Brown (can also rotate into the midfield) at his side to create space, feed the ball in and pounce on any loose footy. Further up is Quinten Lynch at CHF with an absolute monster of a kick, excellent worth ethic and very nice skills below his knees for a man of his size and two hard running, goal loving half forward flankers in Higgins and Eagleton, also rotating through midfield. Every single defender will have to bring their A game to have any chance of stopping this forward line.
On the bench, Mitch Morton and Sam Power are utilities that can adapt to different positions. While Mitch, a smart, classy player with excellent disposal and a touch of arrogance, is more suited to the forward line and Sam, a medium/tall player who can tag tall mids/3rd tall forwards and link up well during attacking moves, to the backline, both have the ability play well through the midfield as well. Gardiner and Simmonds have already been mentioned in rucks.
Captaincy was a tough choice with a couple of worthy choices, but I had to go with Scott West as a captain, he's a bulldog through and through, a mentor to the younger pups and leads by example on and off the field. Vice captain goes to Lloyd, superstar of the game, a cool head under pressure and a man with plenty of leadership experience, as VC of the Dons since 2000 and captain in the 2007 season, it was a more straightforward selection. Also in the leadership group are Wilson, Harris and Boyd.
Depth (emergencies) is very solid at the dogs, particularly with all depth players still young and improving. The ruck is well covered for Leuenberger, the best U21 ruck talent in the AFL and Skipper a tall forward that has experience pinch hitting as a ruckman. For defenders, Williams is a developing athletic tall defender who plays similar in style to Chaplin (which is ideal in today's game) and McMahon is a light framed super quick rebounding flanker who struggled with form in 2007 and is another that if in good form is a best XXII prospect. Moving to the midfield depth, there's Moloney, a dashing midfielder that loves to run the lines and kick goals, has struggled with injuries and if fit could very well be in the best XXII and Thomson, a highly rated first round pick in 2004 from Port Adelaide, developing as an efficient inside midfielder. For forwards there's Skipper, who can play deep as a marking target and Harbrow, a highly rated youngs crumbing small forward, 2nd round in the 2006 superdraft, who had a very solid first season in 2007.
Draft picks are on the large part are speculative, with Notte, Hooker and Connors needing a fair amount of developmental work. Selwood and Donohue are close to ready in their first season. Below is a brief profile of all 5:
Notte is the best tall forward prospect from WA, full of potential to be a gun KPP/3rd tall forward, but lacks size big time (only ~70kg)! Sticky hands, very good below the knees, a nice vertical leap and an accurate kick, if he can ever put on enough weight (more than 20kg) to be competitive he will be a real star in the forward line. Is a project player and needs at least 3 years to develop, possibly more.
Selwood is a hard at it, bone crushing inside midfielder, with terrific pedigree - a safe bet. Ability to play as a run-with player, like his brother's Adam and Troy, as well. Would start of in the backline and work his way into the midfield. AFL ready.
Hooker is a tall forward from East Freo reserves, with sticky hands and is a supreme athlete (excellent 20m and agility times in particular at state screening). Suits the Bulldogs fast moving gameplan, has a lot of potential to work with, but is more of a project player.
Donohue is a small rebounding defender with good footy nous and disposal. Would take over from Wilson in the backline in the future. Body is almost ready for AFL.
Connors is a bottom aged midfielder with good speed and agility. Sat out most of the season with a punctured lung. Very skinny (65kg), so like Notte will take a while. __________________ 
-- AUGUST 2007 -- |
11-27-2007, 07:15 PM 
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