ROUND 20 Dogs vs Port review

[sjt]

It was a bit of a concern pre-game to learn Callinan and Chris Gowans wouldn't be playing in this danger game. However after gaining a 50 point half time lead, the concern was un-warranted.
Most played well, Boyd, Buckets, Thomas, Lawry, Sansbury etc.
Loakan and Thurgood i think played well for Port. Port didn't seem to have the determination they had in the years earlier encounter at Elizabeth.
The ressies had a good win after kicking 9 goals in the second half after only kicking one point in the whole first half. That's now about seven straight wins, including wins against the top two sides. Welcome back Yves, best on ground in the ressies.
It was bloody cold everywhere today.

[Brucetiki]

Centrals 16.10.106
Port 7.5.47

A solid 59 point win by Centrals today in poor conditions.

Despite a slow start, Centrals finished the quarter strong kicking the last 5 goals of the quarter. This was to be repeated in the second quarter as Centrals raced to a 50 point lead at half time. The second half was much tighter as Port's best player Colin Rowston started to have quite an influence on the game. As the natural light darkened, the lights started to go on, but suddenly went off late in the third before a downpour soaked the ground at 3 quarter time.

All up another solid win by Centrals with several key players out (Spurr, both Gowans and Callinan to name a few).

Also well done to the reserves, who despite only kicking 0.1 in the first half went on to win their match, and I believe they're in the 5 for the first time this season.

[CENTURION]

LOOK OUT, EVIL IS BACK!!!!!!!!

[CENTURION]

Thommo was amazing yesterday & Boyd seemed to relish the fact that Callinan wasn't playing. Boyd = GUN!!

[CENTURION]

No Twins, No Callinan, no Schell, 10 goal win....ominous signs.

[dedja]

against a team who's broke and have only won 4 games???

[CENTURION]

yep, in appalling conditions too. Everyone has been saying how unlucky Port have been, losing by narrow margins etc., etc.

[Royal City]

Great victory. GAme was over at half time. BEst Thommo Boyd Goodrem Buckets and Hayesy!!!!

[CENTURION]

good to see Scotty Dutschke bashing Himself back into some form too.

[Grahaml]

Port's best player Colin Rowston started to have quite an influence on the game.

Load of rubbish.

Anyway, dogs miles and miles ahead of Port as expected. Even without losing key players we always looked too classy and disciplined and that's the way it turned out. Boyd was great on the ball and Lawry was fantastic down back. Hardy looked better in the ruck than he has any other time this year. O'Hara had his calf iced and was limping badly at the end of the game. Hopefully just a knock rather than a strain or tear.

On to the next game as we hopefully start to build some nice momentum.

[bulldogproud2]

According to someone who knows Brayden very well, he is a bit sore this morning but should be right for next week.
Cheers

[EasyE]

Port's best player Colin Rowston started to have quite an influence on the game.

Load of rubbish.

Have to agree. I hardly even noticed he was out there to be honest, which was a refreshing change.

Can't believe Ryan Williams didn't make the best players list in the mail today? I must have been at a different game. He was superb!

[Big Phil]

Port's best player Colin Rowston started to have quite an influence on the game.

Load of rubbish.

Have to agree. I hardly even noticed he was out there to be honest, which was a refreshing change.

Can't believe Ryan Williams didn't make the best players list in the mail today? I must have been at a different game. He was superb!

Agree. Even more so considering he wasn't even playing until C.Gowans and Callinan pulled out* the night before and that Williams had spent some time in hospital with I think food poison during the week.

[whufc]

great win by the dogs. unfortunatly wasnt there was in melbourne for the weekend and went watched box hill vs collingwood. was a bit nervous when i heard the late outs but all was good.

players possibly to return
schell
cochrane
gowans x2
callinan
sutherland
spurr
switala

interesting times at selection coming up.

[Brucetiki]

great win by the dogs. unfortunatly wasnt there was in melbourne for the weekend and went watched box hill vs collingwood. was a bit nervous when i heard the late outs but all was good.

players possibly to return
schell
cochrane
gowans x2
callinan
sutherland
spurr
switala

interesting times at selection coming up.

Don't forget Sibenaler

[Big Phil]

great win by the dogs. unfortunatly wasnt there was in melbourne for the weekend and went watched box hill vs collingwood. was a bit nervous when i heard the late outs but all was good.

players possibly to return
schell
cochrane
gowans x2
callinan
sutherland
spurr
switala

interesting times at selection coming up.

Don't forget Sibenaler

And possibly Gunston and Henderson from the Crows...

[hot dogs]

I don't reckon we will see Hendo this year, but Gunston should be in the mix.
One of the real highlights for me was watching Luke Barmby attack the ball in a good old fashioned, hard at it style. He showed a lot of hunger and determination from whoa to go.
Any news on how far away Spurr is from fronting up?

[whufc]

By the sounds of it Bulldogs2004 will be excited about Barmbys performance.

[Dutchy]

We keep hearing about all the "ins" for the dogs but we are getting pretty late in the season, dunno if ive ever heard so much talk about this subject from Dogs fans in the past

[whufc]

We keep hearing about all the "ins" for the dogs but we are getting pretty late in the season, dunno if ive ever heard so much talk about this subject from Dogs fans in the past

The reason there is so much talk imho is that in previous years the club has been brilliant at getting players right at the business end of the year, this seems to have happened again with Havelberg, Cochrane and Boyd.

I guess the luxury the Dogs have had this year by sitting in the top 3 from round 1 is that we haven't had to take any risks with players meaning blokes have missed games or taken a week extra off when they may have been able to play.

The general thought is all the current injured players should be back on the park by Round 22, with Gowans x2, Switala, Spurr, Schell more than likely to take the park against the Eagles whether that be in the reserves or league. Cochrane will probably play another 2 games in the reserves before lining up in the league against the Bays in the last round.

The positive lining to this is that alot of players will still be very 'fresh' come finals time having only played between that 10-13 games, fatigue shouldn't be an issue.