Round 12 BLOCKBUSTER: Centrals v Glenelg @ Elizabeth

[smac]

Gowans definitely not playing, Callinan 50/50 at best, Symes I am unsure of as the Crows will decide his fate.

[TigerBoss]

Centrals had Gowans and Callinan out of their side when the Bays won by just 3 points earlier in the season...

I think the Bays controlled this game, while the scoreboard indicates the game was much closer than that, but I have a feeling the Dogs will be VERY hard to beat this week. Dogs are still a very potent side without Callinan and Gowans, so by no means should our side be breathing a sigh of relief that neither will be lining up against us.

Makes for an interesting game. Still, we'll know by 5pm Saturday what the outcome of this game will be. I'm heartened by the fact that South pushed Centrals at home recently, which indicates to me that the Dogs are far from their best at the present moment. Still, the reputation the Dogs have built by playing well in BIG matches is hard to overcome.

Not predicting a winner in this one...but I hope the BBQ has enough stocks for me and my mates.

[bayman]

i'm looking forward to this one. As i said in another thread catch the 6.55am flight out of brisbane, stop over in sydney and in adelaide just after 11, the old man picks us up then its straight out to elizabeth. I'm intrigued to see how our running side will go on the vast space's of elizabeth. To those of you who post on here and follow central's make sure you come* over and say g'day.

lets hope they don't go on strike

[smac]

Centrals had Gowans and Callinan out of their side when the Bays won by just 3 points earlier in the season...

I think the Bays controlled this game, while the scoreboard indicates the game was much closer than that, but I have a feeling the Dogs will be VERY hard to beat this week. Dogs are still a very potent side without Callinan and Gowans, so by no means should our side be breathing a sigh of relief that neither will be lining up against us.

Makes for an interesting game. Still, we'll know by 5pm Saturday what the outcome of this game will be. I'm heartened by the fact that South pushed Centrals at home recently, which indicates to me that the Dogs are far from their best at the present moment. Still, the reputation the Dogs have built by playing well in BIG matches is hard to overcome.

Not predicting a winner in this one...but I hope the BBQ has enough stocks for me and my mates.

Can't argue with much of that TB. Although I think the bays will win, we will make it pretty difficult for them.

[bayman]

i can't remember whether it was earlier this year or late last year but central were trying to get 10,000 to their game on that occaision so lets hope a similar number of people turn up for this weeks blockbuster


is it the first 4 point game of the year ?

[Big Phil]

Hi Footy Fans,

For Doggies supporters who don't go on our website much, unfortunatley the regualr volunteers who run our canteens at Elizabeth are no longer available. With such short notice before the big clash on Saturday, the club are in negotiations with another volunteer agency but will struggle to finalise something before this Saturday. So, below I have quoted a request from the club...

Hi Bulldog Fans,

Our mighty club is in a pickle. Due to circumstances beyond its control, the club was told yesterday that charity Kids Future Kids is unable to continue providing volunteers for the canteens and BBQ at Hamra Homes Oval. With Centrals hosting Glenelg at Elizabeth this Saturday the club is desperately seeking volunteers to pull the club through this hiccup. The club is also having discussions with another organisation with regards to the rest of the football season but they are unable to commit this weekend at such late notice.

The canteens are very important to Centrals as an income stream and as a service to both the Bulldogs and opposition supporters. If you would like to help the Bulldogs please contact CDFC Director Glen Armstrong on 0438 852 235.

Go U Dogs!

CDFC Announcement

If anyone can volunteer their time at least this week, I'm sure the club will greatly appreciate it. As there are predictions of a big crowd, it is crucial that the club can sustain a nice level of service and supply of food for the whole day on Saturday. Heaven forbid, I wouldn't wont it to end up like the shambles I experienced out at Unley in Round 2 this year. All the canteens had run out of pretty much EVERYTHING drink wise by 3/4 time of the reserves game and were very severly understaffed with their catering facilities. Come on Doggies fans, help out if you can.

GO U DOGGIES...

Big Phil...

[Grahaml]

Will be interesting to see what AFL players are available for the dogs. I doubt Griffin and Westhoff will be dropped just yet, but what would I know? Symes seems the most likely because I expect the crows are keen to get game time into him as soon as he is fit, and it would surprise if he was straight back to the crows. Ryan Williams would be handy. In essence there could be 4 AFL players coming in, probably 2 and possibly none! If none are available then I would expect to be unchanged.

As for this being a 4 point game, I don't think this game is really about points. Not that points are unimportant but I think both teams will get enough wins to finish top 3 regardless of whether this one is one or not. The game is about confidence come finals time, something worth more than 2 points IMHO. If the bays knock off the dogs it will be massive for them. Premierships are often won on the back of gutsy or rare victories. This week could be just that for whichever team comes up trumps. The dogs beating one of the form teams with key personnel out, the bays just winning where they haven't won for 16 years.

[TigerBoss]

A week is a long time in footy. This time last week, I heard comments by choco and 5AA that Westhoff appears that he has done little, but that his contribution to the side has been very valuable in a variety of other ways. This from The Age may just prove me wrong:

Port Adelaide are considering demoting Justin Westhoff to the SANFL to help the young forward regain some of the confidence he has plainly lost.

The Power's struggles to replicate their eye-catching form of last year can be seen in microcosm through Westhoff, who came from nowhere in mid-2007 to establish himself as one of the more exciting forward options to emerge at the Power.

His spindly frame did not prevent Westhoff from earning respect across the AFL for his poise, touch and considerable football smarts, and it was thought that with another pre-season under his belt the youngster would continue to flourish this year.

However Westhoff has been unable to reproduce anything like that form on a consistent basis so far, kicking only 8.11 in 12 games as opposed to 34.14 in 16 last year.

For a number of weeks Power coach Mark Williams has defended Westhoff's slim returns on the basis he is playing further up the ground this year and also averaging more possessions and marks than in 2007.

But the concession that Westhoff's goalkicking has deteriorated suggests the Power may finally opt to take him out of the spotlight, at least for the time being.

"That's a really difficult one, we've spent a long time talking about Westy (Westhoff)," Williams said.

"He does so many good things and his possessions and marking is right up there with last year, but his kicking for goal isn't, so that's the one area that is down.

"We've toyed with the fact do you drop him and let him have a few weeks with Centrals to get some real confidence back, or do we keep persisting with him because we know he's our future?

"We will do the best thing for him."

Williams has oscillated between blaming his squad's younger players, mid-tier group and leaders for Port's waning fortunes, but the truth is only a handful of Power players have improved in 2008.

Their next assignment is to confront a Richmond side that returned to the winner's list against Melbourne last Sunday, and Williams declared the fixture to be a "must-win" for the health of his club.

"We saw some little things on the weekend that we were quite satisfied with, now we're coming up to playing another home game and it's about time our club stood up and won at home," Williams said.

"We're calling on all our supporters to get there - this is a game we're putting on the map as a must-win.

"We've had a fantastic record at AAMI in the past, but this year it has certainly been disappointing."

[Grahaml]

Actually, at the start of the year I honestly thought Westy would be back by round 10. obviously that didn't happen but I thought he would find the going tough early this season and would be dropped for his own confidence. And in a dogs forward line with Lawry and Havelberg he'll be one of 3 talls rather than the 2 the power seem to have. Not to mention the defenders will be much smaller in the SANFL. And to play with one and perhaps 2 of his brothers would be massive for him. And I thought with Damon White still on the list he'd be given a chance at the first sign of a forward line issue. I think dropping him is the best thing the power could do. I also think it won't happen. I think Griffin has 2 more AFL games to show he can carry his form through the rest of the season before Ken McGregor, Nick Gill or possibly Trent Hentschel come in.

[whufc]

Centrals had Gowans and Callinan out of their side when the Bays won by just 3 points earlier in the season...

I think the Bays controlled this game, while the scoreboard indicates the game was much closer than that, but I have a feeling the Dogs will be VERY hard to beat this week. Dogs are still a very potent side without Callinan and Gowans, so by no means should our side be breathing a sigh of relief that neither will be lining up against us.

Makes for an interesting game. Still, we'll know by 5pm Saturday what the outcome of this game will be. I'm heartened by the fact that South pushed Centrals at home recently, which indicates to me that the Dogs are far from their best at the present moment. Still, the reputation the Dogs have built by playing well in BIG matches is hard to overcome.

Not predicting a winner in this one...but I hope the BBQ has enough stocks for me and my mates.

Just interested as i missed the first encounter this year, do you think the fact Glenelg controlled the contest is a positive as in if they had used the ball better kicked straighter they would have won by plenty OR do you think it is a negative in that Glenelg controlled the match yet could only win by 3 pts against at Central team who is definatly not hitting there straps.

By the looks Justin Westoff will be playing for the Dogs this week, this is an important pick up as our only tall forward in any sort of form has been Havelberg, this changes the whole complexion of the Central forward line for the better.

I also expect Ryan Williams to come straight back in the league side, his attack and versatility will be invaluable in such a big match. For my mind the two players dropped will be Spurr for sure and a toss up between O'Hara and Goodrem.

This is a very strong looking side and still has missing IMHO our clubs two best players Chris Gowans and Ian Callinan, plus Charles Slattery, things are looking up for the Dogs.

My Tip: Dogs by 21pts

[tigersupporter]

Hey Big Phil...Pay someone to man the bbqs and canteens...your club can afford it

[TigerBoss]

Hard to say WHUFC...

Dogs finished with last 3-4 goals in last 5-10 minutes. Bays were up most of the Day, before Dogs got back in front in the 3rd (???) before Bays kicked away again.

At the time, I recall asking myself how we may have gone had Callinan and Gowans both been fit...

Still, you can only beat the opposition put in front of you, and the Bays won last time around...just.

[whufc]

Hard to say WHUFC...

Dogs finished with last 3-4 goals in last 5-10 minutes. Bays were up most of the Day, before Dogs got back in front in the 3rd (???) before Bays kicked away again.

At the time, I recall asking myself how we may have gone had Callinan and Gowans both been fit...

Still, you can only beat the opposition put in front of you, and the Bays won last time around...just.

Yeah definatly not using the two players out as an excuse because thats why you have a ressies side, plus if they were in there no doubt would be someone else injured and so on. But i having been thinking over the last couple of days is it a positive or negative to control a game and only just win, i can't make up my mind.

What i do know though is that Glenelg will see a totally different Central side on Saturday to the one they played against earlier in the season. Glenelg are now no questions asked the REAL DEAL and what we all know is the the Dogs hate feeling threatened, combined with being on our home deck and if it's not already sorted winner guareentees top 3 finish.
This will be the real test to see how Glenelg is compared to the very best in a finals type game i predict.

[dogs01]

By the looks Justin Westoff will be playing for the Dogs this week, this is an important pick up as our only tall forward in any sort of form has been Havelberg, this changes the whole complexion of the Central forward line for the better.

I also expect Ryan Williams to come straight back in the league side, his attack and versatility will be invaluable in such a big match. For my mind the two players dropped will be Spurr for sure and a toss up between O'Hara and Goodrem.

This is a very strong looking side and still has missing IMHO our clubs two best players Chris Gowans and Ian Callinan, plus Charles Slattery, things are looking up for the Dogs.

My Tip: Dogs by 21pts

Dont forget Symes is available and is a strong possibility to play.

[whufc]

By the looks Justin Westoff will be playing for the Dogs this week, this is an important pick up as our only tall forward in any sort of form has been Havelberg, this changes the whole complexion of the Central forward line for the better.

I also expect Ryan Williams to come straight back in the league side, his attack and versatility will be invaluable in such a big match. For my mind the two players dropped will be Spurr for sure and a toss up between O'Hara and Goodrem.

This is a very strong looking side and still has missing IMHO our clubs two best players Chris Gowans and Ian Callinan, plus Charles Slattery, things are looking up for the Dogs.

My Tip: Dogs by 21pts

Dont forget Symes is available and is a strong possibility to play.

Personally i don't think Symes would walk straight into the league side after 8 weeks off. Im hoping the Crows want to ease him back into it with 2-3 quarters in the reserves and then a league gig next week. That would only leave one more week for Symes to play with us and he would be qualified (wishful thinking).

I know you don't rely on AFL players but if we could get 3 games out of Symes that will make a huge difference to our side if he is then allowed to play with us come finals time.

[therisingblues]

One of the Gownas will be missing?
In all the time those two have been playing at Elizabeth they have been the most reliable indicator of Central's form IMO.
Glenelg have a good act, they should be able to haul themselves over the line against this Dogs line up.
Bays by 3 goals.

[smac]

One of the Gownas will be missing?
In all the time those two have been playing at Elizabeth they have been the most reliable indicator of Central's form IMO.
Glenelg have a good act, they should be able to haul themselves over the line against this Dogs line up.
Bays by 3 goals.

I think we have only played 1 game (ANZAC) all season with 2 Gowans in the side.

[TigerBoss]

Makes the Dogs seem all the more potent when they're doing SO well without Callinan and the second Gowans in the side...

[smac]

SO well? One decent win for the season.

[Dog_ger]

Hi Big Phil,

This is not a must win game for us Dog_gers'.

We play at our BEST come October.

It is not neccessary to give any video evidence of how we set up our games in the Middle of June my Good Mate.