Plenty to like about Sydney and Western Bulldogs after the preliminary finals
THERE’S a lot of Bulldog love this week but the Swans weren’t forgotten after a dazzling display of their own. ROBBO’S PRELIM LIKES AND DISLIKES
Mark Robinson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Robinson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THERE’S only one game left.
Preliminary final week threw up surprises and drama aplenty as it does every year.
Mark Robinson looks at the highlights and lowlights from the season’s penultimate weekend.
ROBBO: TRAGIC NO MORE, DOGS ARE SERIOUS
WHAT I LIKE
1. Jason Johannisen.When the game was clogged and the bodies were tired, it was Johannisen who helped break it open, specifically when he ran out of halfback and delivered to Marcus Bontempelli in the final quarter, who kicked the goal. He was immensely influential. He had a game-high 831m gained, 26 disposals, six inside 50s, six score involvements and six intercept possessions.
2. What about Clay Smith and Luke Dahlhaus.Smith’s was the moving story of the night, losing a mate who died on Monday and then kicking four goals and don’t you love it when he’s described as being as hard as a cat’s head, like he’s an old-fashioned footballer. But once again, Dahlhaus goes about his business with little fanfare. He’s 178cm and 77kg and puts himself into hostile situations. His toughness is one aspect, his ability to get the ball to hand so quick and out of congestion is elite. That’s three big finals from him.
3. Josh Dunkley.It’s Bulldogs overload in the ‘likes’, but we’re not apologising. The Swans must look at Dunkley and think they might’ve missed one. He’s played just 16 games and two of his best have come in the past two finals. Against Hawthorn, he had a game-high 12 score involvements and against the Giants it was 13 score involvements. That’s some start to a career.
4. Absorbing pressure.The Cats failed in the first 60 minutes and the Swans stood up when they had to be counted. In the last three quarters, Sydney showed just how good they were at withstanding pressure. Geelong had 59 inside 50s to just 23, yet could only score eight times. In an amazing stat, Geelong created 48 turnovers in the forward half - the most by any side this season - yet scored just three goals from them. On the flip side, the Swans created just 18 turnovers in their forward half and scored seven goals. At other times, the Cats didn’t help themselves by bombing it too much, but accolades to Zak Jones and Dane Rampe who continually brought it out of defence.
5. Dane Rampe.He is a genuine star who needs attention. On Friday night, he had 26 disposals, 11 marks, 621m gained and six intercept possessions playing a mixture on Lachie Henderson and Harry Taylor. His bad spell was when Taylor kicked two goals on him in the third quarter. Rampe will probably want to play on a tall this week, to use his agility and smarts on the rebound, but Tory Dickson did the job on Heath Shaw on Saturday night, so you wonder if a smaller match-up, such as Dickson, can be achieved to quell Rampe.
WHAT I DISLIKE
1. Decision time.Who presents the Cup to the Bulldogs if they win the premiership? Maybe the great Doug Hawkins. What about John Schultz. Perhaps Susan Alberti. All wonderful candidates, but if we are going to ride this emotional train, what about Bob Murphy. What a sight that would be, Bob, Luke Beveridge and Easton Wood all on the dais. One thing’s for sure, the hug-fest would be one for the ages and the tears would water the MCG grass for the cricket season.
2. Geelong’s talls. It was supposed to be the weapon after Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, but it crumbled in a heap on preliminary final night. Tom Hawkins and Lachie Henderson didn’t fire as forwards, Rhys Stanley, Zac Smith and Mark Blicavs didn’t have huge influence and Buddy Franklin worked over Tom Lonergan in the first quarter and was probably the most influential player on the ground by the first break. In the first 15 minutes, Franklin had six disposals, 116m gained, four inside 50s and was involved in three scores.
3. Steve Motlop. At his best is match-winning. At his worst, he seems disinterested. The trade pundits say he’s on the table, which has not been confirmed, but let’s assume he is. What do the Cats get for him? You’d be reluctant to give up a first-round selection because he’s too inconsistent. Maybe a trade for, say, Brett Deledio or Daniel Wells, which has been mentioned, but that would seems overs.
4. Jeremy Cameron.Huge against the Swans in the first final, he was a shadow in the second final. Just five possessions, one mark and one behind was his return. And it wasn’t as if one player had a night out on him. The way the Bulldogs defend, which is anyone can take anyone, Cameron had an even spread of Hamling, Morris, Roberts and Wood. It’s funny what you will remember. For Cameron and Devon Smith, it will be for their gobbing off and Smith’s want to fight everyone.
5. Unfriendly fans. Wasn’t in the crowd, but Twitter was quick to point out that when Callan Ward went down with a knee to the head, some sections of the Bulldogs supporter group cheered wildly. If true, that’s taking jeering and booing to a classless level. The poor bastard could’ve been seriously injured doing exactly what Bulldogs fans used to cheer him for: courageously going back with the flight of the ball.
‘In games we give up’: Flag hero savages Dons as board war looms
‘We are no longer feared, we’re certainly not respected’ – Essendon premiership player Paul Weston has had enough. He tells MARK ROBINSON exclusively about his plan for change.
‘We’ve got champions who are zombies’: Mitchell’s plea for help
Last Monday, at just 58, Barry Mitchell was lying in Epworth Hospital wondering if the game he loves had almost killed him again. This is his confronting story the footy world needs to hear.