The importance of being Keith
Matthew ‘Keith’ Boyd returns to the side this week to take on the Tigers after sitting out last week’s nail-biter in Canberra.
While it’s always a good thing when a player of that ability and experience is always a good thing, it may be even more crucial than you realise.
If ten (!) straight years of at least 90 Champion Data ranking points per game isn’t impressive enough, here’s something else.
In the Luke Beveridge era, the Bulldogs have never won a game when Keith didn’t play. Count’em:
2015: Rounds 3 (Hawthorn), 6 (St Kilda), 11 (West Coast) and 23 (Brisbane).
2016: Rounds 9 (GWS) and 19 (Geelong).
2017: Round 6 (GWS).
True story.
Close quarters
There may not be two more evenly matched sides, at least statistically, facing off this weekend.
Only 11 total points separate the pair’s offensive output this season, and just three points at the other end. The Dogs also lead the league in third quarters won (5), and Richmond have won the second most final quarters (5).
Not enough? The Tigers average just three more clearances per game than the Dogs, two inside50s, and two contested possessions, while the Dogs lead the tackle count by.. you guessed it, two.
So, all roads seemingly lead to a close contest, but as we know football can be as unpredictable as, well, a bouncing oval ball.
Return of Big Red
If you miss the glory days of the curtain raisers, you’re in for a bit of a treat this weekend with Footscray and Richmond’s VFL side crossing swords from 3.30pm at Etihad Stadium, and both sides battling for a spot in the top four.
And the Dogs’ side is loaded with familiar names, like Wallis, Crameri, Dickson, Biggs etc., but it’s the return Jack Redpath, playing his first game since rupturing his ACL in Round 18 last season that should be enough to get Dogs fans through the gates for the early game.
Stopping by to watch Mitch go around for game two is probably enough, but why not get down to the ground and show some love to #43.
To tag or not to tag
So all of the sudden tagging is back in vogue. Does it follow then that Luke Beveridge will send a stopper to Tigers powerhouse Dustin Martin on Saturday night?
Despite the Tigers ten point loss, Dusty got off the leash that last time the two sides met, picking up a casual 38 touches, ten more than his closest teammate, and was awarded two Brownlow votes for his troubles.
His form this season has been no less formidable, averaging 28 disposals and two goals per game, but it’s worth nothing what Luke Beveridge had to say on Thursday.
"We'll do our best to control (Martin) as a midfield group, but we'll monitor how he's going and whether or not we need to put a bit more time into him.
'We'll need to pay some attention to Dusty, but they've got some very, very good midfielders in their captain (Trent Cotchin) and obviously Prestia has come on board.
Watch this space.
