Western Bulldogs Development Coach Peter German looks at how each of the Bulldogs listed players are faring in the VFL.
Jack Redpath: Jack is starting to understand the finer points of defence and the back line and it is the second week in a row that he is able to hold down a key position and do a good job. There’s still bits and pieces that we are trying to work on but he is starting to get an appetite for playing on an opponent and we are pleased with his progress.
Christian Howard: Howard was probably a slow starter but built into the game. I thought he was pretty important to us in a few plays and some of his disposals resulted in goals. He was really important at times throughout the second half.
Mark Austin: Austin was strong down back again. He was solid in defence, playing again on a taller opponent and was able to restrict that height advantage they had. He’s had a couple of good games in the back half now and has been a strong contributor in a couple of our wins.
Daniel Pearce: Daniel was really good – he had the job on [Troy] Menzel, their first round draft pick, and he kept him under wraps and really restricted his time and space. I was really pleased with his first game back in the senior side.
Daniel Cross: Cross was great again. He did all the things that we expect. His hard running, his clearance work, his pressure and his work for his teammates. He was solid once again.
Tom Campbell: Tom was probably just down a little bit this week. We are still trying to teach him and develop him with his forward play as well as his ruck – so it is always a two-fold thing with him, being able to be effective in the ruck and when we move him forward. We think he is taking steps forward in that area, but there are still a few more to go yet.
Ayce Cordy: Ayce was positive for his first game back. He took eight marks, some on the lead, some contested marks. He gave off a couple of goals in general play to some of the smalls. For his first game back we were pleased his work rate was up and he was a solid contributor mainly as a forward.
Jarrad Grant: He played further up the field this week and did some ruck work at times which we are trying to develop him in that area as well. But there’s still probably times where he could contribute just a little bit more. I’ve been reasonably pleased with how he has approached his footy and what he is trying to do for the team.
Jason Tutt: He was a bit up and down but some of his play when he was on the outside with his foot speed was really good and really important to us. We are still probably wanting a bit more from him to really be pushing for senior selection but on many occasions, his ability to break away from the contest was influential in some of our goals.
Mitch Wallis: Mitch was really good. He won ten stoppages and around 30 possessions, with four or five tackles he played a really solid midfielder’s game. He got paid a fair bit of attention as well but he was able to work through all that to be a strong contributor for us.
Tory Dickson: Tory was probably one of our key forwards on the day, kicking four. He really showed his class and ability to find goals when we really needed them in the game. I think that he’s pushed himself up there for selection for this week.