From the Coaches Box - solid contributors
In Cellarbrations' From the Coaches Box this week, Sydney Swans defensive coach John Blakey talks about the effort of the half-backs this year
The form of Nick Malceski and Jarrad McVeigh has been exceptional this season. They are both very good players and they have really added to our defensive run. It’s been terrific seeing how well they have been able to work this season and we look forward to again seeing them in action this week.
We will also see the return of Rhyce Shaw this weekend, who will certainly add to that defensive run. We’ve also had Andrejs Everitt who has probably been in his best form and he is giving us some drive off half-back as well. I think with a mix of those guys and with Shawy coming back, we’re able to set up fairly well.
It is going to be good to have Shawy back this week. He is obviously in our leadership group so he brings a lot of direction and a lot of energy to our team. He’s a really strong runner and he brings extra pace to our side and I think just his voice and direction out on the field can’t be underestimated as well. I think it will be a real lift for the rest of the group with him coming back in.
The Western Bulldogs have certainly been playing good football over the last month and against quality opponents in Essendon, Hawthorn and West Coast and have done very well against those sides. They are certainly on the right track and they are improving and their best is very good.
I think at the moment their top line players in Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney and Bob Murphy are playing exceptional football for them at the moment and are really leading the way for the younger brigade.
Luke Dahlhaus is one of their exciting young players and he showed just how dangerous he could be in their win over West Coast last week. He is likely to play on the half forward or the wing and when he does come forward we’ve got Dane Rampe, who has been playing very well, and Nick Smith, that can take his type of match-up, as well as Jarrad McVeigh who has also been playing those types of match-ups, so we do have a number of players who can go to him. We know he’s a very dangerous player and when he’s switched on he certainly gives the Bulldogs a lot of energy.
The Doggies are leading the competition for disposals over the last three weeks, so they have certainly changed the way they play and they’re running and using the ball well so certainly from our point of view we’ve got another hard challenge this week.