Quick thoughts on the Dogs midfield now that Dunkley might miss a fair bit of footy -
Macrae - suggest that his role will remain largely unchanged. May tend a bit more toward the inside, but he's always had the tendency to find space and link-up, so even if the directive is there, it's unlikely that the inside-outside ratio will change too much.
Bont - has spent a fair bit of time up forward so far this season, so there may be a slight increase in midfield time. Has often attended centre bounces before drifting forward in general play. Midfield time so far has generally been dependent on the opposition anyway.
Treloar - has been starting on a wing or in the middle before playing off the shoulder of the ball carrier a fair bit in general play, and that's his best role by far IMO. Attended every centre bounce in the final term against West Coast a few weeks ago and has worked into the role as the season has progressed. I quite like him as an option if he can continue to accumulate, but it's also the sort of role that is more heavily effected when the team isn't going so well.
Hunter - probably irrelevant given he's almost exclusively played off the wing and half-forward flank. Only thing I can think of is if he gets some of Macrae's outside ball the latter goes more inside.
Smith - Largely played off a wing, and I'd like to see him get a solid run at it in the middle. It's been a very tight group in terms of CBAs so far this season, but he's got the dash and hard edge to make the role his own. We've also got Lipinski who can replace him on the outside and give run and carry.
Liberatore - might be the main beneficiary. I initially thought that Dunkley was a Libba injury away from putting it all together, but given Dunkley's form, the injury might give Libba a solid run at it. Won't get the big numbers that Dunkley does, but in terms of role it makes it ridiculously solid. Actually thinking of bringing him in for Kelly next week.
Bevo said in the press conference that he'd like to keep the continuity there, so I doubt there'll be any significant changes, moreso some tweaking to make sure there isn't a huge upheaval in the middle.
Macrae - suggest that his role will remain largely unchanged. May tend a bit more toward the inside, but he's always had the tendency to find space and link-up, so even if the directive is there, it's unlikely that the inside-outside ratio will change too much.
Bont - has spent a fair bit of time up forward so far this season, so there may be a slight increase in midfield time. Has often attended centre bounces before drifting forward in general play. Midfield time so far has generally been dependent on the opposition anyway.
Treloar - has been starting on a wing or in the middle before playing off the shoulder of the ball carrier a fair bit in general play, and that's his best role by far IMO. Attended every centre bounce in the final term against West Coast a few weeks ago and has worked into the role as the season has progressed. I quite like him as an option if he can continue to accumulate, but it's also the sort of role that is more heavily effected when the team isn't going so well.
Hunter - probably irrelevant given he's almost exclusively played off the wing and half-forward flank. Only thing I can think of is if he gets some of Macrae's outside ball the latter goes more inside.
Smith - Largely played off a wing, and I'd like to see him get a solid run at it in the middle. It's been a very tight group in terms of CBAs so far this season, but he's got the dash and hard edge to make the role his own. We've also got Lipinski who can replace him on the outside and give run and carry.
Liberatore - might be the main beneficiary. I initially thought that Dunkley was a Libba injury away from putting it all together, but given Dunkley's form, the injury might give Libba a solid run at it. Won't get the big numbers that Dunkley does, but in terms of role it makes it ridiculously solid. Actually thinking of bringing him in for Kelly next week.
Bevo said in the press conference that he'd like to keep the continuity there, so I doubt there'll be any significant changes, moreso some tweaking to make sure there isn't a huge upheaval in the middle.
