Pre-season match simulations are not official pre-season matches – they don’t happen until the AFL Community Series starting on Tuesday, February 27. For match sims, the clubs agree on the format, including the length of quarters or periods and the size of squads.
The news
The word out west this summer had been how good is Ryley Sanders. It did not take long on Friday to work out why.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge could not be at Whitten Oval due to illness, but Sanders provided just the tonic with a scintillating performance in the Western Bulldogs’ 25-point win against Hawthorn.
Dog to watch: Ryley Sanders marks the ball during the match simulation.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
Having already dominated on the training track against senior teammates, Sanders transferred that form against real opposition. The next challenge will be to do it when premiership points are on the line in round one. Only injury will deny him that chance.
In his first competitive game against another club, Sanders displayed with the poise of a seasoned midfielder and the class typically associated with a No.6 draft pick.
Official stats were not kept in this game, but he would have comfortably had more than 20 disposals from about three quarters.
His ability to find teammates by hand in close in heavy traffic was a feature of his game, and he did not waste the ball either in space. His goal in the first quarter when he received on the wing and converted on the run from outside 50 was met with much excitement by the 2000 or so predominantly Bulldogs fans.
Though the Dogs believe Sanders, 19, has the maturity to handle the hype, they don’t want to add to it.
“It’s great to have him in the midfield, he definitely showed some really impressive signs today,” Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade said, before deflecting praise elsewhere.
Defender James O’Donnell has been sent for scans after rolling his ankle in the opening minutes of the game, but the Bulldogs are optimistic his injury is only minor.
Hawks forward Mabior Chol sent a scare when he came off in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, but he played out the game with the joint strapped.
What you need to know
Like the park cricketer who turns up on Saturday and finds out they’re facing Pat Cummins, the Hawks’ VFL side fronted up against a supposed Bulldogs reserves team including Marcus Bontempelli, Tim English and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Bailey Dale, Adam Treloar, Ed Richards and Cody Weightman also played in the Bulldogs seconds, who, with the massive class advantage, won by 80 points.
The unorthodox move was designed to give more Bulldogs time in their primary roles without having to rotate through other positions.
The injury-hit Hawks were undermanned but fielded close to their best available side in the senior game. Though good in patches, they were also uncompetitive for long periods in the first and third quarters when outscored 13 goals to two.
The ease at which the Dogs moved the ball, particularly from stoppage, during that period would be a concern to Hawks coach Sam Mitchell, whose defence has been decimated by injury.
Preseason supplemental selection Ethan Phillips showed promise in defence though Sam Frost looks to be the favourite to take the key back post vacated by the injured James Blanck.
Expert’s view
There’s a midfield selection squeeze coming at the Dogs, and three-time All Australian Jack Macrae might be caught in the middle of it.
Recovering from a hamstring strain, Macrae did not take part in either of the match simulation games, and needs to train fully next week to be considered for the official practice game against Hawthorn.
Time is running out for him to get the miles and form needed to break into a midfield that still has to welcome back Bontempelli and Treloar, and now boasts extra depth after the arrivals of Sanders and James Harmes.
Key players
What’s next
The two clubs clash again in an official practice match next Saturday afternoon in Launceston.
