portadelaidefc.com.au take a look at the three most dangerous players in the Bulldogs’ ranks at this point in the season, whose influence will need to be limited on Saturday.
Jack Macrae
The Dogs’ 2014 best and fairest runner-up is one of their main weapons in the mid, and will be up and about for his 50th AFL game on Saturday afternoon.
Macrae has already earned his stripes as an elite ball-winner at the AFL level, averaging 27.6 disposals and 4.7 clearances per game this season. Hard on the inside ball, he’s at the front of most stoppages and is tough in the contests.
He’s able to gain on average 339 metes when he’s got the footy, and when he doesn’t, he makes the opposition work for it, with 5.1 tackles per game to his name.
The midfielder was a danger man last time the Power met the Dogs in Round 10. He bagged 31 disposals, nine clearances, six inside 50s, 16 contested possessions – earning him a best-on-ground nod.
Liam Picken
Picken was sidelined with a hamstring complaint in Round 10 and as a result the Power hasn’t yet come up against the experienced midfielder in 2015.
A notoriously tough tagger, until recently he mostly played a shutdown role for the Dogs.
This year his career average metres-gained per game is up by nearly 100 metres, indicating he’s been released to become a more attacking player, taking the game on and getting his hands on the ball.
With a season average of 24 disposals, 6.6 tackles and 3.6 clearances, his trademark hard, tight contest is a force to be reckoned with.
Stewart Crameri
A strong marking forward, Crameri will be riding the wave of a dominating performance against his old team Essendon last week.
Booting 7.2 and collecting three inside 50s and five marks against Essendon, he’s a dangerous target in the Dogs’ forward line with impeccable aim.
A mobile half-forward with the ability to get up the ground and play around the stoppage, last week he collected 19 disposals and gained 443m on the Bombers.
The Power managed to keep him to just one goal in Round 10, but they’ll need to work hard to limit his impact on the scoreboard and around the stoppage if his solid form continues this week.
