Will MINSON

2016 Digest:   One player who causes frustration for coach Luke Beveridge. Dominated at VFL level but couldn’t replicate that form regularly at AFL level until he stepped up in the elimination final with a performance that reminded everyone of his talents. Contracted until the end of this year.

2016 NAB Cup:   Played opening two matches but facing a race to be right for opener as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

2016 Season

Played for : Western Bulldogs

1		Hamstring.
2		Hamstring.
3	VFL	Did some bullocking work but certainly didn’t star. Two goals from limited disposals.	–
4	VFL	Battled Maric/Soldo combination and had his struggles. Contributed one goal.	–
5	VFL	Battled hard in the ruck and snuck into the team’s best. Better effort.	–
6	VFL	Battled hard in the ruck. Is ready to go now if coach decides to activate him.	–
7	VFL	Did his bit against Stephenson but not sure he gets back into the senior side.	–
8	VFL	57 hit-outs, four tackles and 13 disposals. Unlikely to unseat Campbell.	–
9	VFL	11 clearances to go with 22 touches. Keeping name in front of selectors.	–
10	VFL	Bye.	–
11	VFL	Veteran ruckman tried hard but didn’t influence the game to any great degree.	–
12	VFL	Workrate huge. Laid six tackles and won 28 hit-outs. Ready if needed.	–
13	VFL	55 hit-outs and 10 tackles but not hugely damaging around the contest.	–
14		Bye.
15	Syd	Team erupted when popular big man goaled in first game for ages. Adds something.	5
16	VFL	Battled Maric – 30 hit-outs, six clearances and kicked 2.2.	–
17	VFL	43 hit-outs and nine tackles and chipped in with two vital goals.	–
18	VFL	41 hit-outs, six clearances and four tackles. Played ruck role OK.	–
19	VFL	Six clearances and nine tackles to go with 37 hit-outs. Gave his all.	–
20	VFL	Had 30 hit-outs, six clearances, six inside-50s and five tackles.	–
21	VFL	Bye.	–
22	VFL	Veteran took nine marks, had five inside-50s and grabbed 26 disposals.	–
23	Frem	Couldn’t stop Sandilands in the ruck. But that was always going to be a challenge.	5
EF	VFL	Fair in ruck duel with Jamar – 24 hitouts, but offered little around ground.	–
SF		Not as good as he has been but 17 hit-outs and five inside-50s. Handy.
PF	VFL	32 hit-outs and eight tackles. Didn’t offer a lot around ground but did job.	–
GF		–

2015 Season

Played for : Western Bulldogs

1	WCE	Great battle against Lycett/Naitanui. Nine hit-outs to ad, seven clearances.	7
2	Rich	Limited disposals but able to match Maric and keep him subdued.	5
3	Haw	Toiled hard but outnumbered and lacked ruck support.	5
4	VFL	Not at his best in the ruck opposed to Gawn.	–
5	VFL	Slow start but came to the fore after half time in ruck.	–
6	VFL	Bye.	–
7	VFL	Beaten by Simpson in the ruck despite Dogs’ dominace.	–
8	VFL	Started forward then sent off for contact with umpire.	–
9	GWS	Teamed with Roughead to have upper hand against Mumford. Must inclusion.	5
10	Port	Great battle with Lobbe, won 41 hit-outs and nine clearances.	7
12	Bris	Started in attack but little impact and subbed off in third term.	3
13	StK	Subbed off at three-quarter time after lowering colours.	3
14	Carl	Took over ruck duties when Roughead went off. Controlled game in middle.	6
15	GCS	Contrasting styles against athletic Nicholls in an even ruck duel.	6
16		Shoulder.
17	VFL	15 touches, 29 hitouts and a goal. Solid but not enough.	–
18		Suspended.
19	VFL	32 hitouts and 10 touches. Not his best outing.	–
20	VFL	24 hitouts, 10 possessions and a goal. Just fair.	–
21	VFL	Kicked three goals in intriguing battle with Pears.	–
22	VFL	Great duel with Daw and Currie in ruck. Mighty effort.	–
23	VFL	Got hands on ball first – 44 hitouts, but Hawks won battle.	–
EF	Adel	Strong and energetic in ruck and well worth his inclusion.	6

2014 Season

Played for : Western Bulldogs

1	WCE	Battled Eagle trio manfully but overwhelmed for the most part.	3
2	NM	Won 43 tap outs at centre bounces and around ground. Just two marks.	5
3	Rich	On top in ruck duels against Stephenson. Got the points.	7
4	GWS	Beaten by Giles for three quarters but got on top late when Dogs needed it.	6
5	Carl	Lowered colours to Warnock in first half but fought back.	5
6	Adel	Got the better of the ruck duels but didn’t do a great deal at ground level.	5
7	Ess	Won the hit outs but neither ruckman did much except for that.	5
8	Melb	Nine hit-outs to advantage but may have lowered colours to Jamar.	5
10	GCS	Dominated Smith in the hitouts and threw his weight around at times.	6
11	Frem	Great effort against the might of Sandilands. Helped the Dogs win the ball.	6
12	Bris	Started off in superb fashion, but Martin slowly got the upper hand.	5
13	Coll	Dominated the hit outs to help the Dogs to control the clearances.	7
14	Port	Beaten by Lobbe in the ruck and around the ground.	6
15	Melb	Double-teamed by Jamar and Gawn. Was beaten but still had a presence.	6
16	Geel	Battled McIntosh and probably just shaded in that battle.	4
17	GCS	Went solo in the ruck and got the better of Smith and Dixon.	7
18	Ess	Great battle against Ryder. Seven hit-outs to advantage and five inside-50s.	6
19	Haw	Honest display in ruck against McEvoy and Hale but outnumbered.	6
20	StK	Had upper hand over Longer but not a big factor around ground.	5
21	NM	OK in ruck contests but not enough impact in general play.	3
22	VFL	Double-teamed by Tigers but got plenty of ball around ground.	–
23	GWS	Back in team and battled hard against Mumford. Just shaded on the night.	6
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Western Bulldogs

1	Bris	Good contest in ruck with young Longer, but did much more around ground.	5
2	Frem	Battled hard but lowered his colours to Griffen who was a force.	6
3	Rich	Beaten in the ruck by Maric and lacked the intensity he has shown in first two weeks.	3
4	Adel	Fantastic in the ruck, virtually a lone hand winning 48 hit outs.	7
5	Geel	16 hit-outs to advantage made him clear winner around stoppages. OK.	5
6	WCE	Had 38 taps but outnumbered by Cox, Sinclair then Naitanui.	5
7	NM	Toiled hard in ruck all game and kicked brilliant goal from throw-in.	7
8	GCS	Dominated the hit-outs but needed to impact more around the ground.	4
9	StK	Dominated ruck taps and chimed in around the ground.	7
10	Port	Continued his outstanding season in the ruck with a mammoth 57 hit-outs.	9
12	Coll	Slight edge in taps over Jolly early. Solid effort.	6
13	Rich	Had the better of Maric at the stoppages but the Tiger was influential around ground.	6
14	Melb	Took charge in ruck as Bulldogs finished powerfully. Second to Griffen in B&F.	6
15	GWS	The dominant ruckman on the ground.	7
16	Ess	Beaten by Ryder/Bellchambers but to his credit never gave up the fight.	6
17	Haw	Managed his quota of 30 hit-outs to give mids first use, didn’t do much else.	5
18	WCE	Seven hit-outs to advantage and he actually got on top the longer game went	7
19	Syd	Found a bit of the ball around the ground but hard going.	5
20	Carl	Warnock had his measure in the ruck, but constantly got involved at ground level.	5
21	Adel	Beaten in second and third terms but helped wrest back control in final quarter.	6
22	Bris	Struggled early vs Leuenberger but came into game after half time to be pivotal.	7
23	Melb	Tower of strength at centre bounces and around ground with 48 hit-outs.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Western Bulldogs

1	WCE	Worked super hard for 20 possessions and couldn’t question his effort.	5
2	Adel	Held his own against Sam Jacobs in the ruck with 19 hit-outs.	5
3	StK	Strong effort in ruck and was good around the ground.	7
4	Melb	Hard worker in ruck.	6
5	GWS	Dominant big man on the ground in the first half.	6
6	Coll	Broke even with Wood in hit-outs but better around the ground.	6
7	NM	Had 34 hit outs and nine to advantage to help his midfield dominate.	6
8	GCS	Won the ruck duel and seems to be relishing the responsibility.	6
9	Geel	Battled hard and did some good things but could have used the ball better.	5
10	Syd	Got his hands on ball with 48 hitouts, but still found it tough to help his side.	4
12	Port	Workrate first class and clearly best big man on ground. Did fumble at times.	6
14	Ess	Gave a lion-hearted display in the ruck and never conceded an inch.	6
15	Frem	Had a real crack. Took strong marks and rucked well.	7
16	Haw	Struggled big time after appearing to injure a leg in the opening term.	3
17	Carl	Dominated hit outs, but plenty landed in the laps of opposition players.	7
18	StK	Rucked well in first half but less influential in second half as Saints got on top.	6
19	NM	Battled hard but had no support at ground level negated his influence.	5
20	Rich	Struggled to match Maric in the ruck and did zilch around the ground.	3
21	Syd	Had 10 hit outs to advantage and tried hard but lacked support.	5
22	Geel	Had 11 hit-outs to advantage and helped team establish stoppage supremacy.	6
23	Bris	Won the ruck duel and broke even around the ground with Hudson.	6