RODNEY Eade is preparing for an intense opening-quarterbarrage from the Kangaroos on Saturday night as the ‘Roos celebrate GlennArcher’s 300th game.
But the Bulldogs coach’s own experience with milestonematches tells him “the Archer factor” may not play too big a role in the overallcontest.
“Glenn is held in such high regard within the competition,let alone the Kangaroos, obviously his teammates are going want to do well forhim. But, I think that sort of emotion and euphoria can probably last 10 or 15minutes,” Eade said.
“It is going to be a challenge for us but I think we cancover that pretty well.”
The Bulldogs are starting a run of five games against sides alsobattling for a neat the top of the ladder. For Eade, this is a glass half-full.
“Our next three games are against teams that are equal withus, so it certainly is an important time for us. But I think the good thing isthat all teams have got their futures in their own hands,” he said.
Eade was just as buoyant about his team’s ability to coverthe loss of four of its key players to injury.
These situations are always good tests for a club and inthe past we have coped with them well,” he said.
The Bulldogs chances of victory against the Kangaroos will be boosted by the return of Chris Grant, who has been regaining his fitnesswith Werribee over the last few weeks. Eade believes his game time withWerribee along with five weeks of solid training has Grant primed for thecontest.
“I think if he had gone straight in it would have taken hima few weeks to adjust to the change in tempo, but the fact he has had thosegames will help him,” he said.