ing to happen, he said. Decided to be aggressive on my first at-bat

In soccer, the Dutch called it Total Football. Kevin Sheedy broke Essendons premiership drought in 1984 with the concept and Alastair Clarkson made it a feature of the Hawthorn three-peat era.Now partly through the necessity of an injury-riddled season, Western Bulldogs are making player versatility a hallmark of the campaign to break their 62-year AFL premiership drought.From the moment coach Luke Beveridge arrived at the Bulldogs from Hawthorn, he preached the need for players to have more than one string to their bow.Ruckman Jordan Roughead, for example, can also play as a key defender or as a marking forward.It has been particularly useful this season, with the Bulldogs repeatedly changing their line-up to cope with the run of injuries.You have to be able to play more than one position, Roughead said.Across the board, we have a list thats pretty strong in that area.It has been crucial to us - regardless of the injuries, wed have been looking to play in that vein.Jake Stringer can play in the midfield as well as a forward, while Marcus Bontempelli is a dangerous resting forward when not wreaking havoc at the stoppages.Liam Picken used to be a tagger - he has been a star for the Dogs in this finals series as a marking forward.The Dutch refined Total Football on the way to making the 1974 World Cup final.A decade later, Sheedy famously made sweeping changes to his side during the 84 grand final.Essendon roared back in the last quarter to beat Hawthorn for their first flag since 1965.Over the last three seasons, star Hawthorn players Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Shaun Burgoyne have alternated between the midfield and half-back with devastating effect.Tactics aside, the Bulldogs are riding an emotional wave heading into Saturdays preliminary final against the Giants.This is the first time since 1961 that they have won consecutive finals in the same year.Its a great feeling. We have to keep the ball rolling and take it as far as we can, Roughead said.The Bulldogs big man added he needed the weekend to recover after Friday nights emotional semi-final win over Hawthorn.The really positive energy and excitement in the room straight afterwards gets you on a big emotional high, he said.Then you head home, you come down and you crash - youre pretty knackered.The Saturday and Sunday was a good time to refresh, that was the best thing about playing on Friday night.Custom Cecil Cooper Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Cheap Custom Brewers Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. http://www.custombrewersjersey.com/custom-robin-yount-jersey-large-191z.html . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Custom Jim Gantner Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Paul Molitor Jersey Large . JOHNS, N.PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt seems to do it all for the Arizona Diamondbacks. It had been nearly two years since his last game-ending homer, though.He had the big hit Monday night, connecting to lead off the ninth inning and lift the Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 9-8.He homered off John Gant (1-3), sending an 0-1 pitch deep into seats in left field and helping Arizona overcome a five-run deficit and a two-homer night from Freddie Freeman.Arizona had its largest comeback win since June 3, 2015, when it bested the Braves after being down by six.This was Goldschmidts fourth career walkoff homer and sixth game-ending hit.The tendency in a tie game or extra innings is try to hit home runs. We have played some extra inning games and that has just not worked out for me and Im sure for most guys, Goldschmidt said. Its nice not to have to take home a moral victory, get an actual one.Freeman hit a solo homer off Enrique Burgos (1-1) to tie it in the ninth.Welington Castillo hit a two-out bases-loaded double during a four-run seventh that put Arizona ahead 8-7 after it trailed 5-0 in the second.All four runs came off Arodys Vizcaino. Michael Bourns single drove in Jean Segura to make it 7-5, then Goldschmidt singled and one out later, Yasmany Tomas walked. Castillo then lined a 2-0 pitch into the gap in left-center to clear the bases.Ive said it all year, these guys have battled, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. We have gone through some tough times. We have fallen behind. I have never thought theyve given up. I always tip my hat to them.Tomas hit a two-run homer in the third, giving the slugger homers in four straight games at Chase Field. Hes the fourth player in club history to do that.Freeman and Adonis Garcia each hit two-run homers while the Braves scored the first five runs. Freeman, with three hits on the night, raised his career average to .400 at Chase Field with 50 hits, including 12 home runs.I love this place, Freeman said. I like it more than Colorado. I think its the batters eye. You just get in that box and you just feel good. You see everything.Freeman returned to the lineup afteer missing Sundays game with a finger injury.dddddddddddd He also doubled and scored three times.Fingers good. Felt good. Didnt know what to expect, just seeing what was going to happen, he said. Decided to be aggressive on my first at-bat and got the first one (home run), and that calmed everything down after that.Nick Markakis had three hits and an RBI. Mike Foltynewicz pitched six innings and allowed four runs and nine hits, striking out seven.Atlantas big lead disappeared with Chris Owings RBI single in the bottom of the second, Goldschmidts sacrifice fly in the third and Tomas home run, trimming the Braves lead to 5-4. But Atlanta scored twice in the top of the fifth with Markakis single and Chase dArnauds sacrifice fly to take a three-run lead.Arizona starter Zack Godley allowed seven runs in five innings. He allowed nine hits, walked three and struck out three.WELCOME BACKFormer Diamondback Ender Inciarte, the Braves leadoff man Monday, received a round of applause and a few cheers upon being announced to start the game. Inciarte and former Arizona top prospect Dansby Swanson, traded to Atlanta for Shelby Miller in the offseason, were in Mondays lineup. Inciarte had two hits and scored twice.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: IF-OF Jace Peterson was scratched from the lineup after crashing into a wall making a catch Sunday. He reported soreness after going shoulder-first into the center-field wall at Turner Field and was replaced by dArnaud at second base Monday. Peterson remained in Sundays game and hit a game-ending homer in the 10th.Diamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock is expected to be activated from the disabled list later this week. Hes yet to play this season while recovering from a broken right elbow.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Rob Whalen (1-2, 5.73 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Arizona. Hes never faced the Diamondbacks in his career.Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley gets the call for Arizona. Hes 4-8 with a 5.04 ERA and will be making his second career start against the Braves. ' ' '