'It was a hard one': Cameron Ciraldo explains why Lachlan Galvin was dropped as question lingers
Updated . First published at
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has explained the decision to omit Lachie Galvin on match day while remaining coy over his future position.
Jaeman Salmon was called into the starting team for the Dogs in his comeback from injury with Bailey Hayward moved to the bench. Ciraldo went with four forwards on the bench.
Last week, the Dogs moved Matt Burton to centre and played Galvin in the halves. Against the Cowboys, Jethro Rinakama made his debut on a wing while Enari Tuala moved to the centres.
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Lachlan Galvin and Cameron Ciraldo. Getty/Nine
Ciraldo said the decision to drop Galvin was made to ensure he had enough forward cover on the bench. However, it looked like an interesting decision when Burton went off for an HIA.
"It was a hard one because it would've been nice to have Lachie there when Burto went off and I reckon if he was on there with fresh legs at the back end of the game I thought he really could have asked some more questions of the Cowboys' defence," he said in his post-match press conference.
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"But I thought we needed four forwards on the fence. (Max King) is backing up from Origin, Jaeman Salmon's first game back. I sort of looked at the Cowboys' game last week; a lot of guys were cramping up in that last 20 minutes of the game. We thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight.
"When Burto went off I was thinking maybe that wasn't the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision because our forwards all worked their arses off, and it was tough out there; it was hot and humid."
Ciraldo was then asked about Galvin's future position this season.
"I'm not too sure about that. We'll see how that goes," he replied before diverting back to the match.
The focus then moved to Burton and where he may play but once again Ciraldo wasn't entering a discussion about that topic.
Canterbury won the game 12-8.
