bornadog
26-01-2015, 03:18 PM
LINK (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/western-bulldogs-pick-up-pace-as-excitement-builds-20150124-12wizf.html)
http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/x/k/9/5/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.12wizf.png/1422089368803.jpg
As Bob Murphy succinctly reminded us, it is that time of year when "fool's gold" is freely available.
No team has lost, everyone is "flying on the track" and optimism – whether that be of premiership or finals aspirations, emerging as a solid team or simply jumping from the bottom of the ladder – is palpable.
However, it is during these warm months that the crucial fitness base is set, and good team spirit is born.
That spirit was broken by the end of last season for the Western Bulldogs, culminating in a shock loss against Greater Western Sydney and the dramatic falling-out between coach Brendan McCartney and skipper Ryan Griffen.
Both have since departed the club, and new coach Luke Beveridge's key focus is returning the Whitten Oval to a happy workplace.
So far, so good, is the internal word, with this attitude extending into what Murphy indicated would be a "little bit more adventurous" game plan, after recent years when the focus had seemingly been on winning the contested ball.
In a week when there was more off-field upheaval with the departure of chief executive Simon Garlick, president Peter Gordon said initial feedback on Beveridge had been excellent.
"I am thrilled at the choice," Gordon said. "Again, Simon [Garlick] played an important part in that choice and I think Simon should have a lot of satisfaction about the condition he leaves the club in.
"We have a coach there that has met with such universal satisfaction. I was down there this morning talking to a lot of the boys and the excitement is really genuine."
However, what cannot be disputed is the bagful of experience the club lost through the trade period, with Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins also leaving and Daniel Giansiracusa retiring.
The Dogs are now the second-least experienced side, averaging 46.7 matches – a drop of 14 on last year. Even the Gold Coast Suns average five more matches.
There is much work to do if the Bulldogs are to at least push into the middle tier of clubs. Allowing opponents to directly find a teammate by foot a league-high 67.9 per cent of the time – as was the case last season – cannot continue.
Conceding the most marks inside 50 won't do, either. The Dogs were exposed in one-on-one battles. They couldn't keep up with their rivals around the ground. When opponents won the clearances, the Bulldogs were too easily scored against.
Murphy, a touch light-heartedly, offered up one way to improve defensively.
"We would probably like to not have to defend as much," he said. "We would like the forwards to put it through the big white ones a little bit more often to make it a little bit easier for Roughie [fullback and new vice-captain Jordan Roughead], so he can point and direct people and act like the boss.
"We will wait and see. Once games start, we know an AFL season is a bit of a roller-coaster, so we will have challenges, of course, through the year. But we think we are putting enough work in now to hold us in good stead."
That work involves producing a quicker tempo of play, with as much focus on kicking goals as there on defending.
With prized young forward Tom Boyd lurking inside the attacking 50 – expectations on him will need to be realistic next season despite his hefty pay packet – it is understandable Beveridge has rebooted the Dogs' thinking.
"I guess the main orders, with the ball, we are probably a little bit more adventurous. We have been playing a lot of games, so the competitiveness of that defence and offence is really coming into sharp focus," Murphy said.
"We are still feeling each other out. We have a camp coming up to really get to know each other and hone in that style.
"We have had that pre-Christmas time of getting to know each other, now ... we are getting into the sharper focus of games. Luke is putting his stamp on the style and also I guess the spirit of the team.
"I think we are moving the ball faster; I think, if you ask Luke, perhaps too fast at times. At the moment we are sort of going hell for leather a bit. With a young side, we need to develop when to go fast, when to go slow, like all clubs at this time of the year."
It looms as another learning year for the Dogs but, hopefully, one with obvious growth. Is eight to 10 wins an unrealistic projection? That depends on who you ask in the industry.
In the meantime, Murphy knows the pre-season battle is not yet over.
"We are still finding out who we are, which is not a negative at all. That's kind of exciting me at the tender age [of 32]," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/x/k/9/5/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.12wizf.png/1422089368803.jpg
As Bob Murphy succinctly reminded us, it is that time of year when "fool's gold" is freely available.
No team has lost, everyone is "flying on the track" and optimism – whether that be of premiership or finals aspirations, emerging as a solid team or simply jumping from the bottom of the ladder – is palpable.
However, it is during these warm months that the crucial fitness base is set, and good team spirit is born.
That spirit was broken by the end of last season for the Western Bulldogs, culminating in a shock loss against Greater Western Sydney and the dramatic falling-out between coach Brendan McCartney and skipper Ryan Griffen.
Both have since departed the club, and new coach Luke Beveridge's key focus is returning the Whitten Oval to a happy workplace.
So far, so good, is the internal word, with this attitude extending into what Murphy indicated would be a "little bit more adventurous" game plan, after recent years when the focus had seemingly been on winning the contested ball.
In a week when there was more off-field upheaval with the departure of chief executive Simon Garlick, president Peter Gordon said initial feedback on Beveridge had been excellent.
"I am thrilled at the choice," Gordon said. "Again, Simon [Garlick] played an important part in that choice and I think Simon should have a lot of satisfaction about the condition he leaves the club in.
"We have a coach there that has met with such universal satisfaction. I was down there this morning talking to a lot of the boys and the excitement is really genuine."
However, what cannot be disputed is the bagful of experience the club lost through the trade period, with Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins also leaving and Daniel Giansiracusa retiring.
The Dogs are now the second-least experienced side, averaging 46.7 matches – a drop of 14 on last year. Even the Gold Coast Suns average five more matches.
There is much work to do if the Bulldogs are to at least push into the middle tier of clubs. Allowing opponents to directly find a teammate by foot a league-high 67.9 per cent of the time – as was the case last season – cannot continue.
Conceding the most marks inside 50 won't do, either. The Dogs were exposed in one-on-one battles. They couldn't keep up with their rivals around the ground. When opponents won the clearances, the Bulldogs were too easily scored against.
Murphy, a touch light-heartedly, offered up one way to improve defensively.
"We would probably like to not have to defend as much," he said. "We would like the forwards to put it through the big white ones a little bit more often to make it a little bit easier for Roughie [fullback and new vice-captain Jordan Roughead], so he can point and direct people and act like the boss.
"We will wait and see. Once games start, we know an AFL season is a bit of a roller-coaster, so we will have challenges, of course, through the year. But we think we are putting enough work in now to hold us in good stead."
That work involves producing a quicker tempo of play, with as much focus on kicking goals as there on defending.
With prized young forward Tom Boyd lurking inside the attacking 50 – expectations on him will need to be realistic next season despite his hefty pay packet – it is understandable Beveridge has rebooted the Dogs' thinking.
"I guess the main orders, with the ball, we are probably a little bit more adventurous. We have been playing a lot of games, so the competitiveness of that defence and offence is really coming into sharp focus," Murphy said.
"We are still feeling each other out. We have a camp coming up to really get to know each other and hone in that style.
"We have had that pre-Christmas time of getting to know each other, now ... we are getting into the sharper focus of games. Luke is putting his stamp on the style and also I guess the spirit of the team.
"I think we are moving the ball faster; I think, if you ask Luke, perhaps too fast at times. At the moment we are sort of going hell for leather a bit. With a young side, we need to develop when to go fast, when to go slow, like all clubs at this time of the year."
It looms as another learning year for the Dogs but, hopefully, one with obvious growth. Is eight to 10 wins an unrealistic projection? That depends on who you ask in the industry.
In the meantime, Murphy knows the pre-season battle is not yet over.
"We are still finding out who we are, which is not a negative at all. That's kind of exciting me at the tender age [of 32]," he said.