Game Day Round 3 2015 - Hawthorn V Western Bulldogs

[jeemak]

Stringer hasn't been kicking well today. He really needs to improve this area of his game, it seems he only kicks well when running into goals and not having to think about things too much.

[bulldogtragic]

I'm trying to be more positive, but Ayce is testing my resolve to believe that the guy in the VFL finals can make it at AFL level...

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Well, that was a big reality check.

[bornadog]

I'm trying to be more positive, but Ayce is testing my resolve to believe that the guy in the VFL finals can make it at AFL level...

Two disposals and 6 hitouts .... Goodbye Ayce

Ditto Goodes with 5 disposals

[jeemak]

Really tough losing three very important players prior to the game, and then two of our very important players in the first quarter.

That doesn't excuse the lack of intensity and pressure, which was the most disappointing thing for me. The bare minimum for our football club should be showing up on the day and pressuring the opposition, especially considering that's something even an inexperienced and unskilled team can do.

The coach should be extremely disappointed with the team and he should make that very clear to them.

[ReLoad]

I'd like to think without the injuries we would be within 4 goals, but realistically not close. I was hoping this year 10+ goals were behind us, sadly not.

Really happy with Tom Boyd today, also the debut of Webb was good too. Certainly some forgettable performances from some players, and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back next week.

[bornadog]

Well, that was a big reality check.

Injures killed us, even though I didn't expect to win, could have been a little closer. Wally has been our number one contested footballer along with Bonti, so midfield really down.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I know we would've been struggling going into the 4th Qtr having lost Wallis and Morris so early in the game, but it still didnt make it any easier to cop how easily we rolled over. We looked like prey.

[Bulldog4life]

Really tough losing three very important players prior to the game, and then two of our very important players in the first quarter.

That doesn't excuse the lack of intensity and pressure, which was the most disappointing thing for me. The bare minimum for our football club should be showing up on the day and pressuring the opposition, especially considering that's something even an inexperienced and unskilled team can do.

The coach should be extremely disappointed with the team and he should make that very clear to them.

Ditto

[F'scary]

I'll join in: REALITY CHECK.

Yeah, we lost Wally early. Bonti and Matt Boyd out.

But let us go with the obvious ones: Goodes - not up to AFL standard. Excellent that we have sorted that one out.
and Ayce Cordy - not up to AFL standard. Excellent that we have sorted that one out and can now move on.

[Chicago1]

There goes our perfect season. *sigh* :(

[Eastdog]

Disappointing today as I thought we would get a lot closer but I'd say it shows while we have been very good the last 2 weeks we still have a lot of work to do.

T Boyd, Honeychurch, Taila, Murph, Jong were very good. Didn't see much of Dickson today who was great last week.

Morris was good before he was subbed out with an injury.

Hoping back at home next week we come out strong against the Crows.

[azabob]

Injuries might save him but anyone think Picken is close to being dropped?

Yes. I thought he was close to being dropped after the Richmond game.

[bulldogtragic]

Yes. I thought he was close to being dropped after the Richmond game.

I'm on the Koby is in the team as a tagger/defensive spot or in red hot form. Drop Picken and give the job to Kobes? I'd say do it.

[bornadog]

Just to put things into perspective.



Hawthorn
Attribute
Western Bulldogs



186.7cm
Height
188.5cm


87.2kg
Weight
87.8kg


26yr 9mth
Age
24yr 7mth


124.5
Games
63.6








Total Players By Games


Hawthorn
Games
Western Bulldogs




5
Less than 50
12


7
50 to 99
6


2
100 to 149
1


8
150 or more
3

[Eastdog]

Our tackling was way down today compared to the last 2 weeks. Will be interesting to watch Bevo's presser.

[josie]

Did not see the game today, and was upset when I tuned into radio deep into 4th qtr.

Now knowing Wallis & Morris were injured (I know Wallis was 1st qtr, was Morris 1st qtr too?) and I gather Bonti did not play?, as well as M. Boyd & Wood out before game I then looked at scoring across qtrs:

Hawthorn Hawks 19.13 (127) 2.3 9.3 3.1 5.6


Western Bulldogs 8.9 (57) 2.1 4.0 2.5 0.3

And then my surmising was: good first qtr, 5 goals more in second qtr not good - perhaps we were adjusting to allow for Wallis and Morris injuries so this is perhaps understandable, only 1 goal difference in 3rd qtr and it looks like we either/or did not kick straight? or there were a fair few rushed behinds? (either way sounds like we got it into our forward line a fair bit), then last qtr they ran over us.

Welcome more insight from those who watched the game.

Thanks for posters who have noted we did not look like we pressured them enough - that's not good to hear.

Call me an optimist - however based upon fact that Boyd played well (I really think he is going to make it anyway, however wonderful for him to show so early in season a glimpse of how great he is going to be for us), the outs we suffered before & during the game, and the fact that we are such a young side on an unfamiliar ground etc. it's not all doom & gloom.

Also if we have found out Goodes, Cordy and possibly Picken are not up to it this allows for some others to play e.g. Fletcher, Hamling, Daniel - when he is back from injury, and Clay Smith. I'd also like to see Redpath given another few games to see if he is AFL standard.

Also think there are a few of our new recruits who might get a few AFL games this year i.e. really like the look of Bailey Dale (got the frame to have a strong build in a few years to come), Roarke Smith is another excitement machine (with a good build already) and possibly McLean although he needs to hit the gym - did anyone else see that late 4th qtr goal against the Box Hill Hawks? (I walked away with a smile on my face even though Dogs lost).

Here's hoping we rebound to put in some good performances in next 2 weeks against tough opponents.

Looking forward to reading more analysis from fellow WOOFers.

[bulldogtragic]

We were even in the first and third despite kicking with a massive wind. When they kicked with it in the second and fourth they used it as a team should. Overall they broke even when we should've dominated, and they smashed us when they has the chance.

[Webby]

If Morris has torn his pectoral muscle, don't expect him to be back until the second half of the year.

Hopefully with Wallis, it's just a corked back which has produced swelling and spasms. Perhaps affected his back muscles. Hopefully only one week. Two at worst.

Hamling will have to come in. He's well ahead of Roberts at present. We may have to move Matt Boyd into the middle for a week to partner with the Bont.

[GVGjr]

Our tackling was way down today compared to the last 2 weeks. Will be interesting to watch Bevo's presser.

It's on the website.

[Webby]

Just looking at Hawthorn's four best players today. Pretty much the same 4 as always:
Hodge 31yo
Mitchell 32yo
Lewis 29yo
Roughead 28yo

Ours were:
Luke Dahlhaus 22yo
Lin Jong 21yo
Michael Talia 22yo
Tom Boyd 19yo

We're a way off, but time is on our side.

Webb was excellent for a just turned 19yo playing his first game. There are plenty of first round draftees from last year's draft who are inferior to him. Great pick. Earlier in the day I saw Bailey Dale continue to demonstrate he will make the grade, also. Add him to Caleb Daniel, who we already know can play, and Toby McLean who is very tidy and we are continuing to load up on high-end young talent.

Then there was a bloke called Clay Smith who came back from 12 months out with a knee reco to be BOG in his first outing... Disappointing results this weekend, but a lot of good signs when you scratch the surface a bit.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Really tough losing three very important players prior to the game, and then two of our very important players in the first quarter.

That doesn't excuse the lack of intensity and pressure, which was the most disappointing thing for me. The bare minimum for our football club should be showing up on the day and pressuring the opposition, especially considering that's something even an inexperienced and unskilled team can do.

The coach should be extremely disappointed with the team and he should make that very clear to them.
Without Bonti and Wallis saw us being outclassed in the midfield where .Hodge Lewis and Mitchell were superb. Likewise without Matthew Boyd Morris and Wood we were severely limited in defence. Cordy Goodes and Stevens showed up our lack of depth, with Picken struggling badly for form. Our inability to man up all around the ground created havoc because of Hawthorn's superior foot skills.

[Twodogs]

At least we got to see up close what the standard in skills, disposal and pressure is we need to achieve. Given we lost some very important players to injury during the week and then we lost two of our key players to injury outright early in the game and we had a couple more staggering around on the field because we just had nobody else to put on the ground and we had 4 or 5 guys well down on input on single figures disposals then I'm not as upset as I would normally be after a twelve goal thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn.

Losing MBoyd and Wood pregame and meant that we were always at least one defender short although Webb helped fill that gap admirably. Losing Dale Morris early meant we were a key match up down with less flexibility to cover Hawthorns abundance of goal kickers and tallish forwards. That meant one or more was going to get off the leash at any given time.

[LostDoggy]

I'm not sure that we rolled over. I think the fact that we couldn't make a high number of rotations meant guys couldn't do their usual gut running followed by a rest. I'm actually proud of the way we continued to try and attack.

[soupman]

I'm not sure that we rolled over. I think the fact that we couldn't make a high number of rotations meant guys couldn't do their usual gut running followed by a rest. I'm actually proud of the way we continued to try and attack.

That combined with the fact those that did stay on were continually battered and bruised (especially Honeychurch).

[Eastdog]

How did you guys rate Hrovat's and Dickson's matches yesterday.

[LostDoggy]

Given the fact that we were playing the two time reigning premier in Tasssie where they haven't lost for 2 or 3 years,with injuries to key players before and during the game,their experience versus our youth.
Sure we had some guys that didn't seem up to the challenge,but 70pts could have easily been 120.
lets not forget they slaughterd Sydney and Geelong in their last two games by nearly the same margins as they did us yesterday.
Untill they fell over to the Bummers.

[bornadog]

How did you guys rate Hrovat's and Dickson's matches yesterday.

Hrovat was better in the second half. Dickson was well down on output compared to the previous week, however, didn't help the situation where the ball was hardly in our forward 50.

[bornadog]

Given the fact that we were playing the two time reigning premier in Tasssie where they haven't lost for 2 or 3 years,with injuries to key players before and during the game,their experience versus our youth.
Sure we had some guys that didn't seem up to the challenge,but 70pts could have easily been 120.
lets not forget they slaughterd Sydney and Geelong in their last two games by nearly the same margins as they did us yesterday.
Untill they fell over to the Bummers.

The 70 points only really happened half way through the last quarter when we ran out of puff with limited ability to rotate players.

[LostDoggy]

The 70 points only really happened half way through the last quarter when we ran out of puff with limited ability to rotate players.

Exactly Bad,
LImited rotations killed us in the end with our young group.
Most as well had never played on the G' before the Richmond game.
Am i reading to much into that one with the size of the G' and our young list?

[jeemak]

I think the tone was set for the afternoon in the first half through our lack of pressure and our unwillingness to do the things that made us formidable against WCE and RICH.

Whilst I understand we had some five players from those previous two weeks done and dusted prior to quarter time on Sunday there's no excuse for the lack of intent from the players that took the field when it came to tackling and pressure.

The coach has protected the team this week and I commend him for doing so, they're bruised and their confidence is down and probably doesn't need a pounding. But let's not kid ourselves, we started the game poorly and finished it worse under trying circumstances.

[LostDoggy]

I think the tone was set for the afternoon in the first half through our lack of pressure and our unwillingness to do the things that made us formidable against WCE and RICH.

Whilst I understand we had some five players from those previous two weeks done and dusted prior to quarter time on Sunday there's no excuse for the lack of intent from the players that took the field when it came to tackling and pressure.

The coach has protected the team this week and I commend him for doing so, they're bruised and their confidence is down and probably doesn't need a pounding. But let's not kid ourselves, we started the game poorly and finished it worse under trying circumstances.

Agreed. We started the game with 22 fit players. From the very get go the pressure and intent to tackle and harass was severely lacking. There's no excuse for it.

[bornadog]

Agreed. We started the game with 22 fit players. From the very get go the pressure and intent to tackle and harass was severely lacking. There's no excuse for it.

We broke even in the first quarter (even though we had the wind), and then two players went down and we were blown away.

[Mantis]

We broke even in the first quarter (even though we had the wind), and then two players went down and we were blown away.

Broke even only on the scoreboard.. 4 inside 50's for the qtr kicking with a 3-4 goal wind was dead set disgraceful.

[KT31]

But let's not kid ourselves, we started the game poorly and finished it worse under trying circumstances.

We kicked the first two goals and were only a couple of points down at quarter time, the real tragedy was the second quarter.
We simply didn't apply the same pressure on the ball carrier as we had in previous weeks and seemed to be content to let Hodge run rampant for most of the game.
It will be a long second half to the season if the mid aged bracket players perform as they did yesterday.

[Bulldog Joe]

I was at the game and felt it was going to get ugly very early.

If not for the wind we would have been out of the game by quarter time.

There was certainly a lack of intensity and it appeared to me that collectively we were simply overawed.

As a supporter, I found myself making excused before the game started, based on our outs. I suspect the mindset of the players was similarly affected.

To then lose Wallis and Morris before quarter time, made the situation hopeless and we played like that.

No disgrace in the loss as we stayed in the game much longer than I expected. However, we were brushed aside easily and our attempts at tackling were generally insipid.

The important issue is how we respond against Adelaide.

[jeemak]

We kicked the first two goals and were only a couple of points down at quarter time, the real tragedy was the second quarter.
We simply didn't apply the same pressure on the ball carrier as we had in previous weeks and seemed to be content to let Hodge run rampant for most of the game.
It will be a long second half to the season if the mid aged bracket players perform as they did yesterday.

I thought it was pretty clear from the outset that despite the evenness of the score line we were being outclassed, and that we didn't show up with anything resembling intensity.

The fact it broke apart in the second wasn't a surprise to me.

[F'scary]

We also copped a top 4 team that had been stung the week before by a surprise loss.

If Boyd, Bonti, & Wood can come back in for this Sunday's game, we drop a couple of the poorer performers from last week (Cordy & Goodes) and regroup during the week, I think we can put up a real show against Adelaide and even win.

[LostDoggy]

I thought it was pretty clear from the outset that despite the evenness of the score line we were being outclassed, and that we didn't show up with anything resembling intensity.

The fact it broke apart in the second wasn't a surprise to me.

This.

For anyone who watched the game it was clear as day we were in for a long afternoon. Way before Wallis and Morris went down. We got absolutely smashed in that first quarter.

A mate messaged me who wasn't watching and said something along the lines of 'pretty good start' I replied with we will lose this by 100 at this rate.

[Mantis]

I thought it was pretty clear from the outset that despite the evenness of the score line we were being outclassed, and that we didn't show up with anything resembling intensity.

The fact it broke apart in the second wasn't a surprise to me.

I said to a few mates I was watching the game with that Hawthorn would kick 10 goals in the 2nd qtr such was their dominance.

4-16 inside 50's in the 1st qtr kicking with the wind was a very poor return.. The fact that we manged to kick 6 goals in the 1st half from 11 inside 50's meant that the scoreline was pretty respectable, but we were being completely out-classed and out-worked.