Three Things I've Learned - Round 21 Edition

[Eastdog]

Once the Round 21 match against West Coast is completed, let us know the three things you learned after watching the match.

Be constructive but be honest.

[bulldogtragic]

Three.

[bulldogtragic]

1. Talia is further behind than I thought. A fair way back based on today especially.
2. The hype is over. Now it's just hard work for the last two rounds.
3. Stringer is further ahead than I thought. A fair way ahead based on today especially.

[F'scary]

1. We have to question the selection of rookies ahead of more proven players like Hrovat and Honeychurch.
2. Without Picken and Boyd we got slapped around too often too much.
3. Got to question the viability of the 1 ruck and 1 tall forward strategy against the top sides. Especially when the opposition ruck is a gun and has support and our 1 tall forward is inexperienced and still trying to cement his spot in the team.

[The Doctor]

1. The selection of rookies is proof to me that Bevo is using this year to see what he has to work with next year and beyond. We are building a squad, not just a team.
2. We should add Leuenberger to that squad
3. Redpath, Jong, Darley, A.Cordy, Prudden, Minson, Honeychurch, Fuller are the most vulnerable for a place in that squad, if not this year then certainly next year unless they can step up when the heat is on.

[Greystache]

1. We can't keep persisting with Talia, he's just terrible. I've never seen a key position player in the AFL with less idea where the ball's going when it's in fight.

2. Biggs' kicking is seriously overrated. It's as likely to hit an opposition player lace out as it one of ours. I don't understand why we try to get the ball in his hands whenever possible.

3. We still lack pure midfield depth.

[Bulldog4life]

1. We have to question the selection of rookies ahead of more proven players like Hrovat and Honeychurch.
2. Without Picken and Boyd we got slapped around too often too much.
3. Got to question the viability of the 1 ruck and 1 tall forward strategy against the top sides. Especially when the opposition ruck is a gun and has support and our 1 tall forward is inexperienced and still trying to cement his spot in the team.

Agree Kennedy Darling Nic Nat and Sinclair for West Coast and we had two talls for forward and ruck
I want to see Tommy Boyd and Redpath both in next week

[anfo27]

1. When our defenders are forced to defend one on one then we can see they are still a fair way away. Bevo has done a tremendous job in getting the team to play a great team defence that our inexperienced KPD haven't been exposed too often.

2. Jake Stringer can add big game player specialist to his resume. Gee some of the things he did were amazing to watch. I think the package will enjoy the big stage & the pressures that come along with finals football.

3. We need a quality ruckman. Whether its Leuenberger or Martin or Kreuzer or whoever just do something.

[anfo27]

Agree Kennedy Darling Nic Nat and Sinclair for West Coast and we had two talls for forward and ruck
I want to see Tommy Boyd and Redpath both in next week

We could have had the best forward line in the history of the game today and the margin would have been similar.

[LostDoggy]

1. Talia seemingly refuses to get to position. So sick of seeing him arrive half a second late, throwing a fist in frustration then putting his hands up on the mark. Got burnt numerous times today.
2. We are not going to finish top 4.
3. We are going to be just fine. Really. It's all OK, brothers.

[Smads57]

1. JJ appeared a little underdone - will be better next week
2. Midfield missed another hard body in Picko
3. I'm wrapped that we have the Package in our team

[LostDoggy]

1. If we lose stoppages, quick ball movement exposes our team defence. We need guys who can also go 1 on 1 - a couple have been flattered in recent weeks and need more development.
2. At least 7 of our best 22 were missing this week. Need them back pretty quick to have any shot at all in the finals.
3. I like watching our team when we are getting well beaten to see who keeps cracking in and shows real pride. Aside from those you know will deliver, 2 young players who proved something today in my opinion were Lachie Hunter (what a month he's had) and Jackson Macrae.

[Mantis]

1/ Our work around the clearances was terrible.. The only time we miss Libba is against the good teams.. Go figure!

2/ Our defence as a group was shitful.. Sure it didn't help that the ball was coming in on a platter, but we were caught out of position on so many occassions that I lost count.. The lack of adjustment was a concern too.

3/ Josh Hill is a junk time master.. I can't wait for you to let your team down at an important time you crab.

[PedroArvy]

1. Given the outs, the away game and the fact that we were playing a top 2 team I am not surprised by the result and it ends the hoopla about where we are at which is a good thing.

2. We need hardened defenders in place. Not sure where they will come from with the inevitable retirement of Boyd, Picken and Morris.

3. I like the fact we are blooding new players to create a great future team but losses like this will be inevitable until they mature. Give them 2-4 years.

[Mofra]

1. We have to question the selection of rookies ahead of more proven players like Hrovat and Honeychurch.
1. What he said
2. Our ruck division is below par
3. Experience still matters when playing top sides*


* Stevens & Libba back would help enormously

[Cyberdoggie]

Agree Kennedy Darling Nic Nat and Sinclair for West Coast and we had two talls for forward and ruck
I want to see Tommy Boyd and Redpath both in next week

It worked fine the last few weeks.

You can use the same argument for our defenders, they were always going to be outgunned by Darling and Kennedy, so do we add an extra defender to stem their influence? or perhaps it's just that we were beaten in the middle.

If we were better around the ball then we wouldn't have an issue with our defenders and our forwards would have plenty of opportunity.

Having said that it hurt us when Campbell, Morris and Grant went down. Not that it cost us the game.
Same against Hawthorn when Morris and Wallis went down early.

[Rocket Science]

Agree Kennedy Darling Nic Nat and Sinclair for West Coast and we had two talls for forward and ruck
I want to see Tommy Boyd and Redpath both in next week

As an aside, I reckon we could do considerably worse in terms of return on investment than enquiring about Callum Sinclair.

Good mobility and clean skills for a big bloke, can play some key position too, almost a Roughy mach-2...and he's a Melbourne lad.

He's 25 and on the cusp of his prime, is he content to be 2IC to Naitanui for the next 3-5 years?

Perhaps we should ask him.

[Greystache]

As an aside, I reckon we could do considerably worse in terms of return on investment than enquiring about Callum Sinclair.

Good mobility and clean skills for a big bloke, can play some key position too, almost a Roughy mach-2...and he's a Melbourne lad.

He's 25 and on the cusp of his prime, is he content to be 2IC to Naitanui for the next 3-5 years?

Perhaps we should ask him.

I thought the periods of the game we dominated were the parts that coincided with Sinclair playing in the middle. I felt Campbell and Redpath easily had the better of him.

[SlimPickens]

I thought the periods of the game we dominated were the parts that coincided with Sinclair playing in the middle. I felt Campbell and Redpath easily had the better of him.

Agree- Nic Nat was massive for them. When he was off the ground we were able to win some clearances. They'll be very hard to beat if he is up and firing for the rest of the year.

[Templeton31]

1. West Coast have improved a lot since we beat em in round 1, are better home than travelling (all teams are like this though) and were looking good enough that maybe they could be premiers.

2. More and more Jake Stringer reminds me of Gary Ablett Snr. If Jake gets super fit and that allows him to impact more contests then he is gonna be super. I liked what Chris Scott said on 360 last week. He and Roosy were asked about what the Dogs had done this year and Scotty said something like "I think we all knew Jake Stringer was a good pick and was gonna be a good player - but we didn't expect this!"

3. Its gonna be pretty hard for our Team D if we get smashed around the stoppages and clearances. No Stevens or Libba, Campbell smashed and then injured, Redpath not a ruck man and WEagles were very good in tight (even without Masten).

[Remi Moses]

We need to win the midfield battle for our inexperienced defence not to be caught out.
Stringer is a modern day PHIL Carman without the temper.
West Coast are going to be mighty close to a flag

[Mantis]

3. Its gonna be pretty hard for our Team D if we get smashed around the stoppages and clearances. No Stevens or Libba, Campbell smashed and then injured, Redpath not a ruck man and WEagles were very good in tight (even without Masten).

Masten is about as outside as they come.. I'm not sure what has happened in recent weeks, but up until about round 16 Masten hadn't been inside the centre square for a single ruck contest.. Not 1.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

1. We lost a shootout on West Coast's ground under their conditions with a young undermanned team.
2. West Coast are more west than us and their name makes a mockery of our name in a national competition.
3. The game was like a sounding in the water and may not produce echoes in the near future; we could still reverse the result this season.

[Flamethrower]

1. Tom Campbell is no match for elite ruckmen. In fact we currently don't have a player on our list to match the best ruckmen in the league(Nic Nat, Goldy & Sandilands) at the moment. Rumour going around that we are a long way down the track with an available big man from another club to fix this situation.

2. The Western Wall defence crumbles against sustained bombardment. To win finals football you need defenders that can play one on one - especially against tall power forwards.

3. Hawthorn only beat West Coast 2 weeks ago because Nic Nat didn't play - he makes them at least a 5 goal better team. The Hawks are vulnerable this year, and the Eagles may be the team to stop the threepeat.

[ratsmac]

1. I learnt that West Coast are a bloody good team on their home deck, especially when Nic Nak is on.
2. Jake Stringer is the next big thing in the AFL. (I had a feeling before but now I am 100% sure)
3. We ran with a genuine flag contender for 2 and a half quarters with probably our weakest team this season whilst playing interstate. The blow-out stings but it will only make this group of lads stronger, so I learnt that we will seek revenge sooner rather than later.