Game Day Round 23 2016 - Fremantle V Western Bulldogs

[Eastdog]

Margin: Dogs by 43 points - big win coming up as we want to make sure we give ourselves the best possible chance in the finals

First Goal: Dahl will get our first on Sunday

Best on Ground: Ill go 2 this week being our last H&A game Picko and Bont

Go Bulldogs!

[LostDoggy]

Best on Ground: Ill go 2 this week being our last H&A game Picko and Bont

Go Bulldogs!

2 BOG'S this week Easty,
That's controversial! ;)

[Eastdog]

2 BOG'S this week Easty,
That's controversial! ;)

Thought I'd break the rules this week and throw in two.

[Eastdog]

If we win on Sunday are we almost guarentee a home final finishing 5th or 6th.

[chef]

If we win on Sunday are we almost guarentee a home final finishing 5th or 6th.

Not if the WCEs win.

[Eastdog]

Not if the WCEs win.

So if they lose and we win pretty much we are.

[chef]

So if they lose and we win pretty much we are.

Yep. Nervous stuff atm.

[bulldogtragic]

Right now, just no *!*!*!*!ing injuries. See if I pep up by the opening bounce.

[Eastdog]

Right now, just no *!*!*!*!ing injuries. See if I pep up by the opening bounce.

Totally. Need to get through with a clean bill of health.

[bulldogtragic]

Right now, just no *!*!*!*!ing injuries. See if I pep up by the opening bounce.

Fremantle: by 2,000 points
BOG: N/A
FG: N/A
Injuries: Nil
Returning: Stringer, Campbell, Roughead, Libba, Macrae & Wood

[ratsmac]

Dogs by 48
First goal - T Boyd, sets the scene for a big afternoon and officially arrives as the power forward that 17 other clubs and all the jealous media scumbags are scared of.
BOG - Stevens, he loves playing against bottom teams.

[Eastdog]

The downer with today is the fact we have to rely on another club to win so it is really out of our hands.

[bornadog]

No late changes both teams

[AndrewP6]

Dogs by 14
First goal Dicko
BOG Bont

[Twodogs]

Dogs by 46
First Goal. T Boyd
BOG Bontempelli

[comrade]

Can anyone confirm if we're actually playing today? Fox Footy seem to have forgotten.

[bornadog]

Can anyone confirm if we're actually playing today? Fox Footy seem to have forgotten.

White Jumpers, Captain Bont!!!

[Eastdog]

Daniel been good early. Clay gets us off the mark. Good start.

[Eastdog]

Our pressure been great early.

[comrade]

Literally more nervous about the Hawks game.

[Eastdog]

Unlucky Dunks

[Eastdog]

Literally more nervous about the Hawks game.

Yep for sure

[EasternWest]

Tom Boyd doing good things early.

[bornadog]

I prefer Clay as a small forward

[Eastdog]

Go Clay! Go Dogs!

Tight one at the G.

[AndrewP6]

Channel Pav commentary team are already giving me the irrits. How about the two replays of the mark Pav DIDN'T take?

Good play early on from Boyd Jr and Smithy.

[Eastdog]

Smith, Daniel, Biggs been busy.

[EasternWest]

Hard not to like Pav.

[Eastdog]

Pav gets his 700th goal. That play from Bont before was great to keep it in.

[chef]

Yeah, theres a lot of Pav love for an obvious reason. The guys a champ and a great guy. No need to be sour about it.

[Eastdog]

Defence needs to get better.

[comrade]

Daniel running hard back into defence. Where's his mates?

[comrade]

When was the last time Freo kicked 4 in a first quarter?

[Eastdog]

Dale Morris = so important still

[Eastdog]

Dahl working hard.

[bornadog]

Joke

[cinder]

So fed up with the deliberate out of bounds, friggen joke

[bornadog]

God I can't stand the way the game is umpired, *!*!*!*!ing deliberate BS

[AndrewP6]

Yeah, theres a lot of Pav love for an obvious reason. The guys a champ and a great guy. No need to be sour about it.

When your job is to provide commentary on a contest, and you're flat out barracking, you're doing it wrong. I want to hear what is happening in play, not every time Pavlich breathes. 'And Pav, gets a bit of a sling'... Only problem, it was Hill.

[cinder]

Oh good, another injury!

[Eastdog]

Just great. Tom Boyd ankle. When will the injuries end!!

[comrade]

Hawks in front, Dogs down at quarter time with our only key forward injured.

Can this game test us any more?

[chef]

When your job is to provide commentary on a contest, and you're flat out barracking, you're doing it wrong. I want to hear what is happening in play, not every time Pavlich breathes. 'And Pav, gets a bit of a sling'... Only problem, it was Hill.

Nah, this game was always going to be a celebration of Pav. Nothing wrong with that.

[jeemak]

I'm getting a little tired of injuries.

Wow we piss fart around with it by hand. We're becoming so predictable and easy to stifle because of it.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Hawks in front, Dogs down at quarter time with our only key forward injured.

Can this game test us any more?

Can't wait for this season to end. Over it.

[bornadog]

Stevens two touches - not up to it

[AndrewP6]

Nah, this game was always going to be a celebration of Pav. Nothing wrong with that.

That's what pregames are for. And post games.

[Eastdog]

I would imagine now Stringer would come in for Boyd.

[chef]

That's what pregames are for. And post games.

Well your in for a long game then as the lovefest has only just begun.

[Remi Moses]

Afl website had Matthew Boyd with an ankle injury .
Oh well I guess we'll get Jesse Stringer back

[The Bulldogs Bite]

What absolute garbage are we playing

[Remi Moses]

Stevens two touches - not up to it

I think Stevens is gone

[Eastdog]

Afl website had Matthew Boyd with an ankle injury .
Oh well I guess we'll get Jesse Stringer back

Not Matthew Tom. Just went we are easing him back in he goes down again.

[cinder]

Not Matthew Tom. Just went we are easing him back in he goes down again.

Think it was tongue in cheek

[Remi Moses]

Not Matthew Tom. Just went we are easing him back in he goes down again.

I was being visicious Easty .

[Eastdog]

I was being visicious Easty .

Yes I kind of gather that :)

[bornadog]

Brilliant from Dicko

[Eastdog]

Dickson goals. That was much needed.

[bornadog]

How can that be deliberate, how

[AndrewP6]

Well your in for a long game then as the lovefest has only just begun.

Indeed.

[bulldogtragic]

Leave Boyd off. We can't get out of 7th. Use your heads.

[Eastdog]

Morris, Smith, Dicko, JJ been ok

[jeemak]

We can't play so many bad kicks when at full strength. A bit of wind and pressure and we go to water, because of poor technique.

It's embarrassing.

[Eastdog]

Hrovat a very good at setting us up. Clay miss everything just then.

[GVGjr]

Stevens two touches - not up to it

Seriously you went from giving him 4 votes in the Marmo one week to 'he's not up to it' the next and your stuck on it now.

[Eastdog]

Clay Smith has found his role. It's more forward.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

How atrocious are our skills.

[Eastdog]

Bonti marks plays on but rushed through.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Clay Smith has found his role. It's more forward.

In the VFL.

[comrade]

Hawks have kicked away. Based on our performance so far, really looking forward to seeing us play here again in 2 weeks.

[Eastdog]

Where was our defence just then. Lose player.

[bornadog]

Seriously you went from giving him 4 votes in the Marmo one week to 'he's not up to it' the next and your stuck on it now.

That one week was more than 15 rounds ago. 4 disposals, not good enough

[bornadog]

Come on pies

[ratsmac]

Go pies!!! Up by a goal 2:23 to go

[jeemak]

What a shameful display. The last passage of the half typified our disgraceful skill level, thirty seconds to get the ball to our forward line on the fat side but we couldn't use it cleanly at all, it was torture.

Hopefully we reset and come out playing better footy after half time.

[ledge]

I'm not worried , it's a no game and we don't want to get injuries , just play it out win or lose and focus on how to beat west coast back here.

[jeemak]

I'm not worried , it's a no game and we don't want to get injuries , just play it out win or lose and focus on how to beat west coast back here.

It reminds me of last years Brisbane game and how our poor attitude towards defence in that game didn't matter.........but did the following game.

[G-Mo77]

At work. Boyd's injury? How bad?

[jeemak]

At work. Boyd's injury? How bad?

He came back on after quarter time and contested well in the ruck.

[josie]

Thank goodness TBoyd appears to be ok. If not for this year but preseason as well. Will be a weird half - please no injuries!!

[hujsh]

The way we're going I'm thinking we forfeit the final to make sure we don't get any injuries for next year. Looking like a 50 point loss with 3 ACLs

[Eastdog]

The way we're going I'm thinking we forfeit the final to make sure we don't get any injuries for next year. Looking like a 50 point loss with 3 ACLs

Or a major boilover and we have no injuries and get a famous Bulldog finals win.

[ratsmac]

How has Stevens form dropped off so badly?

[ratsmac]

Our disposal is disgraceful

[comrade]

Dahl has been a disgrace today. No care for the footy at all.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

This is truly awful football regardless of the games irrelevancy.

[comrade]

Taking the piss now.

[The Underdog]

This is so Round 23 2015

[Eastdog]

I think a lot in our camp were watching it checking for updates for the game at the G.

[bornadog]

This is truly awful football regardless of the games irrelevancy.

So frustrating

[comrade]

How Suckling comes straight back in is a mystery.

[ratsmac]

How many bad decisions are coupled with bad disposal can we possibly do. This is one of the worst displays we have put together for a while. We need something from someone..... Anyone.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Jong cannot play next week. His disposal is worse than an U9.

[AndrewP6]

I don't care how irrelevant the result is...you're wearing our jumper, you've got a chance that many young blokes would give anything for. Show some bloody pride in yourself and the jumper. We're not good enough to say 'We'll be right, let's reset in a fortnight'. This is bloody woeful.

[Eastdog]

Jong cannot play next week. His disposal is worse than an U9.

That kick was pretty poor from him before.

[MrMahatma]

Jong cannot play next week. His disposal is worse than an U9.

Consistently poor user. Lots of friends today.

[Eastdog]

I don't care how irrelevant the result is...you're wearing our jumper, you've got a chance that many young blokes would give anything for. Show some bloody pride in yourself and the jumper. We're not good enough to say 'We'll be right, let's reset in a fortnight'. This is bloody woeful.

Totally agree Andrew.

[bornadog]

Jong cannot play next week. His disposal is worse than an U9.

Mr Hospital hand baller

[Eastdog]

We have had more scoring shots today 5.12 to 8.2

[bornadog]

Where is the free to Bont?????

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Stevens.....

[comrade]

What was that from Stevens?

[Rocket Science]

If I'm an opposition finals-bound coach hypothetically asked for their pick of first-up opponent, I'm picking us 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

We're not fair dinkum. West Coast will be licking their lips.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

If I'm an opposition finals-bound coach hypothetically asked for their pick of first-up opponent, I'm picking us 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

We're not fair dinkum. West Coast will be licking their lips.

If we don't get a few back it could be a 80 point thrashing.

[comrade]

If Dunkley is our best option us a mid sized forward, I'll go spare.

[Eastdog]

Dickson been alright today.

[bornadog]

If I'm an opposition finals-bound coach hypothetically asked for their pick of first-up opponent, I'm picking us 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

We're not fair dinkum. West Coast will be licking their lips.

Based on this it will be a slaughter

[kruder]

Is Ross Lyon coaching the Bulldogs as well?

[LostDoggy]

Last one to leave,
Turn the light off and don't forget to lock the door behind you.

[comrade]

If I'm an opposition finals-bound coach hypothetically asked for their pick of first-up opponent, I'm picking us 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

We're not fair dinkum. West Coast will be licking their lips.

North are the worst finals team ever. They'll will get embarrassed in a few weeks. We'll at least fight it out.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

If Dunkley is our best option us a mid sized forward, I'll go spare.

How can our structure be consistently so non existent? WTF is Gia doing and moreover, Bevo? To let it go on all year is not good enough.

[ratsmac]

Steven's should be subbed off (yes I know there is no sub any more)

[jeemak]

How can our structure be consistently so non existent? WTF is Gia doing and moreover, Bevo? To let it go on all year is not good enough.

I think we're much too 'clever' with our structure.

[ratsmac]

I think we're much too 'clever' with our structure.

Did you say structure, who where what!!

[ledge]

Two old blokes running us round in cricles , pav and Ballantyne

[ratsmac]

Even if we win this(unlikely) I am not looking forward to our next game. What a big turn around from this time last year for me.

[kruder]

Why did Boyd start the quarter in the ruck?

[bulldogtragic]

Why did Boyd start the quarter in the ruck?

Leave him on the bench FFS!!,

[comrade]

Hrovat's kicking has been diabolical.

[bornadog]

Why did Boyd start the quarter in the ruck?

Because Will MInson is cooked as a footballer

[jeemak]

I don't want Smith or Jong on the list next year.

[ratsmac]

We are playing like the dumbest team in history.

I actually want something positive to say but I can't.

[bornadog]

I don't want Smith or Jong on the list next year.

or Stevens

[kruder]

Play a forward line Luke! Its like ground hog day. Mids win the ball look up and there isn't a bulldog forward of the play.

[bornadog]

Some Positives:

Williams will be a player

Hamling has been very good

[comrade]

Stevens, please. A simple handball.

[ratsmac]

Brad Johnson just said that we have not been inside fifty yet and the quarter has been going for 10 minutes. Say no more.

[bulldogtragic]

This is the worst game I've ever, ever, ever, ever watched. Ever. Ever. Ever.

[comrade]

Sickening.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

We are disgraceful right now.

I'd delist or trad Clay, Jong and Stevens.

[ratsmac]

I am actually embarrassed.

[ledge]

Let's kick to three of our players and find the one freo bloke amongst them and hit him on the chest .. The one time we go in our forward 50 ., we do not have one player capable of doing anything remotely football related

[jeemak]

Utterly pathetic performance.

What a weak mental effort.

[chef]

The Eagles are going to smoke us. We'll be lucky to get within 10 goals.

[ratsmac]

Oh my f^#&ING God how was that holding the ball against Picken.

[ledge]

To be honest, Liberatore is a huge hole in our first use of the ball. We have got away with it for a while but it's taken its toll

[MrMahatma]

The Eagles are going to smoke us. We'll be lucky to get within 10 goals.

Will be a blood bath

[westbulldog]

A waste of time getting on the plane in 2 weeks if this is any indication.

[comrade]

Feel sorry for our Western Australian fans for the **** we constantly serve up over there.

[Rocket Science]

Oh well, sweet of us to honour Pav with the obliging send off.

We've played like absolute patsies today. Deficient. Dumb. And utterly lacking in character. Just effing awful.

Yay. Bring on the finals.

[hujsh]

This is Macca era shit. Genuinely boring to watch. Not even going to finish the game.

Just pure garbage

[comrade]

That deliberate free is just a little taste of what we're going to be reamed with in 2 weeks. Enjoy.

[EasternWest]

Pfft. I'd like to think it's not all doom and gloom, but geez it is.

We'll get touched up by the Eagles and all our valiant efforts will have been for nothing, again.

We simply must do something about our atrocious forward 50 entries.

My flying spaghetti monster we are bad.

[jeemak]

This is Macca era shit. Genuinely boring to watch. Not even going to finish the game.

Just pure garbage

I've turned off.

[ratsmac]

OK now the umps are just cheating.

[westbulldog]

Kennedy will kick 15. The ODI from Sri Lanka has started.

[EasternWest]

On another note, if I never had to see Suckling in our colours again, I think I'd be ok with it.

[ledge]

1 single point in the last qtr and lucky to get that !

[SonofScray]

Yeah, that was atrocious. I am livid. What a terrible showing, damaging my belief.

[LostDoggy]

No injuries,
That's a positive :o

[Ozza]

I hope everyone that was so rapt with Stringer being dropped enjoyed our lack of forward line.
Our coach - just too smart by half again in round 23 - helping to give us another sh1t lead in to finals.
Just despises the idea of having a forward line.
The love affair with Stevens and Suckling has to stop.

[EasternWest]

Stupid, sexy Pavlich.

[EasternWest]

I hope everyone that was so rapt with Stringer being dropped enjoyed our lack of forward line.
Our coach - just too smart by half again in round 23 - helping to give us another sh1t lead in to finals.
Just despises the idea of having a forward line.
The love affair with Stevens and Suckling has to stop.

This is ridiculous. Stringer was out of form and deserved to be dropped. I saw nothing today that he would've made better. We were terrible everywhere, and having another player that won't lead and just hang out the back wouldn't change anything.

[LostDoggy]

76 interchanges has to be the lowest all year for any team.
Clearly cotton wool stuff from half time.

[LostDoggy]

76 interchanges has to be the lowest all year for any team.
Clearly cotton wool stuff from half time.

[Doggy]

Lucky we're not playing the saints. Riewoldt would have beaten us on his own.
6 goals against the third bottom team. That's shit.

[jeemak]

I hope everyone that was so rapt with Stringer being dropped enjoyed our lack of forward line.
Our coach - just too smart by half again in round 23 - helping to give us another sh1t lead in to finals.
Just despises the idea of having a forward line.
The love affair with Stevens and Suckling has to stop.

I'm not sure watching Stringer run towards goal 85m away from the ball carrier would have done much for my frustrations today! :)

[comrade]

Stringer wouldn't have got a touch today.

[Ozza]

Yeah good on you bunch of geniuses.
The bloke has kicked 93 goals in the last 2 seasons and you're all queuing up to pot him.
We had no forward line whatsoever today, and the dockers would have been absolutely rapt to not have to worry about Stringer.

We've got half a dozen blokes out there who are miles off being best 22 - and we leave out Stringer.
I'm sure you were all overjoyed with our bail out kicks to Picko, Clay Smith and Dunkley.

[comrade]

Yeah good on you bunch of geniuses.
The bloke has kicked 93 goals in the last 2 seasons and you're all queuing up to pot him.
We had no forward line whatsoever today, and the dockers would have been absolutely rapt to not have to worry about Stringer.

We've got half a dozen blokes out there who are miles off being best 22 - and we leave out Stringer.
I'm sure you were all overjoyed with our bail out kicks to Picko, Clay Smith and Dunkley.

Stringer isn't a bail out option either. Doesn't lead or crash packs. Would be more likely to pull out of a contest and wait for the ball to fall to the ground.

If you think he's the guy to stand up and be our focal point, are you sure we're watching the same guy.

Also, Dickson has kicked 70+ goals in less games but he's not going to drag us over the line.

[dukedog]

Hahahahaha. West coast by 60+ . Too many injuries. Bring on 2017.
Suckling would have done more good to us on the spit today.

[G-Mo77]

Yeah good on you bunch of geniuses.
The bloke has kicked 93 goals in the last 2 seasons and you're all queuing up to pot him.
We had no forward line whatsoever today, and the dockers would have been absolutely rapt to not have to worry about Stringer.

We've got half a dozen blokes out there who are miles off being best 22 - and we leave out Stringer.
I'm sure you were all overjoyed with our bail out kicks to Picko, Clay Smith and Dunkley.

Stringer and McLean missing this week is bordering on stupidity. Listening to this on the radio in the 2nd half the commentators they seemed to find our fwd half comical. Easy to say now that we should have done this and that but having our best goal kicker in the VFL was a dumb decision.

[Ozza]

Stringer isn't a bail out option either. Doesn't lead or crash packs. Would be more likely to pull out of a contest and wait for the ball to fall to the ground.

If you think he's the guy to stand up and be our focal point, are you sure we're watching the same guy.

Also, Dickson has kicked 70+ goals in less games but he's not going to drag us over the line.

You really despise Stringer - and are clutching at straws as to his value/lack of value in the side.

It staggers me that we wouldn't play a team even close to a 'finals 22'. Does anyone on this forum think for a second that Stringer and McLean won't play in the 1st final? We went to Perth last year and, surprise surprise, very few players handled it. It is very different to playing anywhere else. We got flogged, but Stringer kicked 5. It's a ground where we have tended to need good contrasted players in the air and on the ground to give us the small wins throughout the day to get on top. Stringer's cleanliness below the knees and competitiveness in the air would have been a huge help. Likewise with McLean - who is so good in the air that he would have helped us to not be out marked so often.

All of the fumbly 'goer ' type players killed us today. Koby, Clay, Jongy - they just cruelled our ball movement.

In the end - it hasn't made a difference on the ladder - but we go into the finals having played sh1t footy twice in a row, and making significant changes each week - (5 this week - and you would expect a significant number again next week if we are fair dinkum) giving us no continuity or stability going into a finals series.

[EasternWest]

Ozza you're better than this.

Feeling your frustration, but calling other people names doesn't help anything.

Stringer is definitely a big key in our future, but he's got a lot of learning to do.

Plus we were so putrid today, I don't think Josh Kennedy and Buddy would've helped us.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

My concern is over our coaching, not personnel.

Lance Franklin wouldn't have kicked a goal in our side today - or indeed, for much of the season.

The way we bring the ball forward is absolutely disgusting. The way our forwards structure up - or don't - is even worse. I'm bewildered that Bevo has allowed the dysfunction to go on all year. Yes, we have missed some personnel at times, but the biggest issue has been the poor coaching and direction. The ridiculous regularity we bomb the ball to a midfielder-come-forward out numbered is mind numbing.

The other issue I have is with our recruiting and drafting.

1) Our fascination with players who win the ball but cannot kick is insanity. I like Dunkley and he's impressive in many facets, but if you can't do the basics of disposing the ball, what's the point? I was strongly against drafting him for this reason, particularly given we have too many in our side who butcher the ball as it is.

2) Why have we completely neglected drafting forwards? Aside from Crameri, it isn't as though our forward half of the ground has suffered from too many injuries. We have no true tall/medium forwards playing in the VFL - surely every other club in the land has developing forwards of some nature? We have 671 midfielders who we try to turn into part time forwards, it's laughable.

We have a long way to go.

[merantau]

Like everyone here I am angry and mystified as to why we should put in such an inept performance in such an important game. Our lack of clean hands and ball use today was pitiful. It would be impossible to play so badly again. But, there is no use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done.
As badly as we have played there is one memory I will take from this game and it sort of sums up our season: Clay Smith's shot at goal which bounced a metre out out jumped straight up in the air! It was at a time when we had a bit of momentum. At the time I thought to myself: "The die is cast. We cannot win."
Still, that was an awful performance and it will take a miracle to get us up for the next game. Right now I am feeling really ambivalent about the game. I just could not stand it for us to put up an incredibly brave, spirited performance and go down in a close one. In some ways it would be easier on the psyche to be belted from the outset which would serve to confirm that we have been playing with a second string team for much of the year and, to their credit, these guys have performed above and beyond expectations nearly every time they've gone out to battle. We got trounced today. A bitter pill to swallow but we still have a massive upside. Let's not lose sight of that. Go Dogs!

[merantau]

Like everyone here I am angry and mystified as to why we should put in such an inept performance in such an important game. Our lack of clean hands and ball use today was pitiful. It would be impossible to play so badly again. But, there is no use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done.
As badly as we have played there is one memory I will take from this game and it sort of sums up our season: Clay Smith's shot at goal which bounced a metre out out jumped straight up in the air! It was at a time when we had a bit of momentum. At the time I thought to myself: "The die is cast. We cannot win."
Still, that was an awful performance and it will take a miracle to get us up for the next game. Right now I am feeling really ambivalent about the game. I just could not stand it for us to put up an incredibly brave, spirited performance and go down in a close one. In some ways it would be easier on the psyche to be belted from the outset which would serve to confirm that we have been playing with a second string team for much of the year and, to their credit, these guys have performed above and beyond expectations nearly every time they've gone out to battle. We got trounced today. A bitter pill to swallow but we still have a massive upside. Let's not lose sight of that. Go Dogs!

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Like everyone here I am angry and mystified as to why we should put in such an inept performance in such an important game. Our lack of clean hands and ball use today was pitiful. It would be impossible to play so badly again. But, there is no use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done.
As badly as we have played there is one memory I will take from this game and it sort of sums up our season: Clay Smith's shot at goal which bounced a metre out out jumped straight up in the air! It was at a time when we had a bit of momentum. At the time I thought to myself: "The die is cast. We cannot win."
Still, that was an awful performance and it will take a miracle to get us up for the next game. Right now I am feeling really ambivalent about the game. I just could not stand it for us to put up an incredibly brave, spirited performance and go down in a close one. In some ways it would be easier on the psyche to be belted from the outset which would serve to confirm that we have been playing with a second string team for much of the year and, to their credit, these guys have performed above and beyond expectations nearly every time they've gone out to battle. We got trounced today. A bitter pill to swallow but we still have a massive upside. Let's not lose sight of that. Go Dogs!

This was very much a second string team today not helped by the non selection of Campbell Stringer and McLean. I believe providing we can get back Liberatore Macrae and Wood plus Campbell Roughead and Stringer and throw in McLean as well that we can be more than competitive against the WCE. Today was arguably our weakest lineup for the year and little wonder that we lost. Always enjoy your thoughtful comments.

[Eastdog]

Back on the game today. Dissapointed with the effort and result. Our goal kicking and skill level which we have been banging on about this year needs to be way better than it is currently. Freo lifted for Pavlich and we were deflated after hearing the result from the MCG but regardless on what happened there we still should be ultra competitive even in a dead rubber game like today and really should of won against a team who has been struggling all year.

Players I liked today Morris had a good game and is still vitally important to our defensive structure. Dicko I thought did quite good and Clay Smith early was good up forward. Daniel and Dahlhaus just work so hard as well as Picken. Glad Tom Boyd was alright and came back on to the ground. We have the forward power and get it in there enough times but we simply do not make the most of it up there.

[LostDoggy]

Went to the game today. Woeful.

Apart from the first 5 minutes we never looked like scoring, the forward set-up completely non-existent, as was the lack of spread and ability to transition. Whenever we got the ball it seemed that all our players were withinen 15 metres of each other. It was a surprise that we ended up with as many goals as we did.

Add in appalling disposal, some of the worst deliberate oob decisions in the history of the world and the general euphoria of the freo crowd, made it a completely disheartening experience.

And I'll have to go through it again in two weeks.

Only positives I can think of is that hopefully having a dress rehearsal trip to subi just before we have a final there may be worth something, but probably not much.

I also thought Hamling was good.

[bulldogtragic]

I like a conspiracy. Was the Freo game that bad, or was it a deliberate rope-a-dope strategy to the wider industry?

[jeemak]

I like a conspiracy. Was the Freo game that bad, or was it a deliberate rope-a-dope strategy to the wider industry?

It was that bad.

The almost two weeks allowed us to bring in five key players, whilst it stopped the momentum of a WCE side that was ready to fall in lieu of losing Nic Nat.

The almost two weeks also allowed us to train properly for the match.

[bulldogtragic]

It was that bad.

The almost two weeks allowed us to bring in five key players, whilst it stopped the momentum of a WCE side that was ready to fall in lieu of losing Nic Nat.

The almost two weeks also allowed us to train properly for the match.

I'll have to take you at your word, I was watching Hawthorn vs Collingwood.

[jeemak]

I'll have to take you at your word, I was watching Hawthorn vs Collingwood.

So you saw that gun Fitzgerald ice the game for the Hawks. Can't see how our rucks will ever compete.

The beautiful thing about tonight's game is we now have a sniff, and the likes of the exceptionally ordinary Jordan Lewis, and Fitzgerald will be filling their pants in knowing that. We're the real deal and we don't fear anything.