How do we untie ourselves?

[Eastdog]

The 2017 season has not been to our liking and while we have had lots of glimpses of last year from 2016 (premiership year) in the games we just seem to struggle to string 4 quarters together. When was the last time we had a comprehensive 10 goal win over a team? So what do we do to get out of the hole? What does Bevo and the players need to do to propel us again to be a force to be reckoned with.

[boydogs]

We made some strides forward in the Geelong game, we just met them at their absolute best. I'm confident we're on the right path now with some injured players back in the team

[ratsmac]

We made some strides forward in the Geelong game, we just met them at their absolute best. I'm confident we're on the right path now with some injured players back in the team

That's just it isn't it. Geelong played their guts out to beat us at their home ground by 20 points. We played in patches and only lost in the last 5 minites really. We brought in players from lengthy stints on the sidelines and they are still finding touch.

There is plenty of upside for the Dogs yet. We just have to keep the wins ticking over to make sure we make the 8 and better still keep top 4 a reality.

We were 6 wins and 3 losses at the same stage last year and it turned out ok. But last year we played our first 7 games at Etihad. This year we have played only 4 at Etihad and we've had 3 interstate and 1 in Geelong which is practically interstate. I have no doubt that we will smash the 2nd half of the season and head into the finals with full momentum.

[always right]

To be honest....we've really only played one decent match and that resulted in a narrow loss to GWS. The upside is that other results have fallen our way to the extent we are still in the race for top four, but need to start getting our act together....starting this week in one of the biggest H and A matches we have played in some time.

Now that we are getting players back from injury I'm hoping we can get the chemistry right on field and make a big charge in the second half of the year. I still reckon we are up to our ears in the premiership race.

[merantau]

We have been unconvincing to date but so has every team at times. Look at Adelaide. Smashed 2 weeks running. So in a very even season we are very much in it provided we get our kicking boots on and our best players back on the park and firing.

[Mofra]

It's obvious a fit Roughead makes us an exponentially better side.
Get him in and let him build up AFL-level match fitness for the second half of the year.

The hunger needs to return - Bevo and the MC demoting formally best 22 players should kick a few up the backside so they know they aren't automatic selections.

[S Coast Simon]

We just haven't clicked into gear yet but are on the up I think. Taking into account all teams we have played have been primed for their biggest game of the year. We are just getting beaten by teams at their best. A little desperation by the boys and a little cleaner and the wins will start adding up

AFL is a mind set. We won the flag because our mind was on the the job. If we can get our heads around being hunted we will be pretty awesome to watch in the back half

[bornadog]

I want to go into the break at 6/4 and then storm home in the last half to be top 4. We can't afford to lose too many more. We could easily have won all four games to date if our best 22 were available, so I am not too worried at this stage.

[MrMahatma]

We're 1 win behind where we were this time last season.

Our big issue is going to be percentage. Even if we get enough wins on the board for top 4, based on how tight this season is shaping up we could well end up 8th...

What we can't do is expect another GF win from the bottom half of the 8. Not saying it couldn't happen, but we need to be winning more games now to get us in a better position.

Blokes are missing continuity but that aside we have a healthy list. We really have no excuses not to win on the weekend. It's mini final. We've got to stop showing glimpses and put on a 4 quarter effort.

It's been a frustrating year and it'll slip away from us pretty soon if we don't post a few wins om the trot, and soon.

[1eyedog]

I want to go into the break at 6/4 and then storm home in the last half to be top 4. We can't afford to lose too many more. We could easily have won all four games to date if our best 22 were available, so I am not too worried at this stage.

Same here. If we lose this weekend though it's going to make it that much harder. Still bullish about the second half of the season. If we have near best 22 each week we can make top 4 given the inconsistent form of the teams above us.

[Murphy'sLore]

Everyone sounds pretty optimistic, in this thread at least. Anyone else worried we might miss the eight?

[Daughter of the West]

Everyone sounds pretty optimistic, in this thread at least. Anyone else worried we might miss the eight?

Yup.

I appreciate the personnel mix isn't right yet, but at the same time, that didn't seem to stop us so much last season.

Being the hunted rather than the hunter seems to be playing on us.

[1eyedog]

Everyone sounds pretty optimistic, in this thread at least. Anyone else worried we might miss the eight?

Not yet. As above I feel a loss this week and then another in Sydney when we return will tighten the screws. Both are possibilities.

[Cyberdoggie]

The draw for us has been bloody tough keep in mind.
2 trips to perth already (freo on the rebound), giants in Canberra, cats in geelong (on the rebound and opening their ground),

We've got the saints on the rebound this week and Sydney in Sydney also in top form.

That's pretty tough really, but good sides need to find a way to win. We were poor against west coke and should of won, should of beaten GWS, and really let the Geelong game slip as well.

The season really is on a knife edge for us now, need to win this week.

[DOG GOD]

Everyone sounds pretty optimistic, in this thread at least. Anyone else worried we might miss the eight?

Absolutely, and I think if we lose to saints and then Sydney, I think it will be out of reach with our extremely avge percentage. We just aren't playing consistent football. We just don't have a team of players hungry for success and playing for each other. To me, the premiership hangover is well and truly there...it just seems our players aren't quite mentally switched on. Whether they think it will just happen again, or whether other teams have worked us out and we can't maintain a 4 qtr consistency, I'm not sure what to make of it...lets just see how hungry our players are for sustained success, and that all starts this week in a must win game for mine. If we go to the bye outside of the 8, and will Sydney to face thereafter, it could be damaging to our chances....I know we have had injuries to main players, but even getting them all back, we need to have the team balance right and everyone playing well.

[boydogs]

Everyone sounds pretty optimistic, in this thread at least. Anyone else worried we might miss the eight?

Can't see that happening, we haven't lost at home and are just getting our players back

[LostDoggy]

There is no doubt the draw opens up for us in the 2nd half of the season. I had a go at the Ladder Predictor on the AFL site. I tried to select winners realistically and had us finishing the season in 4th. As long as our injury run improves, the upside to our team is huge.

[Eastdog]

We seem to tied ourselves up a bit now.

[Eastdog]

So pretty much at this stage we are in a knot. I'm hopeful we can undo it and that we can make the 8 which gives us some sort of chance again but all will depend on how we go over the last 8 weeks of the home and away season in whether we make it or not. Really could go either way and based on our form this season it's not looking that great. The positive I guess for us is that it is such an open season and no team has really gathered momentum.

[LostDoggy]

So pretty much at this stage we are in a knot. I'm hopeful we can undo it and that we can make the 8 which gives us some sort of chance again but all will depend on how we go over the last 8 weeks of the home and away season in whether we make it or not. Really could go either way and based on our form this season it's not looking that great. The positive I guess for us is that it is such an open season and no team has really gathered momentum.

We are in a figure four leg lock and could very well be about to tap out. This year is you can throw the book out on previous wins needed and so forth. We are absolute garbage at the moment yet only out of the eight by a game go figure?

If any team strings together a strong month they fly up the ladder so of course it's still possible.

I think with our % we may need a draw against one of the hard teams. I'd take one this week.

[boydogs]

I think with our % we may need a draw against one of the hard teams. I'd take one this week.

We've got some of the bottom sides at the right end of the year, where they may really be focused on playing the kids etc. If we return to form we could really get some percentage against those sides

[mitch0418]

To be honest....we've really only played one decent match and that resulted in a narrow loss to GWS. The upside is that other results have fallen our way to the extent we are still in the race for top four, but need to start getting our act together....starting this week in one of the biggest H and A matches we have played in some time.

Now that we are getting players back from injury I'm hoping we can get the chemistry right on field and make a big charge in the second half of the year. I still reckon we are up to our ears in the premiership race.

I'd have to agree with this. It was a great four quarter effort against GWS away and the only reason we lost is because they were unbelievably accurate in front of goal and we weren't. Unfortunately I can't say I've seen a four quarter effort against any other team even the games we've won. Against Geelong we played 3 quarters and if we had just tagged Selwood we would have won that game (still don't understand why we didn't when it's pretty obvious that is how you beat the Cats).

The so called Media experts were saying our game against the Saints was the Dogs back to their best but sorry I must have been at a different game. Yes we won by 40 points but again it was really only on the back of 1 or 2 good quarters. Our skills have been shocking but more disappointing is the lack of grunt and effort by some (not all).

I hope we show something on Friday night against the Crows. I hate losing but it's so much easier to swallow if I can see the team putting in a full effort for 4 quarters.

[bulldogtragic]

Interesting to hear from Cameron Ling, when he said "We never went back to back with our premierships at Geelong".

I guess that gives us all hope.

[Eastdog]

Sunday: time untied that knot

[ledge]

Interesting to hear from Cameron Ling, when he said "We never went back to back with our premierships at Geelong".

I guess that gives us all hope.

But they didn't fall like we did either , it's a huge fall let's face it. You can't gloss over this no matter how much we might want to.