Bevo: Free agent Dogs have to lift

[bornadog]

Link (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-01/bevo-free-agent-dogs-have-to-lift)

http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/Samples/592900-tlslargelandscape.jpg

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has put the heat on premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead and midfielder Mitch Wallis to lift their performances in a season where they both will become free agents.

Roughead has battled indifferent form and injuries since the Bulldogs won the flag in 2016, while Wallis has been in and out of the side since he badly broke his leg 18 months ago.

With both spending time in the VFL this year, Beveridge wants Roughead to be more consistent and Wallis to add polish and scoring to complement his strong inside game.

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Beveridge said both have a future at Whitten Oval, but they will need to find form to make sure 2018 isn't their last season in the red, white and blue.

Roughead, 27, grew up barracking for the Dogs, while Wallis, 25, is the son of Bulldog former club captain Stephen Wallis.

"(Roughead) is a free agent at the end of this year, so we're working with his management at the moment to try and re-sign him because he's definitely a required player," Beveridge said.

"He'll need to perform at his best pretty quickly to establish what his future is beyond this year, and I really believe he can.
"Mitch is working his way back from that leg break, and hasn't exactly got back to his absolute best, but I'm sure he will.

"He'll accumulate and be involved, but we're looking a qualitative sheen on his game that we need, and it is part of our scope to score.

"We want our mids to score and really capitalise on their involvement in the game, and Mitch is trying to grow that.

"Like 'Roughy', Mitch is definitely a required player, and I and other coaches talk to him weekly around what his focus areas are to get back in the team.

"I've got no doubt he will get back into the team."

Dale Morris will play his first senior game of the season against Melbourne on Saturday at Etihad Stadium, with the 35-year-old playing two games in the VFL in his return from a pre-season knee injury.

Beveridge hopes the highly-respected veteran's presence will inspire his young side ahead of a clash with arguably the AFL's hottest team.

"Our inconsistency around the real combative side of the game has left us a little bit vulnerable in different games, so he'll definitely pep up the boys in that regard," he said.

"It's just important that everyone not only feeds off it, but brings their own form of attack on the footy and opposition."

Beveridge said versatile defender Zaine Cordy failed a fitness test on a concussion he received in the loss to the Magpies, while impressive draftee Aaron Naughton will have another week off with an injury sustained in round eight.

Marcus Adams' horror run with injury has continued, with the hulking key defender sidelined with a corked thigh received in his second VFL game back from a pre-season ankle injury.

[Mantis]

"(Roughead) is a free agent at the end of this year, so we're working with his management at the moment to try and re-sign him because he's definitely a required player," Beveridge said.

"He'll need to perform at his best pretty quickly to establish what his future is beyond this year, and I really believe he can.


Wouldn't a more prudent approach be to see how Roughy performs over the next 6-8 weeks before we even think about re-signing him?

He is hanging on by a thread at present so lets see how his performances stack-up before we put pen to paper.

[Remi Moses]

I think that’s what he said in a roundabout way .
He needs to perform , simple .

[Mantis]

I think that’s what he said in a roundabout way .
He needs to perform , simple .

He stated that Roughy is 'definitely a required player'... that seems pretty clear to me.

My stance is quite different in that he needs to prove that he is a required player for season 2019 and beyond.

[G-Mo77]

He stated that Roughy is 'definitely a required player'... that seems pretty clear to me.

My stance is quite different in that he needs to prove that he is a required player for season 2019 and beyond.

That's the token line though. They're not going to say in public that they're not required or treading on thin ice.

[The bulldog tragician]

Mitch needs a “qualitative sheen.” Quaint.

[Ozza]

Its been quite clear from early days that Bevo doesn't rate Mitch Wallis. Even comes across in Flanagan's book when he refers to post game notes about Wally. Seems to be at some risk of not being able to turn Bevo's view on him around in time.

[Twodogs]

Mitch needs a “qualitative sheen.” Quaint.

I know what a matt finish is. What on earth is a qualitative sheen?

[Mofra]

Its been quite clear from early days that Bevo doesn't rate Mitch Wallis. Even comes across in Flanagan's book when he refers to post game notes about Wally. Seems to be at some risk of not being able to turn Bevo's view on him around in time.
Can you provide some insight into this? I haven't read Flanagan's book as yet.

[Ozza]

Can you provide some insight into this? I haven't read Flanagan's book as yet.

There is a reference to Bevo's post match notes about having had a strong talk with Mitch about some elements in his game that he would to address if he was going to become the player they needed him to be, including saying 'we will support him through this'. I would have to go back to the book for a more detailed description, but it appeared to be more than the 'has to go back to the VFL to work on x in his game' - it seemed a broader observation about Mitch the player, and whether he was going to be able to play the way Bevo needed him to play.

[bornadog]

There is a reference to Bevo's post match notes about having had a strong talk with Mitch about some elements in his game that he would to address if he was going to become the player they needed him to be, including saying 'we will support him through this'. I would have to go back to the book for a more detailed description, but it appeared to be more than the 'has to go back to the VFL to work on x in his game' - it seemed a broader observation about Mitch the player, and whether he was going to be able to play the way Bevo needed him to play.

Lets face it, if we want to be truthful, it is hard to see what Mitch brings to the team. He is very good in and under, but he just can't spread quickly due to lack of pace. I am not sure what his best position is.

[1eyedog]

Lets face it, if we want to be truthful, it is hard to see what Mitch brings to the team. He is very good in and under, but he just can't spread quickly due to lack of pace. I am not sure what his best position is.

Well someone has to get the thing BAD. Mitch has proven in the past that at his very best he can score, and not every mid does that so while we bemoan his lack of pace he offsets this with genetic football smarts and working hard to get the right spots. I'm sure he'll be back soon.

What I would like to know is why is this keeping Mitch out of the team? He is good enough to be able to contribute in other ways while working on this - I think we need him now. Bailey Dale, Mitch Honeychurch, Lukas Webb, Caleb Daniel, HAYDEN CROZIER and now Roarke Smith all have serious deficiencies in their games. Why do they get repeated game time while simultaneously relegating one of our more consistent performers and favourite sons to the VFL?

Another paradox in a growing Western Bulldogs Universe.

[Twodogs]

Lets face it, if we want to be truthful, it is hard to see what Mitch brings to the team. He is very good in and under, but he just can't spread quickly due to lack of pace. I am not sure what his best position is.


Off the top of my head I can think of three games that if Mitch wasn't playing in we would have list. For instance it was his determination to put his head over the ball and his quick hands that got the ball moving just in time v the Swans up in Sydney in 2015. Nobody in our team but Mitch Wallis could have held the pack up and stopped that footy then have it going the other way all in the same motion. I can't see what he's doing running around in the twos. The only reasons I can come up with sound a little bit insane.

[G-Mo77]

Lets face it, if we want to be truthful, it is hard to see what Mitch brings to the team. He is very good in and under, but he just can't spread quickly due to lack of pace. I am not sure what his best position is.

It's pretty simple. He's an inside mid, why try to turn him in to something he's not and use him for his strengths?

[The bulldog tragician]

I know what a matt finish is. What on earth is a qualitative sheen?

It’s a Bevo-ism for sure. He has this way of slightly mangling the language.

In relation to Mitch’s continued non-selection I am perplexed. I thought he’d been consistent and had kicked some crunch goals. I don’t understand what’s going on with selections at all. If the match committee are really seeing strengths/deficiencies justifying selection/non-selections it would be good if we could be brought into the loop, as this year’s decisions are beyond confusing.

[Twodogs]

It’s a Bevo-ism for sure. He has this way of slightly mangling the language.

In relation to Mitch’s continued non-selection I am perplexed. I thought he’d been consistent and had kicked some crunch goals. I don’t understand what’s going on with selections at all. If the match committee are really seeing strengths/deficiencies justifying selection/non-selections it would be good if we could be brought into the loop, as this year’s decisions are beyond confusing.

Precisely. If the reasons for non/selection are so compelling then tell us what they are.

[1eyedog]

It's pretty simple. He's an inside mid, why try to turn him in to something he's not and use him for his strengths?

I'm not taking to the idea of Bont and Macrae doing all the inside work.

[KT31]

Its been quite clear from early days that Bevo doesn't rate Mitch Wallis. Even comes across in Flanagan's book when he refers to post game notes about Wally. Seems to be at some risk of not being able to turn Bevo's view on him around in time.

Bevo played with his old man, did he and Wally get along ?
Could Bevo be holding a grudge ?

[MrMahatma]

If Wallis needs a qualitative sheen, what does Honeychuech need?

It's laughable that Wallis isn't playing and Honey is.

[bornadog]

If Wallis needs a qualitative sheen, what does Honeychuech need?

It's laughable that Wallis isn't playing and Honey is.

Perhaps HC does what the coach asks him to.

[MrMahatma]

Perhaps HC does what the coach asks him to.

Turn it over?

[bornadog]

Turn it over?

Just giving you an alternative and possible explanation.

Do you think us supporters know better than the MC.

[FrediKanoute]

I can't fathom why Wallis is not playing. I also can't fathom how Bevo can say he needs to add sheen and impact the scoreboard when Bont aside, none of the other mid's do. Wallis is a solid inside mid. He will get his hands on the ball 20 to 30 times and distribute effectively in the 70-75% range. He tackles well; he is a decent mark; he is a decent set shot for goal. As a footballer he is a decent footballer - not fantastic; but not ordinary. He would walk into all the teams below us and probably half the teams above us and ALL would play him as an inside mid - feeding Bont, McLean, Macrae, Suckers, Hunter etc.

I accept that a fully fit Libba would mean he needs to find another string to his bow, but its been 2 years since LIbba was fit and he's not likely to come back fully firing next year. If Bevo wants Wally Jnr to add sheen, he's going to have paint him with some Dulux High Gloss paint, because that type of footballer just doesn't shine!

[MrMahatma]

Just giving you an alternative and possible explanation.

Do you think us supporters know better than the MC.

Sometimes people close to the situation make mistakes. It's why businesses bring in consultants.

HC butchers the ball. And clearly that's ok with the MC. Cause you accept the standard you ignore. I don't know the overall circumstances but either turning it over doesn't matter, or our list is in such bad shape that HC is the least worst of a horrible bunch (which I can't imaging Wallis should be part of) and he's being begrudgingly selecected cause everyone else (Wallis, Jong, Dunkley...) is so horrible at football they may as well hang the boots up.

[G-Mo77]

If Wallis needs a qualitative sheen, what does Honeychuech need?

It's laughable that Wallis isn't playing and Honey is.

I just don't get his comment, it makes no sense when half the team couldn't hit the side of a house with their kicks. But yeah lets single out Mitch's deficiencies as a footballer. A few weeks in the VFL he'll gain break neck speed, kick at 98% efficiency and slot goals on the run from 50 out.

[Rocket Science]

Link (http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-01/bevo-free-agent-dogs-have-to-lift)

http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/Samples/592900-tlslargelandscape.jpg

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has put the heat on premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead and midfielder Mitch Wallis to lift their performances in a season where they both will become free agents.

Roughead has battled indifferent form and injuries since the Bulldogs won the flag in 2016, while Wallis has been in and out of the side since he badly broke his leg 18 months ago.

With both spending time in the VFL this year, Beveridge wants Roughead to be more consistent and Wallis to add polish and scoring to complement his strong inside game.

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Beveridge said both have a future at Whitten Oval, but they will need to find form to make sure 2018 isn't their last season in the red, white and blue.

Roughead, 27, grew up barracking for the Dogs, while Wallis, 25, is the son of Bulldog former club captain Stephen Wallis.

"(Roughead) is a free agent at the end of this year, so we're working with his management at the moment to try and re-sign him because he's definitely a required player," Beveridge said.

"He'll need to perform at his best pretty quickly to establish what his future is beyond this year, and I really believe he can.
"Mitch is working his way back from that leg break, and hasn't exactly got back to his absolute best, but I'm sure he will.

"He'll accumulate and be involved, but we're looking a qualitative sheen on his game that we need, and it is part of our scope to score.

"We want our mids to score and really capitalise on their involvement in the game, and Mitch is trying to grow that.

"Like 'Roughy', Mitch is definitely a required player, and I and other coaches talk to him weekly around what his focus areas are to get back in the team.

"I've got no doubt he will get back into the team."

Dale Morris will play his first senior game of the season against Melbourne on Saturday at Etihad Stadium, with the 35-year-old playing two games in the VFL in his return from a pre-season knee injury.

Beveridge hopes the highly-respected veteran's presence will inspire his young side ahead of a clash with arguably the AFL's hottest team.

"Our inconsistency around the real combative side of the game has left us a little bit vulnerable in different games, so he'll definitely pep up the boys in that regard," he said.

"It's just important that everyone not only feeds off it, but brings their own form of attack on the footy and opposition."

Beveridge said versatile defender Zaine Cordy failed a fitness test on a concussion he received in the loss to the Magpies, while impressive draftee Aaron Naughton will have another week off with an injury sustained in round eight.

Marcus Adams' horror run with injury has continued, with the hulking key defender sidelined with a corked thigh received in his second VFL game back from a pre-season ankle injury.


Every time the word "hulking" is appended to an article about Marcus Adams ... DRINK!

Might be time the scribes replaced it with the word 'brittle'.

---

Re: Wally, this piece riled me.

It's inexplicable that a side that's been embarrassingly non-competitive in games can't find room for a bloke who, if nothing else, always provides a contest, and has shown an ability to work to adapt his game in the past for the betterment of the team.

Sure we'd like more "qualitative sheen" from our one-dimensional mid group and of course it's incumbent upon players to work on adding more strings to their bow, but publicly pointing the finger at Wallis to remedy what's as much a recruiting issue as a performance one - oh and while you're at it Wally can you do something about our inability to score too please? - is nuts and seems another case of sacrificing a player's strengths on the altar of 'versatility'.

With Libba unavailable, that Wallis isn't a fixture in this team at the moment confounds me. Particularly with some of the flaky efforts from some that continue to evade punishment.

[ratsmac]

I can't fathom why Wallis is not playing. I also can't fathom how Bevo can say he needs to add sheen and impact the scoreboard when Bont aside, none of the other mid's do. Wallis is a solid inside mid. He will get his hands on the ball 20 to 30 times and distribute effectively in the 70-75% range. He tackles well; he is a decent mark; he is a decent set shot for goal. As a footballer he is a decent footballer - not fantastic; but not ordinary. He would walk into all the teams below us and probably half the teams above us and ALL would play him as an inside mid - feeding Bont, McLean, Macrae, Suckers, Hunter etc.

I accept that a fully fit Libba would mean he needs to find another string to his bow, but its been 2 years since LIbba was fit and he's not likely to come back fully firing next year. If Bevo wants Wally Jnr to add sheen, he's going to have paint him with some Dulux High Gloss paint, because that type of footballer just doesn't shine!

I'm totally with you. Wally is one of the hardest workers on the ground and never backs down in a contest. He's the type of player that young players look up to for work ethic. I've always thought that one day Mitch would even end up being captain but for some reason he has never even in the leadership group. Has he ever been in the leadership group? For me Mitch should be a lock in our 22 right now especially how we are travelling at the minute. His form has been OK in a struggling Western Bulldogs team this year, but from where I see it he is hardly the reason we aren't at the top of our game right now. If I were to point some fingers I'd start with the ones who are missing very very gettable set shots. Had we been more accurate in front of goals this season might not look as bleak as it does right now but that discussion is for a whole other thread altogether. It would seem that Mitch might be being slowly pushed towards the free agency door.

[GVGjr]

While Wallis is hard working player with some noticeable limitations it's difficult for me to see why we cant find a spot for him. Sometimes players and coaches reach a point where they don't mesh anymore and maybe that is where Bevo and Wallis are at the moment.

There is still plenty of time to get it worked out but I'd imagine Wallis won't command much on the trade market so perhaps we are wanting him to take a decent pay cut.

It's interesting to read that he and Roughead are required players in this article and yet Mark Stevens think's Wallis is gone at the end of the season.

[Bulldog4life]

Just giving you an alternative and possible explanation.

Do you think us supporters know better than the MC.

A big capital NO!. Although some might disagree.

[hujsh]

If we lose Wallis over HC or RS because of Bevo's preferences then it's going to burn most of the goodwill I have left for this group.

[Sedat]

What is the rush on Wallis and Roughy? I'm very happy to wait until the end of the season before making a call on them - there is still half a season to run which is critical from a future list management perspective.

Rightly or wrongly, both Wally and Rough are still fringe senior players well into their careers. Not a bad idea to take a breath.

[GVGjr]

What is the rush on Wallis and Roughy? I'm very happy to wait until the end of the season before making a call on them - there is still half a season to run which is critical from a future list management perspective.

Rightly or wrongly, both Wally and Rough are still fringe senior players well into their careers. Not a bad idea to take a breath.

Agreed, on face value it looks like a decent process but with Mark Stevens words, who is normally accurate, flying in the face of Wallis being a required player it adds a bit of interest to the article.

[Hotdog60]

If Wally can't cut it as a mid in the coaches eyes what about a small forward. Mitch is smart and would put himself in good positions and would suit him if the there is congestion in the forward line digging the ball out.
Can spend just relieving time in the centre and develop more forward as he knows how to kick a goal which we lack.

[bornadog]

Agreed, on face value it looks like a decent process but with Mark Stevens words, who is normally accurate, flying in the face of Wallis being a required player it adds a bit of interest to the article.

Last time I looked, Stevo is a journalist.

[GVGjr]

Last time I looked, Stevo is a journalist.

So you wont quote him again.?

[bornadog]

So you wont quote him again.?

Of course I will quote him for discussion purposes, but his word doesn't mean it is 100% going to happen. He hears things being said and reports them. It could be a simple thing like an Essendon person saying, maybe we should chase Wallis. You are writing that his word is gospel and it will happen.

[Twodogs]

A couple of years ago at the B&F (or it may have been the Season Launch) I convinced Mark Stevens that Ben Reid had committed to us as a FA tge next year. He wasn't exactly hard to convince and added the fact that Reid qualified for FA the next year himself. It was if he really wanted to believe it and he went and printed it in the paper the next day. None of it was true, I'd made it up as I was telling him. He called me a frontbottom the next time he saw me.

Anyway my point is don't believe everything Stevo writes.

[GVGjr]

Of course I will quote him for discussion purposes, but his word doesn't mean it is 100% going to happen. He hears things being said and reports them. It could be a simple thing like an Essendon person saying, maybe we should chase Wallis. You are writing that his word is gospel and it will happen.
So I will leave it to you to determine which of Stevos tweets have merit :)

[Bullies]

Perhaps HC does what the coach asks him to. If Wallis can't get a game at the moment his papers are stamped. Much the same as Biggs.

[Mofra]

If Wallis can't get a game at the moment his papers are stamped. Much the same as Biggs.
There's a few on the outer. Campbell seems an obvious one too.

Although being picked in no guarantee of being kept on the list either - Jarrad Grant being a good example.

[Bullies]

There's a few on the outer. Campbell seems an obvious one too.

Although being picked in no guarantee of being kept on the list either - Jarrad Grant being a good example. Have no doubt that Wallis, Biggs, Webb, HC and Campbell will play a few ones games to fatten them up for the year end sales.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

What is the rush on Wallis and Roughy? I'm very happy to wait until the end of the season before making a call on them - there is still half a season to run which is critical from a future list management perspective.

Rightly or wrongly, both Wally and Rough are still fringe senior players well into their careers. Not a bad idea to take a breath.
I sometimes wonder why the attention is so strong in singling out these two players. In the case of Roughy, Tom Boyd hasn’t been any better and similarly with Wally both Dunkley and Jong have fallen out of favour.