AFL Game Day Round 3, 2019 - Western Bulldogs V Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium

[Eastdog]

Margin: Dogs by 23 points

First Goal: Sam Lloyd

Best On Ground: Lachie Hunter then Libba and Bont

Go Bulldogs!!

[bornadog]

Dogs by 27

First Goal Gowers

BOG: The Bont

[boydogs]

WB by 36
First Goal Gowers
BOG Hunter

[Bulldog Joe]

Dogs by 36
First Goal Naughton
BOG Macrae (have you looked at his record against GC - 40 disposals will be a quiet day)

[merantau]

Dogs by 25 pts.
First goal. Naughton
BOG. Macrae

[AshMac]

Dogs by 22
First goal: Dicko
BOG: Macrae, 42 touches

[Bulldog4life]

Scraggers by 30
First Goal Naughty
BOG Bont

[Mofra]

Dogs by 1
First Goal Billy 'Goat' Gowers
BOG Dunkley

[bulldogtragic]

The team from the last quarter last week turns up, and plays four quarters.

Dogs by 124
BOG - Bonts
FG - Schache

[westbulldog]

Dogs by 26
BOG Macrae
FG Naughton

[Rocket Science]

Am I the only one getting *danger game* vibes from this one?

It's been a fun couple of rounds, but I still don't trust us.

Dogs in a lacklustre one by a kick.
BOG : Macrae with a career high touches
First major : The Bont

[Eastdog]

I’ve revised my margin from 56 to 23 points. Still believe will win this one. BT is mega confident.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Dogs by 37
BOG Macrae
FG Scache

[hujsh]

Am I the only one getting *danger game* vibes from this one?

It's been a fun couple of rounds, but I still don't trust us.

Dogs in a lacklustre one by a kick.
BOG : Macrae with a career high touches
First major : The Bont

Yeah GC are not a shambles and I expect a hard fought game.

[Eastdog]

Yeah GC are not a shambles and I expect a hard fought game.

Yeah tend to agree hujsh. That’s why I revised my margin. We need a strong professional winning performance.

[Vred]

Dogs by 27

First Goal Lloyd

BOG: Daniels

[Go_Dogs]

Dogs by 33
First goal Naughty
BOG Daniel

[ratsmac]

Dogs by 47
First goal Schache
BOG Libba

[AndrewP6]

Dogs by 22
First goal Libba
BOG Libba

[Go_Dogs]

Another round with somewhat surprising results - let's hope the only surprise today is the size of the shellacking we give them.

[azabob]

Suns should also be 2-0 and I think the weather and room open will suit them.

Dogs by 7 points
Gowers to kick the first
Liberatore BOG

[comrade]

I hate games with the roof open. So dumb.

[GVGjr]

I hate games with the roof open. So dumb.

Bring your sunnies, its very bright

[bornadog]

Bring your sunnies, its very bright

Beautiful day

[westdog54]

Dogs by 20
First goal Lloyd
BOG Schache

GC are not the rabble they once were. I'm rather looking forward to this contest

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Dogs by 27 points
First goal Gowers
BOG: Macrae

Wish they would close the bloody roof. Its terrible to watch on TV as plauers come in and out of the shade.

[lemmon]

A round of big bags and it feels like a day for key forwards. I'm hoping for a Naughton coming-out show

[AndrewP6]

I think the lap of honour would have been better at half time. Bit underwhelming with rows of empty seats.

[GVGjr]

Dickson and Naughton with 3 goals each in a 20 point win for us.
Macrae with the BOG honors

Crowd of 20,050

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Woeful start.

[jeemak]

Well this is a touch frustrating.

We're allowing them to get goal side at the clearances and in general play, it smacks of us being completely disrespectful.

[DOG GOD]

Is this GC vs Footscray ?

[hujsh]

Would it be worth swapping Young and Naughton? Maybe have Young pinch hit in the ruck instead of Schache?

Seems like Young’s in for a tough day down back.

[lemmon]

Dunkley a genuine liability when he has the footy on the outside

[AndrewP6]

This garbage is disrespectful to both GC and Liam Picken.

[jeemak]

Here's a thought, if you already know you're going to get smashed in the ruck wouldn't you ensure you have defencive cover around the stoppages?

[hujsh]

Followed up our best quarter of the year with our worst

[bulldogtragic]

Five seconds to go.

Seems to happen every *!*!*!*!ing week.

[ReLoad]

Jeez could we be any more ordinary!

[hujsh]

Here's a thought, if you already know you're going to get smashed in the ruck wouldn't you ensure you have defencive cover around the stoppages?
Nah just swarm the ball. They won’t get a handball to someone on their own on the outside.

[Vred]

English getting smashed. What id give for us to have a good ruck right now

[DOG GOD]

Are we mentally out there ? Coz we certainly aren’t out there physically

[jeemak]

Dunkley a genuine liability when he has the footy on the outside

Absolutely, I have been a massive supporter of his but I'm at the stage that if we can find another bull midfielder with decent skills I'd consider putting him up for trade. His kicking is just too ordinary in open play.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Gold Coast really set us on our backside that quarter. There forwards are just getting too many easy looks.
Poor Lewy Young looks lost.

Our mids getting a pantsing too around stoppages.

[Vred]

Are we mentally out there ? Coz we certainly aren’t out there physically

We seem so slow, that’s for sure

[GVGjr]

Poor quarter..We will get it back on our terms in the 2nd quarter.
Getting smashed in the ruck

[jeemak]

Gold Coast really set us on our backside that quarter. There forwards are just getting too many easy looks.
Poor Lewy Young looks lost.

Our mids getting a pantsing too around stoppages.

Young should have been paid the mark that was spoiled late, however, he looked like a genuine deer in the headlights sitting under the football and not confident at all. It's a worry for him.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

A performance made worse to watch on TV. It is so hard to watch as the ball comes out of shade into the bright sun.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Suns are going to earn respect this year . They have belief. God knows they've had ebery chance to build an elite list and they have everthing to prove.
I dont understand umpiring anymore.
We'll see which team wants it moreby full time.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Seem to have wrested control in general play, just need to get some scoreboard reward.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

The Bont is an engineer.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Much better this quarter. Good finish by McLean

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Suckling has been very good in defense a couple of nice intercepts.

[AndrewP6]

I'm sitting not far from the Pickens.

[DOG GOD]

Inept going into fwd 50. With all these entries we should be 30 pts in front.

Absolutely disgusting performance so far and stinks “just have to turn up to win” mentality.

[GVGjr]

Suckling has been very good in defense a couple of nice intercepts.

He's been decisive but we still need some more from him.
Gee the first 10 mintues of the next quarter are important for us.

[GVGjr]

Far better quarter but we obviously didn't do enough on the scoreboard

[DOG GOD]

What was the inside 50 that qtr ? 22-6?

[Mantis]

Far better quarter but we obviously didn't do enough on the scoreboard

We rarely do... the last kick in the chain lets us down far too often.

[bulldogtragic]

Frustrating quarters, in different ways. Let's hope we can play at 100% for just a while.

[hujsh]

Even when we’re doing well we’re always a tough team to support. It’s never easy

[jeemak]

He's been decisive but we still need some more from him.
Gee the first 10 mintues of the next quarter are important for us.

What more do you want from him? He's trying to open up the ground within his kicking, he's gotten us out of trouble with his defencive work and some excellent use, and he's kicked a goal.

[lemmon]

Bailey Smith has been a real positive. Great first half

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Need to get more out of Naughton & Schache.

[jeemak]

The Bont's goal kicking is a real concern. He is such an accurate flat user in general play both sides, but as soon as he gets some elevation into his kicking he really struggles.

We didn't make the most of our opportunities, and seemed to try and stifle play in the last four or five minutes which enabled GC to put pressure on our use and as such the game opened up for them. That last sequence where Ed turned it over was completely unnecessary.

[jeemak]

Bailey Smith has been a real positive. Great first half

Agreed, he has been really good around the stoppages, and in open play he's looked to use his nous and skill which I think we'll see as superior as his career progresses.

[macca]

Frustrating quarters, in different ways. Let's hope we can play at 100% for just a while.

Richards running into open goal square on the half time siren pretty much sums it up.

[Mantis]

Are we concerned about the lack of output from our captain?.. often caught out of position defensively and giving us nothing offensively. With JJ and Williams to return he’s at the front of the queue to be replaced.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Are we concerned about the lack of output from our captain?.. often caught out of position defensively and giving us nothing offensively. With JJ and Williams to return he’s at the front of the queue to be replaced.

Came here to write the exact same thing.

Wood isn’t best 22.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

We absolutely have to win this game, and not just flop over the line either. We need to get our groove back. A loss today undermines the goodwill earned from last week's amazing fightback.

[westdog54]

Bailey Smith has been a real positive. Great first half
Doing some good things but some fine tuning to be done. He'll be a gem.

Need to get more out of Naughton & Schache.

Schache is at least staying in the contest and trying to have an impact at ground level. Naughton needs to lift.

From my seat on level 3 Suckling is BOG for us ATM. He's defending well and giving us some movement.

English is getting badly out bodied.

Dickson's lack of penetration with his goalkicking is glaring.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Wow. Terrible handball from Lloyd, nearly led to a goal for GC

[Rocket Science]

We've been worked out after two rounds. By Gold Coast.

Over to you Bevo.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

We are just shooting ourselves in the foot.

[AndrewP6]

Dicko runs into an open goal... And gets tackled.

We don't deserve to win this game.

[jeemak]

We've got too many players who when playing good footy we can compete, but when not we look so *!*!*!*!ing disgraceful and frustrating it just pisses me off watching.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

This is unwatchable right now. Atrocious skills and decisions.
We should've hit the front, instead we are 4 goals behind now.

[DOG GOD]

This really is laughable

[lemmon]

Some incredibly lazy defensive running today

[hujsh]

Can’t win if that’s how we’re pushing back into defence. Absolutely lacklustre.

[Vred]

How the *!*!*!*! are we losing to Gold Coast.
How.
jesus *!*!*!*! this is painful

[DOG GOD]

The last 2 weeks mean jack squat after today

[AndrewP6]

We are a unique team in that we can control play around our F50 yet not look like scoring.

[GVGjr]

10 minutes of good football will swing this games back our way but we aren't convincing at the moment

[hujsh]

Good news. There’s only one quarter left

[DOG GOD]

10 minutes of good football will swing this games back our way but we aren't convincing at the moment

Doesn’t mean we will score in that 10 mins of good football.

[DOG GOD]

Good news. There’s only one quarter left


Thank God

[chef]

What a *!*!*!*!ing embarrassing effort. What a waste of a day.

[jeemak]

I really loved how we were moving the footy quickly and then Gowers decides to hold it up and kick to a pack for bloody reason at all. He's terrible when not playing well, complete liability.

Don't see how we win this if we don't kick a couple early. We just aren't efficient enough most of the time, and on days like today when we are off the boil and playing lazy, disrespectful football we just find it too hard to get it done.

[Grantysghost]

Have to hand it to the suns, they're not letting us get out side with uncontested clean ball with their pressure, and when we are forced to bomb it long they're dominating the air. Still think we can run over them. Be tight though.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Quite pathetic really.

Not much more to add - we’ve been lazy, unskilled and unfocused

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Going to be even a tougher assignment next Friday if we don't get some form in the next 25 minutes.

[ratsmac]

This is as bad as I have seen us play for a while. Stupid football a lot of the times. Stagnant forward line so we bomb it in to be out marked every time

[DOG GOD]

Going to be even a tougher assignment next Friday if we don't get some form in the next 25 minutes.

That will be a slaughter

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Great start.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I know Libba committed the head high, but Wood's missed tackle caused that.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Gowers has had one of his poorer days.

[Rocket Science]

Going to be even a tougher assignment next Friday if we don't get some form in the next 25 minutes.

Silver lining might just be today will be the proverbial foot up the clacker we need to get up for the Pies.

It's going to be an appalling result if it's not. And of course we love a good Friday night pantsing in front of a national audience.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

It ain't gonna happen today.
Too many poor efforts from many and to their credit Gold Coast have well and truly deserved it. They have outplayed us for most of the day.

[jeemak]

Another reckless and ill-caring shot at goal from Bontempelli and they run it down and kick one. Really annoying, wasteful rubbish.

[Rocket Science]

Forget the score, jeezus this is hellish viewing.

We're a team that thrives on swarming and support.

Split us up, or stop our support running and we're suddenly a bunch of pretty ordinary one-on-one plodders.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Are we concerned about the lack of output from our captain?.. often caught out of position defensively and giving us nothing offensively. With JJ and Williams to return he’s at the front of the queue to be replaced.

We should have made the captaincy change end of last year.
If his form line continues we will have to make the terrible call of dripping our captain.

[DOG GOD]

This game was over in the first 10 mins of the 1st qtr...and everything since has proved that.

The AFL’s basket case lose May and Lynch over pre season and make us look like Carlton. Geez

[jeemak]

Pathetic effort on goal again Bont. Terrible.

[jeemak]

Fantastic finish Wally, come on Dogs let's get the pressure onto them now.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Bont's kicking for goal will prevent him from being one seen as one of the game's super elite 2 or 3 players.

[Rocket Science]

This game was over in the first 10 mins of the 1st qtr...and everything since has proved that.

The AFL’s basket case lose May and Lynch over pre season and make us look like Carlton. Geez

Ha. One guess who's the only team to lose to Gold Coast in Melbourne over the last couple of years.

Til now ...

[Rocket Science]

C'mon. Where's a bit more last minute charity from the umpires when you need it.

[DOG GOD]

Losing by a goal is gunna suck more than just losing ;)

[Vred]

One more goal......

[Vred]

Losing to *!*!*!*!ing Gold Coast of all pathetic sides.
i hope the team hang their heads in shame for today’s pathetic playing

[bulldogtragic]

Well...

[ReLoad]

Well, that about sums up where we are at. Bruise free football.

[macca]

Missed to the right by gowers with 30seconds left . Siren goes Hopefully this will serve a wake up call to play 4 quarters .

[jeemak]

Well Bontempelli's wasteful kicking and the fact we must have been crawling up each other's arses all week due to the comeback win was the difference in the end.

Pathetic and disrespectful football for too long.

[GVGjr]

Bont missed 4 shots pushing them all to his left each time. 3 points and one that didn't score.

[DOG GOD]

At least this loss will put a stop to the media saying we were back to our 2016 hunger.

Didn’t they see our JLT losses

[jeemak]

Bont missed 4 shots pushing them all to his left each time. 3 points and one that didn't score.

Five shots when you consider he tried to snap the ball around the corner when a drop punt would have been just fine, ending up in it falling short.

It's a real shame because he brought his own football today and could have had one of the better games of his career.

[Grantysghost]

Bont missed 4 shots pushing them all to his left each time. 3 points and one that didn't score.

Was he having issues before the hip injury? He tends to miss to the left. Aim for the right post.
Liberatore had another blinder. Naughtons mark at the end was brilliant. Suns too good today they're no pushovers now, having said that we should have beaten them at home.

[AndrewP6]

IMO Bont won't truly be in the upper echelon until he can regularly kick goals. Really disappointed in him today.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

So many poor shots from Bont, Lloyd, Gowers, Dickson and Dunkley.

We didn’t deserve to win and we’re still not a top 8 side.

Crucial we get JJ and Williams back. English isn’t ready and the ruck is a diabolical issue that I predicted some time ago.

[bornadog]

Gold Coast played One on one and we’re just too good. We wasted our kicks into the forward line. Guys like Lloyd Dickson Gowers very disappointing. McLean hardly touched the ball.

In the end GC’s first quarter killed us

[DOG GOD]

So many poor shots from Bont, Lloyd, Gowers, Dickson and Dunkley.

We didn’t deserve to win and we’re still not a top 8 side.

Crucial we get JJ and Williams back. English isn’t ready and the ruck is a diabolical issue that I predicted some time ago.

Grundy will be licking his lips for next week

[Doggy]

GC 71 hit outs
Dogs 16 hit outs[/U]

[bornadog]

English isn’t ready and the ruck is a diabolical issue that I predicted some time ago.

we smashed them in clearances, stoppages centre clearances. I wouldn’t be too fussed about the ruck

[Mantis]

GC 71 hit outs
Dogs 16 hit outs

We won the clearances 44-30.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

we smashed them in clearances, stoppages centre clearances. I wouldn’t be too fussed about the ruck

Exactly. The problem was, especially in the first quarter, we showed no respect outside, and everyone tried to hunt the ball, leading them to get some very easy ones over the back.
And we shot ourselves with turnovers or fluffing opportunities to score.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

we smashed them in clearances, stoppages centre clearances. I wouldn’t be too fussed about the ruck

You’re kidding yourself just looking at the stats. We rarely ever have clear takeaways because we simply never win a clear tap out. Never mind that, English is routinely out bodied on the ground and in the air.

It’s a real issue and next week v Grundy will be slaughter.

[GVGjr]

Did we get out coached in the first quarter? Gave up 6 first quarter goals and just another 4 for the game.
Full credit to the Suns though, they held some good marks and have a bit of pace.

[EasternWest]

The Bulldogs and getting hurt out the back. Name a more iconic duo.

Credit to Gold Coast though. They might have a rubbish history but they wanted it way more than we did today.

[Rocket Science]

Did we get out coached in the first quarter? Gave up 6 first quarter goals and just another 4 for the game.
Full credit to the Suns though, they held some good marks and have a bit of pace.

We can't be routinely taking a quarter to settle and for Bevo to get the matchups right. Good sides will torch us.

Do it against the Pies and watch what happens.

[bornadog]

Did we get out coached in the first quarter? Gave up 6 first quarter goals and just another 4 for the game.
Full credit to the Suns though, they held some good marks and have a bit of pace.

Don't know about coaching, but they definitely have a lot of pace. They look like a well balanced team now after shedding all the trouble makers over the years. They really should have beaten the Saints in the first game.

[Rocket Science]

We won the clearances 44-30.

Is there a stat for high, indiscriminate lollipops into forward fifty?

I'd like to see that one.

[lemmon]

Not sure I've seen a side butcher the footy that badly before...that was something else

[AndrewP6]

The most entertaining aspect of the day was sitting near the Pickens, and having the kids running riot over the empty seats nearby.

[GVGjr]

Was he having issues before the hip injury? He tends to miss to the left. Aim for the right post.
Liberatore had another blinder. Naughtons mark at the end was brilliant. Suns too good today they're no pushovers now, having said that we should have beaten them at home.

It's never been a strength of his and I'm reluctant to use his hip injuries as an excuse. He should have got two of those 4 shots.
Yep, full credit to the Suns today

[EasternWest]

Is there a stat for high, indiscriminate lollipops into forward fifty?

I'd like to see that one.

Record holders 5 years running.

[jeemak]

Did we get out coached in the first quarter? Gave up 6 first quarter goals and just another 4 for the game.
Full credit to the Suns though, they held some good marks and have a bit of pace.


We can't be routinely taking a quarter to settle and for Bevo to get the matchups right. Good sides will torch us.

Do it against the Pies and watch what happens.

I'm not confident it was a ground set up issue, it might be that we're not blessed with players who are smart and can react to what is actually happening in real time. It was clear that we were crowding the ball and letting GCS get goal side of us. A bit of strong on-field leadership would have had it sorted after the first few instances of it happening.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

It's never been a strength of his and I'm reluctant to use his hip injuries as an excuse. He should have got two of those 4 shots.
Yep, full credit to the Suns today

But i don't recall it being a glaring weakness like it has become over the past 2 years. For all the talk of him being a dangerous forward, if he can't convert the bread and butter shots from inside 50 marks, then he's actually a liability there. We'd be better served having him be a 100% midfielder and having a more reliable goal kicker up forward.

[Doggy]

We won the clearances 44-30.

Yes we did.
Imagine if we had a hard bodied experienced ruck playing who could tap the ball down our midfielders throats, instead of them having to scrounge the loose ball and hurriedly throwing it on their boot.

[bornadog]

I thought The Bont was brilliant today, Yeah he missed those shots but at the end of the day, both teams had the same number of shots.

We lost this game because we were inefficient with our inside 50s. Once more we had 66 inside 50s to their 48. When we did have a chance to kick goals we fluffed it, ala Dickson getting run down, LLoyd and Gowers handballing to them in the goal square, Macrae refusing to have a shot and trying to centre the ball.

We have to address the delivery to our forwards.

[G-Mo77]

I'm not a traditionalist with Marvel. They've got a roof, shut the god dam thing. Players playing in shadows then losing the ball in the sun. Makes no sense to me.

Disappointing day. Highway robbery if we won, didn't deserve it. 1 step forwards, 3 steps back.

[Sedat]

The AFL’s basket case lose May and Lynch over pre season and make us look like Carlton. Geez
Haven't seen any of the game but the best thing Gold Coast did was get rid of those primadonna arseholes Ablett, Lynch and May. They are now all committed and invested, which is in stark contrast to the appalling culture and standards that the former 3 captains created.

[Remi Moses]

Issue is that teams can set up how they want at a stoppage .
Need a bigger body in there

[kruder]

Bont missed 4 shots pushing them all to his left each time. 3 points and one that didn't score.

He has had the yips since the first final against the Crows in 2015. Like many still hasn't improved in this area.

[GVGjr]

But i don't recall it being a glaring weakness like it has become over the past 2 years. For all the talk of him being a dangerous forward, if he can't convert the bread and butter shots from inside 50 marks, then he's actually a liability there. We'd be better served having him be a 100% midfielder and having a more reliable goal kicker up forward.
It's a technique and concentration issue from what I can see because he's consistently making the same error.

He was intercepting the opposition kicks and getting a lot of the ball all game but give him the time to have shots he just makes the same error. It's possibly how he drops the ball onto the boot but he isn't making allowances for the same error

[kruder]

What are peoples thoughts on Young? I only saw a bit of the game but like last week when he has the ball he doesn't take the first option, goes back and then just kicks it down the line? Was he ok without the ball at least?

[Grantysghost]

It's a technique and concentration issue from what I can see because he's consistently making the same error.

He was intercepting the opposition kicks and getting a lot of the ball all game but give him the time to have shots he just makes the same error. It's possibly how he drops the ball onto the boot but he isn't making allowances for the same error

I reckon it's his aim. The ball doesn't move one way or another. Have we had his eyes tested? :cool:

[jeemak]

What are peoples thoughts on Young? I only saw a bit of the game but like last week when he has the ball he doesn't take the first option, goes back and then just kicks it down the line? Was he ok without the ball at least?

From what I could see on TV a bit of a mixed bag. In my view the talent is there, but needs to get some game time and confidence together at the senior level to avoid the types of issues you mention.

[kruder]

From what I could see on TV a bit of a mixed bag. In my view the talent is there, but needs to get some game time and confidence together at the senior level to avoid the types of issues you mention.

I have a feeling he is still having nightmares of the game against Collingwood in which he turned it over all night. We still need to persist agree but I guess that's part of the reason he has been playing VFL.

[Eastdog]

Very dissapointing today. Didn’t play well and did not take our chances. 66 to 48 inside 50s need to do better.

[GVGjr]

I reckon it's his aim. The ball doesn't move one way or another. Have we had his eyes tested? :cool:

Not a bad suggestion to be honest although if you are consistently pushing them left all the time you should be able to make the adjustment. Perhaps sports science department isn't allowing him to do the work on his goal kicking but surely an assistant coach can stand behind him at training and tell him what he is doing wrong.

[G-Mo77]

Very dissapointing today. Didn’t play well and did not take our chances. 66 to 48 inside 50s need to do better.

Those entries are the story nearly every week. So many entries so little to show for it. Our game plan always seems to be get it in there and hold it in at all costs until a ball eventually trickles through the big sticks or we get a free in front of goal and maybe we get lucky after that and kick it straight.

[GVGjr]

Would there be a logical reason why Jack Macrae started on the bench in the last quarter?

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Watched the game at the Yarraville club on a massive screen. Which is fine when the team is playing well. But in an error riddled game like today's, it just magnified the nightmare. Walked into the afternoon sun feeling like i'd spent 3 hours on a psychedelic trip.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Much prefer the roof open. It didn't stop their backmen from outmarking our forwards. Both teams had to play under those conditions.

[Eastdog]

Those entries are the story nearly every week. So many entries so little to show for it. Our game plan always seems to be get it in there and hold it in at all costs until a ball eventually trickles through the big sticks or we get a free in front of goal and maybe we get lucky after that and kick it straight.

The guy next to me at the game said our field kicking was awful as well. Lewis Young struggled down back today. Can’t be too hard either hasn’t played a lot still.

[angelopetraglia]

The Suns were better than I gave them credit for. They were tough. Played a disciplined game plan. Got numbers around the contest and played a Swans rugby style of game. Still ... it is a game we should have won if not for some stupid football that nearly costs us in the first two rounds too.

Some key things we need to fix.

-Slow start again. Just didn't turn up with intensity in first quarter.
-Costly turnovers that again allowed a team to get out the back too easily. We need to fix this.
-Kicked long into F50 way too many times and then didn't make a contest when the ball hit the ground.

Even with all that ... if we take our chances in the last quarter we win. The difference was that they go back from outside 50m in the last quarter and slot it. We miss three easy chances from inside 40m.

[lemmon]

When Gowers was lining up for that shot in the last, did anyone think he was any chance? I'd put the glasses down to be honest.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Would there be a logical reason why Jack Macrae started on the bench in the last quarter?

I'm sure there would be, it wouldn't happen by chance. But for the life of me I've got no idea what that reason could be.

[Rocket Science]

When Gowers was lining up for that shot in the last, did anyone think he was any chance? I'd put the glasses down to be honest.

I do this with just about everyone except ... uhhhh, no, make that everyone.

Who do you truly trust in front of goal? Dickson? Sure, usually. Schache? Okay. Then who?

[G-Mo77]

I do this with just about everyone except ... uhhhh, no, make that everyone.

Who do you truly trust in front of goal? Dickson? Sure, usually. Schache? Okay. Then who?

I do as well and my comment when people were celebrating when Dunkley was lining up 15 out directly infront was "He has to kick it first"

[macca]

What are peoples thoughts on Young? I only saw a bit of the game but like last week when he has the ball he doesn't take the first option, goes back and then just kicks it down the line? Was he ok without the ball at least?

If the talent is there , he just has to play on his instinct and take the first option . Find the inner beast mode. And starting out marking Oppositions. Guess his a confidence player but his got to be more aggressive in the contest . I really hope he can find it because he could be an important part in our KPP stocks.

[Hotdog60]

Watching on the tv it looked like he had shorter options if he move it on quickly but I think he must lack confidence in his ability to hit the target.
If he missed the kick the turnover would most likely result in a score for the opposition. Instead he hesitates and then just kicks down the line. Which funny enough results in a turnover and a Suns score.

[Eastdog]

Very flat from that game today. Sure we fought hard at times but we cannot afford to give teams a huge start each time and expect to come back and win every time.

[bornadog]

I do as well and my comment when people were celebrating when Dunkley was lining up 15 out directly infront was "He has to kick it first"

I said the same thing.

[macca]

Haven't seen any of the game but the best thing Gold Coast did was get rid of those primadonna arseholes Ablett, Lynch and May. They are now all committed and invested, which is in stark contrast to the appalling culture and standards that the former 3 captains created.
they have really cleaned up their list and injected some new players who can hold a position:

Collins, ballard and Burgess look to have immediate affect holding down specific positions.
weller
Jarrod witts, looks to be a solid citizen and now in the leadership group. a genuine tap ruckman . How the hell we did not pick him up when pies trade him for pick 44 and 62?
MAcpherson ( his the one that got away from us) - we picked the wrong one !
anthony miles

and some of their established players really coming through now:
Swallow is having a good start
Harbrow, damn it, his good in defence today
Sexton: How the hell did he get so much space ? 2 goals
Bowes , fiorini, martin top 3 possession holders.

Well done to them, you got to admit when opposition were better today.

[hujsh]

I do this with just about everyone except ... uhhhh, no, make that everyone.

Who do you truly trust in front of goal? Dickson? Sure, usually. Schache? Okay. Then who?

I guess Wallis. Strangely enough Naughton might be entering that group though I still don't quite trust him yet.

[hujsh]

MAcpherson ( his the one that got away from us) - we picked the wrong one !


The legacy of the Honeychurch continues to haunt us to this day...

[Jeanette54]

Ok guys, it's confession time.

It wasn't the players, the coach, the boot studder, or indeed the property steward who caused our loss to the "Sons.

It was me.

For once I did not wear my non failing, lucky, match day, Bulldog tee shirt.

Profound apologies to all, it won't happen again.

Mea culpa.

[bulldogtragic]

I hope you've learned your lesson Jeanette.

[Rocket Science]

The legacy of the Honeychurch continues to haunt us to this day...

This sticks in my craw every time Son-of-Super gets a touch.

Hope Mitch is having fun at Vermont.

[Axe Man]

Jarrod witts, looks to be a solid citizen and now in the leadership group. a genuine tap ruckman . How the hell we did not pick him up when pies delisted him?

Witts wasn't delisted - it was a trade for picks 44 + 62.

[Axe Man]

Not a bad suggestion to be honest although if you are consistently pushing them left all the time you should be able to make the adjustment. Perhaps sports science department isn't allowing him to do the work on his goal kicking but surely an assistant coach can stand behind him at training and tell him what he is doing wrong.

I bet at training they all sail straight through the middle though.

[GVGjr]

I bet at training they all sail straight through the middle though.

And if that is the case, he must be a bit of a choker or he just isn't the elite player we think he is

[bornadog]

And if that is the case, he must be a bit of a choker or he just isn't the elite player we think he is

Unfair comment, you know match conditions are way different than training. He needs to get it right in his head.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Unfair comment, you know match conditions are way different than training. He needs to get it right in his head.

But I think that is the crux of Gary's comment.
If you are the elite player, it doesn't matter if it is training or match day; more often than not they sail through the middle in either. If not then you are susceptible to the mental choke and therefore not an elite player.
Bont has almost all the hallmarks of an elite player, but over 2 years now, his goalkicking has deteriorated to a significant extent. He is no longer a reliable shot for goal, and in the role he plays we need him to be.

[FrediKanoute]

I thought The Bont was brilliant today, Yeah he missed those shots but at the end of the day, both teams had the same number of shots.

We lost this game because we were inefficient with our inside 50s. Once more we had 66 inside 50s to their 48. When we did have a chance to kick goals we fluffed it, ala Dickson getting run down, LLoyd and Gowers handballing to them in the goal square, Macrae refusing to have a shot and trying to centre the ball.

We have to address the delivery to our forwards.

This about sums it up for me. You look at the stats and we should have won this game by 5 or 6 goals. Bad kicking is bad football. Need to move on.

[bornadog]

But I think that is the crux of Gary's comment.
If you are the elite player, it doesn't matter if it is training or match day; more often than not they sail through the middle in either. If not then you are susceptible to the mental choke and therefore not an elite player.
Bont has almost all the hallmarks of an elite player, but over 2 years now, his goalkicking has deteriorated to a significant extent. He is no longer a reliable shot for goal, and in the role he plays we need him to be.

I can't agree, The Bont is elite and at 23 years of age he is going well.

Here is a list of the AFL best and their goal kicking % over their career



Bont
53.4%


Martin
56.9%


Dangerfield
56.9%


Kelly
46.7%


Cripps
42.2%


Fyfe
58.3%





I think Bont holds his own and will get better

[Mantis]

I can't agree, The Bont is elite and at 23 years of age he is going well.

Here is a list of the AFL best and their goal kicking % over their career



Bont
53.4%


Martin
56.9%


Dangerfield
56.9%


Kelly
46.7%


Cripps
42.2%


Fyfe
58.3%





I think Bont holds his own and will get better

He's kicked 1.6 this year, with a couple not scoring at all.. he is playing extremely well, but he simply needs to convert more than he currently is.

[bornadog]

He's kicked 1.6 this year, with a couple not scoring at all.. he is playing extremely well, but he simply needs to convert more than he currently is.

I agree, I was commenting on whether he is elite or not based on his goal kicking.

Hopefully he can rectify his ratio for the rest of the season.

[GVGjr]

I agree, I was commenting on whether he is elite or not based on his goal kicking.

Hopefully he can rectify his ratio for the rest of the season.

My original comment was around that if he is kicking them at training and missing them in the games (all pushing them to his left) which is of course speculation then he is choking in games and not genuinely elite. Remember that most goal kicking at training is done at the end of the session not early on to simulate game day fatigue.
Bont is missing them early in quarters as well and given he often spends more time forward than in the midfield it's not a luxury that we can afford.

He also pushed each shot to his left, surely it clicks with him to make an adjustment?

[macca]

Witts wasn't delisted - it was a trade for picks 44 + 62.

Ok fixed , here is the Witts trade link in 2016 trade https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gold-coast-ruckman-jarrod-witts-says-he-left-collingwood-to-have-finals-success/news-story/76e099d99ec7bdf2ea22b72a978f0446

What is fascinating is Pies and GCS had high number of players used that year due to long injury lost . Adelaide one of shortest injury
Shows how amazing our 2016 premiership achievement

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I can't agree, The Bont is elite and at 23 years of age he is going well.

Here is a list of the AFL best and their goal kicking % over their career



Bont
53.4%


Martin
56.9%


Dangerfield
56.9%


Kelly
46.7%


Cripps
42.2%


Fyfe
58.3%





I think Bont holds his own and will get better

Is there any year by year breakdown available?
Cripps is an interesting one. There is a lot of love for him out there, with some commentators remarking he is better than Bont.

[Grantysghost]

Cripps is a contested beast and stands out in a very poor midfield. Marcus is a far more versatile and skillful player personally I think the comparisons are amusing. The goal kicking will come good he's a good kick.
Cripps and Macrae maybe a closer comparison. Jacko is your typical under rated Bulldogs player.

[Mantis]

Is there any year by year breakdown available?
Cripps is an interesting one. There is a lot of love for him out there, with some commentators remarking he is better than Bont.

2014 - 15.10 (16 games)
2015 - 17.10 (21)
2016 - 26.17 (26)
2017 - 20.29 (22)
2018 - 22.16 (19)
2019 - 1.6 (3)

[bornadog]

Is there any year by year breakdown available?
Cripps is an interesting one. There is a lot of love for him out there, with some commentators remarking he is better than Bont.

Yes you can look it up on footywire.com. I know what you are going to check and ie whether his % has deteriorated. I will need to check.


Cripps is a contested beast and stands out in a very poor midfield. Marcus is a far more versatile and skillful player personally I think the comparisons are amusing. The goal kicking will come good he's a good kick.
Cripps and Macrae maybe a closer comparison. Jacko is your typical under rated Bulldogs player.

You are correct to compare Cripps and Macrae.

Cripps in 84 games has kicked 35 goals, Macrae in 121 games has kicked 30 goals at 53%

EDIT:

Here you go:




Goals
Behinds



2019
1
6



2018
22
16
57.9%


2017
20
29
40.8%


2016
26
17
60.5%


2015
17
10
63.0%


2014
15
10
60.0%


Career
101
88
53.4%



2017 he had a bad year.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

2014 - 15.10 (16 games)
2015 - 17.10 (21)
2016 - 26.17 (26)
2017 - 20.29 (22)
2018 - 22.16 (19)
2019 - 1.6 (3)

So his first 3 years he went at or just above 60%.
Then 40% in 2017, and 57% in 2018. I suspect he will improve over his 1 in 6 ratio that he's currently at after 3 rounds.

[Grantysghost]

Question out of the blue, does our game style suit the width of the G more than Docklands ? We seem to get clogged up and less outside for some reason. I've done zero research to back this up ! :cool:

[bornadog]

Question out of the blue, does our game style suit the width of the G more than Docklands ? We seem to get clogged up and less outside for some reason. I've done zero research to back this up ! :cool:

I thought GC tactics to flood our forward line really worked for them. Plus all over the ground they played one on one footy which stifled our running game and forced us to just kick long into the fwd50. We got sucked into following their forwards all the way up the ground and they got away with the over the top break.

In the last quarter, our backline got better organised and held back with Wood, Cordy, Young standing more outside the arc to protect the break.

I agree we seem to play the MCG better with the wider wings.

[Bulldog4life]

If we can beat the Pies all will be forgiven.

[Grantysghost]

I thought GC tactics to flood our forward line really worked for them. Plus all over the ground they played one on one footy which stifled our running game and forced us to just kick long into the fwd50. We got sucked into following their forwards all the way up the ground and they got away with the over the top break.

In the last quarter, our backline got better organised and held back with Wood, Cordy, Young standing more outside the arc to protect the break.

I agree we seem to play the MCG better with the wider wings.

We certainly got sucked into their plan early. Melbourne did the same thing in the preliminary final and really needed a leader to step up and control the tempo.
Bontempelli did it about the 20 minute mark of the first, I was advocating we play a bit of keepings off while they were hot and he showed great leadership in that moment. Only needs to be for a couple of minutes. Think it stemmed their run of goals from memory. Shame we lost that one, but I'm happy with the 2-1 .

[Axe Man]

If we can beat the Pies all will be forgiven.

If that happens we will likely proceed to lose to Carlton the following week.

[Bulldog4life]

Bont got 10 votes from the coaches.

[Grantysghost]

Bont got 10 votes from the coaches.

Equal second now behind Kelly from Cats with Dangerfield on 25/30.

[Mofra]

Bont got 10 votes from the coaches.
Am I the only person really surprised by this?
I loved Libba's game and was disappointed with Bont barely hitting a target by foot all day as well as kicking 0.3. To think only two weeks earlier he kicked one of the best field kicks I've ever seen in my life.

[Rocket Science]

I get the disappointment with Bont's finishing on Sunday, but he imposed himself in the thick of it when the game was in the balance and potentially slipping away, with not much help at the coalface.

[Axe Man]

Am I the only person really surprised by this?
I loved Libba's game and was disappointed with Bont barely hitting a target by foot all day as well as kicking 0.3. To think only two weeks earlier he kicked one of the best field kicks I've ever seen in my life.

Some of his kicking let him down but I don't think it was that bad. The pass to Dunkley in the first (when he missed a sitter) was sublime. On another occasion he made a perfectly fine pass to Libba who instead of moving into the ball and taking it in front stood flat footed waiting for the chest mark which allowed the GC player to spoil. In the stats it probably counts against Bont but that was 100% Libba's fault in my book.

[GVGjr]

Am I the only person really surprised by this?
I loved Libba's game and was disappointed with Bont barely hitting a target by foot all day as well as kicking 0.3. To think only two weeks earlier he kicked one of the best field kicks I've ever seen in my life.

While I agree that Liberatore was a slightly better, Bontempelli was awesome in my opinion except for those missed shots. His intercept marks and general play was excellent and I can see why the coaches named him as the best player

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

While I agree that Liberatore was a slightly better, Bontempelli was awesome in my opinion except for those missed shots. His intercept marks and general play was excellent and I can see why the coaches named him as the best player

It does serve to remind how high a standard we hold Bont to.
I admit to knowingly leaving Bont out of the votes in the back of his misses. Right or wrong, I judged Bont by a higher standard, because he is at another level than most.

[bornadog]

I had The Bont BOG, he really was the one keeping us in the game.