WB Game Day V West Coast R11 2019

[Eastdog]

Margin: Dogs by 1 point

First Goal: Aaron Naughton

Best On Ground: Josh Dunkley

Go Bulldogs!!

[Bulldog4life]

Doggies by 11 points

First Goal: Gowers

BOG: Bont

[Eastdog]

Any WA woofers going to this one?

[Scraggers]

Any WA woofers going to this one?

Yep ... Me and my young Scragger will be there cheering on the boys.

[Rocket Science]

Oww, this one hurts already.

If Naughton's been hampered by opponents stopping his run, wait til he meets the Eagles backline. You could pop him on Kennedy perhaps but his quick leads might give Naughts grief, especially if our mids aren't holding up their end of the bargain.

And if we can curb Kennedy how do we stop Darling, Ryan and Rioli as well? Can Schache, Gowers and Lloyd help us cobble together a competitive score? Can our mids help fill the scoring breach? And can they do it while running hard both ways to limit the likes of Gaff, Shuey and Yeo stuffing it down the throat of Kennedy all day?

Eagles by heaps
First goal : Bailey Smith, just before half time.
BOG : Hunter

At least we get to beat up on the Blues the following week.

[bornadog]

Draw
First goal: Dickson
BOG: Dunks

[Mofra]

Eagles by lots
First goal - Libba
BOG - Macrae to bounce back.

[Ghost Dog]

First time I have tipped against us since...I can remember.
Just cannot honestly see us outgunning their forwards, their midfield, and their defence.
Eagles by 20 ( being optimistic )
BOG Bont
First goal Lloyd.

[DOG GOD]

Eagles by 78 pts (Kennedy/darling to kick more than our score)
Ist goal - McLean
Bog - hunter

[Eastdog]

https://m.afl.com.au/news/2019-05-28/match-preview-west-coast-v-western-bulldogs

Match preview: West Coast v Western Bulldogs
Travis King
May 28, 2019 1:51PM

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday June 2, 3.20pm AWST

Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round 18, 2018: West Coast 14.16 (100) defeated Western Bulldogs 6.10 (46)

Life without Nic Naitanui after his second ACL rupture started comfortably for the Eagles, who set up victory with their best first quarter of the season – a six-goal-to-two term. Andrew Gaff polled top Brownlow votes for his 35 touches.

TV, radio and online: Click here for broadcast guide

What it means for West Coast: The Eagles have set their season up after another memorable victory at Adelaide Oval and can keep pace in the top-four race with a fifth straight victory.

What it means for Western Bulldogs: It's impossible to trust the Dogs at the moment but their best is still dangerous and if they can register an upset in Perth it will revive a flagging season.


How West Coast wins: With plenty of firepower up front, the Eagles just need to give their forwards – led by Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps coming off three goals each – enough supply to kick a winning score.

How Western Bulldogs win: They will need something special from a talented midfield brigade and emerging star Aaron Naughton in attack to put the reigning premiers' stingy defence under pressure.

The stat: The Dogs claimed victory only once on their past 13 trips west – the famous 2016 elimination final upset of the Eagles – and have lost all three of their games at Optus Stadium by 54, 54 and 19 points.

The match-up: Will Schofield v Aaron Naughton

Schofield's rank of 45th-best key backman in the AFL, according to the Official Player Ratings, undersells him. The veteran held Taylor Walker scoreless last round and can help West Coast go a long way to victory if he can restrict Naughton, the 24th-best forward who is rising fast.

It’s a big week for: Luke Beveridge

The Dogs have been one of the most frustrating teams, showing they are capable of beating Richmond and Brisbane but then losing to Carlton, Gold Coast and North Melbourne. Beveridge needs to inspire his underdogs to at least push the Eagles and get some momentum back in their season.

Big call: Elliot Yeo to go one better than the past two weeks and lay 17 crunching tackles.

Prediction: Eagles by 21 points

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs

[The Adelaide Connection]

We shouldn't really fear this one as we might with a Subi game. The ground dimensions suit us being almost carbon to Marvel, the Eagles haven't been great at home, and with Gardner and a few midsizers in it looks like we are well set up to replicate Port's game plan.

That said, I completely fear it. The non-bipartisan umpiring alone is a significant hurdle to overcome.

Never say never.

Dogs by 1
First Goal- Gardner
BOG- Macrae

[Doggy]

Eagles 40 points
First Goal Gowers
Best Liberatore

[ratsmac]

Dogs by 47
First goal - Gardner
BOG - English

[AndrewP6]

Weagles by 57 after a run of goals for us in the closing stages.
First goal Bont
BOG for us English

[boydogs]

WB by 15
First goal Hunter
BOG Macrae

[S Coast Simon]

Doggies by 17 in an epic encounter to get us back on track
first goal in a fairytale debut Gardner on his way to 5 for the match
BOG The Bont turns it on

that is is all I ask. Simple

[Jeanette54]

I can't be the only one dreading what today might bring, but in the spirit of "glass half full" here are my predictions, fwiw.

Dogs by 5
First Goal: Billy Gowers in a great return to the AFL
BOG: Billy Gowers. (See, I told you it would be a great return).

[Eastdog]

Would do our confidence wonders if we could manage to get a famous win today.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Dogs by 1 point
First Goal: McLean
BOG: Bont

[The Underdog]

I can't be the only one dreading what today might bring, but in the spirit of "glass half full" here are my predictions, fwiw.

Dogs by 5
First Goal: Billy Gowers in a great return to the AFL
BOG: Billy Gowers. (See, I told you it would be a great return).

Nope. I’m almost certain the 2nd half of this one will get pretty ugly.
Fingers crossed though...

[Eastdog]

Doggies gear on at home. Hoping we see some Bulldog fight.

[Rocket Science]

Ugh. Those fuggin white jumpers.

I'd love to know our record in the tennis outfits.

[Dry Rot]

Where is Gardner playing, forward or back?

[The Underdog]

Where is Gardner playing, forward or back?

Forward.
Trengove on Kennedy

[Dry Rot]

Forward.
Trengove on Kennedy

Thanks

[GVGjr]

I like our effort so far. It's hard work but we are working hard

Nice goal by Dunkely for a lead

[Eastdog]

Great goal Dunks! We are away

[Rocket Science]

Dunkley kicks truly.

Clearly forces greater than us want us to get up.

[Rocket Science]

Need to cut down on the high-risk party tricks with the ball by hand.

[The Underdog]

Seems Naughton also wants to kill Billy Gowers

[Doggy]

1 goal 6 behinds. I wonder how this will end:(

[ledge]

Over the back turn over goals our strong point.
Ryan murdered us once.
Gardner up to it.
We missing easy goals we will pay for it.

[lemmon]

Would be a long way ahead if we had some forward 50 composure

[Eastdog]

Really working hard. Gowers gets one.

[GVGjr]

Gowers gets the badly needed goal

[The Underdog]

Really solid quarter. Very impressed.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Keep up this effort and we can bring home the 4 points. Impressed with our decision making and skill.

[Eastdog]

Bailey Smith. Great career ahead. Impressive quarter. Jack Macrae works very hard and have liked Tim English game. Gardner shown a bit.

[DOG GOD]

Love the effort and some of the kicking has been pretty good. Just need to hold them up coming out of defence and not allow easy avenue into the corridor. We say it every week, but we really have to take our chances with set shots.

[ledge]

Smith is getting better each game , his composure and peripheral vision are elite.
Gowers is making a presence and I do like Gardner.
Get the ball to Bontempelli, my god his kicking penetrates like no other.

[Ghost Dog]

Filthy at all these points but good effort Dogs.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Good impression from Ryan Gardner. Doesn't look phased by it.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Really solid quarter. Very impressed.

We look a lot better faith Libba, suckers and Bont not in the forward 50

[Ghost Dog]

Can we please stop kicking points!!!!

[GVGjr]

Goal kicking is definitely the issue. We are going to be a vastly more competitive team if we just convert a couple of those points into goals

[bornadog]

Gardner drops a sitter one end but Eagles mark the other, lucky Darling is not kicking well

[GVGjr]

Gardner drops a sitter one end but Eagles mark the other, lucky Darling is not kicking well

Yep, if we can make more of our chances we can give the Eagles a hard contest

[bornadog]

Nice movement, and great goal

[Eastdog]

Great goal Naughton!

[GVGjr]

What a talent Naughton is, he just jumped in front of his opponent and took a nice grab. The mechanics of his kicking looks bad but he is efficient

[comrade]

Macrae playing like a millionaire.

[bornadog]

Two BS free kicks one up each end

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Getting torched out of the middle.

[bornadog]

NO free kick to Trengove

[ledge]

Bang bang here it comes.

[Eastdog]

Two BS free kicks one up each end

Influenced from their crowd. Frustrating.

[DOG GOD]

Gardner misses a sitter and they go bang...F me.

[ledge]

How do you miss from 5 metres out seriously

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

How many tackles have we had broken today?

[comrade]

Gardner fits our forward line perfectly with that miss.

[Eastdog]

That really hurts. Cmon Dogs!

[The bulldog tragician]

Oh this is frustrating. Jj that was horrible...grab the ball, take the hit.

[ledge]

Ffs lets tap it to them omg !
Grab the GrubGrubGrubGrubing thing

[GVGjr]

Just getting away from us. Need to get one back

[DOG GOD]

Here come the red time goals

[bornadog]

WTF, pathetic

[bulldogtragic]

JJ you are piss weak. Oh my god.

[comrade]

Lol have you ever seen a lower football IQ play than that from JJ.

[AndrewP6]

When our leaders stop playing like they’re still premiers, we’ll be alright. Two dinky little taps straight to opponents, two goals against us.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

JJ, woeful.
We've been the better side, but for an inability to convert and then on the flipside awful turnovers that have been scored on.

[The bulldog tragician]

Needed that after a brain fade filled five minutes.

[bulldogtragic]

JJ, woeful.
We've been the better side, but for an inability to convert and then on the flipside awful turnovers that have been scored on.

That's my moment in advance.

[Sedat]

We're playing so well in general play but for some idiotic decisions gifting them cheapies, and at the same time we're missing easy ones up forward (what else is new)

[Bullies]

JJ not good enough for his experience. Why would Gardiner snap at that goal rather than just walk in straight.

[bornadog]

4 goals for a half not good enough

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Keep working hard boys and we're more than capable.

[bornadog]

Mclean may be due for a spell, getting nothing out of him.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Goal kicking....

What ever can we do to improve it? I know it’s an issue league wide but we’re the worst and have been for some time.

[bulldogtragic]

I've only been watching on and off. What has Gardner done, a part from miss a goal from 4 metres out?

[ledge]

We're playing so well in general play but for some idiotic decisions gifting them cheapies, and at the same time we're missing easy ones up forwars (what else is new)

The joke is the commentators said the eagles had put their foot down, no we stuffed up allowing them easy goals , how many goals have they got that weren’t our stupid turnovers , I think sides sit back and still know they will beat us on our own stupid errors

[Twodogs]

We should be 5 goals in front. West Coast are going to start to pull their finger out soon and we are nowhere near as far enough as we should be on the balance of play.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

4 goals for a half not good enough

We should have had goals to Bont, Naughton, Loyd that would make a difference.

[Bullies]

Turnovers cost against North last week as well. North scored 49 points from turnovers. Eagles will match that today. Imagine if we could kick straight and not turn it over.

[bornadog]

We have been so wasteful. 43 more disposals

[bulldogtragic]

Goal kicking....

What ever can we do to improve it? I know it’s an issue league wide but we’re the worst and have been for some time.

If we could fix it, wouldn't have done it by now? It's not going to happen and we have to be ok with paying membership fees to watch us lose because we can't kick goals from simple shots. So I'm learning to accept it.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I think we are right in this one. Kick straight leave Libba dunks and Bont in the guts

[The bulldog tragician]

Ugh.
The JJ ... whatever that was..
Gardner spoilt his good work by not nailing that goal. A drop punt, surely.
Lloyd should have been able to shepherd that goal through.

Yet, we are making blues, not intense enough at times, the Eagles are off the boil. Just LIFT boys, this is winnable

[Sedat]

Mclean may be due for a spell, getting nothing out of him.
Can't agree. He's done some very good things today.

[DOG GOD]

Geez we can play high class footy then 2 seconds later, utter trash, lazy, low I.Q dribble. Turnovers again killing us. Easy misses costing us again, but what’s new. Those 2 macrae kicks were laughable for a player of his quality, and JJ, well, he needs a one on one with Mundine.

[josie]

Can't agree. He's done some very good things today.

Totally-think Maclean has been one of our best.

[The Underdog]

Ugh.
The JJ ... whatever that was..
Gardner spoilt his good work by not nailing that goal. A drop punt, surely.
Lloyd should have been able to shepherd that goal through.

Yet, we are making blues, not intense enough at times, the Eagles are off the boil. Just LIFT boys, this is winnable

Not sure we even need to lift per se. Just execute better.

[Bulldog4life]

How do you miss from 5 metres out seriously

Nerves.

[The bulldog tragician]

Can't agree. He's done some very good things today.

I thought so too, and his kick that Naughton marked was very good.

[merantau]

I find it so frustrating to see us waste our opportunities. We have been "same same but same" since 2016.
Can someone tackle Shuey- please? Can we all stop trying to take the mark down back? Three of our blokes flew in front of Darling yet he took the mark!!
We should be three goals up. I have no idea how this game is going to end. I really, really want us to win and shut their insufferable supporters up. Come on Dogs!

[The bulldog tragician]

Not sure we even need to lift per se. Just execute better.


Let’s do both :)

[josie]

How can Gowers keep being picked and time after time after time miss easy goals? A most frustrating player.

[Twodogs]

If we could fix it, wouldn't have done it by now? It's not going to happen and we have to be ok with paying membership fees to watch us lose because we can't kick goals from simple shots. So I'm learning to accept it.

No, because we don't practice properly. We can keep practicing the way we do and we wont get any better because we don't practice taking set shots (and I've been pointing this since Rocket was coach so at least a decade) under match conditions. We can practice all we like but if we aren't practicing under match conditions then we are only learning to ingrain the wrong way of kicking at goal.

We have to become really serious about practicing goal kicking. Not just treat it as something we do with the balls that are left lying around after training and having shots from the 50 with nobody on the mark and no pressure at all. Id we keep doing it that way then our goalkicking will continue to get worse not better.


BTW reserves scores today were 4.10 v 5.5. We had 4 more scoring shots and still lost by a point.

[Sedat]

Loving our clean ball movement from D50 to F50 - as good as I've seen from us so far this year.

[Eastdog]

How can Gowers keep being picked and time after time after time miss easy goals? A most frustrating player.

Presented well up there but we just need to be for efficient at kicking at goal.

[Eastdog]

Tough day out there for Zaine.

[comrade]

Predicting a 2nd half horror show.

Hope I can eat my words.

[ledge]

Here comes the train full Speed

[Funke disco]

Predicting a 2nd half horror show.

Hope I can eat my words.



...... i just want us to stay competitive.... but it looks like you are right

[ledge]

Grub me, could be a 10 goal qtr

[Eastdog]

Good play JJ, Lipinski, Daniel to Gowers.

[Eastdog]

Gowers gets it! Needed that one.

[Eastdog]

Cannot stop Darling now

[ledge]

Same old story just go in with a tall forward line put it up and you will beat us everytime.

[comrade]

Cannot stop Darling now

Well, Cordy certainly can't. Way too good.

[ledge]

In fact go in with tall in your forward line and one tall in your backline and we will hit them everytime

[DOG GOD]

Now it will get UGLY

[comrade]

One hand tackle effort by Macrae on Shuey just then. Defensive stuff not Jacko's go at the moment.

[The bulldog tragician]

Is Dale on the ground?

[comrade]

How did Cordy not touch that?

[ledge]

Another GrubGrubGrubGrub up by the review

[The bulldog tragician]

Two inside 50s this quarter.

[Twodogs]

How did Cordy not touch that?

Because Bont did?

[DOG GOD]

West coast now out of first gear is showing how inept we really are in all aspects.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

From good football to pathetic football.

Never change Dogs.

[ledge]

Why can’t we just go one on one ?

[comrade]

Seems like we were pretty satisfied with that first half and the defensive running has gone out the window.

[The bulldog tragician]

I didn’t think we would win. But I am questioning our effort this quarter.

[bornadog]

From good football to pathetic football.

Never change Dogs.

No, we just aren't good enough

[lemmon]

Our inability to defend a high ball in the back 50 is shockingly bad.

[bulldogtragic]

Anyone brave enough to say it won't be a 100+ loss?

[comrade]

Swinging for the fences and bringing Gardner in is looking like a masterstroke from Bevo :rolleyes:

[bornadog]

Can't agree. He's done some very good things today.

7 touches and nothing in the 3rd to date

[Twodogs]

I'm going to say it now that it has advantaged us. That 50 metre rule for a player walking past you is the stupidest rule I have ever seen.

[bornadog]

What idiots WA fans are booing

[comrade]

I'm going to say it now that it has advantaged us. That 50 metre rule for a player walking past you is the stupidest rule I have ever seen.

Yep, agree.

[bornadog]

I'm going to say it now that it has advantaged us. That 50 metre rule for a player walking past you is the stupidest rule I have ever seen.

Really? Think if it was allowed and the man with ball could get tackled ?

[bornadog]

Gaff and Shuey, just dominating us.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Bont has been poor today.

[ledge]

Do we have a backline ?

[bornadog]

That is ridiclous

[Twodogs]

That'll be two weeks for Gowers. We have to make an example of someone and that's never going to happen to the competition darlings unlike our players.

[ledge]

Even when they completely stuff it we let them get it.

[Eastdog]

Do we have a backline ?

Been awful there the last 3 weeks.

[comrade]

Honestly, if it even gets close to our defensive half put it down as a scoring shot.

[Rocket Science]

We've completely stopped after half time. We'd done enough apparently.

Might be time to go the sleeper hold on one of them to stop the run on.

[Twodogs]

Really? Think if it was allowed and the man with ball could get tackled ?

If he plays on and gets caught then so be it.

[G-Mo77]

I haven't been able to watch. How has Gardner gone?

[comrade]

There's another quarter of this :(

[bornadog]

If he plays on and gets caught then so be it.

But you need to give some space to the man with the ball????? That is why there is a free, because the space has been encroached.

[Sedat]

WC 8.4.52 from stoppages. Do.we all still think English has any ruck craft?

[comrade]

I haven't been able to watch. How has Gardner gone?

About as well as expected.

[G-Mo77]

About as well as expected.

Kicked 6 goals then? :D

[comrade]

WC 8.4.52 from stoppages. Do.we all still think English has any ruck craft?

I'm not sure, but I know our mids lack any defensive ability.

[ledge]

10 goal qtr I predicted I’m spot on

[The Bulldogs Bite]

WC 8.4.52 from stoppages. Do.we all still think English has any ruck craft?

I’m with you - he isn’t a ruck. Not a first ruck.

We need a good ruck something chronic.

[Twodogs]

I haven't been able to watch. How has Gardner gone?

Who?

[Ghost Dog]

blow out. Who will keep their head up? Watch closely.

[Bullies]

What is wrong with Macrae this year?

[Sedat]

Allowing the opposition to get to 100 points before 3/4 time in 2019 is as bad as it gets defensively. And our mids are just as culpable as the defenders for this.

[Sedat]

I’m with you - he isn’t a ruck. Not a first ruck.
He just isn't - never was as a junior and certainly isn't at AFL level.

[ledge]

Is McGovern in our colours because we spot him up beautifully.

[Bullies]

Allowing the opposition to get to 100 points before 3/4 time in 2019 is as bad as it gets defensively. And our mids are just as culpable as the defenders for this. Our mids are dreadful. At least they could look like they are trying.

[Rocket Science]

I know we've given up but there's so little movement by our forwards, let alone intelligent movement.

I'm convinced our attacking strategy is an ad hoc mix of hocus pocus, arse and whatever.

[ledge]

All They have to do is put Mc Govern up forward and he will kick 6 in the last.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Our mids are so slow and unaccountable. When they can’t win the ball we look like the worst side in the comp.

Dunkley is our best mid IMO but the likes of Macrae, Bont, Libba and McLean are all painfully slow on the spread. Not sure we can go into 2020 with this group.

[bornadog]

What is wrong with Macrae this year?

Two weeks in a row he has been lack lustre

[comrade]

I'm convinced our attacking strategy is an ad hoc mix of hocus pocus, arse and whatever.

Strategy?

[bulldogtragic]

I'd hand back my match fee and put up an apology on my social media pages.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

When do we not just rotate our kids with the bench. They give us very little in the forward 50.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Our mids have been soundly beaten yet again

[bulldogtragic]

Strategy?

If Bevo wasn't a recent premiership coach, the commentary would be he's lost the playing group.

[ledge]

I'd hand back my match fee and put up an apology on my social media pages.

You could write a book about it.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Daniel and JJ our leading possession getters.
Our mids just not working smart.

[Rocket Science]

We can bang on about inexperience but our list is so full of gaping, structural holes that the rest writes itself.

Sure we can be plucky for a quarter, a half, or occasionally a game, but we're another couple of drafts away from a balanced list and the consistent product that breeds.

[bornadog]

If Bevo wasn't a recent premiership coach, the commentary would be he's lost the playing group.

Really

[hujsh]

I wish I'd watched the Deadwood movie instead

[ledge]

100 point smashing coming up

[Rocket Science]

Our mids have been soundly beaten yet again

Damning when it's the only card in our deck.

[angelopetraglia]

They just move the ball with short kicks without taking a risk and cut us open like a hot knife through butter. Our defending is a non existent. Simple zero pressure.

[Eastdog]

Two weeks in a row he has been lack lustre

Very early in the game he was involved quite a bit but the mids in general today well beaten.

[Sedat]

Our WA supporters are made of stern stuff. Over 30 years of absolute hidings,

[Rocket Science]

Nice kick skipper.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

If we lose to Carlton again, does the pressure finally arrive on Bevo and the coaching group?

[bornadog]

We can bang on about inexperience but our list is so full of gaping, structural holes that the rest writes itself.

Sure we can be plucky for a quarter, a half, or occasionally a game, but we're another couple of drafts away from a balanced list and the consistent product that breeds.

We over rate our players, some of them are not up to it.

When you have guys like Mclean who has had 7 touches, nothing in the third, Dale, Williams, ordinary footballers, and the mids who don't tackle, what do you expect against a team like WC who also have 50 games average more games than us.

[Flamethrower]

Our WA supporters are made of stern stuff. Over 30 years of absolute hidings,

At least we won the only game in Perth that ever counted.

[Sedat]

If we lose to Carlton again, does the pressure finally arrive on Bevo and the coaching group?
Nowhere to hide if Carlton does the double on us. And about time we get some real media heat.

[GVGjr]

He just isn't - never was as a junior and certainly isn't at AFL level.

Have we placed too much faith in him based on a couple of nice attributes? He's been on the receiving end of some beatings this year

He's got a lot to learn and I'm not sure we have the right teachers

[Eastdog]

At least we won the only game in Perth that ever counted.

Yep so right. What a great win that was.

[ratsmac]

17 GrubGrubGrubGruben 6 ffs. Why does every team kick extraordinary good against us!!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

There seems to be one or two at a stoppage, Lipinski is one, who just has no awareness of the situation. He either stands flat-footed watching the contest or else he just rushes in as an unnecessary extra in the contest. Either way his opponent reads the play and when the ball gets out of the area he is totally free.

[Bullies]

Our WA supporters are made of stern stuff. Over 30 years of absolute hidings, The only consolation was 2016.

[Sedat]

That Darling goal is exhibit A in pathetic defensive running by our midfield.

[GVGjr]

We can bang on about inexperience but our list is so full of gaping, structural holes that the rest writes itself.

Sure we can be plucky for a quarter, a half, or occasionally a game, but we're another couple of drafts away from a balanced list and the consistent product that breeds.

The first options many people go with to explain losses are injuries or inexperience but honestly they are just minor factors.

[ledge]

When we win in the middle we have no one to give it to and they just wait for the inherent kick or hand ball to come out.

[bornadog]

Dale can't even kick simple goals

[comrade]

17 GrubGrubGrubGruben 6 ffs. Why does every team kick extraordinary good against us!!

Because we get sliced open and let the opposition have shots from high percentage spots.

[Rocket Science]

There seems to be one or two at a stoppage, Lipinski is one, who just has no awareness of the situation. He either stands flat-footed watching the contest or else he just rushes in as an unnecessary extra in the contest. Either way his opponent reads the play and when the ball gets out of the area he is totally free.

I truly don't see it with Lipinski. Softish, one-paced, does nothing particularly well, sign him up for another couple.

Thank Christ we get a week off after this. I need a bloody spell.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Oh great. Now Naughton has been reported for striking

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Nowhere to hide if Carlton does the double on us. And about time we get some real media heat.

I actually think Carlton are certainties against us, especially if Naughton misses now

[ledge]

Now Naughton reported we are in lower depths than the Mac Cartney years.

[bornadog]

The first options many people go with to explain losses are injuries or inexperience but honestly they are just minor factors.

But they are an issue if you don't have the back up players, and we don't

[Sedat]

Have we placed too much faith in him based on a couple of nice attributes? He's been on the receiving end of some beatings this year

He's got a lot to learn and I'm not sure we have the right teachers
Yep. He's been absolutely belted by his direct opponent too often this season. I have grave concerns that he can't actually ruck at stoppages.

[bornadog]

Yep. He's been absolutely belted by his direct opponent too often this season. I have grave concerns that he can't actually ruck at stoppages.

Hitouts are only 5 difference in this game.

[bornadog]

Skinny Young cannot play on Darling

[Bullies]

Why is Lachie Young playing? He is not ready for AFL

[Rocket Science]

While we're at it replacing 'handball club' with 'haircut club' isn't yielding quite the same dividends.

[ledge]

Jack Darling stands there and we didn’t even compete !
3 of us and not one went up and punched

[Bullies]

Now Naughton reported we are in lower depths than the Mac Cartney years. Needs to change his name to Aaron Ablett so he can get off. Will get a week.

[Rocket Science]

Ha. Shuey beat four of us there.

The boys checked in for the week off a little early.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Hitouts are only 5 difference in this game.

Pathetic. 2 against 1. On our half forward Naughton and i think Gardner could not halve a ground ball with Shuey...

[angelopetraglia]

Where do you go from here? I don’t even know where to begin. I have lost all faith.

[ledge]

This is seriously one of the most pathetic game plans, effort and skill I’ve ever seen since 1973.

[Bullies]

9 goals out of 11 from turnovers

[comrade]

Eagles taking the piss by deliberately reducing their rotations and resting Hurn for the entire quarter.

[ledge]

Interesting post game interview coming up from beverage , I don’t even think the AFL could spin this performance into anything positive. Makes the AFL excuses for the review look brilliant.( we didn’t have footage)

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

9 goals out of 11 from turnovers

As MJP has explained, that is the how most teams are scoring. We're slow to the party in adjusting our game plan accordingly. We play too fast, and seemingly have not read the newsletter that most other clubs have - Don't play risky footy, or you'll get burned on the turnover.

We've had the same amount of shots on goals from turnovers as West Coast.
But we've been pantsed in terms of shots on goal from stoppages.
Our mids are getting reamed.

[Sedat]

Hitouts are only 5 difference in this game.Utterly irrelevant stat. Ask yourself what has been our scoring source from stoppages and how many hitouts to advantage we've gotten from English.

[Bullies]

As MJP has explained, that is the how most teams are scoring. We're slow to the party in adjusting our game plan accordingly. We play too fast, and seemingly have not read the newsletter that most other clubs have - Don't play risky footy, or you'll get burned on the turnover. A lot of our turnovers aren't from fast football it is from ordinary skills and a lot of it with no pressure.

[Eastdog]

Well done Ryan! Good first AFL goal.

[Rocket Science]

Eagles taking the piss by deliberately reducing their rotations and resting Hurn for the entire quarter.

Why wouldn't you?

If we're not the easiest side to play against show me who is.

Even when we're getting it on our terms opposing sides can comfort themselves with the knowledge we won't actually make hay.

It's a bottom four side against the reigning premiers, away no less, so in a vacuum the result's hardly shocking, but I hope this is the one that genuinely turns the heat up on the way we're being list managed and coached. It's long overdue purely because the rest of the comp reflexively expects us to be shit.

Oh you pinched a flag? Well done. You can probably relax for another sixty years.

[comrade]

It's been stoppages where we've been pummelled today, not turnovers. Our midfield group has been putrid for most of the year, and today has been the worst of the lot.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

A lot of our turnovers aren't from fast football it is from ordinary skills and a lot of it with no pressure.

I'm not sure about that. I think those unforced one's stand out more, because they are so cringeworthy. But as I write we just turned one over from Macrae just running and blindly kicking forward without much thought.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

It's been stoppages where we've been pummelled today, not turnovers. Our midfield group has been putrid for most of the year, and today has been the worst of the lot.

Yep. Absolutely, as clear as day, our stoppage work has been dumb

[Twodogs]

Have we placed too much faith in him based on a couple of nice attributes? He's been on the receiving end of some beatings this year

He's got a lot to learn and I'm not sure we have the right teachers

I hate to start by making excuses but he's just a kid. Are we are expecting too much of him in his early 20s to be dominating or even breaking even with experienced AFL ruckmen? Give him the benefits of a couple of more preseasons and I think he will be one of the best players in the comp.



While we're at it replacing 'handball club' with 'haircut club' isn't yielding quite the same dividends.

'Tattoo club' isn't going so well either...


Ha. Shuey beat four of us there.

The boys checked in for the week off a little early.

They are interstate. Who wouldn't go into holiday mode?

[ledge]

We have copped three smashing this year and lost to the three bottom clubs, we aren’t going anywhere unless we make changes higher than the list.

[angelopetraglia]

We conceded 21 goals from only 52 inside 50s!

We had 20 more touches. Nearly broke even on clearances. Turnovers almost identical too.

Is it endeavour? Skill level? Or a bad game plan?

[Sedat]

It's been stoppages where we've been pummelled today, not turnovers. Our midfield group has been putrid for most of the year, and today has been the worst of the lot.
Yep. In the first half when we were dominating general play, our stoppage work killed us when we should have been 3-4 goals up. Then after half time WC re-structured and picked us off on the turnover.

Whoever is our ruck and stoppage coach is doing a disgraceful job.

[bornadog]

We conceded 21 goals from only 52 inside 50s!

We had 20 more touches. Nearly broke even on clearances. Turnovers almost identical too.

Is it endeavour? Skill level? Or a bad game plan?

Or too many free loaders in the team that think they can't be dropped.

[Bullies]

I'm not sure about that. I think those unforced one's stand out more, because they are so cringeworthy. But as I write we just turned one over from Macrae just running and blindly kicking forward without much thought. We try to be pretty and not play the percentages. Looks good when it comes off but our skill level is not Hawthorn like (during the three peat) and we can't pinpoint the ball. IN fact our skill level is atrocious. If we don't turnover they don't don't score like they do.

[angelopetraglia]

It's been stoppages where we've been pummelled today, not turnovers. Our midfield group has been putrid for most of the year, and today has been the worst of the lot.

We won the stoppage clearances 18-17

[Rocket Science]

Re: English ... the kid doesn't deserve nearly as much heat as the coaches who decided a junior midfielder who experienced a growth spurt should be our #1 ruck option with all of ten games under his belt.

Then again, who do we have that English could've been a part-time understudy with?

Oh snap, list management strikes again.

[Eastdog]

:( :(

Good solid 1st half
S**t 2nd half

The story of the game.

[Bullies]

We conceded 21 goals from only 52 inside 50s!

We had 20 more touches. Nearly broke even on clearances. Turnovers almost identical too.

Is it endeavour? Skill level? Or a bad game plan?

this is exactly why stats are over rated. You can read into them what you want but at the end we were smashed all over the ground.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

We won the stoppage clearances 18-17

Yep but that does not account for what happened post that. We faffed it.. They had 7 or 8 shots on goal more than us post that. They had more meaningful outcomes for their stoppage wins. That tends to mean we probably handballed it 30 cms post stoppage win.. and then turned it over. Whereas when they won the stoppage it was clear, and unopposed meaning they got a meaningful look at the scoreboard from the ensuing play.

[comrade]

We won the stoppage clearances 18-17

How many goals did it lead to for us and them?

[angelopetraglia]

How many goals did it lead to for us and them?

So it is not the ability to win the clearance. It's how clean the clearance win is or how we set up either in front of or behind the ball. They play a brutal efficient style of football. We play the opposite.

[Eastdog]

Inside 50 count

52-46 in their favour

Eagles 32 shots from 52 inside 50s
Bulldogs 24 shots from 46 inside 50s

[comrade]

So it is not the ability to win the clearance. It's how clean the clearance win is or how we set up either in front of or behind the ball. They play a brutal efficient style of football. We play the opposite.

Yeah. A scrambled handball out of a stoppage with an opponent on your hammer is a much different clearance than hitting it with pace, taking it cleanly and leaving your opponent flat footed. It helps the opposition when our mids aren't interested in defending the opposition or chasing them down when they do take possession.

[bornadog]

It helps the opposition when our mids aren't interested in defending the opposition or chasing them down when they do take possession.

WE have a midfield with a lack of pace - that is an issue.

[Twodogs]

We conceded 21 goals from only 52 inside 50s!

We had 20 more touches. Nearly broke even on clearances. Turnovers almost identical too.

Is it endeavour? Skill level? Or a bad game plan?

Skill level. It must burn when you walk off the ground knowing that you've given it a red hot go but when you should be 4-5 goals in front you are actually behind and you know that they are going to come hard after the break.


We try to be pretty and not play the percentages. Looks good when it comes off but our skill level is not Hawthorn like (during the three peat) and we can't pinpoint the ball. IN fact our skill level is atrocious. If we don't turnover they don't don't score like they do.

Shit kicking costs us again.


So it is not the ability to win the clearance. It's how clean the clearance win is or how we set up either in front of or behind the ball. They play a brutal efficient style of football. We play the opposite.

We play like millionaires. Which to be fair most of the blokes on our list would probably be by now but it's frustrating watching them play like it.

[Bullies]

WE have a midfield with a lack of pace - that is an issue. How does Gowers play 25% of the game in the middle. Bevo has serious issues with his love child. He is not even VFL standard.

[bulldogtragic]

WE have a midfield with a lack of pace - that is an issue.

And we can't land a faster player like Shiel, Wingard, Cognilio, Impey etc. because they've seen us play footy like tonight over the passed three years and don't want to join us. While burst pace players like Stringer & Dahl are gone. We can't keep recruiting kids in big numbers, but maybe we don't have an option anymore.

[bornadog]

How does Gowers play 25% of the game in the middle. Bevo has serious issues with his love child. He is not even VFL standard.

If others are not performing, he throws him in - that is all I can think of.

[angelopetraglia]

How does Gowers play 25% of the game in the middle. Bevo has serious issues with his love child. He is not even VFL standard.

I thought Billy went OK today up forward. He is definitely not a mid. However he brings something different to our one dimensional forward line.

[GVGjr]

But they are an issue if you don't have the back up players, and we don't

It's about effort and development not injuries and inexperience and for the life of me I don't know why they are the first excuses offered up other than that they're convenient. Look at our worst results this season and it's more about how we played and the effort we displayed than it is about how many games of experience we assembled on the day

If the playing list isn't good enough then we need to cut into the list deeper, if the list isn't balanced correctly then use the trade period to address it but with doubts on the roles Boyd and Picken could play before the season and further doubts on Dickson and perhaps Morris did we really do enough to brace ourselves?

My argument is that we should have the players to back up a couple of injuries and poor form but the development of the playing list is the issue where we are lagging well behind

[Sedat]

Re: English ... the kid doesn't deserve nearly as much heat as the coaches who decided a junior midfielder who experienced a growth spurt should be our #1 ruck option with all of ten games under his belt.
It actually does English a disservice to be repeatedly smashed by his opposing ruckman spending massive minutes as #1 ruck. And it is the cowards response by our coaching staff to say he is "learning every game and will be better for the experience"

[bornadog]

My argument is that we should have the players to back up a couple of injuries and poor form but the development of the playing list is the issue where we are lagging well behind

or the players we thought were good are not.

I have serious doubts about Webb, Dale, Hayes, Gowers, Mclean, Cordy's current role, Wood's role, Trengove's role, Roberts is not good enough to come back in. We have a bunch of talls that are all young, yes young because taller players take longer to mature. We also have 6 players that haven't had a game yet.

I think we are still in development mode, and it will take some time to get up there again.

[GVGjr]

I hate to start by making excuses but he's just a kid. Are we are expecting too much of him in his early 20s to be dominating or even breaking even with experienced AFL ruckmen? Give him the benefits of a couple of more preseasons and I think he will be one of the best players in the comp.


He needs support and unfortunately we aren't flush with options because we are determined to manufacture short term support for the ruck position than having someone who can provide a genuine chop out

[GVGjr]

or the players we thought were good are not.

So we are cutting into the playing list deeply enough? You've generally argued against that. I'd also question the player development

The list was good enough to win the flag but has performed since. There is something in that if you choose to look at it

[bornadog]

It actually does English a disservice to be repeatedly smashed by his opposing ruckman spending massive minutes as #1 ruck. And it is the cowards response by our coaching staff to say he is "learning every game and will be better for the experience"

All well and good, but what is the solution right now?

[Twodogs]

He needs support and unfortunately we aren't flush with options because we are determined to manufacture short term support for the ruck position than having someone who can provide a genuine chop out

Yep, agree strongly. We cant continue to just go through the rounds of the kitchen with ruckmen the coach wont play or ruckmen that aren't up to the job or ruckmen who are too young to influence the game after quarter time. Here's an idea, let's find out WTF Bevo wants from a ruckman and then try and recruit one. I'd like to think that we have tried that but with some of the other things that are going on onfield and around the club I have to ask if we have actually done that.

What I do know is that what we are doing is not a long term solution.

[jeemak]

Two really disappointing halves for two different reasons.

Our execution forward in the first half was completely disgusting and all involved should feel completely ashamed of themselves. It simply isn't good enough to continually waste opportunities and we need to identify which of our players waste opportunities, and cannot contribute in other areas, and move them on if they can't improve quickly.

The second half was a completely arrogant and poorly lead effort from our players between the arcs, starting in the midfield. I have a complete lack of faith for the likes of Bontempelli, Macrae, Hunter and Liberatore to lead the way and show some on-ground ability to stem the tide when it turns. Sure they can each do a bit for their own individual performances, but it is becoming really evident that they are not team focused or have the ability to work together to make the team work harder in their area when the chips are down. Until we fix our structural deficiencies we will need to rely on a team effort to remain in games and it starts with these guys and they are lacking.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

We conceded 21 goals from only 52 inside 50s!

We had 20 more touches. Nearly broke even on clearances. Turnovers almost identical too.

Is it endeavour? Skill level? Or a bad game plan?
We are talking about playing against a potential Premiership team playing against a bottom 4 team in the WB. They have a powerful goal to goal line and superior mid field that uses the ball far better. Darling and Kennedy are clearly better key forwards as is McGovern and Schofield down back. The superior skill of Gaff Shuey and Yeo in the mid field ensured a comfortable win. Our defence and attack simply isn’t good enough. The opposition has averaged 20 goals against us in the past three games. Our attack ranks 18th in the competition. At the end of the day we simply do not have the talent.

[bornadog]

So we are cutting into the playing list deeply enough? You've generally argued against that. I'd also question the player development

The list was good enough to win the flag but has performed since. There is something in that if you choose to look at it

We have been cutting on average about 10 players per year, how much can one cut?

How many players left from the premiership list?

[Twodogs]

Two really disappointing halves for two different reasons.

Our execution forward in the first half was completely disgusting and all involved should feel completely ashamed of themselves. It simply isn't good enough to continually waste opportunities and we need to identify which of our players waste opportunities, and cannot contribute in other areas, and move them on if they can't improve quickly.

The second half was a completely arrogant and poorly lead effort from our players between the arcs, starting in the midfield. I have a complete lack of faith for the likes of Bontempelli, Macrae, Hunter and Liberatore to lead the way and show some on-ground ability to stem the tide when it turns. Sure they can each do a bit for their own individual performances, but it is becoming really evident that they are not team focused or have the ability to work together to make the team work harder in their area when the chips are down. Until we fix our structural deficiencies we will need to rely on a team effort to remain in games and it starts with these guys and they are lacking.

We need a Michael Voss type onfield. Someone who can focus certain players attention to the job at hand. The problem is that they don't come along very often unfortunately. Even a Scott twin (or two) would be handy. The legend goes that if a player at Brisbane didn't go hard enough at a loose ball during a match then that player got to spend 15 minutes locked in a car with the Scott twins after the next training session while they explained what was expected.