Bailey Dale in 2020

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Dale is an interesting player.

He showed glimpses in 2017 but didn't carry on with it the following year with injury and form both playing a part. Halfway through 2019 and it wasn't unusual to see his name touted as a possible delisting.

He worked his way back into the senior side Round 10 and had a great end to the year, finishing with 21.11. Unfortunately like many he struggled in the EF but halfway through this coming season he will turn 24 and can no longer be considered a kid.

He's got height, forward craft, decent ball handling skills, an ability to jump and very good footskills.

How good can he be?
What should our expectation of him be in 2020?

He's only played over 10 games in a season once (2017) so it's important he has a good preseason and can string early performances together.

Can he be our version of Jack Gunston?

Big year ahead for Dale.

[GVGjr]

He's one of the harder players to judge for this season. A player who can impact the score in a hurry but can also go quiet for a while

Given his encouraging season in 2019 I hope he is prepared to work even harder this year and establish himself as a genuine forward threat.

He will get some more attention by opposition sides but they might also have trouble covering all of our forward threats

He needs to kick about 35 goals this year to really make his mark

[ledge]

Could really light it up this year with our forward line . I see him as the half forward/ wing who can drift in and take those front of the pack marks, also proved he can play in a forward pocket and lead out, can be elusive at times and once on the lead is hard to catch and punch the ball away from, on his day I think he could tear a team apart in a quarter.
I know he doesn’t have the Stringer look but he can do that little bit of magic at times.

I think we all rate him he just needs to find his Niche with the game plan and players.

[Go_Dogs]

He's now a senior player and accordingly should be judged on his performance in the side over 2020. I expect him to play 20+ games on the basis injuries don't derail him and expect him to be a solid contributor.

He has skills we need, kicks goals and is still under the radar enough to catch sides off guard. 30+ goals would be a great result.

[bornadog]

I want consistency and effort for every game he plays and agree he should be able to kick at least 35 goals.

I was one that thought he should be delisted, but he showed glimpses again in the second half, but the jury is still out. Hopefully if he stays injury free he will be handful in the forward pocket.

[The Underdog]

I think he's showed that he clearly has the ability. The most important thing for Bailey is to get an injury free run. If he can get a decent run at it from that perspective then he's best 22. He certainly gave our forward line a different look in the second half of the season, which not coincidentally was when we finally started looking dangerous in the forward half. Plus he kicks straight.....

[GVGjr]

Will adding a 3rd tall into the forward line potentially limit Dale? He's good at leading into the space and holding his marks but the bigger blokes might be more of a target for the mids

[The Underdog]

Will adding a 3rd tall into the forward line potentially limit Dale? He's good at leading into the space and holding his marks but the bigger blokes might be more of a target for the mids

I think the issue is the potential crossover between Dale, Lloyd and Schache, all of whom despite size differences are similar style lead up forwards who are ok with pressure acts at best. Dale has a few more tricks, Schache has some size, but doesn't really use it. Lloyd is a one trick player at the moment (still 30-40 goal small forward is a pretty good trick). Dickson is along these lines but behind the others at this point, I'd imagine.
It's going to be interesting to see how the mix works. It could either be super dangerous or become a massive cluster*!*!*!*!. Or somebody is going to miss out.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I feel like it wouldn't surprise to see Dale really kick in and have a 35-40 goal year or revert back to playing a couple good ones, getting injured and playing 8-12 games.

He has the potential to be one of the better mid forwards in the game and I think the addition of Bruce only helps Dale, who can crumb/get to the right spot to impact the play.

I'd like to see Dale use his pace to be much more aggressive on the defensive side of his game as this might help elevate him above Schache, Lloyd, Dickson, Greene etc.

[Happy Days]

So Dale showed a lot last year when he was out of contract, after not having shown anything since the last time he was out of contract. That’s an absolutely wild coincidence!

He’s clearly got ability but I don’t trust him.

[Rocket Science]

So Dale showed a lot last year when he was out of contract, after not having shown anything since the last time he was out of contract. That’s an absolutely wild coincidence!

He’s clearly got ability but I don’t trust him.

This to the nth degree. To my mind he's just as likely to be playing VFL by the mid way point as is he is to be one of our top three goalkickers.

He absolutely can have an impact, he's shown it. But will he ...

[GVGjr]

So Dale showed a lot last year when he was out of contract, after not having shown anything since the last time he was out of contract. That’s an absolutely wild coincidence!

He’s clearly got ability but I don’t trust him.

I get the caution. He's showed ability at a time when it was critical for him to do so given his contract situation. If he loses even just a bit of the drive he had last year he will struggle to hold his spot.
I think most of us agree he has the ability and it's really up to him to go on with it

[ratsmac]

First of all he needs to learn to grow some facial hair. He still looks like he's 12 years old :D

I have never been a huge fan of Dale and I think it was because of his inconsistency. But the second half of last year was like hello, what's going on here. I was excited of what he was doing and also confident when he got the ball. He had some sort of a purple patch.

The challenge for him is to reproduce that form and cement himself in our forward line. He has shown he has what it takes, now show us he can do it on a regular basis.

It will be interesting to see how our plethora of forwards will gel together this next season. For me Dale is an important part of our forward line that gives us a bit of X factor or flair for a better word. Naughton is probably our X factor.

[AshMac]

Reminds me a little of spindleshanks - able to lift around contact extension time and that’s all to date.

For me he competes w Schache at his current form despite the height difference, great kick, decent lead up mark but falls away under any pressure. Limited in how many of them we can have. Agree w other comments - he needs to add another string to his bow in 2020 if he cements himself as an outright best 22

[westbulldog]

He has a lot of natural talent but needs to become consistent and add some hardness to his game.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Reminds me a little of spindleshanks - able to lift around contact extension time and that’s all to date.

For me he competes w Schache at his current form despite the height difference, great kick, decent lead up mark but falls away under any pressure. Limited in how many of them we can have. Agree w other comments - he needs to add another string to his bow in 2020 if he cements himself as an outright best 22

Probably a few on our list who might be more H&A players at this stage - Dale probably at the top of this category. Agree he needs to add a hardened edge to cope with pressure.

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

The Kid

[Dry Rot]

Needs to massively improve his defensive pressure.

[Eastdog]

He was really good in 2017 Bailey. Hopefully he can recapture that type of form for us going forward. We would certainly worry a lot of opposition defences if all our forwards in 2020 consistently are firing on all cylinders.

[bornadog]

Dale attacking 2020 with confidence
(https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/566008/dale-attacking-2020-with-confidence)

Bailey Dale's finish to the 2019 season have given him confidence he can deliver consistently at AFL level.

https://resources.westernbulldogs.com.au/photo-resources/2020/02/19/aa368460-1f49-4aa1-97ec-f48fd3dbf871/HERO_200220BaileyDale.jpg?width=952&height=592

Confidence can make a huge impact in footy.

And for Western Bulldogs forward Bailey Dale, the last six weeks of the 2019 home-and-away season have given him confidence he can deliver consistently at AFL level.

The 23-year-old slotted 20 goals in that period as the Bulldogs stormed home to snatch a finals berth.

Dale inked a new three-year deal in September and a big pre-season has him primed for 2020.

“If you’re feeling confident and feeling good about yourself and your team, it comes out on game day.

“To have that little six-week patch last year has given me a really good block to start this year… I feel like I’m ready to go for the Marsh Series coming up and hopefully I can push for round one selection.”

He hopes he can echo his form line from the back of 2019 through this year, and is looking to build on his forward game.
“There’s obviously a bit of a blueprint there for me going into this season,” Dale said.

“I’ve been really trying to work on my craft as a forward this pre-season, getting into dangerous spots to have as many opportunities on goal as possible.

“I’m really trying to work on my pressure as well, to keep the ball in my area and create more opportunities for myself and the team.”
A dangerous forward mix is building at the Bulldogs, with Josh Bruce joining Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache as the key pillars, surrounded by the likes of Dale, 2019 leading goal-kicker Sam Lloyd, and premiership duo Tory Dickson and Toby McLean.

“Having Brucey, Naughty and Schache down there, it’s a new look for us,” Dale said.

“We’ve got so many different avenues to goal this year, which we probably haven’t had in previous years.
“To have the three talls down there… for guys like myself, Lloydy, Toby, Dicko, for us to crumb off them and for them to create a contest and bring it to ground, there’s more opportunity for us.

“And if we can lock it in there, I’m sure those guys will kick goals.”

[GVGjr]

Dale was a terrific success story from last year and I hope he goes on with it this year. He won't fly under the radar this year and will be well scouted by the opposition. This will be a great test for him

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Dale was a terrific success story from last year and I hope he goes on with it this year. He won't fly under the radar this year and will be well scouted by the opposition. This will be a great test for him

Sure will be but he's fit enough, strong enough and smart enough to be able to impact games even with attention.

Needs to stay fit and Indeed him being a good foil for our talls.

[AshMac]

Dale was a terrific success story from last year and I hope he goes on with it this year. He won't fly under the radar this year and will be well scouted by the opposition. This will be a great test for him

Agree. I was surprised we went 3 over 2 years but in a competitive market it’s what was likely required, plus it’s a sign of the clubs faith in him and perhaps that’s all he needs.

He has everything possible to succeed now, the rest is up to him.

[Go_Dogs]

Just bobs up and does enough. Will be dangerous again this year based on last night but perhaps won't be required to score as many goals as was asked of him late last year given additional options we have.

Application to defence and being a 'forward interceptor' will add more strings to his bow.

[GVGjr]

Just bobs up and does enough. Will be dangerous again this year based on last night but perhaps won't be required to score as many goals as was asked of him late last year given additional options we have.

Application to defence and being a 'forward interceptor' will add more strings to his bow.

I think that is an accurate assessment, there will be some modification to they way he plays within a different looking forward line.
He can still be a very valuable contributor for us.

[bornadog]

Needs to go harder at the ball, a couple of times he was very wary of getting crunched and took shorter steps. If he can be more consistent and not disappear for a quarter or two, he will be a handful roaming in the F50

[Stevo]

Needs to go harder at the ball, a couple of times he was very wary of getting crunched and took shorter steps. If he can be more consistent and not disappear for a quarter or two, he will be a handful roaming in the F50

I get the feeling you're being overly critical of Dale.
You've essentially accused him of being soft or worse. I definitely need to have another look at his efforts last night because I didn't notice it live at the game.

[GVGjr]

Needs to go harder at the ball, a couple of times he was very wary of getting crunched and took shorter steps. If he can be more consistent and not disappear for a quarter or two, he will be a handful roaming in the F50

BAD, can you recall what quarter(s) this was? I've watched 3 of the quarters and I haven't seen anything yet

[bornadog]

BAD, can you recall what quarter(s) this was? I've watched 3 of the quarters and I haven't seen anything yet

Can't recall the exact quarter, but I do know he doesn't like body on body.

[GVGjr]

Can't recall the exact quarter, but I do know he doesn't like body on body.

Do you recall where the play was? forward, mid or in the back line? I've re-watched all of the game now and I can't see what you are referring to

[ledge]

Do you recall where the play was? forward, mid or in the back line? I've re-watched all of the game now and I can't see what you are referring to

Practice match either way I rather he was a bit wary than risking injury.

[GVGjr]

Practice match either way I rather he was a bit wary than risking injury.

BAD appears to believe it is an issue with him though not smart play or common sense.
I was at the game and have watched the replay and can't find it.

[ratsmac]

Self preservation can be under estimated these days. Not everyone is like Liam Picken (look where that got Liam in the end). Everyone at senior level has to go when it's their turn but there's no use battering your body just for battering your body's sake for no real gain. We all love the tough stuff (I know I do) but it isn't everyone especially the lighter body types imo.

[GVGjr]

Self preservation can be under estimated these days. Not everyone is like Liam Picken (look where that got Liam in the end). Everyone at senior level has to go when it's their turn but there's no use battering your body just for battering your body's sake for no real gain. We all love the tough stuff (I know I do) but it isn't everyone especially the lighter body types imo.

I certainly think in the days of everyone being aware of the seriousness of concussion etc commonsense needs to be applied and in some assistance's avoiding trouble is the right thing to do. Without a more specific example being provided lets give the player the benefit of the doubt.