Scratch match wrap | Dogs v Lions

[Axe Man]

Scratch match wrap | Dogs v Lions (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/792617?fbclid=IwAR14D7FlXbSXoiMYe5iSuaH7PiND2tbPkpZWd6TrQBrm _1UMtFIJkLH8jr0)

https://i.postimg.cc/x8jkJv3F/HERO-100820-Gia.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

A determined second-half fightback almost saw the Western Bulldogs reel in the Brisbane Lions in a Saturday afternoon scratch match.

The Lions led all day – at one stage by 26 points early in the third term – before the Bulldogs finished strongly to fall just one point short.

Rhylee West impressed around the contest, as did big man Jordon Sweet, while forwards Ben Cavarra and Tory Dickson both kicked three goals.

“In terms of the actual contest, we got a nice even game – a few stoppages, some finishing and some good moments from most of our players,” Bulldogs’ development manager, Jamie Maddocks, said.

“We know that Brisbane’s got great depth and their NEAFL team went through last year undefeated.

“It was good for ‘Gia’ to bring that up at the last break just to say, ‘let’s give this a nudge and see what happens’.

“We fell just short, but the effort and adventure was there for us to do it, which was pleasing.”

In a fluctuating final term, the Bulldogs twice found themselves within a kick.

Goals to Billy Gowers and Cavarra brought the Bulldogs within one point, before the Lions responded with two goals of their own.

A courageous back-with-the-flight mark from Buku Khamis helped inspire a frantic finish, with Cavarra and Dickson each kicking their third goals, as the Bulldogs controlled the final minutes but couldn’t find the match-winning major.

Jamie Maddocks on the midfield…

“Rhylee West was good, he had an impressive second half. He had some really good moments helping us to win the ball to the outside. Jordon Sweet gave our mids first use around the contest, which was nice.

We needed Sweety to play that big man’s game – he helps players like Rhylee West and Billy Gowers get their hands on the ball. He was dominant and around the ground was there to compete which was good to see.”

On the forwards…

“It was good to see Ben Cavarra finish in front of goal and Tory Dickson hit the scoreboard as well.

Ben has had his opportunities the past few weeks but hasn’t quite nailed the shots. He’s been working really hard on it and it was great to see him get reward for effort and finish some tight ones. It was nice to see Dicko get out into some really good spots and do what he does with his finishing.”

On the backs…

“Buku Khamis has been working really hard and has taken so many strides in his game, both defensively and offensively. He’s running up the ground now and trying to help out on offense. It was a great mark from him and to see him go forward and have no hesitation shows where he’s at with his game, he’s high on confidence.

All our key backs, the way they communicated and helped to keep the ball in our half was really impressive.”

WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.2 3.6 7.11 11.13 (79)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.0 7.1 10.5 12.8 (80)

Goals: Cavarra 3, Dickson 3, Weightman, Sweet, La. Young, R. Smith, Gowers

[comrade]

Hope Cavarra gets a decent run at it, can't understand how he's only been given one crack.

[Happy Days]

That’s awesome to hear about Buku.

[1eyedog]

Sweet dominating around the ground and giving our mids first use.

[GVGjr]

This is what we should be hearing about our senior back men

On the backs…

“Buku Khamis has been working really hard and has taken so many strides in his game, both defensively and offensively. He’s running up the ground now and trying to help out on offense. It was a great mark from him and to see him go forward and have no hesitation shows where he’s at with his game, he’s high on confidence.

In most instances it's not just a case of nullifying an opponent

[comrade]

Sweet dominating around the ground and giving our mids first use.

Yep, time to give him a go. English is 100% cooked at the moment.

[Axe Man]

Sweet dominating around the ground and giving our mids first use.

To be fair Brisbane have no fit ruckmen left so he probably wasn't up against much. Good to that he did well around the ground though which is obviously his biggest drawback as compared to English.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Wonder if we'll give Buku a shot at AFL level?

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Wonder if we'll give Buku a shot at AFL level?

Who does he come in for? Gardner? Wood? He could play the Crozier role but he's too small to play on the bigs.

[Bulldog Joe]

Wonder if we'll give Buku a shot at AFL level?

The wrap has a Bevo "lets give him a game" vibe about it.

Unfortunately there is no independent view of how they are actually going.

Looks like Dickson might be ready to go and West could come in as well.

[Remi Moses]

Got a feeling Buku might get a look
It’s so difficult to pick a side I’d think

[GVGjr]

The wrap has a Bevo "lets give him a game" vibe about it.

Unfortunately there is no independent view of how they are actually going.

Looks like Dickson might be ready to go and West could come in as well.

At least if we play Khamis it will provide a chance to say 'how young and inexperienced we are'

There was an email to Whateley this morning asking the question of how much longer can the Bulldogs hide behind the young and inexperienced excuses. Whateley read it a couple of times

[azabob]

At least if we play Khamis it will provide a chance to say 'how young and inexperienced we are'

There was an email to Whateley this morning asking the question of how much longer can the Bulldogs hide behind the young and inexperienced excuses. Whateley read it a couple of times

Whateley would have read that with glee. He has mentioned a couple of times over the past 1-2 months the bulldogs are young by choice.

Kane Cornes also gave us a serve about the gap between our best and worst and our poor win / loss record since 2017.

I hope the heat is continued to be applied in the media.

[Hotdog60]

M.Lloyd said we had a soft underbelly and we turn our toes up when the going gets tough.

[bornadog]

I hope the heat is continued to be applied in the media.

Why?

[bornadog]

There was an email to Whateley this morning asking the question of how much longer can the Bulldogs hide behind the young and inexperienced excuses. Whateley read it a couple of times

What rubbish by Whateley to read that out. I don't see anyone hiding behind inexperience excuses, certainly not this year.

Currently our team is fairly well balanced with age now, but I am worried about the second tier ie 50 to 100 and their further development.

[azabob]

Why?

Because since October 2nd 2016 our club has gone backwards.
We have lost more games than we have won.
It is likely we will miss the finals once again.

Questions need to be asked and answered.

[bornadog]

Because since October 2nd 2016 our club has gone backwards.
We have lost more games than we have won.
It is likely we will miss the finals once again.

Questions need to be asked and answered.

BY the media, no thanks, they are an absolute rabble. For any reviews, they must be done internally and no media.

[The Doctor]

M.Lloyd said we had a soft underbelly and we turn our toes up when the going gets tough.

he's right

[bulldogsthru&thru]

BY the media, no thanks, they are an absolute rabble. For any reviews, they must be done internally and no media.

Media brings the heat on the club.
Members watch and read media material. Members will the put pressure on the club (if it isn’t already via WOOF ;) )

As a small club we get away with a lot more than the bigger clubs. It works the other way around too but at the moment we need the blowtorch. If we were Collingwood the media would have lynched us and Bevo by now.

[FrediKanoute]

Hope Cavarra gets a decent run at it, can't understand how he's only been given one crack.

I have only seen him in the Collingwood game and being blunt I don't think he has the necessary tool etc to be the effective small forward. Is he better than Wallis? Is he better than Lloyd? where is Cavarra's point of difference that makes him a player that we can bring in. He's not fast. He is not a great mark relative to his size. Are his defensive skills good enough to compensate for all of this?

To me if you look at who played the small forward role in 2016 it was Clay Smith and Picko - is Cavarra in their league?

[comrade]

I have only seen him in the Collingwood game and being blunt I don't think he has the necessary tool etc to be the effective small forward. Is he better than Wallis? Is he better than Lloyd? where is Cavarra's point of difference that makes him a player that we can bring in. He's not fast. He is not a great mark relative to his size. Are his defensive skills good enough to compensate for all of this?

To me if you look at who played the small forward role in 2016 it was Clay Smith and Picko - is Cavarra in their league?

He's one of the fastest guys on the list.

Not sure you can take anything from a game where we were completely belted all night with the ball rarely going forward.

[bornadog]

Media brings the heat on the club.

You have to be kidding, FMD I don't want to have anything to do with the media, they are poisonous.

[GVGjr]

What rubbish by Whateley to read that out. I don't see anyone hiding behind inexperience excuses, certainly not this year.

Currently our team is fairly well balanced with age now, but I am worried about the second tier ie 50 to 100 and their further development.

Part of his job on SEN is to engage the supporters and he read that contribution out early in the show. I think his belief is that we are there by choice. He wasn't damning about it but it does raise a bit of a question about where we are heading

Why are you so critical of it? It's just a question or observation

[bornadog]

Part of his job on SEN is to engage the supporters and he read that contribution out early in the show. I think his belief is that we are there by choice. He wasn't damning about it but it does raise a bit of a question about where we are heading

Why are you so critical of it? It's just a question or observation

Because it doesn't address anything. If he wanted to be critical, look at the players and the deficiencies and comment on that. Or the performance of say X player. Or maybe if he wants to talk about the young players, then discuss how has this happened, like we have on WOOF.

It's his show I guess and I just think it adds no value.

[GVGjr]

Wonder if we'll give Buku a shot at AFL level?


I would have thought both Young's would have had better claims for a spot and I wonder what Khamis might have done better than them?

It will be a huge story if happens.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

You have to be kidding, FMD I don't want to have anything to do with the media, they are poisonous.

Well it is the media’s job to represent the view of the public, publicly to those in power. Put them under the microscope so that they don’t abuse positions of power. Granted they do a poor job of it these days (lets not go there) but the majority of commentary of bulldogs supporters here and elsewhere is one of frustration with our stagnation. The club needs to feel that heat.

We could be 15th in a couple of weeks. 2016 aside that is not good enough.

[azabob]

What rubbish by Whateley to read that out. I don't see anyone hiding behind inexperience excuses, certainly not this year.

Currently our team is fairly well balanced with age now, but I am worried about the second tier ie 50 to 100 and their further development.

In Beveridge press conference after the Brisbane game he said we were immature. He has made numerous references to our youth.

[bornadog]

In Beveridge press conference after the Brisbane game he said we were immature. He has made numerous references to our youth.

Do you think we are immature?

[Ozza]

Of course we have been young by choice and continue to hide behind it. It is the most obvious obseravtion about the side and is backed by facts. Sure we've had some injuries, but when push comes to shove, we'd rather pick players with less than 5 games experience then pick our depth players WITH experience or mature bodies.

[bornadog]

Of course we have been young by choice and continue to hide behind it. It is the most obvious obseravtion about the side and is backed by facts. Sure we've had some injuries, but when push comes to shove, we'd rather pick players with less than 5 games experience then pick our depth players WITH experience or mature bodies.

Who are these players you talk about? What facts do you talk about?

List of players with more than 100 games:



8
Trengove, Jackson (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--jackson-trengove)
186
29yr 9mth
2 Nov 1990
197cm
97kg
Calder Cannons
Defender


1
Suckling, Matthew (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--matthew-suckling)
177
32yr
25 Jul 1988
187cm
85kg
Wagga Tigers
Defender


10
Wood, Easton (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--easton-wood)
168
30yr 11mth
4 Sep 1989
187cm
86kg
Camperdown
Defender


11
Macrae, Jackson (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--jackson-macrae)
152
26yr
3 Aug 1994
191cm
85kg
Oakleigh Chargers
Midfield


3
Wallis, Mitchell (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--mitchell-wallis)
144
27yr 9mth
24 Oct 1992
186cm
85kg
Calder Cannons
Midfield
Forward


21
Liberatore, Thomas (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--thomas-liberatore)
141
28yr 2mth
16 May 1992
183cm
83kg
Calder Cannons
Midfield


4
Bontempelli, Marcus (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--marcus-bontempelli)
138
24yr 8mth
24 Nov 1995
193cm
93kg
Northern Knights
Midfield


39
Johannisen, Jason (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--jason-johannisen)
137
27yr 9mth
8 Nov 1992
180cm
82kg
East Fremantle
Defender


15
Duryea, Taylor (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--taylor-duryea)
132
29yr 3mth
24 Apr 1991
179cm
80kg
Murray Bushrangers
Defender


7
Hunter, Lachlan (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--lachlan-hunter)
131
25yr 7mth
13 Dec 1994
183cm
82kg
Western Jets
Midfield


17
Bruce, Josh (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--josh-bruce)
124
28yr 2mth
8 Jun 1992
197cm
101kg
Canberra
Forward


9
Crozier, Hayden (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--hayden-crozier)
117
26yr 7mth
24 Dec 1993
185cm
79kg
Eastern Ranges
Defender


29
Dickson, Tory (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--tory-dickson)
113
32yr 10mth
26 Sep 1987
184cm
85kg
Bendigo Bombers
Forward


35
Daniel, Caleb (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--caleb-daniel)
102
24yr 1mth
7 J


Who should be playing and is currently available?

[GVGjr]

Of course we have been young by choice and continue to hide behind it. It is the most obvious obseravtion about the side and is backed by facts. Sure we've had some injuries, but when push comes to shove, we'd rather pick players with less than 5 games experience then pick our depth players WITH experience or mature bodies.

I don't think this helps us develop or build the list either.
Playing Lewis and Lachlan Young and the likes of Greene might have been better for the team

Why do you think we've gone down the option of picking the draftees rather than some of the other younger players?

[bornadog]

How about looking at the list above and telling me who are the guys that should be playing? There are only two players that haven't featured the whole season, Trengove (1 game) and Dickson.

Instead of posters having a go at the club for being young, tell me who are the players they wish to see who will not make us young.

50 to 100 game players:



22
Lloyd, Sam (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--sam-lloyd)
87
30yr 5mth
3 Mar 1990
180cm
81kg
Frankston
Forward


16
McLean, Toby (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--toby-mclean)
86
24yr 6mth
31 Jan 1996
180cm
79kg
Oakleigh Chargers
Forward


12
Cordy, Zaine (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--zaine-cordy)
81
23yr 9mth
27 Oct 1996
193cm
90kg
Geelong Falcons
Defender


5
Dunkley, Josh (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--josh-dunkley)
71
23yr 7mth
9 Jan 1997
190cm
88kg
Gippsland Power
Midfield


46
Jong, Lin (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--lin-jong)
64
27yr 2mth
4 Jun 1993
188cm
87kg
Oakleigh Chargers
Midfield


31
Dale, Bailey (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--bailey-dale)
58
24yr
22 Jul 1996
183cm
82kg
Dandenong Stingrays
Forward


13
Schache, Josh (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--josh-schache)
56
22yr 11mth
21 Aug 1997
199cm
94kg
Murray Bushrangers
Forward


34
Williams, Bailey (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--bailey-williams)
52
22yr 10mth
10 Oct 1997
187cm
85kg
Glenelg
Defender


20
Richards, Ed (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--ed-richards)
51
21yr 1mth
3 Jul 1999
185cm
79






All playing except Jong and Schache

I don't get why there is this commentary that we are purposely playing young players? We are picking players that are available.

If we play players in the last batch, ie 0 to 50, we will be even more inexperienced????

[bornadog]

Best 22 players -Hunter (131) Jong (64), Suckling (177) Duryea (132) have experience but are either injured or out due to other circumstances.

These are facts.

[Bulldog Joe]

Best 22 players -Hunter (131) Jong (64), Suckling (177) Duryea (132) have experience but are either injured or out due to other circumstances.

These are facts.

It is also a fact that we have opted for a younger list.

For varying reasons we have moved on capable players in Hamling, Roughead, Dahlhaus and Stringer but kept players on the list that the coach wouldn't play such as Roberts and Campbell as well as the extraordinary time we have retained rookies like Roarke Smith and Brad Lynch as we did with Josh Prudden.

We could have picked up a delisted free agent like Ricky Henderson or Lachie Henderson instead of hanging on to some of those out of loyalty. There have been opportunities to add more experience, but we have chosen not to do so.

[Axe Man]

I think it's pretty clear that we have chosen to be young through list management decisions.

Given the young list there has been little the selectors can do from week to week to increase the age and experience of the team.

[Ozza]

Its not necessarily about players over 100 games experience. We all know there is more grey area to it BAD. Often it is about choosing the debutant off the back of no form rather than the 2-4 year player who is moved to no-man's land.

We acquired Schache, yet we choose not to play him. If he has one bad game, he is straight out, whereas others get countless chances to prove they don't cut it.

Lewis Young debuted in 2017 and played 7 games. In the following 3 years has played only 8 more games in total. Yet we choose to put Gardner in on the back of proving NOTHING, and looking completely at sea in each and every game.

Tory Dickson has seemingly vanished. But Gowers and Weightman are given 3 chances each. Why keep Tory on the list if players significantly inferior to him and this point in time are preferred. And what was the thinking around drafting a mature age player in Cavarra?

We went after Trengove, now have put a line through him because he doesn't cover the ground. I'm not a big fan, but against sides with very tall forwards, surely he should be getting considered on a horses for courses basis.

We're incredibly keen to rush in some debutants, by far less keen to stick with players in their 2-4 year range and get some continuity into them. But continuity is not really our thing this year clearly. Last year we were the 3rd highest scoring team in the league, and most of our big scores came after a sustained run where the forward line had some continuity as a group with Schache, Dickson, Dale, Naughton and Lloyd all there.

[soupman]

Ozza's point is bang on and is what the numerous posts displaying frustration with a young selection bias mean.

It's a combination of our inability to develop players once on the list, a lack of valueing older role players, and a love for throwing the newest kids at the club into the mix.

[bornadog]

Given the young list there has been little the selectors can do from week to week to increase the age and experience of the team.

Agree


I think it's pretty clear that we have chosen to be young through list management decisions.



It is also a fact that we have opted for a younger list.

For varying reasons we have moved on capable players in Hamling, Roughead, Dahlhaus and Stringer but kept players on the list that the coach wouldn't play such as Roberts and Campbell as well as the extraordinary time we have retained rookies like Roarke Smith and Brad Lynch as we did with Josh Prudden.

We could have picked up a delisted free agent like Ricky Henderson or Lachie Henderson instead of hanging on to some of those out of loyalty. There have been opportunities to add more experience, but we have chosen not to do so.

We had a number of players either retired or delisted. The List manager has tried hard to bring in experience and over the last 4 odd years we have brought in Suckling, Duryea, Trengove, Lloyd, Bruce and Keath (mature not in games though).

My point is, we aren't trying to be heroes by picking the youngest team every week, it is just the make up we have ended with, and I really don't understand why posters keep harping on about it, or writing to Gerard complaining we are hiding behind it or making it an excuse. It is just a factor we are stuck with for now.

Team selection is a different issue see thread here (https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?20072-Picking-teams-is-really-hard/page5)

[bornadog]

Ozza's point is bang on and is what the numerous posts displaying frustration with a young selection bias mean.

It's a combination of our inability to develop players once on the list, a lack of valueing older role players, and a love for throwing the newest kids at the club into the mix.

But it is not a young selection bias, we don't have any experienced players like I laid out?

[Scorlibo]

I understand your sentiment BAD, and thanks for laying out the (lack of) experience on the list, it's a stark reminder of our predicament. However the point that others are making I think is more a commentary on the progression of players between 0 and 50 games.

To this point I have reservations about our recruiting and development more than our list management.

The guys we've brought in from other clubs have largely served us well - Crozier, Suckling, Duryea, Keath, Lloyd have all I think been fine acquisitions in the right age bracket. Bruce can and will deliver more after getting his body right. Trengove I think deserves more games than he's getting but he's a very limited player and not the answer. Schache can still be a good AFL player but both he and the coaches need to understand his limitations.
Arguably we could have done more to hold onto Roughead, Dahlhaus and Stringer. Hamling we had no hope of keeping. Ditto Adams (injury cursed anyway). Then there's the early retirements of Smith, Redpath, Boyd and Biggs for different reasons out of our control. Overall I think list management in a trading sense gets a 'tick', given the circumstances.

As for recruiting from the drafts, we've done reasonably well with our higher picks in recent years, but our 'roughies' have delivered basically nothing consequential.

Collins, Lynch, Goetz, Lew Young, Greene, Mullenger-McHugh, Prudden (had the talent not the luck), Porter, Gowers, R. Smith, Gardner, Cavarra, Hayes, La. Young, Sweet.

There's still scope for some of the above players to 'make it', but it's not a great track record, and as always it's difficult to assess whether it's a development or recruiting issue. Clearly for me team selection has played some role in stimying some of these players. Lewis Young should 100% be selected ahead of Gardner, who is simply not capable at AFL level (we can all see it, why can't the MC?) Gowers on 2020 form is a liability and has taken games away from Cavarra and Greene, as has Weightman for little return himself.

I'd suggest that quite some number of these guys will be out the door at the end of the year, at the worst possible time, in a compromised draft year. From reports Ugle-Hagan can play but if I understand the bidding system correctly we'll have to shift all of our remaining picks to the back of the draft. That's a big price to pay for a player with no final year of junior footy.

Some interesting times ahead. I pin my hopes on the growth of Richards, English, Lipinski, McLean, Cordy, Dale, Vandermeer and West - all of them can play at AFL level but now need to take another step forward for us to improve.

[bornadog]

I understand your sentiment BAD, and thanks for laying out the (lack of) experience on the list, it's a stark reminder of our predicament. However the point that others are making I think is more a commentary on the progression of players between 0 and 50 games.

To this point I have reservations about our recruiting and development more than our list management.

The guys we've brought in from other clubs have largely served us well - Crozier, Suckling, Duryea, Keath, Lloyd have all I think been fine acquisitions in the right age bracket. Bruce can and will deliver more after getting his body right. Trengove I think deserves more games than he's getting but he's a very limited player and not the answer. Schache can still be a good AFL player but both he and the coaches need to understand his limitations.
Arguably we could have done more to hold onto Roughead, Dahlhaus and Stringer. Hamling we had no hope of keeping. Ditto Adams (injury cursed anyway). Then there's the early retirements of Smith, Redpath, Boyd and Biggs for different reasons out of our control. Overall I think list management in a trading sense gets a 'tick', given the circumstances.

As for recruiting from the drafts, we've done reasonably well with our higher picks in recent years, but our 'roughies' have delivered basically nothing consequential.

Collins, Lynch, Goetz, Lew Young, Greene, Mullenger-McHugh, Prudden (had the talent not the luck), Porter, Gowers, R. Smith, Gardner, Cavarra, Hayes, La. Young, Sweet.

There's still scope for some of the above players to 'make it', but it's not a great track record, and as always it's difficult to assess whether it's a development or recruiting issue. Clearly for me team selection has played some role in stimying some of these players. Lewis Young should 100% be selected ahead of Gardner, who is simply not capable at AFL level (we can all see it, why can't the MC?) Gowers on 2020 form is a liability and has taken games away from Cavarra and Greene, as has Weightman for little return himself.

I'd suggest that quite some number of these guys will be out the door at the end of the year, at the worst possible time, in a compromised draft year. From reports Ugle-Hagan can play but if I understand the bidding system correctly we'll have to shift all of our remaining picks to the back of the draft. That's a big price to pay for a player with no final year of junior footy.

Some interesting times ahead. I pin my hopes on the growth of Richards, English, Lipinski, McLean, Cordy, Dale, Vandermeer and West - all of them can play at AFL level but now need to take another step forward for us to improve.

Totally agree with you.

I don't believe recruiting has been as good as we think. Very difficult to get pick one wrong (has happened of course), but the speculative picks haven't been brilliant.

The discussion started off with the comments around we purposely want to look young every week and that is our excuse for losing and stop hiding behind it. Therefore I have proven we don't have the experience we would like.

However, the progress of the 0 to 50 is a concern.



33
Naughton, Aaron (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--aaron-naughton)
46
20yr 8mth
30 Nov 1999
195cm
89kg
Peel Thunder
Forward


42
Keath, Alex (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--alex-keath)
41
28yr 6mth
20 Jan 1992
197cm
93kg
Murray Bushrangers
Defender


27
Lipinski, Patrick (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--patrick-lipinski)
41
22yr
17 Jul 1998
187cm
84kg
Northern Knights
Midfield
Forward


44
English, Timothy (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--timothy-english)
40
23yr
10 Aug 1997
205cm
93kg
South Fremantle
Ruck


6
Smith, Bailey (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--bailey-smith)
34
19yr 8mth
7 Dec 2000
185cm
80kg
Sandringham Dragons
Midfield
Forward


26
Gowers, Billy (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--billy-gowers)
33
24yr 2mth
10 Jun 1996
187cm
87kg
Oakleigh Chargers
Forward


37
Smith, Roarke (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--roarke-smith) R
18
23yr 11mth
11 Sep 1996
181cm
81kg
Calder Cannons
Midfield
Forward


2
Young, Lewis (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--lewis-young)
15
21yr 7mth
20 Dec 1998
197cm
96kg
Sturt
Defender


23
Vandermeer, Laitham (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--laitham-vandermeer)
10
21yr 6mth
3 Feb 1999
180cm
77kg
Murray Bushrangers
Midfield
Forward


32
Hayes, Will (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--will-hayes)
9
25yr 2mth
5 Jun 1995
181cm
77kg
Footscray Vfl
Midfield


36
Lynch, Bradley (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--bradley-lynch)
9
23yr 1mth
11 Jul 1997
187cm
79kg
Swan Districts
Defender


40
Young, Lachie (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--lachie-young) R
8
21yr 4mth
6 Apr 1999
189cm
81kg
Mt Eliza Football Netball Club
Defender


14
West, Rhylee (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--rhylee-west)
6
20yr
12 Jul 2000
181cm
82kg
Calder Cannons
Forward


43
Gardner, Ryan (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--ryan-gardner) R
5
23yr 2mth
1 Jun 1997
197cm
93kg
Burnie Dockers
Forward


30
Greene, Fergus (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--fergus-greene)
5
22yr 7mth
20 Dec 1997
187cm
75kg
Bendigo Pioneers
Forward


19
Weightman, Cody (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--cody-weightman)
3
19yr 6mth
15 Jan 2001
177cm
73kg
Dandenong Stingrays
Forward


18
Butler, Louis (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--louis-butler)
2
18yr 11mth
26 Aug 2001
184cm
75kg
Sandringham Dragons
Defender
Midfield


25
Cavarra, Ben (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--ben-cavarra)
1
24yr 7mth
20 Dec 1995
173cm
72kg
Williamstown
Forward


28
Porter, Callum (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--callum-porter)
1
21yr 5mth
22 Feb 1999
182cm
76kg
Gippsland Power
Midfield


38
Garcia, Riley (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--riley-garcia)
0
19yr 6mth
30 Jan 2001
177cm
70kg
Swan Districts
Midfield


24
Khamis, Buku (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--buku-khamis) R
0
20yr 4mth
24 Mar 2000
189cm
82kg
Western Jets
Defender


41
Sweet, Jordon (https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-western-bulldogs--jordon-sweet) R
0
22yr 6mth
2 Feb 1998
203cm
106kg
North Adelaide
Ruck



Hayes, Greene, Gardner, Gowers, Porter, Lynch are a worry. I still have hope for Lew Young, and there are some untried players there. Overall not a lot to worry about as we normally delist about 7 to 8 per year.

[Cyberdoggie]

The problem with the side isn't age it's balance.

There is a reason when opposition sides get a run on we can't stop the momentum. We just have too many of the same type
of players/characters.

There are a number of players that Bevo loves for what they bring when we are rolling, but they don't offer much defensively.

ie Dale, McLean, JJ, Macrae, Lipinski, Daniel, Bont, Richards, as an example are all very much attacking players, but once the ball has left the contest, they aren't big chase down defensive players.

We get scored against way too easily on the rebound because we aren't prepared to work hard enough the other way to get the ball back.

I just think the balance isn't quite there at the moment, we are a couple of hard nuts through middle short. You can also add that Dunkley is not at his best since the recent injury, Bont isn't moving like he should, Smith is probably getting more attention and is having lean patch, same with English. Without our engine room at it's best, i think we have too many light bodied players that don't want to run hard defensively and this is exposing us.

Lin Jong is a great example. Earlier in the year he was throwing himself into contests and providing a defensive threat, adding pressure, and we were starting to play some good football that was enabling the creative players to shine.
We lose Dunkley and Jong who are 2 of our strongest bodied runners, and we bring in Dale, Lipinski, Lloyd effectively as replacements.

You can also add the poor selection of a 3rd defensive option at many times this year. Why we keep going for Gardner is beyond me. Not sure who thought he would be a better match up for Hipwood than either of the Youngs or even Khamis. Hipwood is a leading forward not a big marking one, yet we went for Gardner and he was lost at sea.

I don't think it's all doom and gloom however, we just need to adjust things a little to get ourselves back on track.

[bornadog]

The problem with the side isn't age it's balance.

There is a reason when opposition sides get a run on we can't stop the momentum. We just have too many of the same type
of players/characters.

There are a number of players that Bevo loves for what they bring when we are rolling, but they don't offer much defensively.

ie Dale, McLean, JJ, Macrae, Lipinski, Daniel, Bont, Richards, as an example are all very much attacking players, but once the ball has left the contest, they aren't big chase down defensive players.

We get scored against way too easily on the rebound because we aren't prepared to work hard enough the other way to get the ball back.

I just think the balance isn't quite there at the moment, we are a couple of hard nuts through middle short. You can also add that Dunkley is not at his best since the recent injury, Bont isn't moving like he should, Smith is probably getting more attention and is having lean patch, same with English. Without our engine room at it's best, i think we have too many light bodied players that don't want to run hard defensively and this is exposing us.

Lin Jong is a great example. Earlier in the year he was throwing himself into contests and providing a defensive threat, adding pressure, and we were starting to play some good football that was enabling the creative players to shine.
We lose Dunkley and Jong who are 2 of our strongest bodied runners, and we bring in Dale, Lipinski, Lloyd effectively as replacements.

You can also add the poor selection of a 3rd defensive option at many times this year. Why we keep going for Gardner is beyond me. Not sure who thought he would be a better match up for Hipwood than either of the Youngs or even Khamis. Hipwood is a leading forward not a big marking one, yet we went for Gardner and he was lost at sea.

I don't think it's all doom and gloom however, we just need to adjust things a little to get ourselves back on track.

Agree with all you have said.

Just a reminder, Buku is only 189cm, Hipwood is 204cm