The letter

[Mantis]

Woofers,

How are we all feeling this morning? If anything like me it ain’t that great.

I’ve had a big debrief with ‘comrade’ and shared our thoughts about what the *!*!*!*! has actually happened over the past 3 weeks. We were humming 13 days ago and what’s happened next is something none of us could imagine… maybe DOG GOD could have, but that’s about it.. no offence mate, love the passion!

So as a way to get some inner peace at a really shit time with everything else that’s happening we’re going to write a letter to the head honchos at the club to voice our concerns from the POV of the mug punters in the crowd who think they know a bit and are extremely passionate about the club.

So what I want from the WOOF community is the one question or concern you have which we will include in the letter.

Go your hardest team!

Once it’s done I’ll share the letter I’m with you all.

[1eyedog]

Hope it makes you feel good it won't get past the lady at the front desk.

[Mantis]

Hope it makes you feel good it won't get past the lady at the front desk.

I’ve had personal responses from coaches in the past… one even helped form a relationship with our senior coach.

I have faith my letter will be viewed… what comes if it isn’t that concerning though… it will make me feel better.

[DOG GOD]

The #1 for me Mantis is why are mids rucking with Timmy 5 metres away. I just don’t understand the reasoning, and it looks a joke and would be a laughing stock of other teams.

#2 team selection. It seems certain players get a lot more chances to impress than others. It comes across as favouritism, and that’s not a good look when you’re trying to make the club a destination.

[comrade]

What is the rational behind bucking the trend of every other good side and neglecting height and intercept marking in our D50?

[bulldogtragic]

Explanation of how we went from 1st to 5th in 12 days?

Why are we playing players out of position to minimal effect? Ie JJ, Young

[josie]

Agree with all above Qs and here’s another:
Why do we seldom tag opposition players who are tearing us apart? Eg Boak last night or Wines in last qtr

[chef]

Can you get Bevo to explain Cordys inclusion

[G-Mo77]

Can you get Bevo to explain Cordys inclusion

Or why we haven't even tried to blood another ruckman while Martin has been out. I listened to his press conference and he bables on about how it's a weakness. Why not give another guy a shot then? Maybe, just maybe we wouldn't be in this mess now.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Or why we haven't even tried to blood another ruckman while Martin has been out. I listened to his press conference and he bables on about how it's a weakness. Why not give another guy a shot then? Maybe, just maybe we wouldn't be in this mess now.

Exactly. Apparently it’s blatantly obvious our midfield issues are because of the ruck. Then where is Sweet if Martin isn’t ready?? There’s no way Sweet is that bad that we don’t include him to address our biggest current issue.

[azabob]

Our coaching group has had the same voices for a number of years. How do we as a club keep up with footy IQ outside of our club and keep ahead of the curve? How do we keep the messaging fresh to the players?

[GVGjr]

It's a good initiative Mantis

Have we been aggressive enough with our trading for established players and with our list management decisions?


I'll think of a few more.

[comrade]

Our coaching group has had the same voices for a number of years. How do we as a club keep up with footy IQ outside of our club and keep ahead of the curve? How do we keep the messaging fresh to the players?

This has to be front and centre when all is said and done.

[Grantysghost]

It's clear opposition coaches are targeting our best clearance player which is having a massive effect on our ability at the source.

Why does it appear that we just let it happen without any resistance?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Do we think our handball game plan is sustainable? We always burn out every year / collapse in the same way.

[Scraggers]

Team selection … from a mug’s point of view, it looks like players are being selected on reputation and not form. JJ, Wood et al. Who is involved in the match selection committee and what are they seeing that we are not?

[bornadog]

What is our plan for 2022 to get a topline ruckman

[josie]

Why did it take until so late in the year to try Schache out in defence? I mean in VFL too.

What’s our plans for defence? Some of our players are too short, too slow and often have dreadful disposal. This has been a problem for as long as I can remember.

[KT31]

Hope it makes you feel good it won't get past the lady at the front desk.

If Glenice is back from leave, she will make sure it gets passed on.

[merantau]

1.Will the Club, as part of the season review, commit to an intensive examination into the "Capitulation in Launceston"? This non-performance was completely unacceptable. We kicked 3 quick goals early in the 3rd, then put the cue in the rack. Still, 14 points down at three quarter time, with EVERYTHING to play for and we didn't fire a shot. We just rolled over.

2. Does the Club have any plans to address our goal kicking woes or is the plan just to throw our hands in the air and say, "It is what it is"?

3. Why are some players given more opportunities than others? Lewis Young is a case in point. He has not been treated well. Josh Schache is another as was that kid Brad? Lynch from a a couple of years back. Pat Lipinski is another. Ed Richarfs too. OTOH, some players have played all year with very little output. I'm thinking JJ, Scott and Mitch Hhannan

[The Pie Man]

Why hasn’t Young been persisted with in defence, especially after encouraging performances against Brisbane earlier this year?

What is it about Sweet’s game right now that makes you believe a makeshift ruckman is the preferred option? Was it just one bad game against Melbourne?

What is it about Martin’s fitness base that prevented you from selecting him when we have a history of bringing guys back early?

Do you think referencing Tim’s inability in the ruck in pre game interviews is constructive? Is not allowing him to ruck in the F 50 last night further denting his confidence?

Do you think you can be too emotional when considering players futures?

Are you embarrassed by our late season collapse?

Are you confident we can strike the right balance with our current midfield group?

[Eastdog]

How do we improve our consistency throughout the course of a full season? In 2019 and 2020 we started off slow then all of sudden picked it up in the 2nd part of those seasons. 2021 we started so well but really fell away in the 2nd part of the season. How can fitness and medical conditioning be improved - important in regards to all the injuries we get.

[comrade]

How do we improve our consistency throughout the course of a full season? In 2019 and 2020 we started off slow then all of sudden picked it up in the 2nd part of those seasons. 2021 we started so well but really fell away in the 2nd part of the season. How can fitness and medical conditioning be improved - important in regards to all the injuries we get.

As an outsider looking in, I have big concerns about our high performance and medical set up.

[Eastdog]

What is our plan for 2022 to get a topline ruckman

Good question BAD. This must be addressed.

[bornadog]

As an outsider looking in, I have big concerns about our high performance and medical set up.

I have no issues with these. Look at our last quarters, we are still flying.

[boydogs]

I dunno, just feels like a long hard season with coronavirus restrictions on players and their families has taken its toll and its not really about the bottom 6 you could shuffle around at selection, its the AA mids not performing. Yeah its kinda been the same for everyone but even going back to last year our group seemed to underperform when things were stressful at home

[Ghost Dog]

Port were too good on the day. There is a lot to admire about their club. But only better on the day by a whisker.

[bornadog]

Port were too good. There is a lot to admire about their club.

Is that what you want in the letter? :D

[Ghost Dog]

Is that what you want in the letter? :D

Well what can we learn from Port rather than berating our own club for decisions made, upon which we don’t have the full information.

[Ozza]

I think it has been well covered in previous posts, but my issues have been the very clear issues with selection that we can all see.

Specifically I would question why we seem to place a low priority on the oppositions strengths when selecting our line up. (I understand that Bevo has a mantra of focusing on our own strengths and gamestyle - but does he really think we are getting the balance right?).

I would question how we can possibly justify a situation where we go into games with plans (or back up plans) to have the likes of Dunkley, Hannan and Bontempelli ruck.

My major concern is the voices surrounding Bevo not really having changed since he's been at the club. Good luck raising that point!

[Jeanette54]

The #1 for me Mantis is why are mids rucking with Timmy 5 metres away. I just don’t understand the reasoning, and it looks a joke and would be a laughing stock of other teams.

Five metres away no point. However if Tim is fifteen away in the goal square, then he is best placed to mark the quick kick goalward out of the scrimmage.

[Twice Bitten]

What role does Steven King play in the coaching setup? Although an All-Australian and Premiership ruckman he appears to have had no effect on the development of young ruckmen English and Sweet.

[bornadog]

What role does Steven King play in the coaching setup? Although an All-Australian and Premiership ruckman he appears to have had no effect on the development of young ruckmen English and Sweet.

He is the senior Assistant Coach

[Twice Bitten]

He is the senior Assistant Coach

I KNOW he is the Senior Assistant Coach. What does he actually do? Why, with his history, is he not accountable for ruck development?

[GVGjr]

I KNOW he is the Senior Assistant Coach. What does he actually do? Why, with his history, is he not accountable for ruck development?

I'm sure he has done some work with the ruckman but he would more pressing duties to attend to.
In the past we have had part time specialist ruck coaches.

[Doc26]

With our opponents now effective in planning and implementing measures to negate our two best midfielders and barometers, somewhat allowing the rot to set in, my two part question is:
1. Knowing that this will happen again this week, what focus is there, if at all, to combat this known known? Will you respond if / when Libba and Bont are being shutdown? I suspect that if our MC were considering a ‘How’ to this challenge they wouldn’t be forthcoming with this so I won’t ask.
2. Do we go into the game with a similar opposition mindsight of negating the effectiveness of their midfield barometers in Merrett, Parish, and Stringer?

[Twodogs]

In Martin's absence why haven't we played Sweet more? What exactly do we expect from a ruckman?

[Ghost Dog]

Five metres away no point. However if Tim is fifteen away in the goal square, then he is best placed to mark the quick kick goalward out of the scrimmage.

Someone commented, perhaps Bont was rucking to break the tag. No idea myself.
I am 100% sure our guys are doing their best.

[Bullies]

With our opponents now effective in planning and implementing measures to negate our two best midfielders and barometers, somewhat allowing the rot to set in, my two part question is:
1. Knowing that this will happen again this week, what focus is there, if at all, to combat this known known? Will you respond if / when Libba and Bont are being shutdown? I suspect that if our MC were considering a ‘How’ to this challenge they wouldn’t be forthcoming with this so I won’t ask.
2. Do we go into the game with a similar opposition mindsight of negating the effectiveness of their midfield barometers in Merrett, Parish, and Stringer? Essendon don't shut down players. They are at the stage that they take sides on and hope it goes their way. They should play Roarke on Stringer and hope the mids get on top of theirs.

[Mantis]

Essendon don't shut down players. They are at the stage that they take sides on and hope it goes their way. They should play Roarke on Stringer and hope the mids get on top of theirs.

Roarke has never played on an ''inside'' player.

[josie]

https://youtu.be/sVMhuiHm50I

Pug head tilt x 4

Saw this on abc news regarding lockdown questions for a panel.

Thought it could be woofers perplexed at MC selection and team form dip. Let’s hope we’re all happy little pug woofers Sunday evening.

If you know how to show it as a gif instead of a link welcome your help.

[Grantysghost]

https://youtu.be/sVMhuiHm50I

Pug head tilt x 4

Saw this on abc news regarding lockdown questions for a panel.

Thought it could be woofers perplexed at MC selection and team form dip. Let’s hope we’re all happy little pug woofers Sunday evening.

If you know how to show it as a gif instead of a link welcome your help.

Here you go Josie :) (x3 but close enough)

https://media.giphy.com/media/ePsV4lBfsrPmo/giphy-downsized-large.gif?cid=ecf05e47ji2wcaq3qvfruu7912aaoevb1yyovxw0vq0zfb jr&rid=giphy-downsized-large.gif&ct=g