Preseason Training 2022

[bornadog]

I just read this on Facebook too. Awesome overview with video. Even move video in the comments. If Mattie Malta isn't on woof he should be. Here is the link for those who have Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/westernbulldogs/permalink/10158250335816594/

Tell him he needs to know how to spell GARDNER

IN all seriousness, great report

[EasternWest]

This was posted by Mattie Malta on fb, thought it was well worth posting. Is he on here?

Live at training (updated report below and vids embedded in comments)...

Overview:
Treloar not on the track, along with Dunkley, Williams and Gardiner.

Ugle-Hagan worked on his goal kicking around corners and was consistently making these. Some field kicking errors at times, but otherwise moving well and looking ominous.

Wallis was a general during the session. Looked strong and used the ball well.

Bont loped around like a prized stallion. Just so silky.

Bailey Smith looked sharp. Was loud and exuberant. Buzzing around and commentating on his own work; "He's kicked ten!" After scoring a goal during a drill. Was one of the last to leave the track.

Hunter looked incredibly athletic. At one point he dived full length to catch an errant handball and somersaulted mid air, got to his feet and dished off. This resulted in loud praise from the coaches for his desperation and commitment.

Stef Martin looked short of a run. Proppy at times and completed some drills outside the main group.

Crozier landed some monster tackles and played further up the field in set drills and simulations, flagging a possible positional or role change (!?).

O'Brien, Dureya, Butler and Hannan completed isolated drills as a group, including short kicking and a series of handball and reflex drills. Doc was great with his instructional work with teammates.

MacRae moved with poise and controlled time and space. Kicking was exquisite.

Cordy did a number of kick outs and after playing on, changed direction and regularly used the corridor with a long, set play kick. Teammates could be heard to say "runway" and he routinely launched down the middle. Looked effective.

Schache moved well.

Darcy did rehab work and looked incredible below the knees, picking up the ball cleanly for a big man and has a very confident demeanor.

McLean ran laps at pace and looks close to beginning lateral movement drills. Rehab looks to be tracking ahead of schedule.

Bruce did work on the bike after a brief appearance on the track.

Weightman did some agility tests and running, followed by goal kicking. Didn't join the main group, but lots of high fives and involvement with his voice.

Richards impressed me with directional changes and looks to be entrusted with slingshot runs out of defence, along with Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel. Daniel was the standout of all players. A special highlight was breaking a Jamarra tackle on the Hawkins wing, passing to Wallis and then following up to receive the handball in the Gordon st/Barkly st pocket l, before curling an incredible pass to Raak after dodging Khamis. Bevo stopped the drill to praise him and say "That is an example of the features we are striving for. Outstanding CD".

West was involved in everything and looks ultra fit. Bevo at one point challenged him over his decision making and encouraged him to come inboard through the corridor to reward teammates who had made good position.

Sweet and English ran well and looked relaxed and composed with ball use.

Arty Jones has some tricks with fleet footwork, however, field and goal kicking need attention. He and Hannan had specialist coaching over the mechanics of their kicking action. Jones was instructed over his ball drop and momentum of his approach. Had some mentoring from Varcoe also and was last to leave the track. I spoke with him after the session and he said he was so excited and seems like a kid who wants to listen and learn.

McNeil looked fatigued. Bevo encouraging him to keep going "you've got to push through it", suggesting he is recovering from something. He had to step out of some drills to catch his breath.

McComb ran hard and was regularly the pack leader.

Anthony Scott instructed to be the intercept extra man up when defenders exiting via a long kick. He was effective in covering ground and punching the ball out when outnumbered or mismatched.

JJ showed god dash and willingness to overlap. Vandermeer looks like he has regained his spark and pace. Was explosive at times from the stoppages and really arched the back

Libba looked like he was stalking prey throughout, hunched over ready to pounce. His ball use was a standout.

Naughton did repetitive goal kicking from 25m and struck them very well. Has an obvious swagger, looks bulked up and superbly fit.

Bevo was very involved. Constantly giving feedback and challenging. He was critical of one player (don't ask who), for not listening and asking a question that he should have known if he had listened better. Bevo looks to have a real edge and intensity about him. Loved it.

All in all, 32 degrees and two hours of intense and slick footy. Players look United and hungry.

Alright now I need to calm down.

[bornadog]

Round 1 is 50 days away


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrIk6H8AkkY

[bornadog]

Boys going for a run

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKJ5xy4aMAsMcu6?format=jpg&name=medium

[bornadog]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKJ5yKgakAALdv2?format=jpg&name=large

[bornadog]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKJ5yxjaQAMss60?format=jpg&name=large

[dog town]

Had a gut feel that they might do some match practice today and when I arrived the gates were open and a crowd of 20-30 ppl were watching. They had 3 umpires in what were very windy conditions.

3 quarters of roughly 20 minutes with a quick drinks break half way through each qtr. 16 a side throughout with both teams having 5 forwards.

Teams split into white and blue with some minor changes during each qtr. White seemed to be a particularly strong team with the stronger forward line and deeper mid rotation.

It looked like white had most of our first choice forwards and blue most of our first choice backs.

Forwards for white for the majority of the game consisted of Naughton, Jamarra, Vandermeer and JJ. Early on there was another tall with them who I am almost certain was Keath in a hat but by the last qtr Hannan had swapped sides and joined them.

Blue backs were Cordy, Gardner, Schache, Dale, Daniel, Richards.

White mids were B.Smith, Macrae, Bont (2 qtrs) with Hunter and Roarke on the wings.

Blue mids were Libba, Dunks, Bont (1 qtr), pretty sure West/Scott were rotating and wings were Wallis (whole game) and a mixture on the other wing.

White backs included Crozier, Williams, O’Brien (half game), Cleary (half game), Buku and I think Raak. Blue forwards were Arthur Jones, Bedendo, Martin/Sweet, Hannan (2 qtrs), West, Libba, Scott .

Didn’t play- Treloar, Darcy, Doc, McComb, Bruce, McLean, Weightman, Parker
Restricted Minutes- Cleary, O’brien

Most of them did running the entire time apart from Treloar and Bruce who did some running and then watched the game on the bike.

Very noticeable that Hunter, JJ and Wallis are major on field leaders and are constantly organising, praising and coaching.

Macrae, Bont, Libba, Dunkley played their standard games through the middle.

Standard was quite good I thought considering the wind and we moved the ball well. Doesn’t look like an major changes in terms of style that I could detect but it is difficult in these types of games.

Was very hard to pick up some players with singlets and bibs combination making it hard to notice some players particularly on the far side.

Darcy- Was only running but you can tell his body is a mile off in terms of strength to play senior footy. Will only get a glimpse this season in my view.

Wallis- Played well on a wing, positioned himself well on slow plays. Instructed well and you could see him coaching on field between goals. Didn't look out of place to be honest and despite obvious question marks on ability to cover the ground it wasn't an issue today.

Bont- Played his usual game, finishing a little off in the wind. Got out the front of centre bounces at least 3-4 times.

B.Smith- Stood out with his powerful running. Exploded out of congestion several times and in transition completely blew players away. There was several times where his running power created overlaps or an out number and he received loud praise from leaders and coaches. Questionable with ball in hand several times but he is a major weapon. Kicked a goal from the centre square as well.

Hunter- Very good on the coaches box wing. Set everything up and drew several free kicks when he pushed inside 50.

Cordy- Was opposed to Jamarra regularly and as we know can be vulnerable to moving players. Was solid in 1 on 1 battles.

Jamarra- Had 4 goals at half time and 1 he gave off at half time by my count. It may sound ridiculous but he wasn’t overly involved for what was a very effective game. Breakdown of his goals was a short pass for a stationary chest mark in the pocket which he converted around the corner, two where he burnt his defender on the lead (Melbourne game style) and one where he got out the back in transition and snapped a goal. Impressive part for me was his back leading and use of space behind which makes him much harder to defend. The one he gave off was one where he got out the back in space but got a bad bounce and tapped it to a supporting player. I could think of 3-4 times where he was clear goal side of his opponent and wasn’t used quickly enough as well, in these situations all forwards had pulled up the ground and the ball was carried through half back and he was able to get out the back really easily. Looks a bit shaky on ground balls still and while he defended well structurally (pushed up ground to cut off options) he didn’t have a great deal of forward pressure. Did have 1 attempt at a speccy but it burst through his hands.

Naughton- Marked the first centre clearance with an huge clunk and then dominated. Must have had 8-10 marks and most of them inside 50. Started deep but was often as high as the defensive 50. Conversion was ok, missed a relatively easy one but slotted some difficult ones. Looks to have been working on kicking round the corner.

JJ- I thought he was behind only Naughton as the most dominant player on the ground. Was in absolutely everything, must have had 6 or more shots at goal, ran ppl down, got up the ground and turned his opponent, swooped on loose balls. Impressive thing for me was that he seemed to be running the forward line and was organising the structures forward of stoppages and calling out set ups eg: group together, isolate or 2-2-1. Was organising our set up at oppo kick ins as well.

English- Absolute stand out early and played ruck all game. Used his running to make himself a target in transition out of the backline, pushed forward hard and fought at ground level. Took a number of marks behind the ball as well. Faded as the game went on but still competed hard. I would think he won most centre bounces but was shaded in the stoppages by Martin.

Vandermeer- Similar to JJ, kept getting on the end of it inside 50, took a contested mark and was constantly running and bouncing. There was one piece of player where he hit a huge pack at absolute top speed and burst away inside 50. He butchered the chance and actually kicked poorly in general but he was another stand out.

West/Scott/McNeil- Must admit I found it hard to pick them up with the singlets and bibs combo but West did some nice things and Scott was able to pull onto his left several times and create space.

Sweet- Was either deep forward against Buku or in the ruck. Martin and Sweet swapped throughout between deep forward and ruck. English beat Sweet convincingly in my view when they were opposed. Sweet looked a bit better at ground level with some clever handballs to space but is not a viable option for more than a few minutes as a forward.

Martin- Looks noticeably lighter to me but still had power at throw ins and ball ups with English hitting the deck a few times. Looked better forward than Sweet.

Richards- Looked good at times but holds onto the ball too long when he is running and bouncing which creates pressure on his disposal. Took the kick outs when Daniel was off.

Khamis- I don’t think he is far off. Looked comfortable with ball in hand and competed well.

Bedendo- Clearly has something to work with, took a number of strong marks and was creative at times. Would expect him to be very good at vfl level this year and starting pushing for senior games. Seems to be a popular player, did a nice bit of evasive play on the boundary and laced out Sweet before getting

Arthur Jones- I would be surprised if we don’t have a player on our hands. Played half forward for 2 ½ qtrs and while that may not be his natural position he was extremely lively when the ball was in his area. Set up a couple of goals and has really noticeable speed and agility, looks like he hasn’t got his confidence at that level yet but went on a couple of runs (3-4 bounces before being smothered) and was able to turn nicely to set up Libba for a goal once as well. Looks like he is still finding the pace and confidence at that level but has some really handy traits and stood out when the ball was in his area.

Dale and Daniel- Both gave plenty of drive and used the ball well. I am a little concerned by how dominant JJ and Vandermeer were.

Cleary- Wasn’t on much but had one great moment with a really clean pick up at pace, under pressure from an errant handball.

Happy to answer questions if I can.

[bornadog]

Thank you DT for a comprehensive summary. This is what we like to hear about in this thread, but unfortunatetly hard to get to a training session.

[jazzadogs]

Really appreciate that summary dog town.

Excited to hear about Wallis playing on a wing. He clearly has AFL attributes, so if he can find a way to make that work for him in a different role it would definitely be to the benefit of the team. The Angus Brayshaw defensive winger role would seem to be the goal - does Mitch have the tank for that?

JJ being dominant and a leader as a forward was also a key takeaway for me.

[EasternWest]

Dtmvp.

[Axe Man]

Blue mids were Libba, Dunks, Bont (1 qtr), pretty sure West/Scott were rotating and wings were Wallis (whole game) and a mixture on the other wing.

I initially read that as Scott West rotating on the wing and thought we must have been really ravaged by covid if we've got a 47 year old filling in.

[The Underdog]

I initially read that as Scott West rotating on the wing and thought we must have been really ravaged by covid if we've got a 47 year old filling in.

Scott would still pick up 20 possies, no worries.

[EasternWest]

Scott would still pick up 20 possies, no worries.

Then hit Facebook to complain about it.

[Grantysghost]

Marra looks transformed.

https://i.postimg.cc/Vv0KTNYJ/6-F6229-BD-3-B3-D-4239-9110-A27-B274-D0-CF2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/m1R31B14)

[bornadog]

https://resources.afl.com.au/photo-resources/2021/12/01/c458e381-9a6e-4e5f-93f6-51f5fcb792cd/AD8eUVTW.jpg?width=708&height=1062

[jeemak]

Jesus that's a good post DT. Thank you so much for the insights.

Pack up early kiddywinks, post of the year is already settled.

[Grantysghost]

Jesus that's a good post DT. Thank you so much for the insights.

Pack up early kiddywinks, post of the year is already settled.

Lets just wait for GF day shall we.

Agree awesome post.

[Grantysghost]

Great reading DT. Any reason Treloar wasn’t involved that anyone knows of?

[Bulldog4life]

Fantastic post dt felt like I was there.

[dog town]

Great reading DT. Any reason Treloar wasn’t involved that anyone knows of?

Possibly just managing his loads, he did some running before he got on the bike but fair to say he did the least running of guys that didn’t play.

[dog town]

Really appreciate that summary dog town.

Excited to hear about Wallis playing on a wing. He clearly has AFL attributes, so if he can find a way to make that work for him in a different role it would definitely be to the benefit of the team. The Angus Brayshaw defensive winger role would seem to be the goal - does Mitch have the tank for that?

JJ being dominant and a leader as a forward was also a key takeaway for me. There is a bit of a move towards making your wing a taller player who can perform a more defensive role in a structure. Personally I still prefer a winger that can get on the outside and provide a running link but there is quite a few examples of different types playing that role now.

With forwards pushing up the ground hard to defend on turnover it gives options for coaches to decide where the fat side winger is best used and that opens up options for different types. You still want some offensive output from your wingers in my view.

I wonder if the stand rule and having the ability for more overlap from marks is opening up the option of playing a more defensive winger as well. Less reliance on run through the lines when anyone can run past and create that overlap.

[Grantysghost]

Possibly just managing his loads, he did some running before he got on the bike but fair to say he did the least running of guys that didn’t play.

Ok thanks mate. Interesting hope he's OK and it's just loads like you said.

[comrade]

There is a bit of a move towards making your wing a taller player who can perform a more defensive role in a structure. Personally I still prefer a winger that can get on the outside and provide a running link but there is quite a few examples of different types playing that role now.

With forwards pushing up the ground hard to defend on turnover it gives options for coaches to decide where the fat side winger is best used and that opens up options for different types. You still want some offensive output from your wingers in my view.

I wonder if the stand rule and having the ability for more overlap from marks is opening up the option of playing a more defensive winger as well. Less reliance on run through the lines when anyone can run past and create that overlap.

That's an interesting take and I'm glad to hear we're giving Wally a chance to develop in another role. We're definitely a little short on players who are willing to sacrifice their own game for the greater good but there is no doubt Wally is the type to do whatever is required.

I'm not convinced he is athletic enough to play on a wing full time but I'm certainly interested to see how it turns out.

[azabob]

There is a bit of a move towards making your wing a taller player who can perform a more defensive role in a structure. Personally I still prefer a winger that can get on the outside and provide a running link but there is quite a few examples of different types playing that role now.

With forwards pushing up the ground hard to defend on turnover it gives options for coaches to decide where the fat side winger is best used and that opens up options for different types. You still want some offensive output from your wingers in my view.

I wonder if the stand rule and having the ability for more overlap from marks is opening up the option of playing a more defensive winger as well. Less reliance on run through the lines when anyone can run past and create that overlap.

Who are your first choice wingman? The balance of Hunter and R.Smith appeared to work in the later part of the season.

[kruder]

Great reading DT. Any reason Treloar wasn’t involved that anyone knows of?

He and dunks coming off covid

[Grantysghost]

He and dunks coming off covid

Ah...Gee what a surprise they both got it!

#bromance4life

[Grantysghost]

Who are your first choice wingman? The balance of Hunter and R.Smith appeared to work in the later part of the season.

They'd be mine to start. Roarke really has worked his ar5e off for his spot and I think he deserves to (if he trains well which we know he will) be there to start the year.

[Mantis]

Great write up dt… very much appreciated.

I see Naughton, English, JUH and Baz as the 4 players with the biggest scope for improvement with said improvement having the greatest impact in our performance so it’s good to hear all look in excellent shape.

Exciting times ahead WOOF’ers.

[bornadog]

https://youtu.be/sRWm6fS1TjU

[Mofra]

Given JJ played very well in the two middle finals and he's hitting pre-season hard he may just remind us all why he is so valued among the group.
Thank for the post, very much appreciated.

[Testekill]

They'd be mine to start. Roarke really has worked his ar5e off for his spot and I think he deserves to (if he trains well which we know he will) be there to start the year.

At this point in time the wing is Roarke's to lose. I'm happy playing him until someone is ready to play it well, his ability to roll back into defense and his bravery is a great tool.

[jeemak]

https://youtu.be/sRWm6fS1TjU

How's the hit from Jacko!

[jazzadogs]

How's the hit from Jacko!

I'm just excited that there is some continuous footage of a drill, not the usual fast cuts of one person marking, then a completely different drill, then the balls on the ground, then the sky, then a handball, then a coach etc etc.

Really enjoyed the video.

[whythelongface]

How's the hit from Jacko!

Great pass. Jacko to Bont - hope to see a lot of that this year.

[bornadog]

Boys have been at a camp in Warrnambool. Some great photos found in gallery here (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/albums/1055272/2022-pre-season-camp-gunditjmara-country?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1055272&playlistSize=36)

[comrade]

From no indigenous players for years, to multiple quality talents and a real focus on developing those links with Framlingham. It was way too long in coming but good to see it unfold.

[Hotdog60]

Boys have been at a camp in Warrnambool. Some great photos found in gallery here (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/albums/1055272/2022-pre-season-camp-gunditjmara-country?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1055272&playlistSize=36)

There are some great photos there BAD a couple of Arthur with a big smile on his face could he be the new smiling assassin. :)

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

From no indigenous players for years, to multiple quality talents and a real focus on developing those links with Framlingham. It was way too long in coming but good to see it unfold.

We'll said Comrade

[bornadog]

Welcome to Gunditjmara Country: Bulldogs Pre-Season Camp (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1055274/welcome-to-gunditjmara-country-bulldogs-pre-season-camp)

https://resources.westernbulldogs.com.au/photo-resources/2022/02/04/ddf040f5-5a18-4c10-b704-2ea5d4d77e30/Untitled-1.jpg?width=952&height=592DAY 1


Kaya Warrnambool,


Picture this; a bright blue sky, mist rising from the ocean on a calm February day and the Warrnambool locals out in force and wearing red, white and blue. This is the setting of the Western Bulldogs Pre-Season Camp in the south-west coast of Victoria.

The central theme of this camp was about embracing Indigenous culture and its heritage, with its two young Indigenous stars; Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and new draftee Arthur Jones, and development coach Travis Varcoe leading the group. Over the course of three days, the entire squad and staff would learn more about the history and the background of these two youngsters and what better place to do it then the hometown of Ugle-Hagan.

Greeting the camp group at the picturesque Stingray Bay Beach was a number of the local Indigenous community, eagerly awaiting to perform a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and Indigenous dance. These special moments were encapsulated by two unique performers, the younger brothers of Jamarra. The two loved every minute of performing in front of their idol brother and his teammates. Softly spoken, the pair introduced themselves to the playing group to a raft of applause.

For the final dance of the afternoon, both Arthur and Jamarra joined in, allowing the pair to express themselves in a traditional setting. Jamarra later revealed how special it was for Jones to dance with his family.

The genuine pride of the town was on display with a flurry of Warrnambool locals lapping up their time with the players. Phones were regularly out and Bailey Smith, Marcus Bontempelli and Aaron Naughton were just a few to be popular with lens in hand.

Following the performance, it was off to Yambuk to set up camp for the night. Located on traditional land, the travelling party rolled their swags, tents or in Cody Weightman’s case, a car rooftop tent across the acreage of land. It looked as if the camping store ‘Anaconda’ had a field day, with plenty of swags being rolled out straight from the packet. The coach wasn’t far from being the first to be sorted, while in fading darkness, many found a way to have their tent pitched.

The night was filled with plenty of stories and laughter, but the mosquito spray was out in force. Not many had blood to give by the end of the night, but the balmy conditions made for a peaceful setting for all.


DAY 2


Meeting the Framlingham mob.


Waking up on day two the major question lingered; did the accommodation remain standing. Tick.

233km south-west of the Melbourne CBD sits a rural township by the Hopkins River, Framlingham. The town lies within the traditional lands of KeerrayWoorroong PeekWoorroong people and is home to key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

The Indigenous community population sits at around 200, meaning everybody knows everybody.

Majority of the day was spent touring the sights of Framlingham and the history behind the culture within the town.

First up, a game of Marngrook on the local basketball court. Marngrook' is a word from the language of Gunditjmara people and means ‘game ball.’ Largely similar to Aussie Rules, the game is played with a footy made of possum skin. The local children joined in the anticipated fixture, receiving handballs from their heroes, and scoring goals at will. This epitomised what the camp was all about – to see the smiling faces of youngsters and the joy this visit was bringing the town.

Up next, a boomerang throwing lesson. This was nothing short of organised chaos. A quick demo from a local and one-by-one players attempted to throw and return catch the traditional Indigenous tool. They went everywhere, into trees, the carpark and at times, straight for the group. Safe to say there was no catches made. The challenging skill made for a lot of fun with the wind playing havoc. A few diving efforts from the likes of Zaine Cordy and Arthur Jones created excitement, while the locals made it look easy with several completing catches.


The rest of the Framlingham tour consisted of delving into the history of the Indigenous people, learning different ideas behind their culture and exploring the beautiful surrounds of the town. Outside of the main road is filled with green hills and fresh creeks, which the boys enjoyed discovering.

The afternoon compromised off a makeshift cricket match, a bat, ball and camping chair for wickets. Cars were regularly struck, and laughs were had as the group wound down from a large day of education.

In the evening, Indigenous human rights lawyer Jidah Clark arrived at camp to have a yarn around the campfire, delving into issues of social equality with the group. Topics like belonging, family, love for each other and identity were all covered. Many of the topics resonated with the close-knit group of players with Jidah speaking of the continual battle that the indigenous community face. A pizza van served dinner, but the side dish is what caught everyone’s eye. Earlier that day a number of locals captured a pair of eels and cooked them over the fire. The lasting words of “tastes like chicken” rang out as players tucked into the local delicacy.

DAY 3


The Amazing Race


A large majority of the past two days had centred around culture and learning. For the final few hours of the camp, it was down to business. Once the swags had been rolled up and cold beach swims had acted as showers, players were split into teams.

The Amazing Race style teams challenge consisted of an 11km course around Warrnambool, tackling hills and the blustery conditions. Along the way, teams were required to solve word challenges that ultimately led them to a final phrase at the finish.

The stunning views across golf courses, beaches and hilly terrain was the perfect setting for competition. Many locals looked on stunned as their heroes jogged through the town, decked out in red, white and blue.

The winners… a group containing Crozier, Wallis, Sweet, Hunter, Roarke Smith, Khamis and Mitch Hannan.

That rounded out the camping experience, filled with culture, togetherness, and fun amongst the group. Many walked away having learnt about Indigenous culture and bringing some of the lessons into everyday life and the 2022 season.

A special thank you must go to the locals of Framlingham, Warrnambool and Yambuk for their hospitality and guidance throughout the two-day experience. Our Bulldogs team will benefit no end ahead of another season and it’s a journey our players won’t forget any time soon.

[Go_Dogs]

Brilliant. Love reading that - sounds like a great camp for the group.

[bornadog]

Brilliant. Love reading that - sounds like a great camp for the group.

If you get a chance there are also some videos on the club website, which are enjoyable to watch.

[bornadog]

Training today

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aU63aMAUYJvk?format=jpg&name=large

[bornadog]

Who is that

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aW1MaQAEC7zE?format=jpg&name=large

[bornadog]

Trimmed up

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aYEGaQAEDfFq?format=jpg&name=large

[bornadog]

Could be the surprise packet for 2022

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aZMZacAMiBCV?format=jpg&name=large

[jazzadogs]

Trimmed up

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aYEGaQAEDfFq?format=jpg&name=large

He looks sick.

[GVGjr]

Who is that

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aW1MaQAEC7zE?format=jpg&name=large

Is it Parker or Dunks?

[GVGjr]

Trimmed up

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aYEGaQAEDfFq?format=jpg&name=large

Did you get into his ear last season?

[comrade]

Who is that

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FK-aW1MaQAEC7zE?format=jpg&name=large

Looks like Dunkley and Gardner.

[Grantysghost]

Looks like Dunkley and Gardner.

Yep that's it.

[jeemak]

Did you get into his ear last season?

The ol' BAD fat shaming program.

[The bulldog tragician]

Welcome to Gunditjmara Country: Bulldogs Pre-Season Camp (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1055274/welcome-to-gunditjmara-country-bulldogs-pre-season-camp)

https://resources.westernbulldogs.com.au/photo-resources/2022/02/04/ddf040f5-5a18-4c10-b704-2ea5d4d77e30/Untitled-1.jpg?width=952&height=592DAY 1


Kaya Warrnambool,


Picture this; a bright blue sky, mist rising from the ocean on a calm February day and the Warrnambool locals out in force and wearing red, white and blue. This is the setting of the Western Bulldogs Pre-Season Camp in the south-west coast of Victoria.

The central theme of this camp was about embracing Indigenous culture and its heritage, with its two young Indigenous stars; Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and new draftee Arthur Jones, and development coach Travis Varcoe leading the group. Over the course of three days, the entire squad and staff would learn more about the history and the background of these two youngsters and what better place to do it then the hometown of Ugle-Hagan.

Greeting the camp group at the picturesque Stingray Bay Beach was a number of the local Indigenous community, eagerly awaiting to perform a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and Indigenous dance. These special moments were encapsulated by two unique performers, the younger brothers of Jamarra. The two loved every minute of performing in front of their idol brother and his teammates. Softly spoken, the pair introduced themselves to the playing group to a raft of applause.

For the final dance of the afternoon, both Arthur and Jamarra joined in, allowing the pair to express themselves in a traditional setting. Jamarra later revealed how special it was for Jones to dance with his family.

The genuine pride of the town was on display with a flurry of Warrnambool locals lapping up their time with the players. Phones were regularly out and Bailey Smith, Marcus Bontempelli and Aaron Naughton were just a few to be popular with lens in hand.

Following the performance, it was off to Yambuk to set up camp for the night. Located on traditional land, the travelling party rolled their swags, tents or in Cody Weightman’s case, a car rooftop tent across the acreage of land. It looked as if the camping store ‘Anaconda’ had a field day, with plenty of swags being rolled out straight from the packet. The coach wasn’t far from being the first to be sorted, while in fading darkness, many found a way to have their tent pitched.

The night was filled with plenty of stories and laughter, but the mosquito spray was out in force. Not many had blood to give by the end of the night, but the balmy conditions made for a peaceful setting for all.


DAY 2


Meeting the Framlingham mob.


Waking up on day two the major question lingered; did the accommodation remain standing. Tick.

233km south-west of the Melbourne CBD sits a rural township by the Hopkins River, Framlingham. The town lies within the traditional lands of KeerrayWoorroong PeekWoorroong people and is home to key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

The Indigenous community population sits at around 200, meaning everybody knows everybody.

Majority of the day was spent touring the sights of Framlingham and the history behind the culture within the town.

First up, a game of Marngrook on the local basketball court. Marngrook' is a word from the language of Gunditjmara people and means ‘game ball.’ Largely similar to Aussie Rules, the game is played with a footy made of possum skin. The local children joined in the anticipated fixture, receiving handballs from their heroes, and scoring goals at will. This epitomised what the camp was all about – to see the smiling faces of youngsters and the joy this visit was bringing the town.

Up next, a boomerang throwing lesson. This was nothing short of organised chaos. A quick demo from a local and one-by-one players attempted to throw and return catch the traditional Indigenous tool. They went everywhere, into trees, the carpark and at times, straight for the group. Safe to say there was no catches made. The challenging skill made for a lot of fun with the wind playing havoc. A few diving efforts from the likes of Zaine Cordy and Arthur Jones created excitement, while the locals made it look easy with several completing catches.


The rest of the Framlingham tour consisted of delving into the history of the Indigenous people, learning different ideas behind their culture and exploring the beautiful surrounds of the town. Outside of the main road is filled with green hills and fresh creeks, which the boys enjoyed discovering.

The afternoon compromised off a makeshift cricket match, a bat, ball and camping chair for wickets. Cars were regularly struck, and laughs were had as the group wound down from a large day of education.

In the evening, Indigenous human rights lawyer Jidah Clark arrived at camp to have a yarn around the campfire, delving into issues of social equality with the group. Topics like belonging, family, love for each other and identity were all covered. Many of the topics resonated with the close-knit group of players with Jidah speaking of the continual battle that the indigenous community face. A pizza van served dinner, but the side dish is what caught everyone’s eye. Earlier that day a number of locals captured a pair of eels and cooked them over the fire. The lasting words of “tastes like chicken” rang out as players tucked into the local delicacy.

DAY 3


The Amazing Race


A large majority of the past two days had centred around culture and learning. For the final few hours of the camp, it was down to business. Once the swags had been rolled up and cold beach swims had acted as showers, players were split into teams.

The Amazing Race style teams challenge consisted of an 11km course around Warrnambool, tackling hills and the blustery conditions. Along the way, teams were required to solve word challenges that ultimately led them to a final phrase at the finish.

The stunning views across golf courses, beaches and hilly terrain was the perfect setting for competition. Many locals looked on stunned as their heroes jogged through the town, decked out in red, white and blue.

The winners… a group containing Crozier, Wallis, Sweet, Hunter, Roarke Smith, Khamis and Mitch Hannan.

That rounded out the camping experience, filled with culture, togetherness, and fun amongst the group. Many walked away having learnt about Indigenous culture and bringing some of the lessons into everyday life and the 2022 season.

A special thank you must go to the locals of Framlingham, Warrnambool and Yambuk for their hospitality and guidance throughout the two-day experience. Our Bulldogs team will benefit no end ahead of another season and it’s a journey our players won’t forget any time soon.

It is so good to see the club produce something well written, with a bit of humour thrown in, and a comparative lack of cliches. Love it.

[Axe Man]

He looks sick.

I wish I looked like that when I'm sick. Or perfectly well for that matter.

[EasternWest]

I wish I looked like that when I'm sick. Or perfectly well for that matter.

Stupid, sexy Stef Martin.

[jeemak]

He looks sick.

Fully sick.

[jazzadogs]

Fully sick.

Yehhhh bra.

I think I'm just used to his neck and pecs being twice the size, looks unusual. He would have dropped considerable weight - wonder if it will show in his durability and endurance.

[jeemak]

Yehhhh bra.

I think I'm just used to his neck and pecs being twice the size, looks unusual. He would have dropped considerable weight - wonder if it will show in his durability and endurance.

It seemed to for Bruce, who admitted he had a lot of trouble adjusting to the amount of running required of him under our/ the Bevo system.

[bornadog]

delete

[hujsh]

1.00


Is there a pic here I don't see? Or are we doing Q-drops now?

[bornadog]

Is there a pic here I don't see? Or are we doing Q-drops now?

Sorry, I am having trouble posting on some threads at the moment. GVGjr is looking into it

[Axe Man]

Is there a pic here I don't see? Or are we doing Q-drops now?

Anything to get his post count up. ;)

[bornadog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_567of0eH7U

[Smads57]

What is wrong with Treloar - was being managed last week and was on sidelines per training photos. Anyone in the know?

[MrMahatma]

What is wrong with Treloar - was being managed last week and was on sidelines per training photos. Anyone in the know?

We’re taking a conservative approach.

[dog town]

We’re taking a conservative approach.

Club has been consistent with saying that he is just having his loads managed. Hint of concern for me, missed a long time leading into finals with his ankle and now another slow build this pre season similar to last year.

Absolute professional and seems lean again just concerned that his body is starting to be a concern. Important to our mix and depth through the middle so really hoping we see him string games together through March.

[Mofra]

Club has been consistent with saying that he is just having his loads managed. Hint of concern for me, missed a long time leading into finals with his ankle and now another slow build this pre season similar to last year.

Absolute professional and seems lean again just concerned that his body is starting to be a concern. Important to our mix and depth through the middle so really hoping we see him string games together through March.
The Saints have Gresham on restricted minutes coming off his achilles injury due (in part) to the grounds being harder in summer.
I suspect the sports boffins have taken that into account with Treloar. He might be doing repeat 400s on the anti-G machine which are a killer anyway *


* Dane Swan used to do repeat 400m runs on the treadmill after training. The slack trainer schtick was BS, he busted his gut during the last 2/3rds of his playing career

[Axe Man]

Photos of today's match sim on the website: here (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/albums/1060872/afl-match-simulation-16-february-2022?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1060872&playlistSize=25)

Interesting that Cordy appears to be playing forward. Good to see O'Brien with the intercept.

https://i.postimg.cc/5tg8wnTC/Capture.png (https://postimg.cc/v111yLQY)

[bornadog]

Also Treloar playing in match simulation

[Grantysghost]

Check out the fear in Bailey's eyes.

https://i.postimg.cc/8cn4G8s9/Capture.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Grantysghost]

Is there more match sim this year than normal? Gut feel is yes but I have a really bad memory.

[Grantysghost]

Photos of today's match sim on the website: here (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/albums/1060872/afl-match-simulation-16-february-2022?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1060872&playlistSize=25)

Interesting that Cordy appears to be playing forward. Good to see O'Brien with the intercept.

https://i.postimg.cc/5tg8wnTC/Capture.png (https://postimg.cc/v111yLQY)

Caleb no crash hat.

[comrade]

Photos of today's match sim on the website: here (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/albums/1060872/afl-match-simulation-16-february-2022?modal=true&type=gallery&playlistId=1060872&playlistSize=25)

Interesting that Cordy appears to be playing forward. Good to see O'Brien with the intercept.

https://i.postimg.cc/5tg8wnTC/Capture.png (https://postimg.cc/v111yLQY)

Has Bevo finally accepted that Cordy just isn’t an AFL defender?

[Mitcha]

Even as a forward Cordy caught two steps behind!!

[Grantysghost]

Has Bevo finally accepted that Cordy just isn’t an AFL defender?

Mightve been playing the Schache role on the other side?

Probably wanted both to structure up the same.

Doubt he'd be forward. Although there's always a surprise isn't there.

[comrade]

Even as a forward Cordy caught two steps behind!!

Haha that’s some pretty familiar positioning from Zaine, isn’t it?

[bornadog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSg0InMqJJo&ab_channel=WesternBulldogs

[jazzadogs]

Looked like a forward group of Naughton, JUH, Cordy, Weightman, JJ and Hannan vs defensive group of Keath, Gardner, O'Brien, Duryea, Dale and Daniel.

Would be okay with starting like that in round 1. Although probably swapping out Cordy for the 2nd ruck (i.e. English/Sweet)?

[Grantysghost]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSg0InMqJJo&ab_channel=WesternBulldogs

That's good content thanks Bad.

[bornadog]

That's good content thanks Bad.

Looks like Arty has a turn of speed

[Grantysghost]

Looks like Arty has a turn of speed

Yes promising!

[Mofra]

Ed Richards seemed to be playing in defence - thank god.

[bornadog]

Open training at the Kennel (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1061392/open-training-at-the-kennel)

Western Bulldogs members and fans will have a chance to watch an AFL open training session at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday, February 26.

Preparations are in full swing for the AFL squad, with less than a month until the start of the 2022 AFL season.

The open training session will run from 9am-11am, where fans will also hear from coach Luke Beveridge.

There will be activities for the whole family, including face painting, handball targets, a photo booth and giveaways.

The Bulldog Shop and Barkers Café will be open, and memberships will be available for purchase.

Those in attendance will be required to use the QR code and show a proof of vaccination certificate upon entry, and wear masks when indoors, and outdoors where social distancing isn’t possible.

[azabob]

Interview with Josh Schache - another player who hasn't and won't watch a replay of the grand final.

I am puzzled that the coaches are yet to sit the players down and go through what went wrong.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=959634

[Axe Man]

AFL 2022 Pre-season guide: All the latest from every club (https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/afl-2022-preseason-guide-all-the-latest-from-every-club/news-story/f197d2300af3c805247f906b622dde07)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

NEW RECRUITS

Former Hawthorn forward Tim O’Brien has impressed at Whitten Oval and is set to feature as an intercepting defender at his new club, having trained with the backline group all summer.

NEW POSITIONS

Not so much a new position, but there is a position up for grabs for former No. 1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as a key forward alongside Aaron Naughton after Josh Bruce’s injury late last year.

Ugle-Hagan has put his hand up to step up after playing five AFL games on debut last season.

BACK FROM INJURY

Ed Richards has looked sharp on the training track and playing across halfback during match simulation, having had an injury-interrupted 2021 season which saw him feature in just five games.

DRAFT WATCH

Exciting draftee Sam Darcy is recovering from a foot stress fracture and is being carefully managed.

INJURY ISSUES

The Bulldogs are without key forward Josh Bruce (knee) and small forward Toby McLean (knee) until at least very late in the year.

Small forward Cody Weightman (foot) has been on a modified training program after post-season surgery, as has midfielder Adam Treloar.

ONE MORE THING …

The gates to Whitten Oval have largely been locked over summer, with media being granted only a few brief glimpses of training. What secrets does coach Luke Beveridge have up his sleeve?

[Grantysghost]

Interesting last paragraph. Could explain the lack of intra club vision.

[GVGjr]

Interesting last paragraph. Could explain the lack of intra club vision.

They say it like it's a recent thing.

I hear at Carlton you can't watch training without your membership card.

[Mofra]

They say it like it's a recent thing.

I hear at Carlton you can't watch training without your membership card.
The day we follow &^%$ing Carlton as a club is the day we may as well fold

[Bulldog Joe]

They say it like it's a recent thing.

I hear at Carlton you can't watch training without your membership card.

It is a recent thing. It has only been happening since 2015 pre season. Catching on in the 8th year seems pretty good for most of those masquerading as sports journalists.

[azabob]

They say it like it's a recent thing.

I hear at Carlton you can't watch training without your membership card.

That is an ok idea.

If I was the owner of the Barkers Cafe I would be equally frustrated as us supporters. Imagine the coffee and food specials they could run whilst training is on.

[comrade]

What does Bevo have up his sleeve? Not a decent ruck set up, that’s for certain.

[Prince Imperial]

That is an ok idea.

If I was the owner of the Barkers Cafe I would be equally frustrated as us supporters. Imagine the coffee and food specials they could run whilst training is on.

The club operates it now thanks to Peter Gordon and his wife I believe.

[Mofra]

What does Bevo have up his sleeve? Not a decent ruck set up, that’s for certain.
I would have though 6-6-6 cuts out some of the need for secret squirrel type stuff.

In fairness, we did jump the competition with 'handball club' in 2016 and Bevo has coached 50% of Bulldogs finals wins since 1925 so if anyone deserves a bit of trust, it's Bevo

[Mofra]

The club operates it now thanks to Peter Gordon and his wife I believe.
50/50 ownership split with Shane Delia?

[comrade]

I would have though 6-6-6 cuts out some of the need for secret squirrel type stuff.

In fairness, we did jump the competition with 'handball club' in 2016 and Bevo has coached 50% of Bulldogs finals wins since 1925 so if anyone deserves a bit of trust, it's Bevo

That’s true. He also has one of the most talented lists we’ve ever compiled at his disposal (including the best Bulldog I’ve ever seen).

[MrMahatma]

Interview with Josh Schache - another player who hasn't and won't watch a replay of the grand final.

I am puzzled that the coaches are yet to sit the players down and go through what went wrong.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=959634

What could Josh have done differently?

I mean, as harsh at it is,
Bont
Libba
Jacko
Stef

They’re the mids who (IIRC) were in the guts when we got our pants pulled down in the 3rd. It’s a team game and you win as a team and lose as one, but is there a lot for Schache to learn from our mids getting smashed over 7-8 mins and our season being taken away?

I’m sure the sports psychologist is all over it and unless there’s a really practical reason why the players need to relive it, it should be left up to them to decide. I’m scarred. It wasn’t my life’s work or dream that fell by the wayside that night. I sure as hell won’t ever watch it.

[GVGjr]

I would have though 6-6-6 cuts out some of the need for secret squirrel type stuff.

In fairness, we did jump the competition with 'handball club' in 2016 and Bevo has coached 50% of Bulldogs finals wins since 1925 so if anyone deserves a bit of trust, it's Bevo

FWIW, I think the handball club was named in 2016 but we were doing it in 2015.

[azabob]

What could Josh have done differently?

I mean, as harsh at it is,
Bont
Libba
Jacko
Stef

They’re the mids who (IIRC) were in the guts when we got our pants pulled down in the 3rd. It’s a team game and you win as a team and lose as one, but is there a lot for Schache to learn from our mids getting smashed over 7-8 mins and our season being taken away?

I’m sure the sports psychologist is all over it and unless there’s a really practical reason why the players need to relive it, it should be left up to them to decide. I’m scarred. It wasn’t my life’s work or dream that fell by the wayside that night. I sure as hell won’t ever watch it.

My comment is directed to the coaching staff.

A practical reason to review it would be to figure out the F**K happened and what we should've done as team differently.

We are still promoting to play with freedom and our strengths. There surely has to be a balance between freedom and defence?

We are clearly at different ends of the spectrum if the grand final should be reviewed or not.

[Grantysghost]

Deleted wrong thread

[Mofra]

The practise match will tell us a bit about how we're planning for the season.

I do wonder where Zaine Cordy fits in with all this. Reports that he's training with the forwards suggests a potential emphasis on intercept marking, both with Zaine playing a defensive forward role to combat this and Tim O'Brien brought in specifically to provide intercept marking capacity in the back half.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

The practise match will tell us a bit about how we're planning for the season.

I do wonder where Zaine Cordy fits in with all this. Reports that he's training with the forwards suggests a potential emphasis on intercept marking, both with Zaine playing a defensive forward role to combat this and Tim O'Brien brought in specifically to provide intercept marking capacity in the back half.

I don't mind it, mainly because I don't think Cordy should be in the top 24/5 players picked each week. He has always been a terrible 1-v-1 defender and despite his efforts, he just doesn't have the strength or the mobility to be effective in the role.

Problem is, the last time he played a negating forward role, Grundy took 10 marks. (Despite this, Cordy was OK).

[Mofra]

I don't mind it, mainly because I don't think Cordy should be in the top 24/5 players picked each week. He has always been a terrible 1-v-1 defender and despite his efforts, he just doesn't have the strength or the mobility to be effective in the role.

Problem is, the last time he played a negating forward role, Grundy took 10 marks. (Despite this, Cordy was OK).
Given he had 11 games to his name at that point I don't think we can hang him on that.
TBH I think Zaine gets a bit of the 'Daniel Cross' treatment - most of the focus is on what he doesn't do well and very little focus on what he does do well.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Given he had 11 games to his name at that point I don't think we can hang him on that.
TBH I think Zaine gets a bit of the 'Daniel Cross' treatment - most of the focus is on what he doesn't do well and very little focus on what he does do well.

Bolded is a fair point. Although I would argue he isn't exactly any stronger or quicker than he was then.

What does he do well? I know I've been riding him for a few years now but besides his competitiveness, I just don't see it. I don't mind him as a back up player but at the elite level it's about maximising the strengths of your players/list and I just don't think he's got enough tools. For all his flaws, somebody like Gards is at least very quick with a long reach to spoil the ball.

I would like to see Cordy trained/shifted forward though. It's his best chance of featuring more often IMO.

[Grantysghost]

Bolded is a fair point. Although I would argue he isn't exactly any stronger or quicker than he was then.

What does he do well? I know I've been riding him for a few years now but besides his competitiveness, I just don't see it. I don't mind him as a back up player but at the elite level it's about maximising the strengths of your players/list and I just don't think he's got enough tools. For all his flaws, somebody like Gards is at least very quick with a long reach to spoil the ball.

I would like to see Cordy trained/shifted forward though. It's his best chance of featuring more often IMO.

Great tackler.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

What does Bevo have up his sleeve? Not a decent ruck set up, that’s for certain.

I had a dream that Martin will be out injured for first game.

[Prince Imperial]

50/50 ownership split with Shane Delia?

Not that I'm aware of. Brett Montgomery and his wife were part owners but sold their share after his departure. The club now owns the business.

[bornadog]

Open training at the Kennel (https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1061392/open-training-at-the-kennel)

Western Bulldogs members and fans will have a chance to watch an AFL open training session at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday, February 26.

Preparations are in full swing for the AFL squad, with less than a month until the start of the 2022 AFL season.

The open training session will run from 9am-11am, where fans will also hear from coach Luke Beveridge.

There will be activities for the whole family, including face painting, handball targets, a photo booth and giveaways.

The Bulldog Shop and Barkers Café will be open, and memberships will be available for purchase.

Those in attendance will be required to use the QR code and show a proof of vaccination certificate upon entry, and wear masks when indoors, and outdoors where social distancing isn’t possible.

Anyone going?

[Vred]

Anyone going?

Ill be there

[Hotdog60]

Any insights for us in the other states? I see Bevo held a Q and A at the ground was it just the usual spiel or anything note worthy.
Any news is good news. Thanks