Sharp Axes

[GVGjr]

Bob is another Bevo cult member, nothing for him in this footy department.

Not to sidetrack the thread but I wouldn't be keen to add Bob to our football department either.

[Go_Dogs]

Just read Boyd is heading back to Collingwood. Clearly highly rated.

[azabob]

Just read Boyd is heading back to Collingwood. Clearly highly rated.

Dogs playing the long game. Now we don't have to pay for his relocation costs when he takes the top job. Serious, not serious.

[Sedat]

Bob is another Bevo cult member, nothing for him in this footy department.


Not to sidetrack the thread but I wouldn't be keen to add Bob to our football department either.

What did Bob actually achieve at Freo in a development coaching role? It looks like he was demoted in his 3rd year there, saw the writing on the wall and came back home this year. Not sure there are any other clubs lining up for his coaching services - furthermore, I'm not sure he is even looking for any coaching roles now.

[GVGjr]

What did Bob actually achieve at Freo in a development coaching role? It looks like he was demoted in his 3rd year there, saw the writing on the wall and came back home this year. Not sure there are any other clubs lining up for his coaching services - furthermore, I'm not sure he is even looking for any coaching roles now.

He doesn't appear to have many runs on the board. Sure he was fantastic for us as a player and captain but outside of that I don't think he's achieved anything of note which would scream lets get him back too the club.

[Rocket Science]

I'm sensing a lot of podcasting and occasional Front Bar cameos in Bob's immediate future.

It's little more than 'gut feel' musing but gee getting some Matty Boyd back in the mix at some point strikes me as a good thing for a squad with a tendency to leave stones unturned.

[bornadog]

What did Bob actually achieve at Freo in a development coaching role? It looks like he was demoted in his 3rd year there, saw the writing on the wall and came back home this year. Not sure there are any other clubs lining up for his coaching services - furthermore, I'm not sure he is even looking for any coaching roles now.

His title was : Skills Specialist and Head of Leadership

[bulldogtragic]

His title was : Skills Specialist and Head of Leadership

But he started as: Head of Football Operations and Performance… then becoming the head of their AFLW and then losing that too to that role finally in that role as an assistant…

Seems like he lost responsibility every year. Year after year.

[Mantis]

The changes now should be on field. Cleary the bottom 6 in the best 22 are still not up to scratch. We don't have the depth we thought as evidenced in the elimination final. I have said this all year and we did have some improvement. Hopefully the younger players take the next step.

It's all good & well to say our bottom 6 aren't up to scratch, but when exactly do our top 16 wear some of the blame for the shitful performance in the EF?

By most pundit's accounts only 2-3 of our top 16 players would've scored higher than a 6/10 in this game which leaves a big load to be carried by the bottom 6.

Unless the likes of Bont, Timid, Libba, Cody, Marra, Liam, Treloar, Ed, etc. perform at a consistent level it won't matter how good our best 6 are.

[bornadog]

But he started as: Head of Football Operations and Performance… then becoming the head of their AFLW and then losing that too to that role finally in that role as an assistant…

Seems like he lost responsibility every year. Year after year.

I wouldn't be interested in him at all.

[bornadog]

It's all good & well to say our bottom 6 aren't up to scratch, but when exactly do our top 16 wear some of the blame for the shitful performance in the EF?

By most pundit's accounts only 2-3 of our top 16 players would've scored higher than a 6/10 in this game which leaves a big load to be carried by the bottom 6.

Unless the likes of Bont, Timid, Libba, Cody, Marra, Liam, Treloar, Ed, etc. perform at a consistent level it won't matter how good our best 6 are.

I am talking about the whole year and it was shown up in the EF

[Sedat]

But he started as: Head of Football Operations and Performance? then becoming the head of their AFLW and then losing that too to that role finally in that role as an assistant?

Seems like he lost responsibility every year. Year after year.
That last title has strong 'Utopia' vibes

[Rocco Jones]

It's all good & well to say our bottom 6 aren't up to scratch, but when exactly do our top 16 wear some of the blame for the shitful performance in the EF?

By most pundit's accounts only 2-3 of our top 16 players would've scored higher than a 6/10 in this game which leaves a big load to be carried by the bottom 6.

Unless the likes of Bont, Timid, Libba, Cody, Marra, Liam, Treloar, Ed, etc. perform at a consistent level it won't matter how good our best 6 are.

Totally.

In general, I believe the effect of the bottom 6 are overly discussed by fans/media. Having guns and/or great structures around you makes the bottom 6 look better. Not saying they aren't important, just that your guns are way more important.

I created a points margin thread a week or so ago. We improved a lot in the second half of the seasons but our 4 losses where all over 6 goals. During these losses Bont, English, Libba, Cody, Liam Jones and Ed all really struggled. Each of them probably had 3-4 of their worst 5 games of the season in those big losses.

Lobb and Adz probably our best two in those four games by a fair distance.

[Sedat]

Totally.

In general, I believe the effect of the bottom 6 are overly discussed by fans/media. Having guns and/or great structures around you makes the bottom 6 look better. Not saying they aren't important, just that your guns are way more important.

I created a points margin thread a week or so ago. We improved a lot in the second half of the seasons but our 4 losses where all over 6 goals. During these losses Bont, English, Libba, Cody, Liam Jones and Ed all really struggled. Each of them probably had 3-4 of their worst 5 games of the season in those big losses.

Lobb and Adz probably our best two in those four games by a fair distance.
I guess none of us were banking on Bont having his worst ever game since he was 18yo. All the others mentioned by you above really struggled as well - you aren't winning anything when your top tier are all poor on a given night.

The why is what matters. Why are our senior players so poor semi-regularly, and do they have the ability to fight through poor starts in games to contribute later on? Brisbane had many terrible senior players on Saturday night but they willed themselves to become big contributors as the game wore on. Likewise Sydney did in the QF as well - guys like Warner and Gulden were awful for most of that game but absolutely tore it to shreds late.

[bornadog]

Totally.

In general, I believe the effect of the bottom 6 are overly discussed by fans/media.

When your bottom players get 5 to 8 disposals you are playing with fewer players. Hawks bottom players only Chol (beaten by Lobb) and Gunston (cooked) didn't have double figures. It makes a big difference to a team effort which we didn't have in the final.

[Rocco Jones]

Gun Bulldogs in losses
- Bont: nearly all of them he struggled with tag and found a way back into it going forward and kicking goals to end up with a 2 goals + 20ish disposals game. However game was lost by the time he got going.
- Cody: combined 0.2 in last 4 losses
- English: in reverse order= well beaten by Meek, injured early and well beaten by ROB, came back as the game went on but well beaten by Sweet early when the game was there to be won, pretty even with Big O but thought English was beaten early when the game was largely decided
- Ed: down on form in each of last 3 losses he played in
- Liam Jones: struggled a bit in general post injury so not a struggling in losses thing as such
- Libba: similar to Jones as perhaps more of a form thing than how he went in losses

[bornadog]

Gun Bulldogs in losses
- Bont: nearly all of them he struggled with tag and found a way back into it going forward and kicking goals to end up with a 2 goals + 20ish disposals game. However game was lost by the time he got going.
- Cody: combined 0.2 in last 4 losses
- English: in reverse order= well beaten by Meek, injured early and well beaten by ROB, came back as the game went on but well beaten by Sweet early when the game was there to be won, pretty even with Big O but thought English was beaten early when the game was largely decided
- Ed: down on form in each of last 3 losses he played in
- Liam Jones: struggled a bit in general post injury so not a struggling in losses thing as such
- Libba: similar to Jones as perhaps more of a form thing than how he went in losses

Yes agree, the last 4 losses were bad, and we need to work on why it happened, so we can be better next year.

[Mantis]

I am talking about the whole year and it was shown up in the EF

I'm going to let you die on your hill and completely ignore your posts, which is ****ing hard given how much you post.

I'll feel better for it.

[GVGjr]

His title was : Skills Specialist and Head of Leadership

That's where he finished. He didn't move West for that role.

[GVGjr]

Every team has a questionable last 6. Good sides just define their roles a bit better or get more from them.
Thats more on our coaches to find the improvement

[bornadog]

That's where he finished. He didn't move West for that role.
Yes I know, but he wasn’t in a Development role

[bornadog]

Every team has a questionable last 6. Good sides just define their roles a bit better or get more from them.
Thats more on our coaches to find the improvement
Agree. I was originally answering Azabobs question on what needs to change, but somehow it got lost in translation.

[GVGjr]

Yes I know, but he wasn’t in a Development role

I don't think there is any question he's been moved to reduced roles at Fremantle which is an indication to me that he wouldn't be an upgrade for our footy department. I'm not a fan of our media manager, perhaps Bob might be suited to that role :)

[bornadog]

I don't think there is any question he's been moved to reduced roles at Fremantle which is an indication to me that he wouldn't be an upgrade for our footy department. I'm not a fan of our media manager, perhaps Bob might be suited to that role :)


I wouldn't be interested in him at all.

yep agreed

[jeemak]

I thought our bottom six or so players were better this year by and large. On the eye test they didn't struggle as much as the seemed to after 2021.

They'll only ever be as good as the better players and the system supporting them though. It's the same for all teams.

[SonofScray]

I think all our bottom six players need is reassurance, some belief in themselves shored up by the unconditional love and loyalty of the coach and then, when the time is right, a great narrative hook that will spur them on, out of nowhere to an incredible 4 weeks of footy that will help us win a flag, despite not being the best team in it.