Bulldogs V Bombers - Round 5, 12/4/24 Marvel Stadium 7.40PM AEST

[angelopetraglia]

Tim English

13 touches
6 clangers
Zero contested marks
Frees for 0
Frees against 3
Hit outs to adv 4 (Goldy 7, Draper 5)

More importantly. Intangible fierceness and competitivness at the contest. Not seen all night.

[angelopetraglia]

Cannot stand Geelong and Essendon and the Scott twins. Painful couple of weeks

I know someone who went to the same primary school as them. In my area. They were absolute renowned menaces and bullies. The person I know is still scarred from how they tormented him as a child. He was relieved when they got their scholarships to St Kevins and left the school early.

[angelopetraglia]

How many times can we say the same thing about English though? The fact some still think he's worth anything above $700k is ridiculous. He won the AA role by default last year because many of the rucks were injured for periods of the year, or in the case of Gawn/Grundy, spent half the year cancelling each other out.

He's a midfielder trapped in a rucks body. He lets us down in the same way over and over again.

Agree 100%. So we know that. How have we put ourselves in a position where we don't have one physical ruckman on our list. It is staggering.

If it would not destroy his value as free agent, I think he should be dropped for Lobb next week. Let Lobb give us some competitiveness like he did against Geelong in the last round last week.

[angelopetraglia]

How was it gutless?

Libba was open and he hit him hard, fairly though? no issue with that from me. How we responded was gutless.

The game is over. Libba is a sitting duck. He smashes him with a tackle from behind and whacks him across the vunreable part of his side/bacj near his kidneys it looked like to my naked eye. I have not seen a replay. To hit someone from behind doesn't take any courage, gutless may be too harsh. But it just wasn't necessary to try and harm someone in that way, especially when the game is over.

[kruder]

Our defenders were bloody awful under the high ball all night including English when he went down to help out. I think this aspect really hurt us which then put pressure on our small backs that continued their poor rebounding form of last week.

It was scary how bad we were after half time, we just had no weapons, no composure and absolutely no run from behind at all.

I cant see Bevo lasting much longer if the form continues, we have to make a move on him early there just is too much at stake in regards to list management to have a circus going into the end of the year. As we all thought a big few weeks ahead.

[angelopetraglia]

I love Bont. Probably too much. Maybe it is too much to expect miracles from him every week.

But where was our beloved captain tonight? (Feel like I'm shooting Bambi),

Is he injured? 17 touches from 81% game time. No goals. Only eight contested possesions.

He played like a mere mortal. We needed him badly tonight. He really didn't have any influence.

[Happy Days]

How was it gutless?

Libba was open and he hit him hard, fairly though? no issue with that from me. How we responded was gutless.

Don?t think you can ever accuse Stringer of being gutless either.

[angelopetraglia]

Our defenders were bloody awful under the high ball all night including English when he went down to help out. I think this aspect really hurt us which then put pressure on our small backs that continued its poor rebounding form of last week.

It was scary how bad we were after half time, we just had no weapons, no composure and absolutely no run from behind at all.

I cant see Bevo lasting much longer if the form continues, we have to make a move on him early there just is too much at stake in regards to list management to have a circus going into the end of the year. As we all thought a big few weeks ahead.

We looked shaky. They were on the back foot as we kept losing the territory battle from clearances. But we did not look assured under the ball all night. Besides Marra and Darcy, we were comprehsnively beaten in the air tonight all over the ground.

[angelopetraglia]

Don?t think you can ever accuse Stringer of being gutless either.

That is true. He did very close to us at one stage and he is definiltey had too many pies.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I know someone who went to the same primary school as them. In my area. They were absolute renowned menaces and bullies. The person I know is still scarred from how they tormented him as a child. He was relieved when they got their scholarships to St Kevins and left the school early.

Thanks Anptrglia for the laugh.
I met a guy bit older'n me in Frankstin, ex journalist, small frame was playing on the peninsula against a young guy too cocky and damaging for his liking, so he cleaned him up.
The kid's brother after that gave him hell.
Leigh and Kelvin Matthews.
Hard players seem to make good coaches

[azabob]

I love Bont. Probably too much. Maybe it is too much to expect miracles from him every week.

But where was our beloved captain tonight? (Feel like I'm shooting Bambi),

Is he injured? 17 touches from 81% game time. No goals. Only eight contested possesions.

He played like a mere mortal. We needed him badly tonight. He really didn't have any influence.

Stand down AP, stand down.
Clearly he is carrying the ankle/leg issue from the Gold Coast game. He shouldnt have played against the eagles.

[ReLoad]

Dear my Beloved Bulldogs, I think we need a break, I feel like no matter how much I love you, we just cant seem to connect the way we used to, its not that I don't love you, I do, but something doesn't feel right.

I think we've lost our chemistry, its probably not you, its me, maybe Ive changed? maybe that amazing and incredible night in 2016 is something we will never recapture?

I think our relationship changed in 2021, at the 17 minute mark of the third quarter, something happened, something deep, something dark, and I think it has tainted us, and our courses have changed direction.

Maybe my love is misplaced, you give me glimpses, glimpses of a love returned, a love so amazing my heart skips a beat with the promise of the future, but it seems you take that for granted? then you treat our love with nothing short of disdain and contempt.

I hope one day we can fall in love again, what we had was truly special.

[angelopetraglia]

Thanks Anptrglia for the laugh.
I met a guy bit older'n me in Frankstin, ex journalist, small frame was playing on the peninsula against a young guy too cocky and damaging for his liking, so he cleaned him up.
The kid's brother after that gave him hell.
Leigh and Kelvin Matthews.
Hard players seem to make good coaches

Yes. Angry, hard footballers go OK as coaches. Sheedy. Malthouse. Matthews. Clarkson. Worsfold. Hardwick. Thompson. Walls.

[angelopetraglia]

Dear my Beloved Bulldogs, I think we need a break, I feel like no matter how much I love you, we just cant seem to connect the way we used to, its not that I don't love you, I do, but something doesn't feel right.

I think we've lost our chemistry, its probably not you, its me, maybe Ive changed? maybe that amazing and incredible night in 2016 is something we will never recapture?

I think our relationship changed in 2021, at the 17 minute mark of the third quarter, something happened, something deep, something dark, and I think it has tainted us, and our courses have changed direction.

Maybe my love is misplaced, you give me glimpses, glimpses of a love returned, a love so amazing my heart skips a beat with the promise of the future, but it seems you take that for granted? then you treat our love with nothing short of disdain and contempt.

I hope one day we can fall in love again, what we had was truly special.

You have summarised well how I feel. Good post.

[angelopetraglia]

Stand down AP, stand down.
Clearly he is carrying the ankle/leg issue from the Gold Coast game. He shouldnt have played against the eagles.

Understand that. But he had 35 touches last week. Maybe multiple six day breaks have allowed his ankle to pull up properley.

[angelopetraglia]

Wathcing highlights. Gee whiz they nailed some big set shots. Some serious conversions. They took their chances.

They kicked 15.6. Nailed them from everywhere.

[Dry Rot]

Bulldogs Tom Liberatore says he 'lost balance' after appearing to collapse against Essendon

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-12/afl-round-five-western-bulldogs-essendon-bombers-live-blog/103702680

[Eastdog]

Went to the game. A frustrating night. The Bombers were a lot harder around the ball tonight. We were close on the scoreboard for 3 quarters but once again our kicking at goal let us down again! Jamarra had a good night kicking 3 goals.

The final quarter was poor and we just look tired and there was no will to win at all.

Was speaking with Prince Imperial at the game and we are just not that bullish on Tim English. We just need to see more from him which we aren't getting at the moment.

Hate losing to the local enemy.

We move on back to Marvel on Thursday night against the Saints.

[angelopetraglia]

Bevo

-We missed some opportunity early to put some pressure on the scoreboard.
-Behind closed doors we were bullish about our chances, we just didn't get anything going
-They got a stranglehold with their pressure and we didn't handle it very well
-Centre bounce was an important part of the night. They came out too clean at times.
-Centre bounce before this year we were measuring up really well, they were too good for us in there tonight
-We gave away too many free kicks in the first quarter, historically we have been a disciplined side, it has gone south in the comparititives
-Give Essendon credit, they were first to the ball
-We missed nine set shots, you can't put it down to youth and the evolution of the group, it wins and loses games
-Where are you at as a team? I talk to them about how much we believe in them. I tell our supporters about the possibilities. The players have created pressure for spots. That's OK if you are a formidable team. At the moment we are not.
-Is Libba OK? He is fine. He has been looked after. There is zero concussion. He is going to be fine.
-Bailey Dale was the sub? It was just a form thing.
-JOD will need to be in the team against a taller Saints team
-Asked would you think about putting Naughton back. He just told the journo. You know better than that. Next question.
-Objective was to give Sam Darcy more game time tongiht. We knew it was going to be challenge with their rucks tonight. That had an influence out of the centre.
-Nine players under 50 games. Do you have more eye on the future compared to previous seasons? I will always make decisions for the now. We need to make sure that we give opporunity to players who are going to be important to us in the future. However, in no way we are saying it is not for next season or the one after. We are doing it for the now.
-On Caleb. There is a finite number of minutes you can play as a mid. We have gone away from playing CD as a half back flanker.
-It is a steep learning curve for Sando, he is learning all the time. He understands he may be that guy that comes off the ground.

[jeemak]

The soft underbelly of the players was exposed in every which-way tonight and Beveridge is going to pay for it if as predictably as ever said players don't stand up for him next week. Let alone themselves.

This is the time where we need our supporters to be as militant as football supporters can be in expecting a bigger effort from those who take the paddock. There just isn't an excuse for serving up the level of dross we witnessed tonight. These arseholes have been dishing it up too consistently in recent years and they need to know it's not OK. They need to know as well paid professionals they can't be so selfish, and unprofessional time and again.

Bevo will wear the brunt of it in what is likely his last or second last week as our coach, and that's probably fair enough. But the players have blood on their hands now. They are the least likeable, followable bunch of players I've ever had to get behind and at times I despise them.

[Happy Days]

The soft underbelly of the players was exposed in every which-way tonight and Beveridge is going to pay for it if as predictably as ever said players don't stand up for him next week. Let alone themselves.

This is the time where we need our supporters to be as militant as football supporters can be in expecting a bigger effort from those who take the paddock. There just isn't an excuse for serving up the level of dross we witnessed tonight. These arseholes have been dishing it up too consistently in recent years and they need to know it's not OK. They need to know as well paid professionals they can't be so selfish, and unprofessional time and again.

Bevo will wear the brunt of it in what is likely his last or second last week as our coach, and that's probably fair enough. But the players have blood on their hands now. They are the least likeable, followable bunch of players I've ever had to get behind and at times I despise them.

Easy to say from your ivory tower

[jeemak]

Easy to say from your ivory tower

Hahaha, I don't know how serious you are. But I like it anyway.

Ol' money bags Jeemak couldn't last more than a half amongst the footy crowd tonight. Like you've always said, big groups of footy blokes are the worst and I was surrounded by them.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

The soft underbelly of the players was exposed in every which-way tonight and Beveridge is going to pay for it if as predictably as ever said players don't stand up for him next week. Let alone themselves.

This is the time where we need our supporters to be as militant as football supporters can be in expecting a bigger effort from those who take the paddock. There just isn't an excuse for serving up the level of dross we witnessed tonight. These arseholes have been dishing it up too consistently in recent years and they need to know it's not OK. They need to know as well paid professionals they can't be so selfish, and unprofessional time and again.

Bevo will wear the brunt of it in what is likely his last or second last week as our coach, and that's probably fair enough. But the players have blood on their hands now. They are the least likeable, followable bunch of players I've ever had to get behind and at times I despise them.

Good post.

My lack of enjoyment stems more from this group than Bevo. Unfortunately it's just the list he's assembled, but this core is impossible to like.

We've seen worse teams but players like Morris, Boyd, Picken, Clay, Dahlahus, Dickson and co gave you everything they had most weeks. Even when they were apart of average teams, we had an identity. We had something worth coming to watch.

This group gives nothing. It's Bont/Libba and not a whole lot else. There's no identity. No pride. No purpose.

I've never enjoyed footy less than I have these last 2-3 years.

[Happy Days]

Hahaha, I don't know how serious you are. But I like it anyway.

I am never serious unless it is the 3rd quarter at Marvel Stadium and there’s a kid to scare by yelling at the umpires.

[angelopetraglia]

Please forgive me for my sins God.

Bont didn't take a single mark tonight. Very weird night from him.

[Happy Days]

Please forgive me for my sins God.

Bont didn't take a single mark tonight. Very weird night from him.

Actual worst game of his life. At any level of any sport.

[ledge]

So if Bevo goes at some stage who is on the radar ?
Cameron ? Lade ?
Any assistants around anyone knows of that could be of worth ?

[Sedat]

The soft underbelly of the players was exposed in every which-way tonight and Beveridge is going to pay for it if as predictably as ever said players don't stand up for him next week. Let alone themselves.

This is the time where we need our supporters to be as militant as football supporters can be in expecting a bigger effort from those who take the paddock. There just isn't an excuse for serving up the level of dross we witnessed tonight. These arseholes have been dishing it up too consistently in recent years and they need to know it's not OK. They need to know as well paid professionals they can't be so selfish, and unprofessional time and again.

Bevo will wear the brunt of it in what is likely his last or second last week as our coach, and that's probably fair enough. But the players have blood on their hands now. They are the least likeable, followable bunch of players I've ever had to get behind and at times I despise them.
The media have blood in the nostrils and are intent on settling scores with Bevo whenever we perform poorly. But tonight's performance was all on the players for mine.

[jeemak]

If I could retract a comment, it would be calling the players arseholes. That's also not OK and I don't actually think they are. Apologies.

[angelopetraglia]

Marcus Bontempelli has played 221 games.

His rating for this game was the 9th worst since debut. So according to the stats, this game was in the bottom 4% of what he has produced over his entire career.

Last week was his third best ever. So in the top 0.5% of the games he has ever played.

So he has gone from the 99.5% percentalie to the bottom 4% percentatile in one week. That makes zero sense. He just can't be right. Must be carrying something or something was not right during the week.

He has only not taken a mark in seven games across his entire career. Tonight was one of those games.

[Happy Days]

If I could retract a comment, it would be calling the players arseholes. That's also not OK and I don't actually think they are. Apologies.

Coward.

[jeemak]

Coward.

I know you look up to me but I never once said I wasn't a coward.

[Happy Days]

I know you look up to me but I never once said I wasn't a coward.

Easy to look up to an ivory tower.

[jeemak]

Easy to look up to an ivory tower.

Just testing out how much bait's left on the hook now aren't you! :D

[josie]

You have summarised well how I feel. Good post.

Yep ReLoad, thought same as Angelop.

I?m feeling resigned. I?d much rather be angry.

[SonofScray]

Expend lots of energy for **** all reward.
Get bullied physically.
Give up a run of goals.
Fail to cash in on momentum swings.
Roll over.

Margin tonight might as well have been 15 goals. We we never in it after quarter time.

Blood needs to be spilled.

[Happy Days]

Just testing out how much bait's left on the hook now aren't you! :D

Smiley face on the end there. Weak willed. This guy will never make it.

[jeemak]

Smiley face on the end there. Weak willed. This guy will never make it.

That was closer than I'd care to admit.

[merantau]

When I think about last night and my history as a supporter I come up with the following:
- for a large part of my Bulldog life I hoped we would win games. When we didn't I was disappointed of course . But I was also heartened by good performances which resulted in narrow loses which fueled more hope.

- since 2016 I expect to win every game because we have the cattle capable of mixing it with the best. But the last seven years have increased my disappointment exponentially. I never used to get angry about players: I do now and I don't like it.

- last night was a watershed performance. We simply have to draw a line in the sand otherwise this season is blown after five rounds. It's shocking to say that but it is the truth.

[jazzadogs]

The soft underbelly of the players was exposed in every which-way tonight and Beveridge is going to pay for it if as predictably as ever said players don't stand up for him next week. Let alone themselves.

This is the time where we need our supporters to be as militant as football supporters can be in expecting a bigger effort from those who take the paddock. There just isn't an excuse for serving up the level of dross we witnessed tonight. These arseholes have been dishing it up too consistently in recent years and they need to know it's not OK. They need to know as well paid professionals they can't be so selfish, and unprofessional time and again.

Bevo will wear the brunt of it in what is likely his last or second last week as our coach, and that's probably fair enough. But the players have blood on their hands now. They are the least likeable, followable bunch of players I've ever had to get behind and at times I despise them.

I couldn't agree more with this. I don't think we lost through coaching, we lost through lazy players who make dumb and selfish decisions.

We have unfortunately assembled a squad of players who have repeatedly shown us that they are not up for the fight. Sacking Bevo doesn't change the list.

[Grantysghost]

Dons had their best defender Ridley out, one of their best this season Perkins, 2mp also.

The more you dissect it the worse it gets.

[Grantysghost]

I couldn't agree more with this. I don't think we lost through coaching, we lost through lazy players who make dumb and selfish decisions.

We have unfortunately assembled a squad of players who have repeatedly shown us that they are not up for the fight. Sacking Bevo doesn't change the list.
I don't think it's an either - or scenario. I agree with Jee but it's a little from colomn a a little from b

[chef]

I couldn't agree more with this. I don't think we lost through coaching, we lost through lazy players who make dumb and selfish decisions.

We have unfortunately assembled a squad of players who have repeatedly shown us that they are not up for the fight. Sacking Bevo doesn't change the list.

Maybe they just aren't buying in to what the coach is selling anymore. Dale, Daniel and Macrae all being 'out of form' may suggest this.

[azabob]

Bulldogs Tom Liberatore says he 'lost balance' after appearing to collapse against Essendon

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-12/afl-round-five-western-bulldogs-essendon-bombers-live-blog/103702680

That is extremely concerning footage.

[The Underdog]

So, last night was my mum's birthday. By the time I'd been out to dinner and dropped my son off at a friends, I got home and it was 3/4 time. Do I turn the game on I thought. Or do I watch some old 30 Rock episodes before bed? 30 Rock is such a great show and so reliable. Choose life.

[SonofScray]

Perhaps my reaction was so feral because it was essendon, and the roadworks meant I didn’t get out of the car park at Docklands until 1am….


No that was just salt into the wound.


AWFUL night

[GVGjr]

I'm angry at the way we lost last night. I can handle losses, you can't be a Dogs supporter and not have that, but we were beaten all over the ground and didn't fight as hard as we should expect and that's what disappointed me the most.

Can we answer the challenge? I hope so but the signs aren't great.

[Danjul]

Dons had their best defender Ridley out, one of their best this season Perkins, 2mp also.

The more you dissect it the worse it gets.my problem is not with who played but their lack of intelligence when they had the ball. On every line the players simply repeat the same bad play. It is the AFL version of groundhog night.

[GVGjr]

Perhaps my reaction was so feral because it was essendon, and the roadworks meant I didn’t get out of the car park at Docklands until 1am….


No that was just salt into the wound.


AWFUL night

There is no question that because it was Essendon this loss hurt more than last week.
That's a shocking time to wait to get out of Marvel. Heaps of our supporters left early from about the 5 or 10 minute mark of the last quarter so I thought that might have helped manage the crowd.
I've tended to travel by the train and wouldn't want to experience that level of frustration in driving home.

[JanLorMill]

It’s because Essendon are crap

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Footage of Libba collapsing after that big hit is hard to watch.

Club saying he 'tripped' is a crock.

[GVGjr]

Footage of Libba collapsing after that big hit is hard to watch.

Club saying he 'tripped' is a crock.

I agree it's concerning and I would imagine he's in for a heap of tests. Hard to say if it was a delayed reaction or something else.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Perhaps my reaction was so feral because it was essendon, and the roadworks meant I didn?t get out of the car park at Docklands until 1am?.


No that was just salt into the wound.


AWFUL night

Woah. That's an awful experience SOS

[GVGjr]

Woah. That's an awful experience SOS

I saw some of his pictures on Twitter and it's not something I would have handled well.

[Grantysghost]

I saw some of his pictures on Twitter and it's not something I would have handled well.
They also had lanes closed on the west gate.

But..... This new upgrade will save you a whole twenty minutes off your trip


They've got a fair defecit to claw back.

I get big infrastructure projects are more about jobs and the economy than the actual project but come on.

If there's a game on start later.

[SonofScray]

They also had lanes closed on the west gate.

But..... This new upgrade will save you a whole twenty minutes off your trip


They've got a fair defecit to claw back.

I get big infrastructure projects are more about jobs and the economy than the actual project but come on.

If there's a game on start later.

They closed off to west bound traffic at Docklands to work on the new pedestrian bridge/veloway. So every vehicle that was parked in the two major car parks was funnelled through one lane at one exit point.

I live in Sunshine, it usually takes 24 minutes, and you expect that it’ll take longer for Essendon and Carlton games but it was ludicrous to start the roadworks so close to the game. .

[Hotdog60]

We seem to want to stand back and watch tonight some very weak attempts at pressuring the opposition.
There was one bit of play in the middle were I think Weightman and West were part of the center bounce anyway in a passage of play every player did the corralling the player with the ball and West was the only one to put a body on them.
We played soft last night and we got what we got.

[Sedat]

Maybe they just aren't buying in to what the coach is selling anymore. Dale, Daniel and Macrae all being 'out of form' may suggest this.
I totally get the gnashing of teeth around Bevo - last night was incredibly poor. But we have completely revamped our on-field operations, as well as implement (with mixed results so far to be fair) a turnover game plan with emphasis on speed of ball movement and also being able to better defend the ground when we don't have the ball. Bevo would rightly be getting absolutely belted if he stuck to the same formula/game plan that has reaped such mediocre results the last 2 years and kept gifting gamed to the likes of Macrae, Daniel and Dale irrespective of form. I'd rather he get belted trying something new and more contemporary with the way footy is played in 2024.

Bevo's greatest strength and also greatest weakness is his unwavering loyalty to the players. Clearly he is challenging some of the senior core to adapt and get better, and he is also fast-tracking development of the next wave. It all blew up last night against a dog-hungry rabid opponent, but I'm not going to criticise the change in methodology. I personally never want to see the antiquated stoppage/dirty clearance/territory game plan which relied on 2-3 superstars giving their absolute maximum output week on week just to cobble together enough wins to finish in the also-ran 7-11 bracket.

I've refrained from overtly criticising English the last couple of years, even though I could see from as far back as 2019 that he was likely never going to be that stoppage beast ruckman we thought we drafted in 2016, and that his lack of interest in engaging physically with his opponent and holding his ground was going to be incredibly costly in big games (which it has been on too many occasions to go over again). Last night was just a more blatant example of a typical Tim English game against ruckmen who love to body at the contest. It was meek, inept and completely lacking in leadership from someone who should have his big boy pants on by now and compete like hell at every stoppage to make an impact. He is so gifted athletically but we still haven't worked out how to harness these gifts, and we have invested 5 and a bit years now on gifting him games as our no 1 ruckman in the forlorn hope that we are fast-tracking him to become the next Simon Madden with age/experience. It is not going to happen - we need to seriously evaluate the sunk cost we have already invested into him and what the market is prepared to pay. I cannot cop the thought of over $1m of our salary cap being tied up with someone who still has so many question marks in his set/preferred position.

[SonofScray]

If Tim English was tough he’d be Tim Scottish.

His lack of appetite for a physical contest is killing us.

[angelopetraglia]

Last night reminded me of how we approached the Lions game last year in Round #3 when we had our backs to the wall. It wasn't pretty but we got the job done by concetrating ont the basics and making it a contested and physical game. We won that game kicking 10 goals for the night. We won the clearances and the centre clearances 12-4. We threw out the fancy game plan and just took it right up to them and showed some passion and hunger.

That is what the Bombers did to us last night. They played hard, tough, contested footy. They didn't try and move the ball fast. They made it a contest and territory game and we got outlasted and out worked by them. They had their backs to the wall and in the end, they tackled better, they hit bodies better, they took their chances and they kept scrapping at us until we cracked.

That what is so dissapointing. We knew what they would bring. They had been smashed all by the media. We knew it would be an old fashioned scrap, but we were not up for that fight.

We can all talk about being out coached and out smarted. But there wasn nothing too smart about what the Bombers did. It wasn't pretty. They didn't even actually play good footy. They just worked their butts off at the basics and were unrelenting contest to contest. They had more players willing to apply themselves for longer than our players.

[angelopetraglia]

If Tim English was tough he’d be Tim Scottish.

His lack of appetite for a physical contest is killing us.

Agree 100%. But head plenty of friends last night.

[Jeanette54]

Good post.

This group gives nothing. It's Bont/Libba and not a whole lot else. There's no identity. No pride. No purpose.


I can only remember, as a Bulldogs supporter, feeling like this during the coaching reign of Royce Hart. And the player's commitment to the physical contest is now at a similar level to that displayed back then. I have always been a supporter of Bevo to date, but something needs to change. And to be fair Royce never had, even close to, the depth of talent that Bevo has.

Or is it a case of too many players drinking their own bath water?

Where too from here ?

[SonofScray]

I can only remember, as a Bulldogs supporter, feeling like this during the coaching reign of Royce Hart. And the player's commitment to the physical contest is now at a similar level to that displayed back then. I have always been a supporter of Bevo to date, but something needs to change. And to be fair Royce never had, even close to, the depth of talent that Bevo has.

Or is it a case of too many players drinking their own bath water?

Where too from here ?

Brutal assessment if I have understood what it was like under Royce Hart.

Can’t have people feeling this way, that’s a sign things have to be disrupted.

[mighty_west]

Footage of Libba collapsing after that big hit is hard to watch.

Club saying he 'tripped' is a crock.

Libba said the same thing after the game being interviewed that he tripped, that is so bizarre as he did not trip, he 100% collapsed for whatever reason, for Bevo to say that in the presser was really poor imo and was disappointing that our doctors just left him out there after tumbling over.

[angelopetraglia]

Luke Hodge on what went wrong

https://x.com/1116sen/status/1778970744598520028

[jeemak]

Bevo said he lost his footing and stumbled. Not sure that's the same as saying he tripped, but it did look like his forehead became too heavy for him for a few moments.

[EasternWest]

It’s because Essendon are crap

Ding ding ding ding


If Tim English was tough he’d be Tim Scottish.

His lack of appetite for a physical contest is killing us.

I chortled.

[Uninformed]

Two six day breaks in a row anyone??

[azabob]

Two six day breaks in a row anyone??

Huh?

[angelopetraglia]

Two six day breaks in a row anyone??

Well it is going to be three in a row on Thursday night. But we play Saints off a five day break and they are playing interstate too.

[angelopetraglia]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GLARft1bUAEwCaG?format=jpg&name=small

[angelopetraglia]

A player doesn't show this level of concern for a player who stumbles due to his ankle. Parish was right next to him and obviously was very concerned. Look at the position of Libba's head too.

p.s. kudos to Darcy Parish

[westdog54]

A player doesn't show this level of concern for a player who stumbles due to his ankle. Parish was right next to him and obviously was very concerned. Look at the position of Libba's head too.

p.s. kudos to Darcy Parish

Agree x2. Parish was all class here.

[Danjul]

[QUOTE=Sedat;896897]I totally get the gnashing of teeth around Bevo - last night was incredibly poor. But we have completely revamped our on-field operations, as well as implement (with mixed results so far to be fair) a turnover game plan with emphasis on speed of ball movement and also being able to better defend the ground when we don't have the ball. Bevo would rightly be getting absolutely belted if he stuck to the same formula/game plan that has reaped such mediocre results the last 2 years and kept gifting gamed to the likes of Macrae, Daniel and Dale irrespective of form. I'd rather he get belted trying something new and more contemporary with the way footy is played in 2024.

Macrae was one of our best players last night. The only one who could consistently get the ball into a teammates hands in a good position.

I don?t get the criticism of him. Without Macrae we wouldn?t have been as ?close? At the end. I think his was the catalyst for both our first and last goals.

All the new contemporary stuff is propaganda. When do we see some substance? Last night showed nothing worth having. Run fast aimlessly seems to be the only development..

So we managed to beat West Coast. If Macrae had been given a full game we would have beaten Geelong. That debacle still has not been addressed. Except for a few most have no idea of what to do with the ball when they get it. That is the problem.

[Grantysghost]

I just saw the Libba stumble. That was a black out.

[1eyedog]

I totally get the gnashing of teeth around Bevo - last night was incredibly poor. But we have completely revamped our on-field operations, as well as implement (with mixed results so far to be fair) a turnover game plan with emphasis on speed of ball movement and also being able to better defend the ground when we don't have the ball. Bevo would rightly be getting absolutely belted if he stuck to the same formula/game plan that has reaped such mediocre results the last 2 years and kept gifting gamed to the likes of Macrae, Daniel and Dale irrespective of form. I'd rather he get belted trying something new and more contemporary with the way footy is played in 2024.

Bevo's greatest strength and also greatest weakness is his unwavering loyalty to the players. Clearly he is challenging some of the senior core to adapt and get better, and he is also fast-tracking development of the next wave. It all blew up last night against a dog-hungry rabid opponent, but I'm not going to criticise the change in methodology. I personally never want to see the antiquated stoppage/dirty clearance/territory game plan which relied on 2-3 superstars giving their absolute maximum output week on week just to cobble together enough wins to finish in the also-ran 7-11 bracket.

I've refrained from overtly criticising English the last couple of years, even though I could see from as far back as 2019 that he was likely never going to be that stoppage beast ruckman we thought we drafted in 2016, and that his lack of interest in engaging physically with his opponent and holding his ground was going to be incredibly costly in big games (which it has been on too many occasions to go over again). Last night was just a more blatant example of a typical Tim English game against ruckmen who love to body at the contest. It was meek, inept and completely lacking in leadership from someone who should have his big boy pants on by now and compete like hell at every stoppage to make an impact. He is so gifted athletically but we still haven't worked out how to harness these gifts, and we have invested 5 and a bit years now on gifting him games as our no 1 ruckman in the forlorn hope that we are fast-tracking him to become the next Simon Madden with age/experience. It is not going to happen - we need to seriously evaluate the sunk cost we have already invested into him and what the market is prepared to pay. I cannot cop the thought of over $1m of our salary cap being tied up with someone who still has so many question marks in his set/preferred position.

Agree 100% but the Fox Footy crew believe he is close to terms with us so we all may have to cop it for at least the next couple of years.

[1eyedog]

I just saw the Libba stumble. That was a black out.

Yeah fainted apparently, no concussion.

[The Underdog]

I just saw the Libba stumble. That was a black out.

Full Zaine

[EasternWest]

Full Zaine

Full Libba in the gutter.

[chef]

Full Libba in the gutter.

At least Parish didn't go full Christian Howard and bolt off.

[EasternWest]

At least Parish didn't go full Christian Howard and bolt off.

Ha ha ha

He had a reputation and a leg cannon to protect