Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

[BulldogBelle]

This is the discussion thread for our Sunday twilight game against North Melbourne at ES.

My predictions are:

The Dogs by 42 points
BOG : Ryan Griffen
Barry Hall to kick the first goal

[comay]

Dogs by 18 points
BOG: Coon
First goal: Barry

[SonofScray]

I despise Norf, almost as much as Essendon and Carlton. Partly a geographical thing, partly due to the sickening "we're in the same basket, lets be friends" mentality of some fans and mostly due to the fact that in 2002 an old bloke waved his scarfe in my face, giving it large to me even though I had been pretty respectful in my support for the Dogs on that day.

[DragzLS1]

Dogs by 47 points in a late 5 un answered goal shoot out in the last quarter to extend our 17point lead :)
Bog: Coon dog
Firs goal: Gia

Go the dogs!

[the banker]

Dogs 35

Best Boyd

First goal Cooney

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 19 points

BOG Griffen

1st Goal Grant

[Ghost Dog]

dogs by 20
first goal barry
bog gia
there wil, be a major reportable incident in this game.

[Daughter of the West]

Dogs by 37
BOG: Griff
First goal: Liam Jones

[Doggy]

Dogs by 81
BOG: Hall
First goal: Hall

[DragzLS1]

dogs by 20
first goal barry
bog gia
there wil, be a major reportable incident in this game.


I think you are spot on

[bornadog]

dogs by 33

first goal - Gia

BOG - Boyd

[DOG GOD]

Dogs by 13 pts
1st goal - Hall
BOG - Boyd

[1eyedog]

Dogs by 7 goals (I think we are about a two goal a quarter better team).

Cooney BOG

I guess Hall has a pretty good chance at our first goal.

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 7 goals (I think we are about a two goal a quarter better team).

Cooney BOG

I guess Hall has a pretty good chance at our first goal.

How do you know that? Have you spoken to Hall's family? You didn't lay a bet did you?

[AndrewP6]

Dogs by 29
BOG Coooooney
First goal Bazza

[Greystache]

Dogs by 45
BOG- Cooney
First goal- Hall

[1eyedog]

How do you know that? Have you spoken to Hall's family? You didn't lay a bet did you?

The law of averages are with it!

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 29 points
BOG = Cooney
First goal = Liam Jones

[KT31]

Dogs by 43pts
BOG - Cooney
1st - Bazza

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 79

First Goal Dollhaus

BOG Tom Wiliiams

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 44
FG: Gia
BOG: Boyd

[Flamethrower]

Today is an early elimination final - it is almost certainly mothballs in 2011 for the losing team, considering the remaining draw for the Dogs (difficult) and Roos (a lot easier).

With that being said, the Dogs season will remain alive for another week....

Bulldogs by 8 points.

1st goal: Shaun Higgins

Best player: Ryan Griffen

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 33
First Goal: Baz
BOG: Coons

[The Underdog]

Dogs by 15 points
Grant first goal
Boyd BOG

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 31
First Goal : Dahlhaus ( Free Kick )
BOG : Ward

.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Dogs by 23
BOG Williams (but the paper will say Griff)
First Goal Gia

Have made the long drive over (god I hope Tiger doesn't go under, keeps the other airlines honest and means demand doesn't grossly outweigh supply).

[LostDoggy]

Joshy is the sub again. no surprise there

[LostDoggy]

I hate Sunday twilight games because our record (before last week) is very ordinary. Any other game against North I would feel OK but have reservations tonight simply because I have sat at this computer too many times on a Sunday night to hear us lose games.

[vho]

Dogs by 34
First Goal: Gia
BOG: Ryan Griffen.

Does anyone have a video stream of this game? Would love a pm if so.

[LostDoggy]

For the forward matchups , Dahlhaus to McMahon and Hooper to Rawlings , both players need to be blocked/ pressured , Rawlings has a high turnover rate under pressure he has 51 clangers for the year the highest for Norths , both prefer to dispose by foot so close intense pressure to force them to handball , the same treatment we gave Carlton

.

[LostDoggy]

Liking Cooney's work rate so far.

[LostDoggy]

Great to hear Jones is taking some nice grabs.

[LostDoggy]

Norths started well until we got control back , late goal from a free kick lets them close the gap a little , Wells with 12 possessions needs to be shut down , Woods vs Edwards interesting matchup , tackle count of 19 a good start

BBB becomes the the first player in both VFL and AFL history to kick 100 goals for 3 Clubs

.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

This is going to be an arm wrestle. North are on top now.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

North's pressure and hardness at the ball, much better than us so far today.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

And our ball use is ordinary too.

[LostDoggy]

Tom Williams was great last week but it appears he has gone back to his old habits this week. The last two North goals have come from Toms mistakes.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Our midfield have been invisible, nothing yet from Griffen, Boyd, and only patches from Cooney in the first.

Hudson from being great the past few weeks has not been good, and Williams getting a bath from Petrie. Murph's had 3 goals kicked on him from Matty Campbell.
Jones, Wood and Ward are our only ones looking good.

[giaco]

We're fast approaching 'season over' territory!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Nice response, Mark and Goal to Gia, and some nifty foot work and snap from Baz.

[LostDoggy]

Williams could get Subbed with a hip injury

Great goal from BBB

.

[Dry Rot]

Is Hooper playing? Haven't heard his name on the radio.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

And back out to 16 points to North, 2 goals in a couple of minutes.

Where has the defensive forward pressure gone? Forward 50 tackles to North 9 to the Dogs 1.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Williams could get Subbed with a hip injury

Great goal from BBB

.

Dirty play from North, his opponent Pederson pushing him hard in the back as the ball was going over the boundary and causing him to slam very hard into the fence.

[LostDoggy]

what the *!*!*!*! is this? we are playing like we did in the WC game again

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Now 28 points down, looking grim at the moment.
We're just awful this quarter.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Is Hooper playing? Haven't heard his name on the radio.

He's out there, but has been hardly sighted. Both he and Grant have not been good at applying pressure to their opponents today.

[LostDoggy]

Norths have taken control with 9 goals to 2 , we just havn,t been able to hit targets cleanly

.

[LostDoggy]

So the 2 good things so far from today.
Jones' marking
Cordy best on in the 2s

[G-Mo77]

Really disappointing. All the hard work, ground and respect we made up will be all snuffed if we drop this one. I've got no problem with a hard fought loss but this is a really weak gutted effort.

Dahlhaus looks completely lost out there tonight. Rawlings is really working him over.

[Greystache]

Worst quarter of football I've seen live this year. Zero effort, no intensity, players waiting for someone else to make it happen. If I see us try to bump rather than tackle again I'll scream.

Why we've decided that we can't kick to anyone inside 50m other than Gia is mind boggling!

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Insipid, disgusting quarter of football.

No forward pressure, poor skills and unaccountable. It's as though we've turned the clock back to 8-10 weeks ago.

Jones has been very good, but that's about it.

[Bulldog4life]

Forward pressure non existance. Boyd very quiet. Reid can't kick. Goldstein too good for Hudson. Petrie too good for Williams. Just part of the problems. Jones our best but we need a second ruck. He is best left in the forward line. Too precious to be injured in the ruck.

[The Pie Man]

Far too many not willing to compete, and giving up 9 goals in a quarter is reflective of that,

Very lucky to be still in this. That will be an uncomfortable half time break for the boys

[the banker]

Hard to understand how our on ballers can go missing so much. Their match ups causing us big problems. Markovic and Williams looking v vunerable. No one is a match for Petrie. Edwards and Hansen are capable of cameos. Campbell sneeking goals on Murph is a problem. Wood has been OK.

We've gone back to the worst part of the season. when our disposal was poor and our defensive structure was confused and disorganised. No Forward pressure this week. Hudson is having a bad one. Turns it over every time. Reid also looking like he is under huge pressure, can't read the situation and disposal poor - when he gets near it. Dahlhaus and Hooper not sighted. Grant is problematical.

Jones impressive, Ward decisive. Higgins looks threatening.

We have to start winning the centre breaks. If our ball handling gets back to last weeks level and our pressure lifts and we start winning the contested ball we can still win it. North look vulnerable down back.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Thanks Banker and others for the update. When you don't have Foxtel and listening to the radio is unbearable, its good to have trusted perceptions on WOOF.

[LostDoggy]

Looks like they had the message of "move it FWD at all costs".

[the banker]

Grommett having a role in the last 2 goals. Pressure, contested footy and centre breaks. WE need to force turnovers Go dogs

[GVGjr]

Struggling big time. Need to get some scoring

[ledge]

Why the hell do we keep giving 50s away?

[the banker]

Warren on Morris working for North

[ledge]

We are in more danger of getting blown away than coming back.

[LostDoggy]

Boyd has a fire under him by the looks of it. I wonder if that will result in anything???

[the banker]

Griff having a shocker

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Boyd has a fire under him by the looks of it. I wonder if that will result in anything???

Someone needs to light one under Griffen, his worst game for a couple of years.

[ledge]

We should have gone in with Minson, some strength.

[the banker]

Grommet again! He is the life of the party.

[Evel]

North are just working and running a lot harder. North killing us in winning the ball and creating play while our skills have dropped off and we're funbling. The danger signs were there late in the first when we looked comfortable and let North kick 1.3. Will be tough to win from here. Just have to keep fighting it out and try get within 2-3 goals and finish with a run.

[LostDoggy]

Griff having a shocker

He has been in the best virtually all season. I guess he was going to have a quiet one sometime.

[LostDoggy]

All falling over , Williams off the ground after we use the Sub , Grant gets kneed in face

BBB misses a sitter

Cross kicks a miracle goal

.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Callan Ward can hold his head up high today. His repeat efforts made that goal for Cross.

[Evel]

We're having a good patch, but fair dinkum if I see another player kick into the man (Grant) after taking a mark I'l lose my s#$t.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

How many time have we kicked into the man on the mark today, must at least 5 times?
Unacceptable.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Dahlhaus baby!!!!!!!!

[LostDoggy]

Grominator on the siren , game on despite all the rubbish

.

[Dry Rot]

Goal to Dollhouse! Looks like we have a crumber at last. :)

For those watching on Foxtel, how did we turn it around that quarter?

[ledge]

Cant believe this but we should be in front after all the terrible kicks inside 50.
Well now the question is are we tired from coming back or is North gone??

[G-Mo77]

Goal to Dollhouse! Looks like we have a crumber at last. :)

For those watching on Foxtel, how did we turn it around that quarter?

Just worked harder really. More pressure, wanted to tackle and the rewards went on the scoreboard.

[ledge]

Goal to Dollhouse! Looks like we have a crumber at last. :)

For those watching on Foxtel, how did we turn it around that quarter?

More desperate.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Goal to Dollhouse! Looks like we have a crumber at last. :)

For those watching on Foxtel, how did we turn it around that quarter?

Used the ball alot better, started applying some semblance of forward pressure and were harder at the contest. Also North seemed to lose their composure and were less precise with their ball use.

We're still way behinf overall on contested ball winning. I think I heard last they were double our tally in this stat.

[Bulldog4life]

Goal to Dollhouse! Looks like we have a crumber at last. :)

For those watching on Foxtel, how did we turn it around that quarter?

Our forward press was working for a change. North couldn't get it out. Could have scored more goals.

[the banker]

Dahlhaus the difference that quarter.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

76% disposal effectiveness for us that quarter to North's 62%. Says more about our pressure being better as that quarter went on.

[LostDoggy]

Crossy .... I apologise .... you CAN kick.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

A bit of luck and we're in front. Opportunistic goal from a poor fumble from north near the line.

[LostDoggy]

The Worminator unmarked !!!!!!!!!

.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

better last 30 minutes from Hudson. breaking even with Goldstein now.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Stupid 50 against Boyd, right in front of the Ump, knocked Adams on his arse, gifts a goal to North

[ledge]

Why the f..... do we give away these 50s its going to cost us

[LostDoggy]

Crossy .... I apologise .... you CAN kick.

Bugger, just when I praise the guy he gives away a 50 metre penalty for a goal.

[LostDoggy]

Who got subbed? Can't find it in the thread.

[ledge]

Bugger, just when I praise the guy he gives away a 50 metre penalty for a goal.

It was Boyd

[ledge]

Who got subbed? Can't find it in the thread.

Ried

[Dry Rot]

Thanks for the responses re our third quarter comeback.

We have to maintain the desperation all last quarter.

[LostDoggy]

It was Boyd

Commentary said it was Cross.

[LostDoggy]

Ried

Thanks

[the banker]

Dogs need 2 in a row.

[LostDoggy]

Picken down hurt

BBB with his fifth

.

[the banker]

Grant very problematic. Lacks awareness when out of form

[the banker]

Where are GRiffen and Cooney. Need something special from one of them

[LostDoggy]

With Picken out of action the shackles are off , will be hard now

.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Terrible turnover from Higgins for an easy North goal may be extremely costly.

[ledge]

I dont care what people say but sometimes in the backline you must kick long!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Well done Easton great tackle. He's back up his efforts from last week.

[ledge]

Season over.

[JohnGentStand]

c'mon boys, get a shovel & DIG.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Last two goals due to poor turnovers. Terrible option by Boyd to go through the corridor on that occasion, they had weight of numbers to continue to run it.

[the banker]

We are under pressure. North answering all we can throw at them. We are attacking but leaving ouselves open to the counter.

Supreme effort and a little luck needed from here as Petrie goals

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Game over.

[Dry Rot]

Harvey goal, game over.

Bit hard to win when you only play for three quarters.

[LostDoggy]

Game over.

Yep, unfortunately.

[LostDoggy]

With no Picken Harvey having a holiday

.

[chef]

Season over.

2012 should be our focus from now on.

[1eyedog]

North way too good today. With other teams around us having a good weekend and having played 1 less game than us you would have to think that that's 2011 done.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

North way too good today. With other teams around us having a good weekend and having played 1 less game than us you would have to think that that's 2011 done.

It makes it very hard, and we'll now have to pull of an upset against either West Coast or Hawthorn, as well as win against Sydney, Essendon and Freo.

[the banker]

We have let them kick 130 points. I think Scott has out coached Rocket tonight. Where are teh defensive structures. We haven't been able to shut them down. Our old school attitude of attack tonight shows what that style gives us.

Extremely disappointing. Credit to North for never letting up when we looked like we could run over them. Great attitude.

[ledge]

I would think the coaches would have seen this coming, why was a side with Goldstein and Petrie not looked at as we needed 2 talls especially one with muscle to at least help out.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Gee Petrie has given Williams a complete bath today. 10 shots on goal.
Petrie always seems to give us a pantsing.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

That's why we have struggled to win the big games. We simply haven't been able to consistently win the games we should. I said last week that this is why I love the club. Well, sadly, tonight is why it's so painful supporting them.

It'll be interesting to see what direction we take from here. There's a few older players that could be dropped if 2012 is the focus, starting with Gilbee.

[the banker]

Reid, Hooper, Hill and Grant under pressure to hold their positions I would think.

[Remi Moses]

Exactly! I hope we don't get served up this "Didn't come to play"
Just so typical over the years unfortunately.Seasons done now

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Reid, Hooper, Hill and Grant under pressure to hold their positions I would think.

Reid and Grant were absolutely terrible.

I think both should be dropped before anyone else.

[LostDoggy]

So now the season comes down to 3 key games really.
If we beat Sydney next week, Essendon in 21 and Freemantle in 24 we're basically in, otherwise it's basically curtains for us. Assuming we can beat Port, if we win those 4 we can afford to lose the Hawthorn and West Coast games and still make it.
Big ask really, massive loss.

Hooper will hold his spot, but i would actually disappointed to not see grant out for vespa next week.

[Sedat]

Terrible defensive effort all over the park. No forward 50 pressure, absolutely no midfield pressure and poor one-on-one in defensive 50. Ziebull, Swallow and Wells did as they liked out of the moddle, and Goldy pantsed Huddo. Just an all-round shit effort.

[G-Mo77]

Probably the right result. We really had no business winning that game, still it would have been nice but the season is done now. I think that'll do it for us.

Josh Hill should be sent back to the VFL and left there. He's suppose to be our fresh legs and comes in and looks like he doesn't want to be there. He is a dsigrace to the jumper and I don't want to see him in the Red, White and Blue ever again!

[JohnGentStand]

We conceded 70 inside 50's against Nth! We are a long way off the mark. Let's face it ,.....it's 4 qtrs or we are no chance. I have no idea what we are going to be served up in the next month, just...no idea! FRUSTRATING

[Remi Moses]

Time to give Cordy a run! Shocking defensive effort and just pissed last weeks effort up the wall.Unacceptable:mad:

[Sedat]

Why did we revert to a shootout game style? This works against Richmond and noone else. Does not play to our strengths one iota.

[Remi Moses]

Reid and Grant were absolutely terrible.

I think both should be dropped before anyone else.

Don't think Young Reid's going to make it, just no polish and to similar to others in the side!
F*** me Brad Scott's getting worse than Wallace!!

[immortalmike]

Tonight we looked like a team struggling to adopt a new gameplan. 2 weeks good 1 week bad, this is what happens when you change your tactics mid-year.

My questions are... Why did our players look so tired (did we play our grand final last week)?

And Why do we always get North when they have everything to play for?

[Maddog37]

Too many players running forward of the ball.

[Sedat]

They have some good young mids but to lose contested possession battle by 20+ is an indictment on our entire midfield group.

[LostDoggy]

One team turned up to play. The other was reading the newspaper.

[LostDoggy]

Time to give Cordy a run! Shocking defensive effort and just pissed last weeks effort up the wall.Unacceptable:mad:

On what form though? He has been injured.

[chef]

On what form though? He has been injured.

He was in the bests today

[LostDoggy]

A disappointing lack of consistent Effort. Griffen must have been injured or sick.
Really over Hill, Grant is starting to get to me, guys that have talent but lack desire and sometimes just dumb.
Was that the same Tom Williams that played last week?

[G-Mo77]

Was that the same Tom Williams that played last week?

It makes it very difficult to defend anyone when the ball comes out with ease. Yeah Tommy lowered his colours today but so would have anyone in the competition.

[Gia13]

We need to start playing kids.
For the sake of the footy club. This ageing list is only going to get worse.

We have to get games into libba, wallis, roughhead, dalhaus, skinner, cordy etc.
Can't believe some of you on here are talking finals. You cant be serious?

Its pains me to say it but the games gone past Gilbee and Hudson.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

A disappointing lack of consistent Effort. Griffen must have been injured or sick.
Really over Hill, Grant is starting to get to me, guys that have talent but lack desire and sometimes just dumb.
Was that the same Tom Williams that played last week?

Lost my patience with Grant too.

[Sedat]

It makes it very difficult to defend anyone when the ball comes out with ease. Yeah Tommy lowered his colours today but so would have anyone in the competition.
Ball went in far too easily and far too often but when it did Tommy was smashed one-on-one.

[Ghost Dog]

How much game time did Hill actually play?
I was sitting at the north end, and only saw him come on late.
Grant is too laconic, not hungry enough.
North looked hardened and buffed compared to us.

What are out strengths? excellent lead up plays and ability to spread the ball.
Weaknesses? In the air, getting pushed off the ball a great deal, seemed to lack hunger tonight.
Also the players we do have who have a bit of pep are small types. Tom, Liam, our big guys seem a bit docile by comparison.
Liam did really well tonight I thought.
Boyd, gave away a stupid free, though could have been a bit of a dive. Too far away to tell.


We're also going to struggle big time without Barry. He was good tonight.
Hooper + grant + Hill. Recipe for disaster.

[Maddog37]

If you have Wells, Boomer etc running clear into the forward 50 not even the best back men would stand up if left one out.

The main fault lies with our mids. Played like millionaires.

[aker39]

Terrible option by Boyd to go through the corridor on that occasion, they had weight of numbers to continue to run it.

It was not Boyds faults. He spotted up Grant beautifully, but he was not smart enough to put his hands out as far as possible so his opponent couldn't get near the ball, he instead went for a chest mark.:mad:

[Gia13]

I think they need to give Hill a full game (rather than make him sub) then we can make up our mind on him once and for all and get rid of him with no regrets.

Go easy on Tommy Williams - bit hard when the balls coming in every second minute.

I love Crossy and Boydy but jeez their footskils kill us.

Reid and Hooper out / Minson and Libba in.

Anyone know what the latest is with Brian?

[G-Mo77]

How much game time did Hill actually play?
I was sitting at the north end, and only saw him come on late.
.

Came on mid way through the third quarter. Had plenty of opportunities to produce but chose to sit back and watch his mates do teh hard work. Only good thing he did was sheppard Griff's goal through at the end. He didn't deserve a goal and didn't deserve his name in the paper.


I think they need to give Hill a full game (rather than make him sub) then we can make up our mind on him once and for all and get rid of him with no regrets.

How many chances does he need? There are plenty of players on our list who would appreciate a game and bust their guts to keep their spot. I'm willing to put a red line through him right now. There will be no regrets!

[GVGjr]

If you have Wells, Boomer etc running clear into the forward 50 not even the best back men would stand up if left one out.

The main fault lies with our mids. Played like millionaires.

If we had played smart football we would have kicked 14 goals and won by 3. Have to agree that we the midfield played with not enough respect to the opposition.

[Ghost Dog]

Came on mid way through the third quarter. Had plenty of opportunities to produce but chose to sit back and watch his mates do teh hard work. Only good thing he did was sheppard Griff's goal through at the end. He didn't deserve a goal and didn't deserve his name in the paper.



How many chances does he need? There are plenty of players on our list who would appreciate a game and bust their guts to keep their spot. I'm willing to put a red line through him right now. There will be no regrets!

He lacked a bit of feed. Was pretty quiet at that end IIRC.
When it did come in a few times the kick was overcooked.
I'm not a huge fan, but I think our forwards can point the finger at our midfield tonight

[LostDoggy]

We really miss Lake when the opposition have a big tall marking option, Tommy is good against his own type, but just gets out smarted against natural footballers. People might say he was bad today, but he was really up against it. Our mids really didnt help with the amount of the ball that was coming in.

[G-Mo77]

If we had played smart football we would have kicked 14 goals and won by 3. Have to agree that we the midfield played with not enough respect to the opposition.

I only watched it on TV so it's hard to see what actually happened in the midfield. Did Wells have an opponent? He seemed alone nearly every time he got the ball.

Also their mids seem to run a LOT harder. When the got the ball there seemed to be players busting their guts to get to open space with not a Bulldog player to be seen. Was it a forward press causing these holes further up the ground?

[Ghost Dog]

We really miss Lake when the opposition have a big tall marking option, Tommy is good against his own type, but just gets out smarted against natural footballers. People might say he was bad today, but he was really up against it. Our mids really didnt help with the amount of the ball that was coming in.

I had Tom right in front of me.
He got pinged for holding two or three times and rightly so. He's panicking and hugging his opponent. Worries too much about his man and needs eyes for the ball at times

[Greystache]

Why did we revert to a shootout game style? This works against Richmond and noone else. Does not play to our strengths one iota.

Agree.

Why the *!*!*!*! did we try to reanimate the rotting corpse of play on at all costs footy? All it does is turn marks into rushed disposals under pressure, forces us to bomb to outnumbered forwards, then crucifies us on the rebound.

The only time we looked competitive was during the 3rd quarter when we slowed play up and hit targets short.

[bornadog]

Ball went in far too easily and far too often but when it did Tommy was smashed one-on-one.

He is not a full back, he plays better at CHB and not so deep in the opposition forward line.

We lost the game today because the midfield got smashed. Cooney, Griffen, Boyd, Cross, Ward no where to be seen when Ziebel and Swallow picked up nearly 80 disposals between them.

[Sedat]

Also their mids seem to run a LOT harder. When the got the ball there seemed to be players busting their guts to get to open space with not a Bulldog player to be seen. Was it a forward press causing these holes further up the ground?
They worked harder all night, as evidenced by their numerical advantage at almost every contest.

[MrMahatma]

He is not a full back, he plays better at CHB and not so deep in the opposition forward line.

We lost the game today because the midfield got smashed. Cooney, Griffen, Boyd, Cross, Ward no where to be seen when Ziebel and Swallow picked up nearly 80 disposals between them.
Bit harsh on Ward I reckon. Played alright.

Griffen has been off the past couple weeks.
Boyd has an unreal ability to, from a free kick/mark situation, hit the opposition lace out and 5 meters in the clear. It cost us at vital times today.

[G-Mo77]

They worked harder all night, as evidenced by their numerical advantage at almost every contest.

So just lack of work rate and not positioning? It happened to often which why I question our positioning when the ball was in the forward half.

[LostDoggy]

I had Tom right in front of me.
He got pinged for holding two or three times and rightly so. He's panicking and hugging his opponent. Worries too much about his man and needs eyes for the ball at times

Yeah saw a lot of that too, seemed to go back to some of his old form when he is getting smashed. I just think the mids really didnt help him today, and without lake he needs that help, like someone else said he is a better chb that a FB.

I dont think we will ever make a Fb out of Tommy, but without lake who do we have, i dont think Matkovik is up to it. does ok but his disposal is beyond ordinary.

[bornadog]

Bit harsh on Ward I reckon. Played alright.



Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.

[MrMahatma]

Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.
No doubt about that. We got destroyed.

I think theirs had/has a better balance of inside/outside.
Boyd
Cross
Ward
Reid
Cooney
Griffen

They all go in and get it. We could've used Sherman out there today, sitting off the pack and running away with it.

[Ghost Dog]

Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.

The difference was they wanted it more. We were beaten in an arm wrestle. Comes down to a wrestle, foot race, marking contest and decision making. they wanted it more in all areas bar kicking for goal, which we dd ok in

[angelopetraglia]

At the game tonight. The million dollar question.

Why did we abandon this supposed new game plan of ours?

We played like we did when we were on our big losing streak, took too many risks carrying he ball through the middle and got killed on the counter when we coughed it up. How the hell do you concede 37 scoring shots to that mob. Can't work it out,

[1eyedog]

They have some good young mids but to lose contested possession battle by 20+ is an indictment on our entire midfield group.

Especially considering we are suppose to have a plethora of strong insiders:confused:

[1eyedog]

I think they need to give Hill a full game (rather than make him sub) then we can make up our mind on him once and for all and get rid of him with no regrets.

Go easy on Tommy Williams - bit hard when the balls coming in every second minute.

I love Crossy and Boydy but jeez their footskils kill us.

Reid and Hooper out / Minson and Libba in.

Anyone know what the latest is with Brian?

I agree about Josh, but think we may as well play him until the end now.

Tom was under the pump all night

I'm starting to not love Cross

Minson cannot come in IMO without Hudson going out. Roughead should come in and Hudson stay in. Hudson was sensational last week.

Brian did not play for Willy and has a slight calf strain.

[1eyedog]

I only watched it on TV so it's hard to see what actually happened in the midfield. Did Wells have an opponent? He seemed alone nearly every time he got the ball.

Also their mids seem to run a LOT harder. When the got the ball there seemed to be players busting their guts to get to open space with not a Bulldog player to be seen. Was it a forward press causing these holes further up the ground?

Griffen went with him before Cross was belatedly put on him in the second half. Cross couldn't keep up.

[w3design]

I'm no strategist..but was puzzled by our kick-in tactics. We seemed to be doing the huddle? Whatever it was, we struggled badly.

North could always create the overlap once they got it out of congestion. Is that superior tactical nous or a symptom of our lack of work rate?

In the fwd line we often went for Gia with two opponents. Given the quality of the kicks, he had little chance.

All in all, it seemed like a different game style to that v Carlton. Why? Were we cavalier, expecting we could win a shootout and not paying north due respect?

I'm personally not in a state of angst about whether we make finals or not. I just don't think it should be the main focus this year. We should be working on a consistent game plan, selecting the guys we think will be abLe to implement it, if that gets us into the 8 , ok that's a bonus, but we are likely to be smashed as teams that get in by their fingernails usually are.

[AndrewP6]

Yet another disappointing night. We go from our season best to, at times, absolute garbage. Just so disappointed.

Grant and Hill might as well not have bothered showing tonight. Some have said they're losing patience, I've lost it with these two well and truly.

For all his good work, Boyd goes and hits opposition jumpers lace out.:mad:

Griff was just off. Right off. Showed a couple of glimpses, but largely a non-influence.

Coon laboured (and looked like he was labouring), at least started to do some good things in the second half. Ward was tough, and early on got a terrific clearance, hitting the target (forget who it was!).

Bazz was great, IMO. Created the contest, and apart from the poster, converted his chances.

Just really, really disappointed.

[Desipura]

I had Tom right in front of me.
He got pinged for holding two or three times and rightly so. He's panicking and hugging his opponent. Worries too much about his man and needs eyes for the ball at times

Disappointing that he went back to playing this way after last weeks game against Carlton. I knew when I read the article on Tommy it was a recipe for an ordinary game.