Goodbye Season 2024

[comrade]

Comrade you missed Port

Whoops, edited.

[Eastdog]

We are still in it until we are mathematically out.

Some tough games to come but very winnable as well if we are good enough. We have had some really solid wins this year and the losses have not been crazy.

The key is consistency now if we are any chance.

[Sedat]

In the 2 games that caused such heartburn, one was against a team who has been top 4 most of the last few weeks and the other was against a team that is on a hot streak only bettered by Sydney.

This year is the most "any given Sunday" season I can recall. Throw a blanket over everyone from Carlton all the way to Brisbane - it is that tight. Good health at the right time will have a massive say in who wins the flag this year.

We have developed a turnover game almost in secret and also kept our clearance/stoppage game intact most weeks, all while doing it with a number of changes in personnel/structure on the run. To get to parity at the bye gives us the chance to rest up and reload for a strong burst whilst getting almost all our troops back. We have the capacity to go on a run if we are good enough - I know we have some difficult matches coming up but I suspect all our future opponents will not look forward to playing us the rest of the season.

[FrediKanoute]

7-7 at the bye. Out of the 8 by half a game. Out of the top 4 by 2 games, but with a percentage that would put us 2nd.

Loads to play for and loads of shuffling. From 2nd through to 13th all teams are a reasonable chance of making the 8 and possibly the top 4. Our run home is not easy, but we have a lot of 8 point games so destiny is in our hands. At our best we are top 4. Just need to avoid games like the Brissy, Essendon and Melbourne games.

[bulldogtragic]

Liveladders has us with 6 wins for the rest of the year. Finishing 7th, owing to percentage.

With the responsibility to beat Essendon in finals again at 6th. To keep the run going.

No pressure. But liveladders has it on us to make 17 clubs happy for another year.

[Bulldog Joe]

Liveladders has us with 6 wins for the rest of the year. Finishing 7th, owing to percentage.

With the responsibility to beat Essendon in finals again at 6th. To keep the run going.

No pressure. But liveladders has it on us to make 17 clubs happy for another year.

We will finish 4th and play Sydney in Sydney in first final.

That means we avoid them until the GF.
Someone else will need to take Essendon out if they hang on to a finals spot.

[Rocket Science]

If we stay focused, do our job and simply account for the mobs we're reasonably expected to (which of course we're especially renowned for) en route to a 6-3 tally down the stretch you'd be nursing some satisfaction until a few ladder predictor simulations predicated on fairly mundane results reveal we could still easily miss by a game.

Barring a collapse of Essendonian proportions I reckon the current top 6 make the cut, Brisbane finds a way in, and it's a colossal shitfight for the remaining spot.

Assuming Melbourne basically pack it in and revert to the Melbourne we all know and love, it'd be extra helpful if Freo continue to run hot and cold and Port get progressively more wobbly which we can have a direct hand in, in a couple of weeks.

That aside, that final home and away versus the Giants looms yuge.

[Mat Lyons]

For sure, we need some list fixes immediately or we?ll burn through next year at least too.

Then do we fire sale Lobb, Daniel &/or Macrae who are shadows of themselves?

But we?ve signed everyone long term so, list spots are thin too?

As the Opening Poster, you put the cue in the rack, saying our season was over in May and now looking to 'fix the list' and Fire Sale three critically important players. Owch!

[bulldogtragic]

As the Opening Poster, you put the cue in the rack, saying our season was over in May and now looking to 'fix the list' and Fire Sale three critically important players. Owch!

Yes. I think we are still one win behind finishing in the 8. Interesting you might have missed what I asked (a question) do we move on player or players (see &/or) with rumoured interest from other clubs for strategic list management purposes. I’d read the quoted post. Good to see you posting without a url link.

[EasternWest]

As the Opening Poster, you put the cue in the rack, saying our season was over in May and now looking to 'fix the list' and Fire Sale three critically important players. Owch!

Lobb and Daniel aren't critically important, and while I still think Macrae has something to offer I'm not sure I'd put him in the "critically important" group either.

[bulldogtragic]

Lobb and Daniel aren't critically important, and while I still think Macrae has something to offer I'm not sure I'd put him in the "critically important" group either.

It certainly is a unique perspective. Lobb got a game to injuries, Daniel has had a poor year by and large and the jury is out on Macrae, but here’s hoping they can all have strong finishes to the season. Not sure they’re critical to long term success in a vacuum either.

[Mat Lyons]

Here come the Western Bulldogs.

The mighty men from Footscray have won five of their last seven matches. This run has included impressive wins over the Magpies, Dockers and Giants, despite significant challenges with missing personnel. It could have been six wins, had they not suffered in-game injuries to Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards and Tony Scott in the narrow defeat to Sydney.

And now, with virtually their entire list available, there is an enormous and exciting opportunity ahead, that would have Bulldogs' fans salivating.

To simplify things, 13 wins guarantees finals. The Bulldogs are currently on eight wins and therefore need to claim victory in five of the last eight rounds.

Whilst every match is challenging, the Dogs will enter games against Adelaide and North Melbourne as heavy favorites. As serious contenders, they must win both. They also take on Geelong, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and GWS - all who have big question marks over their form and credentials. Win three of those and the finals are certain.

While the Dogs could drop their other two games against Sydney and Carlton, they are certainly capable of upsetting either of those, on their day.

So where has this renaissance come from?

The form of their 'Rolls Royce', Marcus Bontempelli has been instrumental to their purple patch. The Skipper has somehow elevated his status, and has no peers in his class division across the league.

But to single out 'The Bont', would be to discredit the dominance and importance of Adam Treloar, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Richards. That foursome have played a critical support role to the Captain, and must take credit for the supply to their forwards, which have the Bulldogs in the top three scoring teams in the competition.

Up forward, they have three of the most exciting talls going around. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has superstardom at his doorstep, Naughton's return has defenders quivering and Sam Darcy is emerging as a young master. At their heels, Cody Weightman and Rhylee West have shown their scoreboard craft and an ability to challenge opponents aerially also.

The 'Dogs have been screaming for greater stability in their backline, and Luke Beveridge may have masterminded another unlikely positional change that could pay major dividends. Following Bevo's much-lauded move to inject Richards into the engine room, he may have engineered another critical piece to the puzzle, after the performnce of Rory Lobb in defence against the Kangaroos. Lobb combined with Liam Jones to clunk 18 marks and have 21 intercepts, in an ominous warning to opposition forwards. His athleticism, closing speed and physical frame, have caused the experts to re-think their assessment of the much-maligned big man.

To make things more appetising, Norm Smith Medalist Jason Johannisen will be available for selection this week. His run and carry will compliment the Dogs' slingshot style which will trouble most teams in September.

Speed has been a major focus since last year's review of the Football Department, conducted by Peter Jackson. The Bulldogs have opted for a more fleet-footed outfit, which has seen emergence of Lachie Bramble and Harvey Gallagher, while jets Bailey Dale, Laitham Vandermeer and Oscar Baker have been lethal at times with their gut-running and surging style.

In the VFL, Caleb Daniel and Riley Garcia were amongst the best two performers on the weekend, while James Harmes' return from a hamstring strain was also very strong. Suddenly the depth has returned and selection squeeze is on.

Bubbling quietly behind closed doors is the progress of Bulldog favorite-son, Bailey Smith. Sources indicate that Smith may return to playing in the first week of September, which would give his previously unlikely return, some hope. Allow your mind to imagine the sight of the mulletted stallion streaming down the wing in finals, if you dare.

Yes, the Dogs are coming, and all teams are hoping they won't have to face them in September.