3 Things Learned - Round 6, 2025 vs St Kilda

[GVGjr]

Welcome to the 3 things learned thread

Please list 3 things you learned from our Round 6 clash against St Kilda

[GVGjr]

Bump

[EasternWest]

Kennedy has been an outstanding pickup. Feels like he's played for us for years.

West has got that dog in him.

Jesus rolled back the rock today. He is risen.

[Bornadog]

1. We have some great young talent, Sanders, Fridge, Dolan, Davidson
2. Bont still the best in the AFL
3. JOD is a backman

[Aidan7557]

1. Fully fit midfield (without Treloar still) is one of the best in the comp
2. JOD is a defender and so is Lobb, keep the back line stable PLEASE
3. Maybe we just go full on small ball and back in Dolan, Mcneil, Vanders, West etc. What else do we have to lose?

[Virgin-Dog]

1. Kennedy is once again proving to be a masterstroke in recruitment. Hated the trade when it happened, but he’s shut me up. Would be on considerably less money than Macrae, but has slotted into that Dunkley role perfectly. 2 goals and a game high 10 clearances. What a machine

2. Our drafting in the last 3 years has been nothing short of incredible. Freijah, Davidson, Sanders - all guns

3. It’s so easy to forget how important the journeyman is to a football team. Guys that aren’t winning awards, aren’t elite in any particular area of the game, and most opposition fans wouldn’t know their name.
Luke Cleary was almost forgotten as a player, yet he’s slotted into the side beautifully and played his role with little fuss or fanfare. 15 disposals @ 93% efficiency, 6 intercept, 6 score involvements, 0 turnovers. Did basically nothing wrong. You would barely notice him, but guys like him doing their jobs means guys like Bont can do theirs…

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

1. We're very close to becoming a top line team. You can see a mix of growth and increase consistency this season from McNeil, O'Donnell, Lobb, Sanders, Freijah, West, Richards and Cleary. Its tough without Darcy, but I think we're building a very resilient and threatening side.
2. Dolan has something about him. Good things happen when he has the ball on the limited possessions he's getting so far. As he finds more ball at this level I think he's going to do some exciting things.
3. Bont a lazy 30 and a goal on his return....another reminder of how fortunate we are to observe this guy's career. Can't wait for him to sign on the line; surely he remains a Dog's player from start to finish.

[The Underdog]

1. Luke Cleary is an AFL footballer.
2. Ryley Sanders has taken the step.
Absolutely the best game of his career. I’ve had my doubts but he was everywhere in this one.
3. This team gives it everything. They may not have the most talent and probably aren’t going to win it all, but they don’t stop.

[Mofra]

1. Sanders is starting to put it all together. Going to be one hell of a player sooner rather than later.

2. We should stockpile 3rd round picks. Davidson is amazing, Freijah is a budget Bont.

3. Bailey Dale had some amazing ground ball gets tonight. We don't appreciate him enough.

[westbulldog]

1. Promising signs from Cleary, Davidson, Dolan, Freijah and O'Donnell.
2. Nick Reiwoldt is an even handed commentator, unlike the overtly biased Cameron Ling.
3. The footy gods can be very harsh and unfair at times.

[doggies ftw]

I’ve only got one - The Bont.

Man it’s only been 5 weeks but I genuinely almost forgot just how good he is. Without him we’re a genuinely decent midfield, and we’ve unearthed a couple more options in Kennedy, Freijah & Sanders (and to a lesser extent Richards who is a stud, but we already somewhat knew that) but his impact on this side takes us back from a decent midfield to top handful.

Hes remarkable, it’s genuinely disrespectful that ANY mid is considered in the same stratosphere as him. Daicos is an absolute stud with the footy, elite offensive footballer but he’s not even in the same ballpark when it comes to the defensive side of the game or the impact Bont has on stoppages. Guys like Butters, elite player, defensive & inside machine - doesn’t have the long raking ball use or scoreboard factor. No body in the league matches Bont for both offense and defence, and to be honest it’s not even close.

Even when he’s not doing the flashy stuff like 55m laser passes or goals, what changes our stoppage play is his inside work. Hes the best defensive midfielder in the league, huge unit, strong powerful, keeps the ball in front and just the little things are next level, the tap ons to get the ball forward, putting his body in the way to stop an oppo break etc. he impacts every single contest in a way in which no one else can, genuinely transforms our midfield when he steps in there.

I know this isn’t news to anyone we know how good he is, but tonight was a nice little reminder of just how good he is. In my, unbiased, opinion, it’s genuinely daylight between him and the next best in the comp. We’d possibly be 6-0 right now if he was never injured, I truly believe that.

[BeerDaiquiri]

1. We've got one with Sanders. If he hadn't arrived already, he has now. Hands off, Tassie!

2. Our forward line is going to look odd without Darcy, but the flexibility of guys like Lobb, Buku and even JOD will help.

3. There's an easy comment to be made about the Messiah rising again on Easter Sunday, but I'll leave that one to someone else - Bont's just incredible.

[Dry Rot]

1. Dolan will be a special player, maybe not this year, but very soon. I focus on him now, and what I see is that he may not get the ball often, but when he does, he makes the right decision and executes well.

2. FJ and Sanders are better than I thought

3. Ditto Kennedy

[GVGjr]

1 - You can see why we struggle with the concept of tagging because when we are at our best we are capable of playing some brilliant football.
2 - It just sucks that we are copping significant injuries to key players.
3 - Buku's ability to fill a few roles for us is important.

[Dogs 24/7]

1 - We've got the balance right with youngsters coming in and performing (Sanders, Freijah and Dolan) and the there is still life in JJ and Liam. Pretty good list management.
2 - After a slow start to his career=,Dolan is should a high level footy IQ and some poise and composure with his footy. Great youngster
3 - Stats wise it wasn't a brilliant game by Lobby but he's versatility and desire to go anywhere need is commendable.