Relentless hunt for contested possessions lifting the Western Bulldogs into premiership relevance

June 16, 2016 8:00pm
David KingHerald Sun

THE Western Bulldogs have an identity and genuine relevance on the AFL premiership landscape for the first time for almost a decade.

Luke Beveridge has transformed a competitive unit into a relentless, possession-thirsty wolf pack.

The wolfpack consists of many, not reliant on individuals, rather the sum of all parts.

Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis, Lachie Hunter, Jackson Macrae and the wounded pup Luke Dahlhaus are the main contested possession hunters.

Their brutality has the Bulldogs winning 24 more contested possessions than their opposition on a weekly basis, which is not only an AFL best but number one by a ridiculous margin.

Sydney ranks number two, averaging 11 contested possessions more than their opposition. By comparison with the Dogs, that appears modest.


Every premiership team has an asset superior to that of their counterparts and the Western Bulldogs are simply tougher, as a pack.

After the game pauses, the Western Bulldogs restart with the football 10 times more often than their direct opponents from clearances.

Luke Beveridge’s wolfpack commit themselves “all in” at stoppages. The Dogs often use an extra player, from the forward line, around the high traffic area to outnumber the opposition, but it’s not the reason for their disputed ball dominance.

Watch them, witness their manic and concentrated dedication to win the loose ball, regardless of who or how many are in their path.
Tom Liberatore has been welcomed back with open arms after recovering from a long term knee injury. Picture: Getty Images

Often you’ll see five to six Bulldog players within 3-5m of a loose football, hunting in what’s known as the “inner circle” of the stoppage. Most teams hold their “balance”, two or three searching for possession with three to five supporting players on the periphery, eight to 10 metres from the Sherrin.

But not the Western Bulldog wolfpack. They have an unconditional and unwavering desire to get their hands on the contested ball before their opponents.

Beveridge is doing something quite extraordinary with this initial method to obtain possession but even more radical is the Bulldogs’ pinball handball in tight and under severe pressure.

They’ve an amazing ability to take the game from the inside to the outside, into space where quality ball use comes to the fore. Not always are these “handballs” 100 per cent legal — but they’re more than effective.

It’s staggering to think the Dogs have had 750-odd handballs more than any other team this season.

They are actually controlling the game while in fast play. The Dogs average six minutes more time in possession than their opposition which is the most in the AFL.

And given the game is still in motion, not chipping around through uncontested marks, they challenge their opposition to be defensively competent for extended periods at speed.

Do not listen to any chatter about the Bulldogs playing “sexy” football. Ball movement is king in AFL football right now and the Dogs are an optical illusion.

They are the AFL’s worst team at punishing their opposition turnovers in the midfield.

The Dogs are almost 30 per cent less proficient than Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney and while this isn’t an issue throughout the home and away season, when the real stuff starts in September, all flaws become suffocating.

The Dogs win loads of contested football but they kick backwards and laterally more than any other team, which protects their back six but inhibits their offensive scoring.

Beveridge’s biggest dilemma is crystal balling whether this profile wins finals. It hasn’t at Richmond.
Lachie Hunter has been a crucial member of the Bulldogs midfield this year. Picture: AAP

If he’s still unsure then maybe it’s time to experiment more with his major asset, Jake “The Package” Stringer.

Electrifying from set plays when the game was in the balance against Port Adelaide last weekend, why not pit him against a Patrick Dangerfield or Joel Selwood on Saturday night? Fight fire with fire. At least for small bursts, possibly just to ascertain what this kid can do.

What is the ceiling on this extraordinary talent?

Or is the problem confined to the forward 50m? The Dogs are ranked 15th for converting an inside 50m entry into a goal. Jack Redpath has been sensational but they require another tall of substance as Stringer as a key position type is undersized and needs support before he tires. Is that Tom Boyd? Is it Jordan Roughead?

The wolfpack is brilliantly brutal and has an authentic identity but if Fremantle couldn’t win it scoring so poorly, why will the Western Bulldogs?

The Dogs’ 91 points offensive average isn’t premiership standard and even more worryingly, it falls to 83 points against top-eight teams. Is it the forward line or the method?

Luke Beveridge has done an amazing transformation on the sons of the west but that’s all in the rear view mirror now.

The stakes have risen and in an incredibly even season the Bulldogs have a tremendous opportunity for success but they must score more heavily against the big boys. Geelong on Saturday night would be as good a time to start as any.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...597a4d2bde480d

Not surprised to see this was written by Kingy. He's been parroting this for a few weeks now on Fox Footy.

I'd like to see our scoring with the North game taken out as it was an outlier. We also haven't had an opportunity to feast on Essendon or Gold Coast, 2 of the worst defensive units going around.

No mention of our terrible goal kicking which would account for our poor conversion per inside 50 numbers. If this side of our game can at least become competent, this stat will naturally improve without our game style having to change at all.

He's not wrong about our ball movement not being damaging enough but let's not forget we've been missing Suckling, JJ, Murphy and Wood for big chunks of the year. Yes, Wood doesn't run the ball as much as the others but his intercept marking is a massive attacking weapon. Once we get 3 of those 4 back, our transition play will be much better.

Regards to the forward 50, I'm hopeful the Port game was a turning point. Much more hit up kicking, some good pressure leading to goals. I do think we need to trial Boyd and Redpath together for a string of games to see how it makes the opposition defence set up.

One thing is for sure, our competitiveness around the ball gives us a chance against any team. Every top 8 team has flaws and is gettable so we are in this year up to our eyeballs, especially once the cavalry arrives.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by comrade

I'd like to see our scoring with the North game taken out as it was an outlier.

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Our average score is 91.9 points, however if you take out the North game it jumps to 95.8. We have also kicked 5 scores over 100 from 12 games with a couple more in the 90s. As long as we keep winning, it doesn't worry me.

No doubt we need to make more of our opportunities when kicking for goal.

An interesting graph Kingy showed on Foxfooty, was the contested possession differential over the past 10 plus years for all teams and this showed we were miles ahead of any other year.

Alot of teams rely on one or two midfields to win the contested ball. Geelong rely on Dangerfield and Selwood, we have at least 6 to 8 rotating out of the middle and winning the ball.

Bevo is changing football with his game plans and hopefully we will go all the way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Dogs Bollocks

June 16, 2016 8:00pm
David KingHerald Sun

THE Western Bulldogs have an identity and genuine relevance on the AFL premiership landscape for the first time for almost a decade.

Luke Beveridge has transformed a competitive unit into a relentless, possession-thirsty wolf pack.

The wolfpack consists of many, not reliant on individuals, rather the sum of all parts.

Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis, Lachie Hunter, Jackson Macrae and the wounded pup Luke Dahlhaus are the main contested possession hunters.

Their brutality has the Bulldogs winning 24 more contested possessions than their opposition on a weekly basis, which is not only an AFL best but number one by a ridiculous margin.

Sydney ranks number two, averaging 11 contested possessions more than their opposition. By comparison with the Dogs, that appears modest.


Every premiership team has an asset superior to that of their counterparts and the Western Bulldogs are simply tougher, as a pack.

After the game pauses, the Western Bulldogs restart with the football 10 times more often than their direct opponents from clearances.

Luke Beveridge’s wolfpack commit themselves “all in” at stoppages. The Dogs often use an extra player, from the forward line, around the high traffic area to outnumber the opposition, but it’s not the reason for their disputed ball dominance.

Watch them, witness their manic and concentrated dedication to win the loose ball, regardless of who or how many are in their path.
Tom Liberatore has been welcomed back with open arms after recovering from a long term knee injury. Picture: Getty Images

Often you’ll see five to six Bulldog players within 3-5m of a loose football, hunting in what’s known as the “inner circle” of the stoppage. Most teams hold their “balance”, two or three searching for possession with three to five supporting players on the periphery, eight to 10 metres from the Sherrin.

But not the Western Bulldog wolfpack. They have an unconditional and unwavering desire to get their hands on the contested ball before their opponents.

Beveridge is doing something quite extraordinary with this initial method to obtain possession but even more radical is the Bulldogs’ pinball handball in tight and under severe pressure.

They’ve an amazing ability to take the game from the inside to the outside, into space where quality ball use comes to the fore. Not always are these “handballs” 100 per cent legal — but they’re more than effective.

It’s staggering to think the Dogs have had 750-odd handballs more than any other team this season.

They are actually controlling the game while in fast play. The Dogs average six minutes more time in possession than their opposition which is the most in the AFL.

And given the game is still in motion, not chipping around through uncontested marks, they challenge their opposition to be defensively competent for extended periods at speed.

Do not listen to any chatter about the Bulldogs playing “sexy” football. Ball movement is king in AFL football right now and the Dogs are an optical illusion.

They are the AFL’s worst team at punishing their opposition turnovers in the midfield.

The Dogs are almost 30 per cent less proficient than Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney and while this isn’t an issue throughout the home and away season, when the real stuff starts in September, all flaws become suffocating.

The Dogs win loads of contested football but they kick backwards and laterally more than any other team, which protects their back six but inhibits their offensive scoring.

Beveridge’s biggest dilemma is crystal balling whether this profile wins finals. It hasn’t at Richmond.
Lachie Hunter has been a crucial member of the Bulldogs midfield this year. Picture: AAP

If he’s still unsure then maybe it’s time to experiment more with his major asset, Jake “The Package” Stringer.

Electrifying from set plays when the game was in the balance against Port Adelaide last weekend, why not pit him against a Patrick Dangerfield or Joel Selwood on Saturday night? Fight fire with fire. At least for small bursts, possibly just to ascertain what this kid can do.

What is the ceiling on this extraordinary talent?

Or is the problem confined to the forward 50m? The Dogs are ranked 15th for converting an inside 50m entry into a goal. Jack Redpath has been sensational but they require another tall of substance as Stringer as a key position type is undersized and needs support before he tires. Is that Tom Boyd? Is it Jordan Roughead?

The wolfpack is brilliantly brutal and has an authentic identity but if Fremantle couldn’t win it scoring so poorly, why will the Western Bulldogs?

The Dogs’ 91 points offensive average isn’t premiership standard and even more worryingly, it falls to 83 points against top-eight teams. Is it the forward line or the method?

Luke Beveridge has done an amazing transformation on the sons of the west but that’s all in the rear view mirror now.

The stakes have risen and in an incredibly even season the Bulldogs have a tremendous opportunity for success but they must score more heavily against the big boys. Geelong on Saturday night would be as good a time to start as any.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...597a4d2bde480d

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He has been saying this for a number of weeks too. Just our luck that the umpires will start pinging us now.

As pointed out we are still very much a work in progress with some real area's of improvement left, but given the age & experience of our team it's any wonder... Our ball use isn't where it needs to be, but is gradually improving and I look forward to see how it goes against a Top 4 team on Saturday night. And as comrade pointed out not having our best users of the ball off half back has meant we have had to adapt our game plan which isn't a bad thing at all.

Lots of improvement left, but we aren't far away at all.. Will learn a whole lot more over the next 2 games, but I'm pretty confident in saying that if we play to our capabilities we will test any team at any venue.

Stats only tell you what's been. Not what's to come.
And I love the fact Bevo is not a big stats man. If we are to win it, it will be done our way: with an element of mayhem.
The coach showed great flair and courage in selecting the side last year - you simply had no idea who was coming into the side. If we've been poor scoring highly enough in the first part of year, I have no doubt the coach for mix things up to remedy the situation.

There is a sense of narrative about Bevo's selections at times. He senses 'now is his moment' for a junior player at a certain time and backs him in to step up. He clearly inspires the players as a person.

Now that I've seen the moves that Bevo makes, I understand why people were complaining about Macca's match day skills (or lack thereof).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Murphy'sLore

Now that I've seen the moves that Bevo makes, I understand why people were complaining about Macca's match day skills (or lack thereof).

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As a journeyman player I think Bevo understands more about the psychology, motivation and is a more imposing character, young enough for the players to identify with. I mean, the guy surfs and rides a skateboard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mantis

As pointed out we are still very much a work in progress with some real area's of improvement left, but given the age & experience of our team it's any wonder... Our ball use isn't where it needs to be, but is gradually improving and I look forward to see how it goes against a Top 4 team on Saturday night. And as comrade pointed out not having our best users of the ball off half back has meant we have had to adapt our game plan which isn't a bad thing at all.

Lots of improvement left, but we aren't far away at all.. Will learn a whole lot more over the next 2 games, but I'm pretty confident in saying that if we play to our capabilities we will test any team at any venue.

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Agreed Mantis. Not sure that 2016 will be our year (we could do it, but who knows), but there is something building. Given our run with injuries and our ability to cover that its been good so far. I agree with the article on the forward line - its too inefficient at times.

We've robbed Peter to pay Paul in some respects by taking Dahlhaus away from the forward line. He's so dynamic in stoppages but we've sacrificed his forward craft in search of more grunt in the middle.

Ideally some more mids come through that can take some of his midfield minutes and he can start spending some more time back inside 50 (Honey, Webb, Dale, Dunkley are potential candidates).

Next year, a forward line with Stringer, Redpath, Crameri, Dickson & Dahlhaus is pretty dangerous. Add Boyd to that and it becomes pretty well rounded.