Western Bulldogs’ forward pressure reaches new levels

[westdog54]

Western Bulldogs’ forward pressure reaches new levels

AFTER Saturday night’s gutsy 10-point win over West Coast, the “Bulldogs through and through’’ line got a rousing workout when the players launched into the theme song in the rooms.
But in truth, the Doggies’ forward half looked more kelpie through and through: incessantly nipping at heels, rounding up any breakaways, yapping, chasing and instinctively swooping on every bouncing ball.

The Bulldogs’ forward pressure was exceptional against the Eagles. They laid a competition-high 94 tackles in Round 1, with 74 of those coming in the forward half (also a competition-high).

Forward pocket Luke Dahlhaus, who landed nine tackles, said the Dogs’ prided themselves on hunting opposition defenders.

“It’s going to massive, one of the pinnacles of our game plan,’’ Dahlhaus said. “We talk about it every week and hopefully we’ll be bringing it week in week out.’’

The Bulldogs led the competition for tackles and pressure acts last season and Dahlhaus said that under new coach Luke Beveridge the Scraggers wanted to ramp up their forward pressure to another level in 2015.

“It’s something we’ve been working on in our training all through the pre-season. As soon as he (Beveridge) walked in the door that’s been a massive focus.

“I think we were pretty good in the NAB Challenge and did it really well against Collingwood in particular, so we just wanted to bring it into Round 1 and it really worked.’’

At least half of the Dogs’ 14 goals were the direct result of their forwards pressuring the Eagles into turnovers.

Seven of the Bulldogs managed at least 20 pressure acts against West Coast, led by Dahlhaus, who had a game-high 30. His first goal, late in the opening quarter, came after he tackled Andrew Gaff, buttered up for a second effort and snapped truly from 40m.

Beveridge noted after the match that while tall forwards Tom Boyd and Jack Redpath did not necessarily have great games, their presence meant they drew the football and “created opportunities for their teammates, and in the end we had 10 goalkickers … and it’s important to get that spread’’.

Beveridge said felt that the Bulldogs forward setup had “a bit of yin, a bit of yang’’, and Dahlhaus agreed.

“Tall forwards, that’s their role: either mark it or bring it to ground,’’ Dalhaus said. “You can’t be getting out-marked or our smalls will have worked hard to get there for no reason, so that’s one of the rules for Tom and those big guys — if it you can’t mark it, try to halve the contest and give someone else a chance.’’

And with the Kelpies darting around in the forward 50, ears pricked and ready to pounce, it seems increasingly likely that those 50-50 chances will end up with some forward pressure creating a Doggies goal.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

"Beveridge said felt that the Bulldogs forward setup had “a bit of yin, a bit of yang’’, and Dahlhaus agreed.

“Tall forwards, that’s their role: either mark it or bring it to ground,’’ Dalhaus said. “You can’t be getting out-marked or our smalls will have worked hard to get there for no reason, so that’s one of the rules for Tom and those big guys — if it you can’t mark it, try to halve the contest and give someone else a chance.’’ "
There's justification for Redpath's inclusion, even if he's not clunking them. He presents a target, takes a key back and the yins can feed off him. Crameri is then free to use his greater mobility and other skills, as well as presenting a target. Jack also is a powerful tackler, providing ferocity and is one of the best set shot kicks in the team.
That goal of Dalhaus after the kelpie harrassment, is a great watershed moment for our signature forward pressure.