AFL 2015: Western Bulldogs’ brand of football early in season wins hearts of footy community

[BulldogBelle]

AFL 2015: Western Bulldogs’ brand of football early in season wins hearts of footy community

Ben Waterworth
FOX SPORTS
April 27, 2015 4:52PM




SOME footy purists couldn’t help but pick up their phones and open the Facebook app on Sunday night.

They had to change their status to “in a relationship” immediately.

They had caught the puppy love bug.

A large portion of the AFL community has fallen for the Western Bulldogs, after their awesome start to the 2015 season, including a comprehensive 57-point win over Adelaide on Sunday.

BEVERIDGE: WE HAVE GREAT BELIEF

After many predicted the Dogs would finish towards the bottom of the ladder, Luke Beveridge’s men sit sixth on the ladder with three wins from four games.

If you’re a Bulldogs fan and are yet to renew your membership, or you’re a neutral that simply wants to jump on the fast-moving bandwagon, now’s the time.

Western Bulldogs smash Adelaide 125-68
Western Bulldogs smash Adelaide 125-68

Here are 13 ways the Dogs have won the hearts of the footy world.

Speed

How many adjectives do you want to describe the pace of the Bulldogs’ ball movement? We’ll stick with three for now. Their risky, yet frenetic and thrilling use of the footy has made them the must-watch team of the competition. A suggestion: purchase a ticket to the Dogs’ next game at Etihad Stadium (against St Kilda on May 9), sit near the back row of the top level and watch them creatively and adventurously move the football. Exhilarating stuff.

Intensity

As good as they are with footy in hand, their pressure on the ball-carrier is just as impressive. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the competition for tackles per game (73) and have averaged 12 more tackles than the opposition in their four matches so far this season. That intense tackling and pressure is causing turnovers, leading to all-out attack in transition.

Matthew Boyd has been a revelation across half-back.

Matthew Boyd has been a revelation across half-back.

The turnaround

Patience was wearing thin among supporters after their team finished in 14th spot with a 7-15 record at the end of the 2014 season. Then the club lost its captain (Ryan Griffen), coach (Brendan McCartney), Brownlow Medallist (Adam Cooney) and chief executive (Simon Garlick) in quick succession. This was supposed to be a doomsday year. But four games and three wins into 2015, pundits are coupling “Bulldogs” and “top eight” in the same sentence.

Luke Beveridge

It hasn’t taken the new Bulldogs coach long to win the hearts of fans. He’s so beautifully combined the club’s quintessential blue-collar work ethic with scintillating, silky skills. Beveridge has complemented McCartney’s hard work in developing the players’ inside game by implementing a strong focus on efficient ball use. He also isn’t afraid to make the big calls, evident by his decision to axe Will Minson — an All-Australian ruckman — ahead of Sunday’s clash with Crows.

Western Bulldogs press conference
Western Bulldogs press conference

Lin Jong

We’re only four rounds in, but are we looking at one of the most improved players in the competition? The Mulgrave junior is averaging eight more disposals and a whopping 34 more SuperCoach points per game than he did last season. Jong’s energy, desperation and hunger for the ball is infectious and reflective of the Bulldogs’ stunning improvement.

Ability to rebound

A young, injury-ravaged side could’ve easily gone into its shell after copping a 70-point loss against one of the modern era’s best teams last weekend. But instead of caving in to in-form Adelaide, the Bulldogs played with fearless poise and assurance — and annihilated the Crows in the process.

Western Bulldogs’ Jake Stringer booted six goals against Adelaide.

Western Bulldogs’ Jake Stringer booted six goals against Adelaide.

Jake Stringer

The exciting forward is living up to the pre-season hype, which reportedly had Bulldogs staff excusing themselves from their desk chairs just to watch him train. Stringer’s breathtaking, powerful six-goal haul against the Crows was highlighted by his powerful overhead marking and ability to be in the right place at the right time. He’s a match-winner that commands the footy when the game is there to be won.

Confident and united

The Bulldogs’ playing group has great faith in each other. Unlike Joel Selwood at Geelong and Gary Ablett at Gold Coast, there’s no unhealthy reliance on one player to will the team across the line. For example, before picking up a back injury, Mitch Wallis was averaging 25 disposals per game. For the Crows clash, he was replaced by Koby Stevens, who stood up with 26 disposals and kept Rory Sloane to two touches in the first quarter.

Tom Boyd will hope to develop consistency as the season progresses.

Tom Boyd will hope to develop consistency as the season progresses.

Promising young talls

They’re at both ends of the ground, too. Michael Talia has impressed over the opening rounds, averaging 19 disposals and eight marks per game. His performance on Taylor Walker — he restricted him to one goal from seven kicks — was encouraging. Just as exciting has been Tom Boyd’s past fortnight, in which he has booted three goals from six marks against Hawthorn then added another two goals against the Crows.

The Bont

Versatile, electric, ball-magnet, ferocious tackler, athletic, great tank, goalkicker and, above all, match-winner — Marcus Bontempelli has everything going for him. One of the most exciting and hyped players in the league, Bontempelli doesn’t need to touch the ball too many times in a game to have an impact. Adam Goodes was the best utility of the first decade of the 2000s. Bontempelli is well on his way to being the best of this decade.

Marcus Bontempelli could be one of the game’s great utilities. Picture: Michael Klein

Marcus Bontempelli could be one of the game’s great utilities. Picture: Michael Klein

Veterans standing up

Stringer, Jong and Bontempelli are the talk of the town, but the Bulldogs’ old hands have been just as influential. Matthew Boyd’s move to half-back has been a revelation for the Dogs, averaging 29 disposals and 10 marks per game. New skipper Bob Murphy is thriving, averaging 23 disposals and providing ample drive off half-back. And Liam Picken produced one of his finest games against the Crows, accumulating a career-high 29 disposals.

Humility

Don’t expect the Dogs to get ahead of themselves. As promising as their electric star has been, Beveridge and the Dogs are well aware this season will be a test of their endurance. “It is only early in the year, so you can’t get carried away, but it’s good to beat a team that’s been playing extremely good footy,” Beveridge said after beating the Crows.

Robert Murphy is thriving as the Bulldogs’ new skipper. Picture: Michael Klein

Robert Murphy is thriving as the Bulldogs’ new skipper. Picture: Michael Klein

Depth

And if you were concerned about the Doggies’ list, this from Leader’s Paul Amy …


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1227323272920

[westdog54]

On Saturday night I put up a Facebook post about The Suns. A good mate of mine who is a Hawthorn supporter replied with "I don't know if you've seen our score but I'm jumping on the doggies bandwagon".

People are starting to take notice.

Remember when we were called 'irrelevant' last year? Seems an eternity ago.

[AndrewP6]

A Carlton barracking friend of mine says he is jumping on the Dogs'.

[KT31]

A few of mates who normally give me grief over the Dogs are now full of plaudits for us and think this team will be the one to finally break our long torturous drought.
I'm just taking it all in and worrying about us getting to far ahead of ourselves.

[Murphy'sLore]

I know a Saints supporter who is jumping on, too. But then, why wouldn't you?

[Ghost Dog]

It's good to be humble. Only two weeks ago we were trounced by Hawthorn.
Watching Liam Picken and Matty Boyd re-energize their careers is a joy. They simply have more support.