bornadog
15-08-2011, 07:00 PM
By Terry Wallace (http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/121043/default.aspx)
ON SATURDAY night I worked at the Western Bulldogs and Essendon game.
Throughout the week I thought that the Dogs, with a week off to recharge - even with a few injuries - might be able to take it up to the Bombers, but when I analysed their strengths and weaknesses I came to the conclusion very quickly that the Dogs were in trouble and couldn't win.
Some Doggie supporters may be still bitter on me leaving the club.
As a Life Member I understand the club's history and I am desperate to see the Bulldogs finally succeed, but looking at the playing list it's clear the club is now in a major transitional period and a long way off the premiership glory that has been all so close for the past 15 years.
My research for Saturday night's game showed that inexperience would hurt the Doggies.
They had 10 players who had appeared in 25 matches or fewer compared to the Bombers' four. It is very tough to have success when you have so many players learning on the job.
But there was another problem. In the same game the Bulldogs had eight players who were 28 years or older.
The issue for the Bulldogs is that they have a group of senior players coming to the end of their careers but a major gap between them and their ready-made replacements.
An ageing list
Over the past couple of seasons the Dogs have lost some highly experienced players. They had a real crack at breaking their premiership drought, but eventually age caught up with them.
Their star captain Brad Johnson couldn't keep the dream alive for himself and the club, while the recruiting of Nathan Eagleton and later Jason Akermanis wasn't able to bring the ultimate success.
The Bulldogs had been building a group of players over a decade, but the problem is this group of solid citizens - either having grown up with the club or having been brought in for the finishing touches - have not been able to get the job done.
They are now unlikely to improve as individuals or as a collective, which becomes a major issue for the club.
Look at the ages and make your own assessment: Barry Hall (34), Ben Hudson (32), Mitch Hahn (30), Lindsay Gilbee (30), Ryan Hargrave (30), Brian Lake (29), Robert Murphy (29), Daniel Giansiracusa (29), Matthew Boyd (28) and Dale Morris (28).
Have injuries killed the Dogs?
Like so many teams in the competition the Western Bulldogs have been hit very hard with injury, but it reads more like old age catching up with the group than merely bad luck.
Certainly Adam Cooney's situation is unlucky. His degenerative knee injury has cut him down and in my opinion made him only half the player he was at the top of his game.
He was almost a star before his time and may never get back to the peak of his powers.
Apart from Cooney their injury list suggests an ageing team.
Over the course of the year they have had obvious problems with Lake, who had three major surgeries in pre-season, but don't forget he is 29 years of age. Hargrave has struggled with injury while niggles to Gilbee and the unfortunate Morris shows a battle-weary side.
Where are the mid-range players?
Great AFL teams always have champions between the ages of 22 and 26. At the moment the Bulldogs are lacking in this critical age bracket.
The loss of Jarrod Harbrow to the Gold Coast at 22 years of age hurt, but a killer blow would be to lose Callan Ward, a local Williamstown boy aged 20, to GWS.
When looking at the club you see a group of players who have not been able to establish themselves and you have to question whether they are going to be a part of the next successful Bulldog era.
These are the players who have to step up - Dylan Addison (23), Jarrad Grant (21), Josh Hill (22), Will Minson (25), Brodie Moles (25), Brennan Stack (23), James Mulligan (22), Ed Barlow (24). But are they up to the task?
The trade debate
At the end of last season the Bulldogs, in their mind, were still close to both finals and premiership success.
Class forwards were a priority in the trade period, but more importantly the Dogs needed players able to apply pressure.
I think they overcompensated because of the frustration of being so close to a Grand Final when they traded into the club three options to address their forward line deficiencies.
It is questionable whether any of Nathan Djerrkura (22), Justin Sherman (24) or Patrick Veszpremi (21) will make them a better team in the future.
In the last week the Western Bulldogs have announced that they need to boost spending on their football department to keep up with current trends.
The club has identified a list manager as their first objective.
I think that, more than most clubs, they have some huge decisions ahead and agree that this appointment will be critical to any future success.
ON SATURDAY night I worked at the Western Bulldogs and Essendon game.
Throughout the week I thought that the Dogs, with a week off to recharge - even with a few injuries - might be able to take it up to the Bombers, but when I analysed their strengths and weaknesses I came to the conclusion very quickly that the Dogs were in trouble and couldn't win.
Some Doggie supporters may be still bitter on me leaving the club.
As a Life Member I understand the club's history and I am desperate to see the Bulldogs finally succeed, but looking at the playing list it's clear the club is now in a major transitional period and a long way off the premiership glory that has been all so close for the past 15 years.
My research for Saturday night's game showed that inexperience would hurt the Doggies.
They had 10 players who had appeared in 25 matches or fewer compared to the Bombers' four. It is very tough to have success when you have so many players learning on the job.
But there was another problem. In the same game the Bulldogs had eight players who were 28 years or older.
The issue for the Bulldogs is that they have a group of senior players coming to the end of their careers but a major gap between them and their ready-made replacements.
An ageing list
Over the past couple of seasons the Dogs have lost some highly experienced players. They had a real crack at breaking their premiership drought, but eventually age caught up with them.
Their star captain Brad Johnson couldn't keep the dream alive for himself and the club, while the recruiting of Nathan Eagleton and later Jason Akermanis wasn't able to bring the ultimate success.
The Bulldogs had been building a group of players over a decade, but the problem is this group of solid citizens - either having grown up with the club or having been brought in for the finishing touches - have not been able to get the job done.
They are now unlikely to improve as individuals or as a collective, which becomes a major issue for the club.
Look at the ages and make your own assessment: Barry Hall (34), Ben Hudson (32), Mitch Hahn (30), Lindsay Gilbee (30), Ryan Hargrave (30), Brian Lake (29), Robert Murphy (29), Daniel Giansiracusa (29), Matthew Boyd (28) and Dale Morris (28).
Have injuries killed the Dogs?
Like so many teams in the competition the Western Bulldogs have been hit very hard with injury, but it reads more like old age catching up with the group than merely bad luck.
Certainly Adam Cooney's situation is unlucky. His degenerative knee injury has cut him down and in my opinion made him only half the player he was at the top of his game.
He was almost a star before his time and may never get back to the peak of his powers.
Apart from Cooney their injury list suggests an ageing team.
Over the course of the year they have had obvious problems with Lake, who had three major surgeries in pre-season, but don't forget he is 29 years of age. Hargrave has struggled with injury while niggles to Gilbee and the unfortunate Morris shows a battle-weary side.
Where are the mid-range players?
Great AFL teams always have champions between the ages of 22 and 26. At the moment the Bulldogs are lacking in this critical age bracket.
The loss of Jarrod Harbrow to the Gold Coast at 22 years of age hurt, but a killer blow would be to lose Callan Ward, a local Williamstown boy aged 20, to GWS.
When looking at the club you see a group of players who have not been able to establish themselves and you have to question whether they are going to be a part of the next successful Bulldog era.
These are the players who have to step up - Dylan Addison (23), Jarrad Grant (21), Josh Hill (22), Will Minson (25), Brodie Moles (25), Brennan Stack (23), James Mulligan (22), Ed Barlow (24). But are they up to the task?
The trade debate
At the end of last season the Bulldogs, in their mind, were still close to both finals and premiership success.
Class forwards were a priority in the trade period, but more importantly the Dogs needed players able to apply pressure.
I think they overcompensated because of the frustration of being so close to a Grand Final when they traded into the club three options to address their forward line deficiencies.
It is questionable whether any of Nathan Djerrkura (22), Justin Sherman (24) or Patrick Veszpremi (21) will make them a better team in the future.
In the last week the Western Bulldogs have announced that they need to boost spending on their football department to keep up with current trends.
The club has identified a list manager as their first objective.
I think that, more than most clubs, they have some huge decisions ahead and agree that this appointment will be critical to any future success.