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Bailey Dale to backline
Dale embracing new role
Western Bulldogs utility Bailey Dale has embraced a new role down back ahead of the 2021 season.
The 24-year-old spent the majority of the Bulldogs’ AAMI Community Series match playing across the half-back line, recording 23 disposals, nine intercept possessions and three rebound-50s.
To top off a successful switch, he even snuck forward to slot two goals.
Dale said the new role had only come about in recent weeks.
“It is a bit of a different role – obviously not having the back next to you all the time is a bit of a free-up, but I still got forward and kicked a couple of goals which was nice,” Dale told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“I did most of my stuff as a forward this pre-season, and then an opportunity sort of opened up down back over the last few weeks and thought I’d give it a crack.
“Hopefully I can do it for the rest of the year.”
Dale credited his teammates for their in-game guidance, and said despite having a shortened pre-season this year, the group feels ready for the challenge that awaits in round one.
“We obviously play a very assertive brand, so to get up the field and really compress I found myself in some good spots,” Dale said.
“Having the guys behind me talking to me and getting me in the right spots really helped.
“We’ve had a pretty solid pre-season even though it was compressed - we’ve put in the work and so to get a couple of hit-outs in the VFL and AFL with full match-time is going to go a long way to hopefully us playing really well in round one.”
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
“We obviously play a very assertive brand, so to get up the field and really compress I found myself in some good spots."
My goals over the back PTSD just triggered.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Dale trained with the forwards all pre-season but was given a role across half back 2 weeks ago? Makes sense, given the lack of options we have in that role...
Never change Bevo.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Bevo : "Positions are something one might find in the karma suture"
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
Instead of Bailey Dale, it should read 'A Bulldogs player'
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Let me give you some insight regarding the theme this year. It's waves. Waves of pressure. Inspiration provided by Pearl Jam, or Kings of Leon.. No it was Pearl Jam.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Dont mind Bailey Dale playing on the wing actually, he has such a lovely kick for goal that if he can get on the end of it after some overlap run I like our chances in the 45 out zone. Not sure he has the hardness of a defender so glad we'll only play him there to round 18 to find out properly.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
Dale trained with the forwards all pre-season but was given a role across half back 2 weeks ago? Makes sense, given the lack of options we have in that role...
Never change Bevo.
I'm actually really curious what changed our thinking. He trained as a forward all pre-season and against Hawthorn defintely spent the majority of his time as a forward and maybe winger, are we just that unimpressed with JJ and Richards we decided to flip him around?
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Bevo in his presser suggested that players playing all over the joint was to help deal with the lower cap in rotations. I think the theory being that you can't rest every player every quarter meaning runners are going to have to sit behind or forward of the ball at times, while everyone else apart from key tenets of areas will have to be flexible.
Knowing that Dale's contracted the coaching team may have thought now's the time to try him elsewhere having not seen the requisite improvement in his usual roles over preseason. Hopefully he does well.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
I remember when he was first drafted he looked like an elusive winger and he certainly covers the ground well. I have mentioned I am sceptical on his ability to defend as such but it was a pretty good audition for the role and he is certainly a player that needs to add more to his game than just fading in and out of games as a leading forward.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
soupaman
I remember when he was first drafted he looked like an elusive winger and he certainly covers the ground well. I have mentioned I am sceptical on his ability to defend as such but it was a pretty good audition for the role and he is certainly a player that needs to add more to his game than just fading in and out of games as a leading forward.
Let's face it he has faded in and out on the forward line and frustrated many of us .
Whether his backline role is a success remains to be seen.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
soupaman
I remember when he was first drafted he looked like an elusive winger and he certainly covers the ground well. I have mentioned I am sceptical on his ability to defend as such but it was a pretty good audition for the role and he is certainly a player that needs to add more to his game than just fading in and out of games as a leading forward.
I remember watching his clips and thinking if anything he's going to be a good outside player who can add polish between the flanks. We then tried to get him to play one the hardest positions on the ground in modern footy and he's shown he's capable but inconsistent.
He is super talented, and there's something about him that makes me keep the faith that he will be a player. Now's his time to mature and deliver some consistency.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
Grantysghost
Let me give you some insight regarding the theme this year. It's waves. Waves of pressure. Inspiration provided by Pearl Jam, or Kings of Leon.. No it was Pearl Jam.
I figured this was a wry imaginary riff on Bevo being Bevo but having now seen the presentation of course it's the coach's literal battle cry ahead of season 2021.
Bless him, but did nobody point out the problem with tsunamis from a footballing perspective is they're freak occurrences?
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Bevo needs to listen to some new music.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
Happy Days
Bevo needs to listen to some new music.
Firing the boys up with some sweet adult contemporary.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
Firing the boys up with some sweet adult contemporary.
Can just imagine Bazlenka groaning when it's Bevo's turn on Spotify duties.
"Not Counting Crows again!"
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
comrade
Can just imagine Bazlenka groaning when it's Bevo's turn on Spotify duties.
"Not Counting Crows again!"
I for one welcome our Hootie & the Blowfish-themed 2022 campaign launch with a contrite Dunks, Bevo's arm around him, reading the chorus from "I Only Wanna Be With You".
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
I for one welcome our Hootie & the Blowfish-themed 2022 campaign launch with a contrite Dunks, Bevo's arm around him, reading the chorus from "I Only Wanna Be With You".
Brilliant.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rocket Science
I for one welcome our Hootie & the Blowfish-themed 2022 campaign launch with a contrite Dunks, Bevo's arm around him, reading the chorus from "I Only Wanna Be With You".
Hopefully for Bevo it's not the board serenading him with the Chili Peppers' "Give it away now"..!
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Early days yet but this move seems to be very positive. Bailey’s biggest issue has been consistency. Hopefully he can cement his position in the backline. He is good overhead and is a good user of the ball. In general he is also a good decision maker. One play on the weekend really stood out for mine is when he took his time to assess what was in front of him (running his full distance) and delivered a beautiful pinpoint pass to (think it was) Wallis.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
whythelongface
Early days yet but this move seems to be very positive. Bailey’s biggest issue has been consistency. Hopefully he can cement his position in the backline. He is good overhead and is a good user of the ball. In general he is also a good decision maker. One play on the weekend really stood out for mine is when he took his time to assess what was in front of him (running his full distance) and delivered a beautiful pinpoint pass to (think it was) Wallis.
Hes not tough though and can shirk a contest so hopefully these issues can be addressed this year.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
1eyedog
Hes not tough though and can shirk a contest so hopefully these issues can be addressed this year.
I haven't seen him shirk one this year, on the contrary, he's done the opposite which shows some maturity has been gained.....possibly.
This guy is simply too good not to be playing AFL footy. I mean he's shown he can play an elite role, albeit inconsistently, as a forward but that's not worked out for him and I get it because it's bloody difficult for anyone to play in that role. Now that he's showing he can add value in defence then I'm happy to see how it plays out.
He has great hands, and is an amazing kick......borderline elite kick.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
jeemak
I haven't seen him shirk one this year, on the contrary, he's done the opposite which shows some maturity has been gained.....possibly.
This guy is simply too good not to be playing AFL footy. I mean he's shown he can play an elite role, albeit inconsistently, as a forward but that's not worked out for him and I get it because it's bloody difficult for anyone to play in that role. Now that he's showing he can add value in defence then I'm happy to see how it plays out.
He has great hands, and is an amazing kick......borderline elite kick.
You have to look hard to find them but he has shirked a couple. The Melbourne game in pre season had me really concerned from that point of view but I must say I’ve been pleasantly surprised since. The part that always annoyed me with the flinch Dale often has is that he came up without the ball which was costly. He seems to have basically cut this out over the last two games. Still had a question mark over a couple of contests but there was minimal damage.
He reads the play really well and has instantly recognised the correct time to leave his man and impact the contest. His ball use has been excellent and he has been able to compete more effectively 1 on 1 with each week.
I do question whether the overall balance now lacks some run and carry. We got ourselves in trouble on Sunday by being drawn into West Coasts control game. We seemed to miss a JJ or Richards type that can force broken play by gaining 20-30 metres before disposing. We probably have room for Dale still but he would need to continue making strides.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Dale shirked one on Sunday when Martin intercepted in defence late in the game. Some might say he let it go for Martin to mark it though. When I saw it live I thought he shirked it. Might have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
He’s looked good down back though. We’ll have to play the waiting game. As tough as it is to play forward, defence can be brutal when the pressure is on and the opposition has some dangerous forwards.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
I too don’t think this has been an issue. If he flies for that Martin mark for example he probably kills the contest but leaves us with no one on the ground to defend the live ball. It was thoughtful not soft.
I’ve actually been really impressed with how much he’s improved at keeping his feet in contests and in general play. He must have done a mountain of work in the off season to improve his core strength because its night and day compared to previous years.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeemak
I haven't seen him shirk one this year, on the contrary, he's done the opposite which shows some maturity has been gained.....possibly.
This guy is simply too good not to be playing AFL footy. I mean he's shown he can play an elite role, albeit inconsistently, as a forward but that's not worked out for him and I get it because it's bloody difficult for anyone to play in that role. Now that he's showing he can add value in defence then I'm happy to see how it plays out.
He has great hands, and is an amazing kick......borderline elite kick.
I'm with you - he's looked a totally different player in the two games so far. Has always had the ability, but looks like something has clicked this year.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
EasternWest
I'm with you - he's looked a totally different player in the two games so far. Has always had the ability, but looks like something has clicked this year.
Agree with this also. I see him pretty cool under pressure, took some telling marks and did some really nice thing both by hand and foot. I like this move snd think he has been really solid and as sick have t missed Wood/Crozier like I though we would have. With Dale, Williams and the little man I don’t see we miss much with JJ. They are all good and can create. The question I see can they grow dither in confidence to just take off and be that weapon JJ used to be.
By luck or by fortune it’s worked well snd made the selection of spots more competitive. Also adds stock value at the trade table should they need to make some change.
With the next month of football will be telling as we have some good games that should’ve free flowing and hopefully enable the side to settle in and back each other in
Side note. It’s good to see him acknowledge the experience around him and I would think it’s another posistive as our back leaders are basically out so good to see them step up.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
There was talk from some of us on here years ago that Dale had attributes to make it as a running defender. He’s good in the air, he’s fast and he kicks the ball well. At the moment he’s ahead of JJ for that role.
I don’t mind it.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeemak
I haven't seen him shirk one this year, on the contrary, he's done the opposite which shows some maturity has been gained.....possibly.
This guy is simply too good not to be playing AFL footy. I mean he's shown he can play an elite role, albeit inconsistently, as a forward but that's not worked out for him and I get it because it's bloody difficult for anyone to play in that role. Now that he's showing he can add value in defence then I'm happy to see how it plays out.
He has great hands, and is an amazing kick......borderline elite kick.
I have just two minor issues where he didn't go. One was going back with the flight of the ball, albeit with a pack forming behind him (still, he could have easily marked it and it slipped through his fingers (because he was going back, but I'll give him that one)), and another was less a shirk and more a not going as hard or harder than his opponent, also against West Coast late in the game on the outer wing.
Perhaps I should have stated 'doesn't apply enough pressure in contested situations consistently' rather than 'shirks' a contest, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, they're both pretty much the same anyway.
Dale has elite skills, can play tall and is smart but in order to keep his place in the team he needs to ensure his pressure levels are high and he has intent and desire at the contest. I'm optimistic about him, have always liked him as a player and have always defended him on here but this has always been a weakness. I just want him to retain his spot and flourish in his new position.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Bailey Dale looking superlative at HBF.
Reading of play, skilled kicking and marking with good decision making.
I doubted he would make it but looking like a natural at his no position HBF.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
I hope those who speculated that he may have 'shirked' a contest, also noticed him bodyline the footy very late in the game which prevented the Eagles getting the footy for another inside 50.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
Ozza
I hope those who speculated that he may have 'shirked' a contest, also noticed him bodyline the footy very late in the game which prevented the Eagles getting the footy for another inside 50.
I did notice that. But we also know a ground level contest is a lot different to an aerial one. The latter is a lot scarier. Like I said though, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt in the one I saw.
btw is this a contract year for Bailey?
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
bulldogsthru&thru
I did notice that. But we also know a ground level contest is a lot different to an aerial one. The latter is a lot scarier. Like I said though, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt in the one I saw.
btw is this a contract year for Bailey?
End of 2022
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bulldogsthru&thru
I did notice that. But we also know a ground level contest is a lot different to an aerial one. The latter is a lot scarier. Like I said though, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt in the one I saw.
btw is this a contract year for Bailey?
Are you referring to when Stef Martin marked it? If so, I was only watching Stef, as he had his name on it well before because I remember saying 'gotta be you Stef' as nobody else was going to get there.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ozza
I hope those who speculated that he may have 'shirked' a contest, also noticed him bodyline the footy very late in the game which prevented the Eagles getting the footy for another inside 50.
Potentially very harsh but I was counting that as a flinch. He fumbled it in the end, maybe a bit of technique because he did look to go in quite hard but he has fumbled lots of ground balls in the past and this was similar. I need to have another look, it was a great attack but if he took his eyes off at slightly as the contact cane that’s exactly what he did a few times against Melbourne.
Definitely a harsh view but stands out in a team of clean ground level players plus you’re probably looking for it slightly as he has history with it.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ozza
Are you referring to when Stef Martin marked it? If so, I was only watching Stef, as he had his name on it well before because I remember saying 'gotta be you Stef' as nobody else was going to get there.
Yeah that one. Funny that. I was only watching Bailey and said 'you gotta get this Bailey. This is your moment to test yourself'. Then he went halfway up and backed out of the contest. When I watched the replay I thought ok maybe Stef told him to leave it. Who knows.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bulldogsthru&thru
Yeah that one. Funny that. I was only watching Bailey and said 'you gotta get this Bailey. This is your moment to test yourself'. Then he went halfway up and backed out of the contest. When I watched the replay I thought ok maybe Stef told him to leave it. Who knows.
May have depended on our respective views of it. I was L2 Aisle 33, so was Stef was right in my eye line and from where I could see the ball was landing, he was the only one getting there for us.
I just found it on kayo, hard to tell what was happening on tv. From the weird way he finishes, I can only assume he's been called out by Martin. He looks closer to Stef then what it looked like from the opposite side of the ground.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
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Originally Posted by
1eyedog
I have just two minor issues where he didn't go. One was going back with the flight of the ball, albeit with a pack forming behind him (still, he could have easily marked it and it slipped through his fingers (because he was going back, but I'll give him that one)).
I'm not saying this was his intention (and don't recall the incident you are referring to) but I am going to use this to segue into a semi related topic.
If we can start getting some defenders that don't always fly for the aerial ball we will be better for it. We have had so many instances where every defender we have in the vicinity of the footy flies for the mark/spoil not only combating each other but leaving us with no one on the ground. If guys like Dale can pick and choose when they fly then we will be much better for it.
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Re: Bailey Dale to backline
I really like what he’s bringing to the backline. He is poised and calm. The thing that’s always been an issue, him fading out of games and being unsighted for periods of a game, less likely to happen. As for breaking the lines, his kicking is so good it can gain us 50 metres ... more important than what sometimes happens with JJ, of a run and a bomb. Together with Daniel and Williams we now have 3 good ball users coming out of defence.