Bulldogs begin to show some bite

[LostDoggy]

Brad Johnson | August 13th, 2013 | Geelong Advertiser

THE wolves were starting to circle around Brendan McCartney and the Bulldogs mid season.

And rightly so.

They had been beaten by the Gold Coast, copped a few hidings, and only snuck over the line by four points against GWS Giants.

Last year, they lost their last 11 games by an average of more than 10 goals. Patience was wearing thin.

To the Bulldogs' credit, they accepted the scrutiny and didn't shy away from where they were at.

But they had faith in their direction.

Their response since that moment has been fantastic and the wolves have left the door. Bulldogs fans and the media can now see the rate of development and improvement shining through.

Saturday's win over Carlton was the reward for effort over the last month.

The Dogs had pushed Essendon, Hawthorn and Sydney, had a win against the Eagles, so to defeat a team around their mark on the ladder in Carlton was crucial.

You can see the team starting to play more like Geelong in some ways.

That has to do with McCartney, who spent so long in the Geelong system, as well as the roles of the assistant coaches and specialist coaches Matthew Scarlett and Cam Mooney.

They know what system works in a group. The Dogs are now sharing the ball around a lot more with handballs in traffic until they get that release player going forward.

Geelong is fantastic at flicking the ball about in traffic until it can find someone like Andrew Mackie or Corey Enright on the outside.

Last Saturday, the Bulldogs had a total of 13 players under 60 games, so it takes time to learn how to keep your composure in close in the AFL.

They are getting better at controlling the footy in heavy traffic and have plenty of outside speed and run when they do find that release player in space.

What is also noticeable is how they are all working for each other.

Ryan Griffen is in the top three players in the competition this year, but he is getting help from his fellow midfielders. Tom Liberatore is the leading clearance player in the comp, but against Carlton I watched him blocking for Griffo at stoppages.

In contrast, Carlton skipper Marc Murphy was often left to do it alone with run with player Mitch Wallis in his back pocket. That was a big difference in the game.

The other real positive for the Dogs has been the game time they have given first-year players Jack Macrae, Jake Stringer, Lachie Hunter and Nathan Hrovat.

In a couple of years' time, there will be a real balance of experienced guys, who are crucial to every club, as well as a core group with close to 100 games under their belt as well as this young group with around 50.

That is the perfect balance with which to make a finals assault.

If you are a Doggies fan, that is why you are feeling excited right now.

The club was up for a long time and although there was a dramatic drop in ladder position last year, fans knew that it was a team in transition.

It hasn't taken too long for the turnaround in fortunes to begin.

McCartney is developing a selfless attitude in the way they are growing together. That has to be the major driver in their growth.

It is vital that the Dogs finish this year well.

The development from last year to this year is that the young players couldn't compete for long enough in games, and tired as the season went on.

This year, they are running out games stronger and are still competing hard, long into the season.

They play Adelaide this week, then travel to Brisbane and finish off with Melbourne.

The Doggies need to look at winning all three games, or at least really competing if they do go down.

Finishing the year well flows into the summer in so many ways.

It ensures a really positive feeling about the place, from the players through to sponsors, coaches and fans.

[F'scary]

Well, it feels good right now, so let's have some feel good press!