The bye round was a fantastic idea. Up your arse West Coast. Well done AFEL.

[bulldogtragic]

I'm kinda for the break. The Whitten/Womens game has filled the void nicely and Libba, Macrae, Campbell etc would certainly appreciate the extra time. A separation between the H&A season and finals feels appropriate for mine.

That's the other thing I love about this particular week off is it gives our injured players an extra week to recover. It may not be long enough still but could you imagine having to turn it around and fly back to Perth and play this week?

But you have to accept the other side too, when it helps opponents. If we win direct to a prelim we've played one game in 3 weeks. Or if we finally get a fit team for a first final and our opponents are thin, then they get the extra time to beat us. I think Bevo said something similar in that it works for us this year, but long term across the comp it's not ideal.

[Twodogs]

But you have to accept the other side too, when it helps opponents. If we win direct to a prelim we've played one game in 3 weeks. Or if we finally get a fit team for a first final and our opponents are thin, then they get the extra time to beat us. I think Bevo said something similar in that it works for us this year, but long term across the comp it's not ideal.

The break won't last. It helps us this year is all I care about at the moment. We may or may not finish top 4 under this current system at some time in the future. We have finished 7th under this year.

V'ive the break!

[ratsmac]

I have liked the bye simply because we as a team desperately needed it. Not only for our injured players but also to get a rest into the ones that have had to try cover the injured. The Freo game we looked knackered. Yeah we were undermanned but we were slow, real slow. Our skill were atrocious which I put down to fatigue.

For me personally I think I needed a rest. The injuries were getting to me as well.

As for the Thursday night final, well the AFE (Australian Football Entertainment) can go and get *<"(ed. They don't care about the fans, they only care about money. Honestly have they been waiting for the timid Bulldogs to play a final in Perth to pull a stunt like this knowing we'll just bend over and take it? I'd hate to imagine Collingwood being sent to Perth to play a final on a Thursday, we would never hear the end of Eddie rambling on. But at least he rambles.

This Thursday night bullshit has also pretty much ruled out any chance of the majority of Bulldogs supporters who might have wanted try make the trip to Perth. For me I can manage one day off work but any more is too much. Also this Thursday now I stay at home and watch it on TV, wow great atmosphere for a final.

Also we have suffered with our VFL side as well. With the 5 day turn around from the VFL final and the seniors final, we have had to pull players out that might only just be a consideration for the senior team at best just to be safe. With a 6 or 7 day turn around they would probably play and we'd have a better chance of winning.

Wow where did that come from.

Boy, that escalated quickly, I mean that really got out of hand fast!

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

It's healthy to vent

[bulldogtragic]

It's healthy to vent

I think JFK once said something like 'those who make peaceful protest impossible, make violent revolution inevitable'. Venting with people who understand each other is very healthy. Losing heart breaking prelims together is a bit like 30 minutes before Jonestown ended, but better to be together I figure!

[Scorlibo]

I thought it was a terrible idea, but now it's happening I'm actually enjoying it. There is something nice about every finals team being alive in the finals for at least two weeks, the build up is a good reward for having made the top 8 in an 18 team competition. I also don't buy in to the idea that it's a bad thing that the bye biases the lower ranked teams. Surely we all just want every team playing at their best in the finals, and the break is going someway towards making that a reality.

[bulldogtragic]

I thought it was a terrible idea, but now it's happening I'm actually enjoying it. There is something nice about every finals team being alive in the finals for at least two weeks, the build up is a good reward for having made the top 8 in an 18 team competition. I also don't buy in to the idea that it's a bad thing that the bye biases the lower ranked teams. Surely we all just want every team playing at their best in the finals, and the break is going someway towards making that a reality.

I always suspected you were Gillon McLachan. Now I know it's you!

[Twodogs]

I'm Spartacus!

[bulldogtragic]

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Brian & so is my wife.

[LostDoggy]

I'm Spartacus!

No, I'm Spartacus

[LostDoggy]

I'm Brian & so is my wife.

Welease Woger the Wed Nose Weindeer

[soupman]

I was sceptical at first but it's not too bad.

There's still heaps of footy about, most local competitions are starting or midway into their finals, weather is improving and it gives a chance for the womens match to take the headlines.

Maybe next year if they adopt the 17-5 model they have a weekend that features the bottom six sides with the top 12 all settled. Admittedly they are pretty shit sides but with something to play for their clashes could be interesting. I'd try and keep the Ej Whitten game and the ladies match around as well as I think both worked pretty well (although the former isn't a great standalone event).

Maybe something like:
Thursday: Ej Whitten game
Friday: Bottom 6 clash
Saturday day: Bottom 6 clash
Saturday night: Womens representative game
Sunday: Bottom 6 clash

That keeps footy ticking over for the weekend with no detrimental effect on teams playing finals. It gives the Womens match a standalone prime time fixture to make their own after a very encouraging performance this week which proved people want to watch. Again the extra week allows events like the AA dinner to be attended by all and clubs to get their players back to full health.

As for the Thursday final aside from the difficulty for our fans to attend a game in Perth I think it's an excellent idea. It means the wait for finals is slightly shorter, if they consistently schedule the match involving the most travel (Perth game usually) on that night it means that the effects of that trip are negated as much as possible. They schedule that clashes opponent on the Friday meaning both sides have a very similar break. And then the other two matches play off on the Saturday meaning they get an equal lead in. That means no teams have less than 7 days between clashes and it mitigates the effect of travel as much as possible. For all the drawbacks there is a lot of merit in it.

[LostDoggy]

If we get Macrae, Wood and Libba back and beat the Eagles Thursday night this thread title better be changed quick smart.

[Cyberdoggie]

I think it's been great, Great chance to connect with local football and highlight the women's game.

Also builds anticipation for the finals series.

[LostDoggy]

I was sceptical at first but it's not too bad.

There's still heaps of footy about, most local competitions are starting or midway into their finals, weather is improving and it gives a chance for the womens match to take the headlines.

Maybe next year if they adopt the 17-5 model they have a weekend that features the bottom six sides with the top 12 all settled. Admittedly they are pretty shit sides but with something to play for their clashes could be interesting. I'd try and keep the Ej Whitten game and the ladies match around as well as I think both worked pretty well (although the former isn't a great standalone event).

Maybe something like:
Thursday: Ej Whitten game
Friday: Bottom 6 clash
Saturday day: Bottom 6 clash
Saturday night: Womens representative game
Sunday: Bottom 6 clash

That keeps footy ticking over for the weekend with no detrimental effect on teams playing finals. It gives the Womens match a standalone prime time fixture to make their own after a very encouraging performance this week which proved people want to watch. Again the extra week allows events like the AA dinner to be attended by all and clubs to get their players back to full health.

As for the Thursday final aside from the difficulty for our fans to attend a game in Perth I think it's an excellent idea. It means the wait for finals is slightly shorter, if they consistently schedule the match involving the most travel (Perth game usually) on that night it means that the effects of that trip are negated as much as possible. They schedule that clashes opponent on the Friday meaning both sides have a very similar break. And then the other two matches play off on the Saturday meaning they get an equal lead in. That means no teams have less than 7 days between clashes and it mitigates the effect of travel as much as possible. For all the drawbacks there is a lot of merit in it.

Good thoughts there Soupaman, although I doubt there'll be a Womens Rep clash as we'll have the Womens League up and running. They'll have a shorter season than the Mens League, wonder if their Grand Final could be on the Saturday night immediately before the finals? That'd be a big event.