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  1. #1
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    Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change


    WESTERN Bulldogs speedster Jason Johannisen says the Dogs are embracing change as they seek to even their season ledger against Brisbane Lions this week.

    The 14th-placed Bulldogs are just one game out of the eight and are aiming for a third straight win on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

    “We can’t look too far ahead, but we’ve got that belief, and we know if we play our best footy — it doesn’t matter who we play — we’ll be right in it,” the 2016 Norm Smith medallist said.

    The Dogs slumped from first to 10th in 2017, but Johannisen said a revamped game-plan and injection of youth were starting to pay off.

    “We’ve moved on from that — it feels like a very long time since we were there on the big stage — but it’s a different group and we’re focusing on the future,” he said.

    “It was frustrating last year. We had high expectations of ourselves and we really didn’t perform. But now we’ve got a completely new group, full of youth and it’s a pretty exciting time. They’re showing great promise and hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”

    The Dogs have fielded the AFL’s youngest team in every round of the season.

    Just nine members of the 2016 premiership team played in Saturday’s win against Gold Coast — Zaine Cordy, Lachie Hunter, Josh Dunkley, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel, Toby McLean, Jack Macrae and Johannisen.

    Asked about changes to coach Luke Beveridge’s game plan, Johannisen said: “I can’t give away too much, but because we have a different playing list now, it’s building towards our strengths as a group. It’s a work in progress.

    “Bevo hasn’t really changed that much. He drives a positive environment and is always teaching us new things.”

    Johannisen said the players “laughed” at suggestions teammates had fallen out and cliques had developed since the drought-breaking flag.

    “It was absolutely ridiculous — we are as united as a group as we’ve ever been,” Johannisen said.

    “From all my time being here at the Dogs, we’ve always been a strong, close group and that’s never changed. We have such a special bond.”

    Johannisen, 25, said players such as Macrae and McLean had elevated their games amid an influx of new talent.

    “That’s what we probably needed a bit last year — blokes with a bit more experience,” he said. “And young guys like Aaron Naughton, Ed Richards, Tim English and Billy Gowers are playing some really good footy, which is pretty awesome to watch.”

    Johannisen on Tuesday unveiled the club’s Indigenous Round guernsey designed by 16-year-old Wurundjeri-Yorta Yorta artist Cooper Craig-Peters, a member of the Dogs’ Next Generation Academy.

    “I slept for a couple of hours and in my dream I pictured this guernsey,” Craig-Peters said.

    “I woke up straight away and went straight into the study and started drawing my design up.

    “It’s still surreal, I still think I’m dreaming. It feels so great and I feel so warm inside to have my actual design on this guernsey.”

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  3. #2
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Great jumper
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  4. #3
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Don't mind it at all. The rounded swirls signify journey in Aboriginal art and I reckon that's very applicable to us now.
    But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.

  5. #4
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    On a bit of a tangent but are we possibly the only club in the AFL without an indigenous player on our list? With the departures of Hamling, Stevens, Jones, Goodes and Tweedie over the past few years I'm not sure if we have any?

  6. #5
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Quote Originally Posted by Axe Man View Post
    On a bit of a tangent but are we possibly the only club in the AFL without an indigenous player on our list? With the departures of Hamling, Stevens, Jones, Goodes and Tweedie over the past few years I'm not sure if we have any?
    Lynch
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  7. #6
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    Lynch
    Really? I've never heard that he is indigenous. Regardless he won't be on the list come the end of the season anyway.

  8. #7
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Quote Originally Posted by Axe Man View Post
    Really? I've never heard that he is indigenous. Regardless he won't be on the list come the end of the season anyway.
    Yep he is and yes you are right about next year.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

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  10. #8
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    Re: Jason Johannisen says the Western Bulldogs are embracing change

    Not a fan, far too busy for my tastes. Just personal preference.
    [B][COLOR="#0000CD"]Our club was born in blood and boots, not in AFL focus groups.[/COLOR][/B]

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