Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

[jeemak]

Yeah that would be nice, but it seems that night was a one off.

The four he kicked in the preliminary final the week after were pretty solid as well.

[chef]

The four he kicked in the preliminary final the week after were pretty solid as well.

Yeah its a wonder whats happened to him since then.

[azabob]

Yeah its a wonder whats happened to him since then.

It’s a wonder what has happened to the entire club since then.

It’s a interesting observation you’ve made, especially considering how pragmatic you are with the club and players.

[bornadog]

It’s a wonder what has happened to the entire club since then.

Played another final and sitting in 8 at the moment - I am sure many clubs would love that situation.

[Bulldog Joe]

Played another final and sitting in 8 at the moment - I am sure many clubs would love that situation.

The final was achieved because of Carlton's inability to finish off games.

The final was abysmal in giving away a 7 goal start.

Not sure many clubs or supporters would love that coming off a GF.

2023 has been underwhelming despite sitting inside the eight. Really should be inside the top 4.

I for one don't love that as a sign of progress.

I do concede that there is scope to make something worthwhile of the year, but anything below a PF appearance is a fail from me.

[bornadog]

The final was achieved because of Carlton's inability to finish off games.

The final was abysmal in giving away a 7 goal start.

Not sure many clubs or supporters would love that coming off a GF.

2023 has been underwhelming despite sitting inside the eight. Really should be inside the top 4.

I for one don't love that as a sign of progress.

I do concede that there is scope to make something worthwhile of the year, but anything below a PF appearance is a fail from me.

Of course I want more success but it is not as if we have sunk to the bottom half of the ladder

[EasternWest]

Of course I want more success but it is not as if we have sunk to the bottom half of the ladder

Yet ...

Actually I jest - I think why there's such frustration at a lot of what's going on is because when we are good we can hang with anyone (see Port game). The problem is consistency.

[jeemak]

The clubs that finished above us only did so because we couldn't keep our concentration consistently in games and if we could they wouldn't have.

Fun way of looking at things.

[jeemak]

Of course I want more success but it is not as if we have sunk to the bottom half of the ladder

That's only because the bottom half of the ladder teams can't win as many games as us. If they could win as many or more we would be!

[EasternWest]

That's only because the bottom half of the ladder teams can't win as many games as us. If they could win as many or more we would be!

Promote this man.

[Rocket Science]

Yet ...

Actually I jest - I think why there's such frustration at a lot of what's going on is because when we are good we can hang with anyone (see Port game). The problem is consistency.

Those maddening fluctuations, year to year, game to game, quarter to quarter feel like they've been a hallmark of this team for our entire post-flag era but find more recently am weirdly less tempted to wonder what we're going to get because with the makeup of the list it feels like we know fairly well what we're going to get.

Unsure if this is good or bad or both.

[jeemak]

Those maddening fluctuations, year to year, game to game, quarter to quarter feel like they've been a hallmark of this team for our entire post-flag era but find more recently am weirdly less tempted to wonder what we're going to get because with the makeup of the list it feels like we know fairly well what we're going to get.

Unsure if this is good or bad or both.

We don't tend to lose in different ways, which is calming and infuriating at the same time. You know, no surprises and all that.

[azabob]

We don't tend to lose in different ways, which is calming and infuriating at the same time. You know, no surprises and all that.

Do you reckon our inconsistency comes down to our ability to perform or mentally we lose concentration?

[jeemak]

Do you reckon our inconsistency comes down to our ability to perform or mentally we lose concentration?

I think mentally we can't keep it all together for long enough in games and week to week.

Take the lapse at the end of 2021 prior to finals, where we dropped our bundle mentally and lost games against the Hawks and Essendon thinking talent alone would get us across the line. Then there's the defencive and intensity lapses in games which we all know about.

Because of our talent/ organisation issues at each end of the ground we're not talented enough to have those lapses.

What I would say however is the intensity this season since round two has been more consistent. However, that seems to have come at the expense of executing skills efficiently.

To me inconsistency across the board is heavily affected by mental resilience.

[GVGjr]

Footy Classified have called out Bailey Smith's form drop and are asking the question if we are giving him the appropriate level of support.