Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

[EasternWest]

I feel like for all the deserved criticism some of us levelled at our guys in the first half they deserve massive plaudits for really lifting in the second. Our group willed that win and could be a great building block for next week.

[azabob]

The ruck trio of Young, English and Shaq worked well.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Thanks Dog God, you got us across the line.
It must've been a blast!

[angelopetraglia]

I thought Wood played well today. Got to a lot of contests. Good spoils.

[Mantis]

I feel like for all the deserved criticism some of us levelled at our guys in the first half they deserve massive plaudits for really lifting in the second. Our group willed that win and could be a great building block for next week.

Yep… we dug in (as we wanted them to) and willed ourselves to play some decent footy We’re a bloody good team… we had forgotten what makes us a good team.

[comrade]

I feel like for all the deserved criticism some of us levelled at our guys in the first half they deserve massive plaudits for really lifting in the second. Our group willed that win and could be a great building block for next week.

Agree. That was an excellent second half, tough and uncompromising.

Massive turned around and the best half we’ve played in a month.

Good time for it!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

This game is why I prefer Gardner so much more over Cordy.

[jeemak]

I feel like for all the deserved criticism some of us levelled at our guys in the first half they deserve massive plaudits for really lifting in the second. Our group willed that win and could be a great building block for next week.

Agreed, they really stood up and smashed Essendon in the second half.

Just the tonic we needed to get up and about again. Fifty points on a day like today is an amazing effort.

[jeemak]

Our back six was excellent. A much needed turnaround from Easton, and Gardner came back in and performed well in a disciplined display.

[bulldogtragic]

The ruck trio of Young, English and Shaq worked well.

Yep. It’s enough that the risk of Martin isn’t worth taking.

[macca]

The ruck trio of Young, English and Shaq worked well.

Young needs to be kept in the side, He needs to start to exert his presence and half the ruck contest. He will learn his craft and just grow into the role.

Shaq givs us a chop out in the ruck and can go back and forward

English, he can play part time ruck, but he needs to demand the ball playing forward. Earlier in 4th quarter he was just waiting for the mid to kick it to him, instead of reading the play and charging forward. The ball falls short and gets marked by the blocking backman.

Naughton , saw several times he runs under the ball. At least his charging forward early in the play.

Cody is so important and he is serial pest. 12 possessions, 11 contested.

[G-Mo77]

This game is why I prefer Gardner so much more over Cordy.

In the end we got the team right. Schache and Gardner come in straightened us up. The 2nd half was just annihilation, that was great.

These mongels bring out the worst in me though. I've rarely dropped the F bomb in front of my son, did it thrice today.

[josie]

Dunks & Treloar much better in that last quarter - more desperate and laid some good tackles. Let’s hope they’ve found form. Our position around ball drop much better. And we won centre clearances after half time. Am I correct Dunks blanketed a red hot Parish in 2nd half?

Love to know what was said at half time by Bevo & what moves he made in field.

I reckon that melee at half time seemed to switch us on. Kudos to Young for hanging in there and taking a few hits. I reckon he might have what it takes to make a part time ruck.

I’m super pleased he & Schache played and played ok too.

Libba especially and Macrae I thought kept us in it the whole game. It’s the little things Libba does.

[dog town]

Plus 35 contested ball after half time, amazing what happens when you put your head over it.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

This game represented our season. First half was rounds 20-23. Second half rounds 1-19.

Credit to the boys for standing up in that second half. Lewy Young deserves a lot of plaudits. Stood up in the ruck which isn’t his position and roughed them up.