Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

[bornadog]

Beveridge defends Bontempelli as Bulldogs weigh up ‘huge risk’ at selection


Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has leapt to the defence of Marcus Bontempelli, declaring the captain’s fellow midfielders need to regain the “cohesion” they had earlier in the season in order to allow Bontempelli to again flourish.

The Bulldogs have much to think about heading into Sunday’s elimination final against Essendon in Launceston.

While they venture into the post season stung by having lost three straight matches and the double chance, tumbling from top of the ladder to fifth, Beveridge insisted on Tuesday that “everything changes” and the “game becomes a little bit different” now. But there are significant issues to address, including how to re-establish the dominance Bontempelli had while emerging as a Brownlow Medal favourite.

The gold-standard impact Bontempelli had has slipped in the past month, prompting Essendon great Matthew Lloyd to describe him as “really poor” in the loss to Port Adelaide on Friday. Bontempelli had only 15 touches, as he did against the Crows in round 20, and while he did have 34 against the Bombers a week later and 31 against the Hawks, he could not will his side to victory.

Beveridge said the Bulldogs had closely studied film of their champion midfielder.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has leapt to the defence of Marcus Bontempelli, declaring the captain’s fellow midfielders need to regain the “cohesion” they had earlier in the season in order to allow Bontempelli to again flourish.

The Bulldogs have much to think about heading into Sunday’s elimination final against Essendon in Launceston.

While they venture into the post season stung by having lost three straight matches and the double chance, tumbling from top of the ladder to fifth, Beveridge insisted on Tuesday that “everything changes” and the “game becomes a little bit different” now. But there are significant issues to address, including how to re-establish the dominance Bontempelli had while emerging as a Brownlow Medal favourite.

The gold-standard impact Bontempelli had has slipped in the past month, prompting Essendon great Matthew Lloyd to describe him as “really poor” in the loss to Port Adelaide on Friday. Bontempelli had only 15 touches, as he did against the Crows in round 20, and while he did have 34 against the Bombers a week later and 31 against the Hawks, he could not will his side to victory.

Beveridge said the Bulldogs had closely studied film of their champion midfielder.

“When we do, we see Marcus trying to put out spot fires, trying to help defensively, compete in the air behind the ball, getting to the stoppage, working his butt off, trying to create offensive opportunities. He is working the house down for the team,” Beveridge said on Tuesday.

“I think his effect on the game and his influence is symptomatic of how that whole group is playing together, the chemistry, the cohesion that we established earlier in the year, we haven’t been able to re-establish it as yet. This game is a glaring opportunity for us to get that closer to the mark than it has been. That will help his game, there is no doubt about that, because you spread the load.”

Where the Dogs’ quick hands and run from stoppages had terrorised sides, opponents have been able to shut this down - Beveridge’s men falling from being the league best in average clearance differential from rounds 1-20, to 12th from rounds 21-23.

Tom Liberatore was beaten by Willem Drew last week, while Lloyd added Josh Dunkley “looks lost” and said the pressure was also on Beveridge, for outside of the magical 2016 premiership run, the Dogs had lost three elimination finals under the coach.

Beveridge appears to have grown tired of the constant questioning about the ruck issue, and said it would be a “huge risk” to recall the robust Stef Martin. The former Lion was a key piece in the Bulldogs’ surge earlier this season but has yet to regain full match fitness after a groin injury. He has had only one major training session, and a practice match last weekend with reduced minutes.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I have to say........ I should be excited about heading in to the final series but I'm not. The last 3 weeks have just totally gutted my enthusiasm. Bevo's press conference did nothing to give me hope. I can't bring myself to watch the 'inspirational' video the club has released. Was pretty much 'whatever' when they announced the all Australian squad. Normally I listen to SEN and all the callers and analysis and predictions but I can't even bear to have that on. I haven't been able to even watch or listen to a game since the last quarter of Brisbane the other night. I'm dreading, DREADING, totally and utterly dreading losing to the Bombers, and Stringer starring would just be the truckload of Himalayan salt crystals being forcefully massaged into the fresh bleeding amputation stump. I don't even know if I'll be able to watch it. Might just work in the shed until it's over. Yes I feel like a bad supporter for saying this, but I buy a membership for me and all my kids every year without even thinking, I've been a member since '94 so I am loyal, but right now I feel nothing but dread.
I'm sorry but I just felt I needed to get it out of my system in some small way.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

I have to say........ I should be excited about heading in to the final series but I'm not. The last 3 weeks have just totally gutted my enthusiasm. Bevo's press conference did nothing to give me hope. I can't bring myself to watch the 'inspirational' video the club has released. Was pretty much 'whatever' when they announced the all Australian squad. Normally I listen to SEN and all the callers and analysis and predictions but I can't even bear to have that on. I haven't been able to even watch or listen to a game since the last quarter of Brisbane the other night. I'm dreading, DREADING, totally and utterly dreading losing to the Bombers, and Stringer starring would just be the truckload of Himalayan salt crystals in the amputation scar. I don't even know if I'll be able to watch it. Might just work in the shed until it's over. Yes I feel like a bad supporter for saying this, but I buy a membership for me and all my kids every year without even thinking, I've been a member since '94 so I am loyal, but right now I feel nothing but dread.
I'm sorry but I just felt I needed to get it out of my system in some small way.

DD I am sure we all feel your pain but our history would suggest that our Club can overcome hurdles as in 1989 and 2016 in one of the more remarkable finals series ever. This year has witnessed the highs in being Ladder leader for 8 games and
then in the past 3 weeks a capitulation fighting to avoid going out in straight sets for the third year in a row.
It will take a supreme effort to reverse the trend but let’s not become too despondent, believing the team will show the true Bulldog spirit once again to overcome adversity.

[Hotdog60]

We have a secret weapon that wasn't used the last time we played the Bummers and that the Energizer Bunny.

[1eyedog]

I have to say........ I should be excited about heading in to the final series but I'm not. The last 3 weeks have just totally gutted my enthusiasm. Bevo's press conference did nothing to give me hope. I can't bring myself to watch the 'inspirational' video the club has released. Was pretty much 'whatever' when they announced the all Australian squad. Normally I listen to SEN and all the callers and analysis and predictions but I can't even bear to have that on. I haven't been able to even watch or listen to a game since the last quarter of Brisbane the other night. I'm dreading, DREADING, totally and utterly dreading losing to the Bombers, and Stringer starring would just be the truckload of Himalayan salt crystals being forcefully massaged into the fresh bleeding amputation stump. I don't even know if I'll be able to watch it. Might just work in the shed until it's over. Yes I feel like a bad supporter for saying this, but I buy a membership for me and all my kids every year without even thinking, I've been a member since '94 so I am loyal, but right now I feel nothing but dread.
I'm sorry but I just felt I needed to get it out of my system in some small way.

Understand completely. Its more likely we're going to get smashed than win the game. Not sure what the bookies are on. Hard drugs? The money is on reputation alone. We have zero momentum vs a team absolutely flying. It won't be pretty.

[EasternWest]

Understand completely. Its more likely we're going to get smashed than win the game. Not sure what the bookies are on. Hard drugs? The money is on reputation alone. We have zero momentum vs a team absolutely flying. It won't be pretty.

Remember when we flew to Perth to play the form team in the competition in an elimination final then smashed them?

We're going to win this game.

[MrMahatma]

Remember when we flew to Perth to play the form team in the competition in an elimination final then smashed them?

We're going to win this game.

I agree. Anything can happen in the next few weeks. And surely it’s more likely we make a run at the flag than it was in 2016? And we’ve shown better capability this year than in the previous two when we were knocked out of finals early. Heck… in 2019 we were flying into the finals like Essendon are. And then…

It won’t be easy but we should win.

[Ghost Dog]

Lloyd and others are a bit early to pull the trigger on Bont.
Hope Marcus comes out swinging like the champ he is.
Never enjoyed watching another player so much.

[Grantysghost]

Remember when we flew to Perth to play the form team in the competition in an elimination final then smashed them?

We're going to win this game.

You fail to mention that was actually part of a fairy tale.

Mythology has no place here in the realm of the realists!

[jeemak]

I'll just repost a variation of what I posted this morning, almost got through a full day. Incremental uplift is still uplift, I guess.

[1eyedog]

Remember when we flew to Perth to play the form team in the competition in an elimination final then smashed them?

We're going to win this game.

Yeah you mean that one month in 62 years of footy? That was cool.

[jeemak]

Yeah you mean that one month in 62 years of footy? That was cool.

It really was, wasn't it.

Good times, good times.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showth...nal+West+coast

For different reasons selection then was just as ridiculous as it is today.

[1eyedog]

It really was, wasn't it.

Good times, good times.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/showth...nal+West+coast

For different reasons selection then was just as ridiculous as it is today.

Very good point Jee.

[Go_Dogs]

Why we will win:

We have Bont
Treloar and Dunks are bound to hit their straps this weekend
Liberatore hates Essendon and will play a game for the ages to spite them
Young will enjoy the challenge of playing on Draper and will make him earn it
Timmy will show 2M that he’s just a small man and kick 8 up front
Naughts to remind everyone why king Carey said he’s the best forward in the game.
We have the Bont.
Weightman due a few sausage rolls
Daniel and Dale to dominate with their foot skills as they have done repeatedly this year
Keath v whoever. He will be at his angry PE teacher best
Williams doesn’t think he should share a nickname with Ben Rutten, and will demand sole ownership of “Truck” by days end
Hunter after a quiet year has hit peak form. He’s bound to kick straight. And get 30 touches running everywhere
We have Bont
Roarke Smith will tag some pathetic excuse for a wingman out of the game and take a few game winning marks in the back half
Macrae to have 30 plus, and find lace out leading players in the F50 with at least 5 of them
Bevo creates a narrative that sparks our players, who remember how bloody good they are and why we will win the flag
JJ to go all “Normie” on Essendon, laughing at the memory of their pitiful offer years back and nail 4 chase down tackles for the ages to go with 2 goals
We have Bont
Duryea to do what’s he’s done all year and consistently be in the right place, right time
Bailey Smith to use his anger and aggression to close down space, and work his backside off on the defensive side of stoppages, making Jake Stringer look slow and hopeless as a midfielder forcing him to retreat to the F50, where Easton Wood plays his best game in 5 years and also makes Jake Stringer look slow and hopeless as a forward, crushing him mentally and ensuring that he plays our his huge contract extension for the Bendigo Bombers (who I’m not sure exist anymore, but you get the point)
We have Bont
Cordy to fly knee first into at least 3’opponents who look good early, forcing Essendon to use their sub and be 2 down on the bench all night
Hannan kicks the opening goal after sitting on someone’s head, setting a tone for redemption
VDM lays 8 tackles for the game, 4 in the F50 and shows the tenacity that made him a fan favourite for 120 minutes
We have Bont.

[Mofra]

Lloyd and others are a bit early to pull the trigger on Bont.
Hope Marcus comes out swinging like the champ he is.
Never enjoyed watching another player so much.

I remember a few years ago when people said Bont couldn't handle a tag. We played North and Firitto was sent to rough him up.
Bont hasn't been targeted the same way physically since.

This game has all the hallmarks of a 'statement' game.