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Thread: Finals 2022

  1. #1
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    Finals 2022

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    Western Bulldogs

    The injury list:


    A somewhat surprising finalist unburdened by external expectations, the Bulldogs are blessed with a healthy list at the right time. Marcus Bontempelli insists his recent adductor niggle won’t affect him. Mitch Wallis (foot) is ruled out for the season but the Dogs should be able to consider 2016 Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen and Hayden Crozier for the trip out west and a sudden-death elimination final against Fremantle.

    Room for improvement:

    Weirdly, the Doggies have played in patches all season, not locked into a win-loss-win run since the early rounds. Thus they can maintain optimism about translating a two-match winning streak into something more substantial. They had only eight wins after round 17, so now is the time to properly click into gear. Last year’s grand finalists don’t score often enough when they enter their forward 50, while their kicking efficiency needs to get better.

    Watch out for:

    The time is ripe for former No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to shine. With 16 games under his belt after five matches in his debut season last year, Ugle-Hagan is perfectly placed to continue to blossom. Observers got a taste of his potential in round 19, when the 19-year-old booted five goals including the match-winner in a narrow win over reigning premiers Melbourne. While we’re here, you can safely expect Bontempelli to star in the west. Furthermore, Tim English versus Sean Darcy in the ruck should be compelling.

    Flag chances:

    Let’s be honest - they are remote. The Bulldogs crept into the finals series and, in something of a Stephen Bradbury outcome, ended up in eighth spot after Carlton squandered their chances. Strangely, it’s familiar territory for the Dogs and coach Luke Beveridge. They famously partnered to win the 2016 premiership after winning 15 matches and finishing seventh. Then, last year, they also won 15 games and made the grand final from fifth spot (and an elimination final). However, with only 12 wins this year, the Dogs probably won’t go past week one.

    Western Bulldogs


    Avg Rank
    Inside 50 Diff 7 3rd
    Kick-In to Inside 50 % 28 1st
    Scores from Stoppages Diff 10 1st
    Goal per Inside 50 % Against 25 15th
    Kicking Efficiency Diff −3 16th




    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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    Re: Finals 2022

    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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    Re: Finals 2022

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    Strengths

    FREMANTLE V WESTERN BULLDOGS, ELIMINATION FINAL


    Fremantle


    The Dockers have arguably the best team defence in the competition and a complete backline that is functioning at an elite level. As a result, they rank No.1 in the AFL for scores against per inside 50, conceding from 38.1 per cent of opposition entries. Their game style involves periods of controlled possession, which allows them to rank No.2 for uncontested possession differential. Will Brodie (5.7 clearances a game) has been a crucial addition to the midfield, thriving alongside Caleb Serong (5.4) to help the Dockers rank No.3 for clearance differential (+3.0).


    Western Bulldogs



    The Bulldogs are the AFL's best stoppage team statistically, ranking No.1 for both clearance differential (+8.2) and scores from stoppages (+9.5). Tom Liberatore (7.2 clearances a game) and Jack Macrae (6.5) have been the leaders, with Marcus Bontempelli (5.3) always a threat when he moves into the middle. Winning the contested ball is the Bulldogs’ major strength, ranking No.3 in the AFL this season for contested possession differential (+7.8).
    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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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    link
    Strengths

    FREMANTLE V WESTERN BULLDOGS, ELIMINATION FINAL


    Fremantle


    The Dockers have arguably the best team defence in the competition and a complete backline that is functioning at an elite level. As a result, they rank No.1 in the AFL for scores against per inside 50, conceding from 38.1 per cent of opposition entries. Their game style involves periods of controlled possession, which allows them to rank No.2 for uncontested possession differential. Will Brodie (5.7 clearances a game) has been a crucial addition to the midfield, thriving alongside Caleb Serong (5.4) to help the Dockers rank No.3 for clearance differential (+3.0).


    Western Bulldogs



    The Bulldogs are the AFL's best stoppage team statistically, ranking No.1 for both clearance differential (+8.2) and scores from stoppages (+9.5). Tom Liberatore (7.2 clearances a game) and Jack Macrae (6.5) have been the leaders, with Marcus Bontempelli (5.3) always a threat when he moves into the middle. Winning the contested ball is the Bulldogs’ major strength, ranking No.3 in the AFL this season for contested possession differential (+7.8).
    Going to need Dunks to pick up Libba's slack in the clearances.

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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by Axe Man View Post
    Going to need Dunks to pick up Libba's slack in the clearances.
    Contested Poss. as well

    Rank Name Games Average
    1 Thomas Liberatore 22 13.14
    2 Jackson Macrae 22 11.55
    3 Marcus Bontempelli 21 11.24
    4 Josh Dunkley 22 11.14
    5 Bailey Smith 16 8.75
    6 Timothy English 15 8.53
    7 Adam Treloar 21 8.52
    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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    Re: Finals 2022

    “NO EXCUSE”: WHY UNDER PRESSURE BEVERIDGE MUST BEAT FREMANTLE

    Kane Cornes believes Luke Beveridge is under as much pressure as anybody as we head into the AFL finals series.

    The Western Bulldogs coach expressed frustrations in his press conference on Wednesday with the Tom Liberatore hamstring injury news leaking before team selection.

    Cornes wonders why Beveridge allows himself to consistently get frustrated by things like this.

    “Why does he worry about that? What advantage does he have holding that information for 24 hours? It’s not going to change anything that Fremantle do,” Cornes told SEN’s Whateley.

    “I think this year (Beveridge) has been distracted by things that he doesn’t need to worry about.

    “I don’t understand why he would be upset about that or if he was upset about it, why he would put that on the public record.”

    Cornes believes Beveridge should be under enormous pressure this September, given the talent on the Dogs’ list and their drop off in 2022.

    “I think of anyone in this finals series, you can look at Brisbane and you can look at Chris Fagan and their record in finals, I think Dayne Zorko is under significant pressure, Beveridge is probably one for me,” he added.

    “The figure under the most pressure this finals series. Eight points up at half-time of the Grand Final last year and lose by 74 points. Fall into the finals on pure luck and on the back of Carlton not being able to get it done in the last month.

    “They’ve conceded the 11th most scores in the whole of the competition. They haven’t had a defensive structure that holds up, conceding 82 points per game.

    “If you look at their line-up, it is so much stronger on paper than what Fremantle’s is. Pound for pound talent wise, they want for nothing really in this side.

    “If they cannot get it done against Fremantle, I think it’s going to be a significant talking point heading into next season and Luke Beveridge’s future. Then you get all the off-field stuff and that’s just another example of the bizarre behaviour he has produced this year.

    “He’s under pressure, he’s clearly feeling it and I think they need to perform strongly on Saturday night against Fremantle.”

    Given the unavailability of Nathan Fyfe and Matt Taberner, Cornes believes the Dockers lack firepower inside 50 and believes the Dogs simply should be winning this Elimination Final.

    “Fremantle’s forward six on paper with Nathan Fyfe and Matt Taberner out, it’s the least talented forward line of the eight teams playing finals,” he said.

    “They’re going to win this game off the back of their defensive structures and their ability to get after the opposition with their small forwards and turn it over in their front half, but it’s not going to be on the back of someone kicking a bag.

    “It’s going to be Rory Lobb or bust and then you surround him with smalls.

    “The Western Bulldogs should be winning this game of footy. The only reason Fremantle will win it is because they have a sounder coaching group that has implemented a better defensive structure that makes them really difficult to score against – the third least scored against in the competition this year.

    “It’s going to be a dour affair, I think it is going to be a low scoring game, and with the talent the Bulldogs have in their line-up there’s really no excuse not to beat Fremantle with the players they’ve got out.”
    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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    Re: Finals 2022

    Bevo has been in a bizarre frame of mind this year.

    The team has really not performed.

    However: This team doesn't want for anything. Um...Yes it does.

  9. #8
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    Re: Finals 2022

    Wow Cornes talking sense for once.

  10. #9
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    Re: Finals 2022

    In what world is actual proven commodity and premiership winning coach Luke Beveridge under more pressure than 1-6, soon to be 1-7, fumbler of 3 consecutive top-4 finishes, Neil Craig 2.0 lookin Chris Fagan?

    Maybe the one where the person commentating hates Luke Beveridge, but not in reality.
    - I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -

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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by Happy Days View Post
    In what world is actual proven commodity and premiership winning coach Luke Beveridge under more pressure than 1-6, soon to be 1-7, fumbler of 3 consecutive top-4 finishes, Neil Craig 2.0 lookin Chris Fagan?

    Maybe the one where the person commentating hates Luke Beveridge, but not in reality.
    Nah Bevo is under the pump just ask the Woof community if we lose on Saturday night.

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  13. #11
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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by 1eyedog View Post
    Nah Bevo is under the pump just ask the Woof community if we lose on Saturday night.
    Bevo's not under the pump. We are lucky to have him.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by GVGjr View Post
    Bevo's not under the pump. We are lucky to have him.
    I think Fagan was under the pump until last night. Reaching finals year after year and losing.
    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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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by GVGjr View Post
    Bevo's not under the pump. We are lucky to have him.
    2023 will be an important for the coaching staff & players…. With the depth of talent we have we should be in a stronger position than is currently the case so need to see the results improve.

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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by Mantis View Post
    2023 will be an important for the coaching staff & players…. With the depth of talent we have we should be in a stronger position than is currently the case so need to see the results improve.
    I don't disagree with that. From a GF last year to just sneaking into the 8 this year and that doesn't reflect well on the club but we have a chance to make an impact.
    I hope the club is very aware of the reasons why we have slid down the order and that they will be looking to address that straight away.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

  18. #15
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    Re: Finals 2022

    Quote Originally Posted by GVGjr View Post
    I don't disagree with that. From a GF last year to just sneaking into the 8 this year and that doesn't reflect well on the club but we have a chance to make an impact.
    I hope the club is very aware of the reasons why we have slid down the order and that they will be looking to address that straight away.
    Did you catch Ameet Baines on Sedats favourite morning show yesterday?

    By the sounds of it a review of some sort will be happening.
    More of an In Bruges guy?

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