IF it's the hope that kills you...

[mjp]

THEN:

....if we are going to fall apart in Ballarat next Sunday, I would prefer it just ended this week against North.

So tired of these end of season 'make or miss' (with no more than the bottom of the 8 and mediocrity the ultimate goal!) games...

We play some spectacular footy - and some terrible footy - and whilst I'm not pushing for change if this group doesn't play finals there really SHOULD be some. I know I defended the group after the Adelaide game with some "it really wasn't that bad" type comments (and it wasn't) - at the same time the 15 minutes after half time was not the performance of a team that was DESPERATE to leave their mark on the season.

So - there you have it Dogs. If next week is in the 'MAYBE' category and playing really focussed, intent footy is only a 50-50 shot, then just let North have the win this week...let it end in frustration rather than despair.

[Happy Days]

I’ve actually come around to the thinking that beating the Giants, who we all predicted would be good as hell at the start of the year and are on a full on rampage right now, would actually be a hell of a win and earning it in blood.

On the other hand, I’m not willing to indulge the possibility of losing to North because I’ve been babying my expectations of this team of stupid idiots all year and we just can’t be losing that game, especially now that North’s best player is missing.

[Sedat]

All season, it has felt like 2024 is a different iteration of the Dogs than 2022 and 2023, even if the results have been similar. I am confident we will win both last 2 H&A matches comfortably and enter the finals in 5th/6th and have a real chance to make a run in September.

The losses to Hawthorn and WC late last season were very panicky and reeked of a team that was far too reliant on their captain - they were Bont or bust performances. We are a different team this year in many facets, and I think we will show this in the next fortnight.

[bornadog]

We will win this week and should be assured a finals appearance. Win this week and GWS will be toast.

[Axe Man]

Beat North and Carlton with half their VFL side lose to West Coast and we are in. Round 24 v GWS whilst still very important won't be quite so panic inducing.

[bornadog]

Beat North and Carlton with half their VFL side lose to West Coast and we are in. Round 24 v GWS whilst still very important won't be quite so panic inducing.

Last night on talking Footy they showed the players out of Carlton and part of best 23 - there are 10 out - hopefully WC delivers the blow they gave us last year, except we had no excuse.

[Countrydog5]

We'll win this week, especially after last weekends poor performance and a deserved kick up the rump. The thing we have to cross our fingers for is other results going our way so we know we're playing finals going into the last round. I'll almost bet that if we're locked into the 8 after next round, we'll do GWS away comfortably. On the other hand if we have to win in Ballarat to play finals, i'll be very very nervous.

I'll be barracking so hard for a West Coast win i'll need to have a shower as soon as it's done to wash the shame away.

[MrMahatma]

I posted it a couple of months back before the Carlton match. "Watch us win the next 4 then lose to Crows and North".

I actually don't think we were THAT bad against the Crows but was disappointed.

RE: Hope killing you. I had hope after our last 6 weeks and that's a bit dashed now. I don't think I'd reach similar hope levels again until we won a first final. So I hope we win this week and head into the GWS one with finals on the line. I'll probably be less "hopeful" then.

[mjp]

I'll be barracking so hard for a West Coast win i'll need to have a shower as soon as it's done to wash the shame away.

I will never barrack for West Coast.

[Sedat]

We haven't been sub-par 2 weeks in a row all season. Every time we've turned in a poor one we have immediately responded:

* R1 uncompetitive v Melb followed by 8 goal smashing of GC
* Bad loss to Essendon following by towelling up St Kilda
* Hawk implosion followed by destruction of Richmond then comprehensively beating GWS on their home deck
* Brisbane home loss followed by 11 goal hammering of Freo

It would be a significant outlier in 2024 if we didn't respond appropriately this week.

[Mofra]

I'm still a little concerned about Xerri this week. He's the form ruck of the competition, even accounting for Gawn and for ROB's hit-out numbers.
I can never hope for a Bulldogs loss though and I really want us to make finals as it finally gives Liam Jones the chance to experience one.

[Axe Man]

I'm still a little concerned about Xerri this week. He's the form ruck of the competition, even accounting for Gawn and for ROB's hit-out numbers.
I can never hope for a Bulldogs loss though and I really want us to make finals as it finally gives Liam Jones the chance to experience one.

Xerri had the better of English last time and received coaches votes and we were always in control of that game.

He will likely be the dominant ruck again on Sunday but so long as we don't allow him to go nuclear it shouldn't tip the scales.

[bornadog]

Xerri had the better of English last time and received coaches votes and we were always in control of that game.

He will likely be the dominant ruck again on Sunday but so long as we don't allow him to go nuclear it shouldn't tip the scales.

I am happy Sheezal isn't playing - he creates a lot of their goals

[Rocket Science]

In a particularly evil bit of fixturing, should we beat North then fall to the fluoro pricks we could still finish 8th provided Freo drop their last two versus said fluoro pricks (away) and the Power (at home) which of course the AFEL have plugged in as the very last home-and-away game of the season with a 6:10 Sunday bounce, just to really prolong the trauma.

Gee how good's footy?

[azabob]

FWIW, Carlton will beat West Coast this week, but that is for another thread...

Back to the OP, if it all comes crumbling down what change should there be? The only leaver left is a high-profile player or the coach.