Mike Sheahan article...

Peak mythology for Western Bulldogs
The Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan | March 23, 2009

AFTER Round 15 last year, the Bulldogs were second on the ladder, half a game behind Geelong, and half a game in front of Hawthorn. They were to play 10 more games for the season, including three finals. Only three more wins came.

Did the Doggies peak too soon? Or were fundamental deficiencies exposed when the big boys got serious?

That's the question that will be answered during the next six months.

In the end, the Dogs were flattered by third spot last year, pounded by Hawthorn in the first week of finals, then eliminated by Geelong by five goals in the preliminary finals.

I like the list, with one reservation: the forward structure.

The Bulldogs' leading goalkickers last year were Brad Johnson, Jason Akermanis, Scott Welsh and Robert Murphy (total 176).

The first three are all in their 30s, while Murphy has a proppy knee and probably won't play the first round or two.

The knee remains a major concern. We won't know how serious it is until the season is 4-6 weeks old.

Welsh clearly is a worry in front of goal.

He kicked 26 goals from his first 12 games last year, 17 from the second 12. His three finals produced two goals.

The Doggies would have been happy pre-season with a 43-goal recruit, but his form tapered badly.

Rodney Eade's reported off-season interest in Barry Hall is understandable.

If the fairy godmother turned her affections on Whitten Oval, she would deliver a power forward. Even if just a fill-in for first-round draftee Jarrad Grant, who turns 20 in July and is in his second year at the club.

On the upside, Welsh has recovered from a back problem and is a smart, seasoned performer.

Eade will point to 2008 and say the team's problem isn't at the front end. Only Geelong scored more heavily than the Doggies in the home-and-away season.

That fact, though, is a little misleading.

The style of play is geared to high scoring, with the bulk of the players keen to take risks.

When there's a skill error, the opposition surges forward to an open forward line and one-on-one contests.

No wonder Brian Lake and his mates get exposed.

I am a Lake fan. He generally ends up one out, playing on the good players, and sharing the most dangerous forwards with Dale Morris.

How Lake missed a place in the top 10 in the B&F is as mysterious as the occasional decision that sends the coach into a state of apoplexy.

The division that could determine the fate of the season is the midfield.

Adam Cooney, Ryan Griffen and Shaun Higgins add polish to a group built on the hard work of Daniel Cross and Matthew Boyd, first and third in the 2008 best-and-fairest, and ruckman Ben Hudson.

Cooney may need a week or two to sharpen his skills after an interrupted preparation, but his pace is undiminished.

While I have been critical of him in recent months, he is a goalkicking matchwinner.

I am excited about Griffen.

At 22 and with 75 games to his name, he is ready.

It's a similar story with Higgins, who is younger and has played just 32 games. He will wear Scott West's No. 7 guernsey, which shows what the club thinks of him.

His determination to improve his endurance is a good sign.

The Bulldogs could further beef up the midfield by bringing Lindsay Gilbee up from defence.

Gilbee might be the best field kick in the competition. He kicked 14 goals last year; he could kick 35-40 as a midfielder.

Tim Callan could take his spot in defence.

While I have left Nathan Eagleton out of my "best" team, he will play games because of his experience, pace and long (if not always accurate) kicking.

He looked finished at the end of '08, but has shown a strong determination to hang on.

Two others players demand comment: Brad Johnson and Tom Williams.

Jonno finished top three in the best-and-fairest seven times from 1999-2007, an extraordinary achievement, yet laboured through much of last year.

His pre-season has been excellent, with every indication he can return to somewhere near his best.

As for Williams, it's fingers crossed from everyone of red, white and blue persuasion.

Surely his luck must change soon. He has everything to be a high-quality player except resilience.

The Doggies seem driven by their disappointing finals series and have worked hard between seasons.

Given their draw, they should make a flying start. Whether they can run out the season remains to be seen.