The Bulldogs are back

[Mantis]

Western Bulldogs change gear from reverse to overdrive
Mike Sheahan | May 11, 2009 12:00am


It was the perfect setting to see exactly what the Western Bulldogs are made of: Adelaide at AAMI Stadium after three losses in a row. A must-win assignment at a venue where they had won once from 11 encounters in eight years.

Without Shaun Higgins, too, after the classy youngster withdrew from the selected team.

For the first half, the Doggies did precisely what needed to be done: they worked like sheep dogs and were rewarded with a one-point lead at halftime.

In the third quarter they reproduced their signature brand of football. They were quick, adventurous, direct and precise, piling on 8.5, while the Crows managed just 1.3.

The spark came from a couple of extraordinary veterans, Jason Akermanis and Brad Johnson; Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney, back in Brownlow form; and the team's most important player forward of centre, Bobby Murphy.

Aker got the first two goals after the break, including a trademark snap, and had seven possessions for the quarter. He remains a player of rare quality.

The Bulldogs racked up 121 disposals in the third quarter (Adelaide 72) and played their best football since the Round 1 win against Fremantle.

They stormed to a 45-point lead by three-quarter time before winning by 32 against a team that continues to play far too conservatively.

The Doggies now sit 4-3, having played out of Victoria three times. With Melbourne to come next Saturday.

While the Doggies were slick with the ball, it was their work when they didn't have possession that was so telling.

They laid 67 tackles, led by Mitch Hahn, Ben Hudson and Ryan Griffen. Of the 22, only Nathan Eagleton failed to record a tackle, and he was busy and productive in his link-man role.

His long goal on the halftime siren was invaluable in terms of momentum.

The old guard of Daniel Cross, Dale Morris, Matthew Boyd and Lindsay Gilbee was excellent, but it was the form of Cooney and Murphy that would have thrilled coach Rodney Eade.

Despite an interrupted summer, then minor surgery early in the season, Cooney was sharp, stylish and efficient.

Murphy kicked four goals from his 12 kicks in his best form of the season.

Cross was outstanding: 28 possessions, nine of them contested, five clearances, an 82 per cent efficiency rating.

The Doggies took a while to lock down on Scott Thompson and Nathan Van Berlo, and also wasted early scoring opportunities with first-quarter behinds from Johnson, Scott Welsh, Griffen and Cooney, yet they maintained their intensity.

They were not going to fail for lack of effort.

Will Minson (no possession in the first half) remains a worry.

He is a handy ruckman who, by necessity, spends most of his time forward.

There is no immediate solution.

They have their critics, the Dogs, but, in yesterday's state of mind, they can live up to all the pre-season hype.

[aker39]

While the Doggies were slick with the ball, it was their work when they didn't have possession that was so telling.

And that is what was missing the last 3 weeks.

[bornadog]

Western Bulldogs change gear from reverse to overdrive
Mike Sheahan | May 11, 2009 12:00am


Will Minson (no possession in the first half) remains a worry.

He is a handy ruckman who, by necessity, spends most of his time forward.

There is no immediate solution.

.

Some strange words that make no sense in the flow of the sentences

[Desipura]

Some strange words that make no sense in the flow of the sentances

or the sentences

[bornadog]

or the sentences

spell checker let me down.

[BulldogBelle]

Lets try not to get ahead of ourselves

One win/week doesnt make a trend

Two good quarters doesnt really make a trend

[Topdog]

Lets try not to get ahead of ourselves

One win/week doesnt make a trend

Two good quarters doesnt really make a trend

How many weeks make a trend?

[LostDoggy]

Will Minson (no possession in the first half) remains a worry.

He is a handy ruckman who, by necessity, spends most of his time forward.

There is no immediate solution.

They have their critics, the Dogs, but, in yesterday's state of mind, they can live up to all the pre-season hype.

Yet Hudson had a far worse game and possibly season so far, all this speculation of dropping Minson when Hudson has been possibly worse.

[Mantis]

Yet Hudson had a far worse game and possibly season so far, all this speculation of dropping Minson when Hudson has been possibly worse.

Will has been our dominant ruckman for atleast the past 3 games.

[Born & Bred]

Time for Hudson/Minson to dominate a game. Have only Johnson to beat at Melbourne. If the bulldogs are serious this week they must beat Melbourne by at least 6 goals and have the lesser lights put on a lesson and get themselves ready for the Cats.