Western Bulldogs Report Card

[BulldogBelle]

Sportal's views on our season this year and beyond....

Western Bulldogs Report Card
Sportal | Angus Norman | 28/09/2009

Western Bulldogs:

This year:
15 wins, 7 losses - Position: 3rd

This year's grade (A-F) B+

Positives from this year: On-field, there were plenty. Matthew Boyd and Brian Lake thoroughly deserved their All Australian honours while Ryan Hargrave's nomination for the 40-man squad was fair recognition for a fine season. Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward and Jarrod Harbrow showed glimpses of their huge potential, Jason Akermanis enjoyed the best of his three seasons with the Dogs and Liam Picken emerged from nowhere to announce himself as one of the competition's best taggers. Off the field, the club's administration forged a steady course, Rodney Eade coached as well as he ever has and, after a long period of disruption, the players must have appreciated the ongoing upgrade of their facilities as part of the Whitten Oval redevelopment.

Negatives from this year: The lack of a genuine key forward has been a recurring theme for several seasons, but the relentless ticking of the club's premiership clock elevated the problem to critical status in 2009. 'If only ...' was the lament heard over and over on the terraces at Bulldogs matches this year. Injury-wise, Daniel Giansiracusa, Robert Murphy and Tom Williams were all sidelined at crucial times this season. 'Aker' copped it from the coach for divulging the club's training secrets, though the biggest off-field scandal by far at Whitten Oval in 2009 involved the club's beloved 'Woofer' who sparked community outrage when he dry-humped the leg of the Collingwood mascot.

Likely departures: Scott Welsh has already announced his retirement, Nathan Eagleton may be close to following suit and Andrejs Everitt is on the market after falling out with coach Rodney Eade. After 45 games in nine years at Whitten Oval the jig is surely up for perennial standby Wayde Skipper. Same for Cameron Wight whose seven seasons on the senior list have yielded just 36 appearances. Dylan Addison's name has come up in discussions with the Swans over Barry Hall.

Next year:

Type of Players needed: The Bulldogs have identified former Sydney strongman Barry Hall as the solution to their key forward woes and a deal with the Swans would appear a fait accompli. Rising 33, Hall will lob at Whitten Oval with some unwanted baggage, but he may just provide the big, bad, bustling presence the Dogs have been crying out for up forward. Ahead of Hall on the club's wish-list, however, may just be Brendan Fevola. The Dogs will surely be keeping a close watch on Carlton's handling of its wayward forward who could prove to be the missing link at Whitten Oval should he become available.

Likely improvement (if any): The Bulldogs know they're close and they have the will and motivation to succeed - they're just a player or two short. It will be a bonus for the club if Jason Akermanis - assuming he's re-signed - and Brad Johnson can replicate their 2009 form. Supporters are entitled to expect the likes of Ayce Cordy and Jordan Roughead to create selection pressure and for Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward, Josh Hill and Jarrod Harbrow to add consistency to the excellence they've displayed in flashes so far.

Finals next year? Yes, top four.

[AndrewP6]

Interesting read... Aker "divulged the club's training secrets" -presumably this was when Eade said we hadn't loaded up our training, AFTER Aker and Higgins said we had?

And Fev on our radar? From a power forward standpoint, it's obvious, but are we any realistic chance of getting him?

[ratsmac]

And Fev on our radar? From a power forward standpoint, it's obvious, but are we any realistic chance of getting him?

Yes, but it would probably cost us Brian Lake. If that being the case it's a no for mine.

[AndrewP6]

Yes, but it would probably cost us Brian Lake. If that being the case it's a no for mine.

Same...

[bornadog]

Everitt has not had a fall out with Eade, that is utter rubbish. The fallout is that his manager decided to shop him around and see if can get a regular game. The bulldogs have given this young 20 year old every opportunity to show some intensity and passion to play but he lopes around training and in games as if he has all the time in the world and he does not work hard effort. If he thinks Eade is being to hard on him then he needs to take a good look in the mirror and think about what it takes to play at the highest level.

[Swoop]

It's actually won of the better summaries, these articles can often be very lazy and generic and not very insightful for the clubs supporters but it's pretty much spot on.

[AndrewP6]

Everitt has not had a fall out with Eade, that is utter rubbish. The fallout is that his manager decided to shop him around and see if can get a regular game. The bulldogs have given this young 20 year old every opportunity to show some intensity and passion to play but he lopes around training and in games as if he has all the time in the world and he does not work hard effort. If he thinks Eade is being to hard on him then he needs to take a good look in the mirror and think about what it takes to play at the highest level.

No sitting on the fence for you, BAD...

[jazzadogs]

Everitt has not had a fall out with Eade, that is utter rubbish. The fallout is that his manager decided to shop him around and see if can get a regular game. The bulldogs have given this young 20 year old every opportunity to show some intensity and passion to play but he lopes around training and in games as if he has all the time in the world and he does not work hard effort. If he thinks Eade is being to hard on him then he needs to take a good look in the mirror and think about what it takes to play at the highest level.

He must watch Raph Clarke play and think that it's ok to do that.

[bornadog]

No sitting on the fence for you, BAD...

Having said that, I want to hold on to him.

[LostDoggy]

And Fev on our radar? From a power forward standpoint, it's obvious, but are we any realistic chance of getting him?

I would take Fev over Lake in a heartbeat. 100-goals-a-year forwards don't grow on trees, while full-backs (no matter how good) are more replaceable.

The money Brian is holding the club ransom to would be better spent on a power forward like Fev, who, make no mistake, will take this club to the next level on-field.. it's not like he will be playing with kids or spuds in the forwardline like he does at Carlton -- Johnno, Aker, Higgins, Gia, Murph etc. + Fev would be nigh unstoppable. Seeing as he's only 27, too, he would be there for the next 5 years at least.

If we went for Fev, too, we can say thanks but no thanks to Bazza (tough business this), and spend the leftover money on a trade for an established full-back to replace Brian.

ps -- Fev's off-field stuff will just have to be dealt with (clauses in his contract etc.), just like Bazza's and Aker's. No better club to come to, to clean your act up at, though.

[The Coon Dog]

I would take Fev over Lake in a heartbeat.

If we can't afford $400K for Lake, how do we fit Fev in who has 2 years on a contract to run & is on $700K?

[Dancin' Douggy]

If we can't afford $400K for Lake, how do we fit Fev in who has 2 years on a contract to run & is on $700K?

Carlton pays a percentage of his salary.
I think we did the same with Rawlings.
Either way it has been done before.
I think Richmond at one point were paying more money to players on other peoples lists than on their own!

[LostDoggy]

If we can't afford $400K for Lake, how do we fit Fev in who has 2 years on a contract to run & is on $700K?

*shrugs* Backend Fev's contract? Does a club take over an existing contract when they trade for a player? Don't they negotiate a new contract with the player? One would think that he can't be asking for TOO big coin if he's being traded out for behavioural issues.

[LostDoggy]

If we can't afford $400K for Lake, how do we fit Fev in who has 2 years on a contract to run & is on $700K?

ps. Isn't Brian asking for upwards of $500k now? That's not too far away from Fev's contract (okay, it's in the same ballpark anyway).

If you take away Bazza's $350K and whatever Everitt is on we would be getting close.

Just put Fev's mug on the Mission tortillas pack or something -- "I gave up the drink for burritos!"

[Desipura]

We will not get Fev so lets move on.