Barry Hall or nothing for the Bulldogs

[Mantis]

* Jon Ralph
* From: Herald Sun
* May 07, 2010 12:00AM

Barry Hall's goal feast has turned into a famine for his Western Bulldogs teammates.

Hall is fifth in the Coleman Medal race with 20 goals after six rounds, but some of his high-profile teammates are being kept on a leash.

Astonishingly, Jason Akermanis and Brad Johnson are both yet to kick a goal after combining for 80 last season.

The Dogs, once the most potent attacking force in the AFL, are mid-table at 3-3, with their points scored dropping dramatically.

Click here for the rest of the article.

[chef]

So we've gone from needing a key forward to being to key forward conscience. We can't win.

[Desipura]

I made mention of the exact same thing earlier this week. We need to get the balance right.

[1eyedog]

When Johnno comes back play Hall at CHB and give TW a run with the seagulls. Sheez we can't win.

[LostDoggy]

I've said this to. We need to get used of having Barry. And not think we have to kick it to him every single time we got inside 50.

[LostDoggy]

But if he is the one presenting it is hard to not kick him the ball!

[ledge]

Well 2 points , 1 johnno has only played 2 games both not fully fit.
2 Aker has been playing around the ground more and not so deep.
So to me those 2 dont count, its the others that arent replacing them that are the problem.
Even Murph has been playing too far outside our 50 mtre arc.
Eades game plan or the other players inside 50 not getting it right?
PS i did notice Grant was playing around the centre at times.

[ledge]

The one thing I would love to see?
Lake and Hall both up forward, leading in different directions.
Yeah I know ..but what about our backline etc etc

[Mantis]

Well 2 points , 1 johnno has only played 2 games both not fully fit.

Johnson has played 3 games

So to me those 2 dont count, its the others that arent replacing them that are the problem.

Which players are you referring to with this 'others' comment?

[bornadog]

So we've gone from needing a key forward to being to key forward conscience. We can't win.

Yep, not only this article but also mentioned on several footy panel shows.

At the end of the day, doesn't matter who kicks them, as long as we win.

[ledge]

Johnson has played 3 games
Yep sorry 3 games and the first one i saw him in the backline a lot and struggling with the pace or injury still.



Which players are you referring to with this 'others' comment?

Whoever has been down there not kicking the goals while Aker has been up the ground obviously.. be it Cooney, Gia, Hahn, Murph, we just arent going deep enough by about 10 mtres and when we do get in range we dont have a shot.

Maybe I am old fashioned but your a forward if your in range have a shot its what your paid for.

Rather have a shot than bugger it up and never know.

[bornadog]

Whoever has been down there not kicking the goals while Aker has been up the ground obviously.. be it Cooney, Gia, Hahn, Murph, we just arent going deep enough by about 10 mtres and when we do get in range we dont have a shot.

Maybe I am old fashioned but your a forward if your in range have a shot its what your paid for.

Rather have a shot than bugger it up and never know.

Not sure what the position was last year after 6 rounds:

Hall - 20 Goals
Hahn - 9
Gia - 8
Hill - 6
Murph - 4
Grant - 2
Johnno and Aket we know - 0

To me me need more goals from the mids, although Griffen is ok:

Griffen - 5
Boyd - 2
Cooney -2
Cross - 1

Gilbee normally kicks some each week (average last year 1), but has zero to date

[Cyberdoggie]

We have also had Jarrad Grant and Roughead up there at times,
how many players do we need in the forward line?

In my opinion Murphy is playing his same role, but Aker and Johnson we have had to tinker with for obvious reasons.

The big difference is Hahn doesn't know his role anymore, and after getting hit by Barry he has pretty much vacated the forward 50. Josh Hill worked quite well with Hall but he doesn't offer anything defensively for us so he's been at Willy.

I'm not the least bit worried that Johnson and Aker aren't kicking goals.

I'm more worried that Cooney, Gilbee, Hargrave and some of our midfielders aren't kicking goals and therefore providing the run we need out of defence.

There is a long way to go yet but if players are out of form, we shouldn't hesitate in sending them to Williamstown for a spell. Rotating the squad a bit can only help come september.

[LostDoggy]

Barry has been double & triple teamed yet we still go for him. Where are the other forwards? Shouldn't they then be free? Shouldn't they be crumbing?
I think Baz is doing his job and dragging players to him, as Rocket wants, but where are our loose men? Down the centre or the backline!
Someone please start crumbing for Baz!

[Stefcep]

I wanted Hall solely for taking the contested grab in the tight games, not as the focal point of the attack. Since we scored more than anyone else last season, scoring was never an issue. This season I think we are scoring less per game with Hall. Look at Geelong, they are not Mooney focused and have their Johnson's, Ablets etc scoring their two or three per game.

IMO, defense was and still is the problem. Last week showed how our defense can go to water quickly when the pressure is on. Compare this with the miserly defenses of Geelong and St Kilda, who IMO are still the benchmark of the comp.