Are the Western Bulldogs one-dimensional with Barry Hall at the front?

[bornadog]

Paul Roos
From:Herald Sun
April 23, 201112:00AM




WHEN making the decision to step aside as Swans coach, I was excited by the prospect of a family football weekend in one of the great sports cities of the world.

Tonight the family heads to Etihad Stadium for the Carlton-Adelaide game, and we'll be there again tomorrow for North Melbourne versus Richmond. Then it's the blockbusters at the MCG on Monday and Tuesday.

While most of the attention is on the Monday and Tuesday games, it is the other games I find most intriguing.

Carlton has had an interesting start to the season and my assessment, though results may not suggest it, is the Blues are improving.

It is true much of their form is still based around Chris Judd inside at stoppages, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, the Mr Fix-It role played by Bryce Gibbs and a reliance on outside forward-of-the-ball runners as well as crumbing forwards.

There are glimpses of an improved team. I felt their defence last week looked better than I had seen it in any other time during Brett Ratten's tenure.

Even when Essendon was dominating early, Carlton defenders constantly won the one-out battles. I thought the efforts of Michael Jamison and Nick Duigan, in particular, would have given Blues fans some hope.

Chris Yarran's move to defence has allowed him to blossom. However, his most difficult transition will be defending from the goalsquare. In the last quarter against the Dons, he was outmarked and looked uncomfortable at key moments.

At the moment, his positives far outweigh his negatives. But, given opposition teams plan so thoroughly, that could quickly change if he doesn't learn to defend.

The Blues seem to be keen on playing three talls in the forward half. Even though the three are not marking well, they do look dangerous.

Shaun Hampson is big, strong and athletic, and can take a contested mark. Lachy Henderson is mobile and looks at times capable of dominating a game. He really needs to add some consistency, though.

Arguably, the most important player in making Carlton a serious top four finals team is Jarrad Waite. At times, he looks unstoppable, yet he can look like a first-gamer. He must stay calm and do the basics well for 120 minutes. If he does, he will be a star.

Carlton should beat a young, injury-depleted Crows team convincingly.

North Melbourne and Richmond is a fascinating contest and could be season-defining for both.

I like the way coaches Brad Scott and Damien Hardwick are approaching their tasks. They seem to have a great balance of hardness and empathy with their young teams. But, believe me, the losing coach tomorrow will not be pleased.

There is no doubt they will see this as a must-win game and they will be on edge the entire contest.

When I say "must-win", that is because both clubs will see it as a momentum game, a game that will lift team morale and reinforce to players, staff and supporters they are on the right track.

It will be a win to create a positive environment around the club.

Young players need hope, they do not want to feel at 7.30pm tomorrow they are destined for a long, hard season, four months of which is still ahead of them.

The one intriguing game I'll be watching closely, albeit on TV, is Monday evening's Fremantle versus Bulldogs clash. Most football people I have spoken to agree it's hard to asses how the Bulldogs are going. I've already said I would not be surprised to see the Dogs win by 10 goals or lose by the same margin.

Despite early concerns about Freo's injuries, I'm convinced the Dockers will play in September, but it's hard to gauge whether the Dogs are better or worse than last year.

I felt the Bulldogs were at their best in 2009. They were hard, fit, quick and unpredictable. They had multiple players who could change forward and midfield, and would confuse the opposition by changing roles.

The Dogs' forward line two seasons ago was the hardest to match up in the competition. No backline had the flexibility to cover Brad Johnson, Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Jason Akermanis, Daniel Giansiracusa, Will Minson and the others who rotated through it.

This meant their ball use going forward was unpredictable, and you had no idea who their main target would be, preventing you flooding or zoning off.

Now they seem a far more traditional football team in their composition. No Johnson, Akermanis or Hahn at this stage, while Murphy has shifted to the backline.

They have a more conventional forward set-up with Jarrad Grant and Barry Hall.

Will this model go one better and reach a Grand Final?

One enjoyable part of living in Sydney is you escape the constant scrutiny the Victorian teams are subjected to, and this can be an advantage.

But, equally, living in NSW means players don't get to experience how massive AFL football can be in a week like this.

The Roos family are eagerly anticipating a long weekend of football, Melbourne style.

[AndrewP6]

With that headline, I was expecting an in-depth analysis of the initial question. Yet there was about half of it (at a guess) that was about other things. I suppose "Paul Roos on a variety of AFL and non-AFL issues (including his family holidays)" wouldn't have made for a good headline!

On the question, I think we're probably playing more predictably, but that's not Hall's fault - more so the players who have yet to adjust to having him around.

[Remi Moses]

Dull article from Roos but then again it's the Tabloid Daily.Personally think we'd never win a flag with a small forward line,although unpredictable you need the gorilla up there for that chaos kick in a big final. I think last year we failed because we had to many players who had down years,although We did go to Barry to often.

[Hotdog60]

In 2009 we were one of the highest scoring clubs in the comp. I would like to see us go back to that reputation. I don't get to see games live so my view is on a small scale, I would like to know how many players are free in our forward line from making space or hard leading and the players up field don't acknowledge or don't look for this option.
Instead take an easier option to bomb it in Barry's position or spot him up on the lead with 2 players on his back.

I understand that the player up the ground maybe under some pressure but sometimes they are not.

[Ghost Dog]

Dull article from Roos but then again it's the Tabloid Daily.Personally think we'd never win a flag with a small forward line,although unpredictable you need the gorilla up there for that chaos kick in a big final. I think last year we failed because we had to many players who had down years,although We did go to Barry to often.

Dunno, Always enjoy what Roos has to say. Would have liked a bit more Bulldogs content.

We do tend to take Barry a bit for granted on these forums. He's carried a huge load, and would like to see him more in a decoy role, drawing defenders for the small fws, or rested a bit more to allow others to cut their teeth.
Unofficial captain of the club IMO but we do rely on him too much. Badly need to develop other talls in the fw line.

[westdog54]

Dull article from Roos but then again it's the Tabloid Daily.Personally think we'd never win a flag with a small forward line,although unpredictable you need the gorilla up there for that chaos kick in a big final. I think last year we failed because we had to many players who had down years,although We did go to Barry to often.

Don't know if it was dull so much as it didn't live up to the headline. There were about 4 paragraphs on the Bulldogs forward line in a fairly big article.

[bornadog]

Don't know if it was dull so much as it didn't live up to the headline. There were about 4 paragraphs on the Bulldogs forward line in a fairly big article.

Thats because Roos is up himself and would rather talk about himself and his holidays etc.

[Remi Moses]

Don't know if it was dull so much as it didn't live up to the headline. There were about 4 paragraphs on the Bulldogs forward line in a fairly big article.

Just My opinion thought the fact he's taking his family to the Footy you could place in the BFW files.

[LostDoggy]

This article would have been written even if Barry didn't join the club last year. But it would be titled "Dogs need a target up forward".
Come on. For years we have heard that the dogs are only missing a key forward to take the next step, now they say do they look to Hall too much?

[bornadog]

Yet another article about Hall

Hall or Nothing


The ticking clock on Barry Hall's career is also running down for the Western Bulldogs as they try to end a 57-year premiership drought, according to former coach Terry Wallace.

While the Bulldogs are capable of stretching their premiership window to the end of next season, Hall's age and impact remain a key to their quest, said Wallace, who now specialises in the list management of various clubs.

Hall, the 2005 Sydney premiership captain, turns 35 during the next pre-season if he plays into a 17th year, and Wallace said his logical goal square replacement, 20-year-old Liam Jones, wasn't yet ready to fully fill the breach.

Wallace believes it will become clear whether the Bulldogs are genuine flag contenders when they tackle in-form Fremantle at Patersons Stadium tonight.

The Dockers are hell-bent on snapping a six-year, six-game losing streak against the Bulldogs and are $1.65 favourites to $2.21 with Player.

Wallace said it was difficult to assess the Dogs after easy wins over the lowly Brisbane and Gold Coast before last week's bye.

"The Bulldogs are the side we don't know anything about at this point and I think we'll find out a lot," he said. "Fremantle have been terrific and all credit to them."

Hall has kicked 10 goals in the opening three games and looms as a danger to the Dockers.

"Hally is critical, absolutely critical," said Wallace, who coached the Bulldogs and Richmond. "They realise that and that's why they got him into the place in the first place.

"Although they're developing a couple of young key forwards, I don't think they've shown enough yet to say they are going to be the next Michael Hurley.

"And you couldn't guarantee Barry will be playing as well next year after he turns 35.

"They've only really got an 18-month window left to win it."

Wallace pointed out that several key members of the Bulldogs defence were also entering the twilight of their careers, putting an even more acute focus on a flag.

Lindsay Gilbee will be 30 in July and has played only one game this season while Ryan Hargrave is just 18 days younger and is yet to play because of a serious foot injury.

Full-back Brian Lake turned 29 in February and Dale Morris, Robert Murphy and captain Matthew Boyd all turn 29 this year.

The Dockers made one change to the side that beat North Melbourne last weekend, with Nick Lower replacing the injured Nick Suban.

The Bulldogs also made just one change - teenager Mitch Wallis will make his debut as a replacement for Daniel Giansiracusa (hamstring).

[AndrewP6]

Yet another article about Hall

Hall or Nothing


The ticking clock on Barry Hall's career is also running down for the Western Bulldogs as they try to end a 57-year premiership drought, according to former coach Terry Wallace.

While the Bulldogs are capable of stretching their premiership window to the end of next season, Hall's age and impact remain a key to their quest, said Wallace, who now specialises in the list management of various clubs.

Hall, the 2005 Sydney premiership captain, turns 35 during the next pre-season if he plays into a 17th year, and Wallace said his logical goal square replacement, 20-year-old Liam Jones, wasn't yet ready to fully fill the breach.

Wallace believes it will become clear whether the Bulldogs are genuine flag contenders when they tackle in-form Fremantle at Patersons Stadium tonight.

The Dockers are hell-bent on snapping a six-year, six-game losing streak against the Bulldogs and are $1.65 favourites to $2.21 with Player.

Wallace said it was difficult to assess the Dogs after easy wins over the lowly Brisbane and Gold Coast before last week's bye.

"The Bulldogs are the side we don't know anything about at this point and I think we'll find out a lot," he said. "Fremantle have been terrific and all credit to them."

Hall has kicked 10 goals in the opening three games and looms as a danger to the Dockers.

"Hally is critical, absolutely critical," said Wallace, who coached the Bulldogs and Richmond. "They realise that and that's why they got him into the place in the first place.

"Although they're developing a couple of young key forwards, I don't think they've shown enough yet to say they are going to be the next Michael Hurley.

"And you couldn't guarantee Barry will be playing as well next year after he turns 35.

"They've only really got an 18-month window left to win it."

Wallace pointed out that several key members of the Bulldogs defence were also entering the twilight of their careers, putting an even more acute focus on a flag.

Lindsay Gilbee will be 30 in July and has played only one game this season while Ryan Hargrave is just 18 days younger and is yet to play because of a serious foot injury.

Full-back Brian Lake turned 29 in February and Dale Morris, Robert Murphy and captain Matthew Boyd all turn 29 this year.

Hard to argue with Wallet on this one... the bolded bits are especially concerning IMO.

[LostDoggy]

This article would have been written even if Barry didn't join the club last year. But it would be titled "Dogs need a target up forward".
Come on. For years we have heard that the dogs are only missing a key forward to take the next step, now they say do they look to Hall too much?

Very true ...... used to get tired of hearing commentators say we need a tall forward.

[mjp]

This article would have been written even if Barry didn't join the club last year. But it would be titled "Dogs need a target up forward".
Come on. For years we have heard that the dogs are only missing a key forward to take the next step, now they say do they look to Hall too much?

Yeah, and in 2008 we were too small down back.

The problem I had (and still have) with the decision to recruit Hall is to me it seemed more about placating members/commentators and alleviating criticism than about actual football. And this is not about Hall - he has been super - but we are simply a more predictable side with him playing.

I was watching the Tiges (yes, the Tiges!) last night and had to marvel at what a unique player Riewoldt is with his ability to run and jump at the ball when outnumbered...I wondered if Grant could do this sort of thing (which he showed at u18 level) if given the opportunity.

The reality is that Barry Hall is a simply outstanding leading forward - one of the best I have ever seen. But in these days of midfield zones and presses, his value as a match winner is lower than it would have been even 5 years ago...certainly lower than it would have been 15 years ago. The reality is though that he rarely takes contested marks (hardly anyone else does either so dont shoot the messenger) and relies on good delivery to get his goals.

[Ghost Dog]

Barry does everything asked of him. If we are one dimensional because of him then can only blame those who make the plans.

[Topdog]

Hard to argue with Wallet on this one... the bolded bits are especially concerning IMO.

Except that Gilbee is a borderline player and midfielders like Boyd should play at the same level for another 3 years.