Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

[boydogs]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

We gave a good account of ourselves, just a handful of turnover goals and missed set shots away

The future is still bright, but we weren't without a chance this year so it stings a bit

[Eastdog]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

I think Hawthorn would have given us a clinic next week. The occasion got to us tonight

I certainly think we did overall rise to the occasion but I'm sure some of the younger ones were nervous before the start of the match. We simply just need to take our chances.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Just didn't have the composure when it counted. They took their chances (9 out of 10 set shots they kicked) while we missed ours, in particular in that third term when we missed sodas and they kicked them from the boundary and outside 50m. When it absolutely mattered they chose the right option and executed and we didn't. Gutted, but so proud of what the club has achieved this year.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Numb at the moment but really proud as well.

Gee we did so much right and so many did everything we could've hoped. Lin Jong and Fletcher Roberts really exceeded my expectations.

9 times out of 10 we win that, when Tex is forced to take his shots outside 50 and he keeps nailing them, and their misskick helicopters sail through, it's hard to feel we failed.

I feel others' pain about our finals history and failure to grasp big moments. It's very harsh that this group gets lumped in with that legacy, they really did most things very well. On the other hand, we had our chances.

Next season all those kids will be that bit stronger and smarter and we'll have Libba, Koby, Boyd, MacLean and others to add. Its gonna be a long preseason, I miss watching these guys already.

Bevo acknowledged in the presser that list weaknesses need addressing.

Interesting weeks ahead.

[The bulldog tragician]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

I've just read Rohan Connolly's review of the game. He says "sometimes , you just know you're witnessing something special. This game, one of the great finals of all time, let alone the modern era, was all that and more."

It hurts like hell to know we won all the key indicators. Again we had many more inside 50s. We lacked composure and made panicky bombed forward entries. And who would have dreamt The Bont would miss two sitters, though his game overall showed just what a champ we have in the making.

But I don't think we choked, I don't think it has anything to do with other finals failures. We came to play, unlike our insipid disappointing efforts in week 1 in 08 and 09. Tonight we left nothing in the tank, we just weren't clean enough when it mattered. With so many players with under 50 games, and bright prospects like Lukas Webb, Bailey Dale, Tom Boyd and Toby McLean ready to step up too (not to mention recruit Libber) we've never been better placed.

Oh how we missed JJ tonight! We just lacked that extra run and speed, and it meant they could lock down more on Murf.

I wish we'd won, I know we should have goddamn won, but I thank these guys for the amazing journey of 2015: bring on next year!!

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Just didn't have the composure when it counted.

We never do in big finals. Sad but true. It's never about a lack of effort or endeavour or a poor game plan - we just bottle it time and time again in tight finals. We've never had a Taylor Walker, a Darren Jarman, a Nick Riewoldt, a Leigh Matthews, someone who just ices the really big moments.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Shattered. Coulda, shoulda....but didn't. What a ride though, 12 months ago I never would've thought I'd be ruing an elimination final loss right now. Plenty to excite.

But I'm shattered though. Whiskey, come at me.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

We never do in big finals. Sad but true. It's never about a lack of effort or endeavour or a poor game plan - we just bottle it time and time again in tight finals. We've never had a Taylor Walker, a Darren Jarman, a Nick Riewoldt, a Leigh Matthews, someone who just ices the really big moments.

Yep. It really stings that Bonti missed two sodas and kicked another out on the full.

I can understand supporters being proud of how far we've come and are excited for the future, but it's a long journey to even get back to this point. Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of these carbon copy losses whereby we win every stat with the exception of the scoreboard.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Strange feeling. Hell of a game in which we really stood up. Just needed to take our chances. For me it was different to other finals losses but agree it exposed our need for a key defender. Roberts really struggled and whilst Hamling was good, he is a third defender.

This is the key, Roberts and Hamling really should not have played but we had no choice. Could Talia have played on Tex and kept him quiet? Who knows.

Everyone will be bigger and better next year with more experience under their belt.

I noticed Stringer clutched his hammy early in the first quarter? Does anyone know if he played the game out injured?

[josie]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

I'm heartbroken and proud too. Those set shots we missed were the killer, won every other stat and the effort was A1. Would have loved to have had Eddie Betts on our side too.

Hope the Jongy doubters are swinging around - I thought he was pretty good tonight. That mark is burned into my memory - what a ripper & to convert too. Hamling looked pretty composed out there too.

Our draw will be harder in 2016 and as posters have said some or all of the 3 wise men will retire at end of 2016. So no guarantees of making the 8 next year.

It will be fascinating to see who is traded out, how we balance (I think) the need to bring in a few 25 yo or thereabout players and also have Dalrymple weave his magic again.

I never thought I'd say this after '97 & '98, however I hope the Crows do well in rest of finals. Amazing how well they have done considering all they've been through in last few months.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

Yep. It really stings that Bonti missed two sodas and kicked another out on the full.

I can understand supporters being proud of how far we've come and are excited for the future, but it's a long journey to even get back to this point. Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of these carbon copy losses whereby we win every stat with the exception of the scoreboard.

This is exactly how I'm feeling. Incredible pride, obviously looking forward to next year, but incredible frustration at once again being the better team and losing a final.

The Bont out of bounds was particularly galling as he had a player to dish off to on his left but blazed away - would have put us 2 and a half goals up and just about out of sight. Crameri blazed away a couple of times as well. No composure. I still love the players but it does my head in as a supporter to see the same lack of composure issues in close finals come up time and time again. We simply don't lose that game with just a couple of composed moments, even with all the missed set shots at goal.

We were and are good enough. We executed so much of the game plan well. We busted our arse. We smashed the opposition in most areas. We lost again.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

This is the key, Roberts and Hamling really should not have played but we had no choice. Could Talia have played on Tex and kept him quiet? Who knows.

Everyone will be bigger and better next year with more experience under their belt.

I noticed Stringer clutched his hammy early in the first quarter? Does anyone know if he played the game out injured?

Yep. Richo was saying even if he wasn't injured, if you haven't done a hammy you don't know the difference between sensations of spasm, tear, cramp. So if he thought it might've gone his mind would've held him back from going a 100%. Not sure I explained this well, but he made a lot of sense.

[Lukewarm Beveridge]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

So so numb. didn't move until security ushered me out.. couldn't stop replaying the break through the middle in my head and had that handball connected with Crameri how different things would've been.
absolute roller coaster of a year and it was fitting tonight was the same.. unfortunately the carriage headed downwards at the end of the ride.
bring on 2016 though!!!

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

This is the key, Roberts and Hamling really should not have played but we had no choice. Could Talia have played on Tex and kept him quiet? Who knows.

Talia got smashed by Kyle Hardingham in the VFL earlier today - Tex would have destroyed him.

Roberts and Hamling were the least of our worries tonight - Hamling in particular was fantastic.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

This is exactly how I'm feeling. Incredible pride, obviously looking forward to next year, but incredible frustration at once again being the better team and losing a final.

The Bont out of bounds was particularly galling as he had a player to dish off to on his left but blazed away - would have put us 2 and a half goals up and just about out of sight. Crameri blazed away a couple of times as well. No composure. I still love the players but it does my head in as a supporter to see the same lack of composure issues in close finals come up time and time again. We simply don't lose that game with just a couple of composed moments, even with all the missed set shots at goal.

We were and are good enough. We executed so much of the game plan well. We busted our arse. We smashed the opposition in most areas. We lost again.

Agree with most of what you are saying, but somehow, I feel this group is different to other groups we have had play finals. This group is also inexperienced (3rd youngest in AFL) and they have the hunger. They have tasted the big stage and they will want to get there again and next time they won't let it slip away.