Game Day Round EF 2015 - Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide Crows

[Mantis]

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

It's a figure of speech. Every year we've lost a big game/final we've said "we'll learn from it and be better next year". It's not like we can say anything else, but I'd like it to come to fruition for once.

As would we all... We have no other choice than to wheel out the 'next year' line or we would all be in straight jackets such is the torture we have all been through.

At least we go into this pre-season knowing that we aren't far away.. We couldn't say that this time last year.

I, too, am proud of the players, I also think we are on the right track and that the future is bright - but I am also dismayed that we, once again, conspired to lose a tight final when we were clearly the better team. It is not some stupid superstition, it is simply an undeniable fact. As a club, we own the patent to the "heartbreaking/gallant finals loss", and it is up to us to rid ourselves of this unwanted tag. We had the chance to do so last night, and only succeeded in reinforcing this historical truism. Doesn't mean we won't be able to shake this tag next year or in the future, but we had the chance and didn't last night. It is gut-wrenching, galling, dismaying, and every time it happens it hurts like hell.

The hurt is real with this one.

It would be nice to have won one 'big moment' in a final.. I can't remember it happening in my lifetime.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

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

As would we all... We have no other choice than to wheel out the 'next year' line or we would all be in straight jackets such is the torture we have all been through.

At least we go into this pre-season knowing that we aren't far away.. We couldn't say that this time last year.

The good thing is that time is on our side and I am a big fan of Beveridge and his philosophies. If anyone can change our story, it's him and our current batch of young stars.

It will be interesting to see how we attack this off-season from a list management perspective. The reality is every side in the competition has some kind of "hole" or weakness - so what will we deem absolutely necessary to plug, time can only tell.

[Missing Dog]

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

I, too, am proud of the players, I also think we are on the right track and that the future is bright - but I am also dismayed that we, once again, conspired to lose a tight final when we were clearly the better team. It is not some stupid superstition, it is simply an undeniable fact. As a club, we own the patent to the "heartbreaking/gallant finals loss", and it is up to us to rid ourselves of this unwanted tag. We had the chance to do so last night, and only succeeded in reinforcing this historical truism. Doesn't mean we won't be able to shake this tag next year or in the future, but we had the chance and didn't last night. It is gut-wrenching, galling, dismaying, and every time it happens it hurts like hell.

The reality is we don't have a complete team, and we never have.

We all know we lacked a KPF 5 or 6 years ago.

Last night we lacked a key defender, a ruck and a KPF.

Its simply never having all the pieces of the puzzle.

[Ghost Dog]

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

How does everyone view the performance of our leadership group on the day?
Matty Boyd, Bob Murphy, Dale Morris, Will Minson, Liam Picken and those players over 150 games of experience.

I saw Jake Stringer launch himself into the midfield in the dying minutes of the game, knowing we were lost anyway, and the sight of it moved me. They muck around with that package business, but I am overawed by his heart.
I thought, mate you are a true champ. I know he didn't have the best day but it's that sort of act that you love to see.

[Ozza]

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

I'd like to note that our two key defenders have played 30 games between them. The scope for improvement in key defence is therefore huge.

Thought Hamling was superb, and didn't show any noticeable nerves or being overawed. Roberts fought manfully on Tex for most of the game, and was ultimately beaten by one of the stars of the game. Tex is certainly even harder to stop - when his goal kicking range is about 0-65m out from goal!!

[Ozza]

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

How does everyone view the performance of our leadership group on the day?
Matty Boyd, Bob Murphy, Dale Morris, Will Minson, Liam Picken and those players over 150 games of experience.

I saw Jake Stringer launch himself into the midfield in the dying minutes of the game, knowing we were lost anyway, and the sight of it moved me. They muck around with that package business, but I am overawed by his heart.
I thought, mate you are a true champ. I know he didn't have the best day but it's that sort of act that you love to see.

I thought Morris was well down on his normal output.
Boyd wasn't bad - but didn't hit the heights that he has during the season.
Minson was solid
Picken and Murphy were both very good - and in particular I think they both stood up in the second half.

[Happy Days]

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

It's 2 days later and I still have no idea how we lost that game.

Clearances by 20, a 4 goal jump, clear possessional advantage, more scoring shots, extended periods of dominance. How did we lose?

Like I know how, but HOW? I thought not thinking about it for a day or so and letting it sink in would bring some clarity, but nope. Walker was great and we didn't have it in our arsenal to stop him, but we had them covered pretty much everywhere else.

Hunter and Bont's handballs (or non-handball for Marcus) will make me feel sick for ages.

[Ozza]

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

Adelaide were extremely efficient. It felt like that barely made a mistake once we turned it over.

They also implemented some clever defensive things which made it harder for us to move the ball.

One example is how they stopped us from switching. Plenty of times if Murphy or Biggs had the ball in the back pocket, Betts would stand 7-8 metres from them so that they had to kick over him to switch (obviously you don't want to kick a switch kick at a higher/slower trajectory because it may get picked off, or otherwise gives the opposition more time to fold across to the other side of the ground). They also rarely gave up the middle of the ground to us, and forced us wide.

They also got solid performances out of their bottom few. Cheney played very well for a plodder. Hartigan is a young player, who probably played one of his best career games.

And obviously - going 10.0 for a stretch of the game for set shots, was huge. Walker, Lynch, Knight and Betts all kicked set shots that were 50/50 at best opportunities.

[Bornadog]

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

It's 2 days later and I still have no idea how we lost that game.

Clearances by 20, a 4 goal jump, clear possessional advantage, more scoring shots, extended periods of dominance. How did we lose?

Like I know how, but HOW? I thought not thinking about it for a day or so and letting it sink in would bring some clarity, but nope. Walker was great and we didn't have it in our arsenal to stop him, but we had them covered pretty much everywhere else.

Hunter and Bont's handballs (or non-handball for Marcus) will make me feel sick for ages.

I look at all our players on the field and they pretty much all contributed, except probably Honeychurch and I to am still wondering how we lost.

In the end it was not taking our chances with missed goals. I also think we bombed the ball long and deep into our forward line too often instead of hitting a target around the 50 metre mark.

[Murphy'sLore]

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

I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the replay yet. I'm not sure if I should… Will it help ease the pain to be reminded all the things we did right, or will it make it worse to relive where we went wrong?

[Bornadog]

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

I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the replay yet. I'm not sure if I should… Will it help ease the pain to be reminded all the things we did right, or will it make it worse to relive where we went wrong?

I have watched bits and pieces and found myself getting angry.

[Rocket Science]

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

It's 2 days later and I still have no idea how we lost that game.

Clearances by 20, a 4 goal jump, clear possessional advantage, more scoring shots, extended periods of dominance. How did we lose?

Like I know how, but HOW? I thought not thinking about it for a day or so and letting it sink in would bring some clarity, but nope. Walker was great and we didn't have it in our arsenal to stop him, but we had them covered pretty much everywhere else.

Hunter and Bont's handballs (or non-handball for Marcus) will make me feel sick for ages.

They were hyper-efficient with their forward entries.

If we'd been less wasteful with ours, and our possession during a few key phases, we'd be debating our ins versus the Hawks.

[LostDoggy]

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

Let's talk 2015. They were 7th and not even close to top 4. They were 7-5 (and about where they finished the season) when Phil Walsh passed away. They weren't elite opposition - any team with Kyle Cheney and Hartigan in it is not an elite side. They had a few kids playing as well.

We were a better team than the Crows in 2015, irrespective of age.

The Hawks will make mince meat out of them.

I disagree. The Hawks had better turn up. Sure they'll start favourites, but if ever a game looks like a danger game, it's the Crows to a Hawks fan this week. Maybe I'm just moved by the heart and grit they showed but I believe a West Coast vs. Adelaide GF is a real possibility, and will hang my hat on it.

[Grantysghost]

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

Just made myself watch the highlights so I could move on, interestingly nobody has raised the Walker push on Roberts out on the wing which led to the ultimate goal as a contentious decision. The law states (15.4.5 e) you must be within 5 metres for it not to be deemed a free. I would certainly have let it go, and I'm a strong believer these things even out, however i think it should illicit some discussion it was a huge moment. It's a game of inches, I would strongly suspect it was not within 5 metres and possibily in the back.
Kudos to those who shall not be named, they nailed their chances. When Riley Knight is slotting goals from the boundary it's going to be a tough night and Tex was immense. (Who's on Eddie?)
Our guys were brilliant, just a few skill errors at crucial times and not being able to become a bit more defensive towards the end may have cost us but certainly they did enough to win and it should provide a great springboard for next season. Being in the middle band of the fixture will not hurt either. Bring on 2016.

[Mantis]

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

Like I know how, but HOW? I thought not thinking about it for a day or so and letting it sink in would bring some clarity, but nope. Walker was great and we didn't have it in our arsenal to stop him, but we had them covered pretty much everywhere else.

I'm not so sure about that.. Walker made 2 big plays:

1/ Bombed a goal from 60m in the 2rd qtr.. You almost conceed that kick to a key forward .ie. allow them to take a mark at 55m.. The fact we had fluffed a number of chances prior to this goal made it sting a little more.

2/ Won a crucial 1 on 1 on the members wing late in the last qtr and delivered the ball to Cameron who iced the game.. Roberts was focused on the ball and the heavy contact knocked him on his arse.

Over the course of the game I though we did a pretty good job on Walker, but he just made his moments count.