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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
When he took that mark I proclaimed to all and sundry that I would gladly bear Will's children if he slotted it. ErnieSigley and Sockeye were witnesses.
Surely enough...
More accidental than his goal though?Surely enough...
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Great win, to come back from where we did in the 1st qtr.
Have to agree with Wight, his decision making needs a fair bit of work. I have my heart in my mouth everytime he gets the ball. At least he kept creeping up fwd and providing another target. The Saints would not mark him until he received that free kick in the fwd line.
I look fwd to Williams and Everitt coming back and this will allow Wight to play on a smaller type player. As you say, hopefully he can build on his confidence.Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Totally wrong except that the Saints DID kick the first two (and three and four and five and six), Dogs DID pull away in the third term, and they DID kick away to win by 30+ points to end the Saints hoodoo and burst the Saints' pre-season bubble.
I was telling everyone I knew that we would win by 30+ and no one believed me, and by the end of the first quarter, even I didn't believe me.
Yet, there were always signs that we weren't playing badly -- we were keeping possession well, even though it was all out wide, and it wasn't as if any of our players were fumbling or dropping the ball, they were just letting the Saints' midfielders and backs run straight through the lines. The moment Rocket rectified that we were always going to be in the contest.
And substitute Hill, Griff and Aker for where I wrote Welsh, Murph and Gia and it would have been good forecasting! How could I have left Aker off?!
Great win by the team.
ps. Mark my words, I said this in my pre-season forecasts, and I'll back it up, the Saints will NOT make the 8 this year. The media have no flippin' idea.Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Aahh brian whats goin on here mate
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Obviously a really impressive game, just wanted to make a few comments.
I actually think the game turned towards the end of the first quarter - we upped our pressure and though we didn't get any immediate results from it (partly because of the crap decision against Akermanis), the Saints were clearly struggling with it.
We've now played our two bogey teams and have been the ones to put pressure on them, when it's previously been their intensity and contested skills which have helped kill us. Our belief has been a feature of these two games - very different from last year.
Cam Wight has shown the really pleasing ability to just work and fight his way back into games. He won't be the last to be smashed early by Kosi, but he kept going, and to hurt him the other way is a tribute to both his character, potential, and Eade's coaching. Dog Town said last week Wight had to get something out of this game against one of the top forwards in the comp, and though it took him some time, he did show something.
Hill keeps on delivering, but he looked like he lacked a bit of awareness around packs in the Saints goal-square where he let first Milne, and then I think Schneider get a bit too much space - it seemed like he got caught ball-watching.
I was one of those questioning the recruitment of Callan, and while he still has limitations, his game was also an example of how important confidence can be. He was so much surer around the ball, and after the first quarter, he read the ball coming in so much better than seemed possible during the pre-season.
Addison is another to show what is possible with a bit of confidence. He still needs to adjust a bit more to the speed of the game imo, and while his decision-making still needs work, he is starting to show the dash and ability that seemed evident in his first season with Werribee when a fair few of us were raving at Clayton pulling another one out of the nether regions of Australia (sorry Dry Rot).
Minson is another who is improving. Actually showing that he can play pretty smart footy. When he's out of position he still gets the ball to ground, and he's starting to put himself in position a bit more. And I think he's really enjoying having less pressure on his ruck-work, which has been much better than last year as well. He got 19 taps, as many as King and more than double Hudson's 9, though Hudson has been a vital addition.
Cross seemed much more willing to move the ball on quickly by foot.
Morris was clearly incredible and all our defenders showed that if we can get our midfield pressure right, then size and strength are not as big an issue as everyone has made out. That said, it'd still be nice to have a fit Williams and Everitt as well.[SIZE="1"][B][CENTER][I]Although it broke our hearts it did not break our will[/I][/CENTER][/B][/SIZE]Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Clearly our best win since we beat Collingwood last season and probably even our best since we beat them in the final.
Just thought our pressure on the ball carrier lifted all over the ground and that was the major factor in shutting down the saints forward line. To keep a side with as many weapons as the saints to 6 goals in 3 quarters is pretty much unheard of for us even if they rarely score heavily.
I really enjoyed the way we supported each other down back with players chipping in to help out in the marking duels and also pushing over to support with numbers for the ground level ball. At times we simply overwhelmed them for numbers and then once we were winning enough contests the confidence filtered through to our running department. We were able to take alot more running risks to come up from behind and break the lines/create switches because the numbers we were getting around the contest gave us the confidence that we would win the ball.
It is quite clear that we are more organised at stoppages so far this season. Adding Griff and Hudson to the mix has helped alot but the main factor has been how much more organised we seem. If we get beaten we are not getting belted. Alot more hard outs from those types of situations.
The forward line is functioning pretty well with a couple of different types of set ups. In some ways we have added 4 players to the mix in Murphy, Hahn, Welsh and Minson. All of them add different things.
Some players who I found interesting on the night were
Cross- Just getting better and better. Agree with RT that he is moving the ball on alot quicker. Seems to be a conscious effort amongst the entire side.
Welsh- Had a quiet game himself on the scoreboard but has really boosted the forward line. His use of space is quite brilliant and he takes the pressure right off our other targets. The reason he is dangerous is that he can get you in so many ways. He took a number of marks leading right up the ground on friday and then he can stand in the square and pull down a contested mark. If you have him covered in those areas he will turn you around and run back towards goal. Just a very clever technician who absolutely demands a good opponent.
Hahn- Early days for him because realistically he has only played 1 and a half good games this season but he was extremely important on the weekend. I could probably name 4 goals that he was involved in that we just would not have got last year without the presence that he gives at full fitness. The goal Aker kicked to put us in front was really a defining goal for us in the match and hopefully for him in the season. 2 big tackles and then a third effort to handball out to Aker was a brilliant effort. His pure size is worrying opponents in the air as well.
Callan- Surprising effort from Callan. Needs to keep stringing them together but anyone who throws themselves back into packs like that will always get a game in my side. Must have been 4 or 5 marking contests where he just launched himself at the footy and if you were a fellow bulldog it must have been team lifting. Really seemed to add an ingredient to our team the other night. Challenge for him is to back it up now.
Minson- Not a huge night statistically but he is playing his part. He has stopped giving away those annoying and pointless free kicks and is providing a very competitive long option up forward.
Murphy- How much did we miss that ability to lead up around CHF and take a grab? It is not so valuable when we are forced to bomb to a contest (most of those kicks go towards Hahn anyway) but when we become stagnant and held up across half forward his agility makes him pretty much impossible to stop on the lead. Welsh has allowed him to play further out as well.
West- Has taken a bit more of a back seat but is still having a huge contribution. Getting plenty of handball recieves which shows he is still covering the ground.
Griffen- Not getting huge numbers but I think he has given us that little bit extra punch in the middle. On a number of times he got first hands went to barge through got gang tackled and then the ball fell out to one of our other guys. That is the difference he is making with his unique style as is Hudson.
Guido- Best footy he has played since mid 2005.
Wight- It was a strange game for him. He certainly fought back brilliantly and even gave us a bit up forward for a patch. Wasn't really in many one out contests with Kosi so that part of his game is hard to judge. Good to see his confidence rising which can be a problem for him.
Boyd- I think the best part about the start that West, Cross and Boyd have had is that although they are still putting out huge numbers they are taking a back seat to guys like Cooney, Griff and Hill. Gives us that group of ultra reliable professionals just underneath our game breakers in midfield. Bit like Stenglein and Braun at the eagles or Thompson and Edwards at the crows. I say it all the time but I have never misjudged a player more than I did with Boyd. Amazed at the player he has become. Would be confident of him getting the job done no matter what role Eade throws at him.Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Agree with just about every point dt, would just add that at one point in either 3rd or 4th quarter Kosi got benched for not chasing Wight after he had run hard to win the ball, run down the wing and delivered the ball deep into our F50.
In one sense just a small part of the whole team lifting and this was the most pleasing aspect, we didn't rely on a few to get us out of trouble or to keep us going, and as you point out the contribution of the lesser lights and those who didn't have great nights was significant. As Bernard Toohey used to say, "It might not be my night but it can always be my minute."
It was the performance of a mature team; let's hope they can maintain this degree of committment throughout the season.[I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Some really good points raised by RT and dt.... Good work.
Just adding my two bobs worth to there posts, after watching the replay on a number of occassions, and no I'm not getting sick of watching it:
* Minson efforts in the 2nd half were huge. He played a sensational last qtr. Presented well, scrambled hard. Really solid effort from a maturing player.
* Hudson is just a very smart footballer. His ruck work and 2nd efforts were/ are fantastic. How big a difference has it made having a good ruckman in our team.
* Gilbee - his ability to continue to work hard and back up with 2nd, 3rd and even 4th efforts should not be forgotten. We all know that he is a fantastic running player, but he works bloody hard too.
* Addison - really found his feet over the past 2 weeks. His defensive ethos is still there, but he is now starting to hunt for the ball and get involved in general play and adding another option to our run and carry game. And he has a fair bit of mongrel in him too, doesn't take any shit and likes to get involved in little skirmishes.
* For me the best past of the game was that our spark came from the young guys - Cooney, Griffen, Hill, Addsion and Callan were the guys that lifted there intensity and the rest followed. Bit of changing of the guard in that we have always relied on the old guard to carry the team. The geniune delight shown by Johnson when Hill kicked his great follow up goal in the 3rd was very good to see.Comment
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Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Saints
Great report DT.
The other thing that Welsh has added is an impressive defensive work-ethic. I remember when it looked like we would pick him up one of the Crows bf posters said that he defensive pressure was under-rated, and that seems to be a good call. Welsh certainly seems pretty committed to contests at the moment, and it was telling how many pats he got after taking the contested mark backing back to pretty much ice the game.
Good point about our stoppage work. It has been noticeable that apart from the 1st quarter v the Saints, opposition players have not been streaming forward from clearances as much - I'm pleased, but it also seems about time as well. Must make the defenders pretty happy as well.
Why did you rate Giansiracusa's game so highly?[SIZE="1"][B][CENTER][I]Although it broke our hearts it did not break our will[/I][/CENTER][/B][/SIZE]Comment
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[I]I believe there's nothing on this earth that we own. All we do is look after it for our children - Terry Wheeler[/I]Comment
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