Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

I am actually tipping Geelong (especially) and Hawthorn to miss the 8.

Geelong with North Melbourne have the highest number of untried players of any list. Geelong only have 27 players who played a senior game in 2016, they are seriously ready to be closer to the bottom 4 than top 4.

Hawthorn also have plenty of inexperienced players and are relying on the quality like Billy Hartung, Ricky Henderson and Jake Fitzpatrick in their top 25.

I reckon two out of North, Geelong or Hawthorn will miss the eight. Hawthorn might have added enough with their high priced recruits and Roughy coming back to eke out another year but it will be bottom part of the eight and out in the first week of the finals. None of those three clubs will have a significant impact in the overall scheme of things. Trading out Mitchell and Lewis was crazy brave, don't know what to make of that, it could be genius or it could be a disaster. They will miss Hill too, he's a big loss to a team that wasn't exactly quick over the ground as it was.

About Geelong, like others have said if you stop Dangerfield, you stop Geelong. If Libba hadn't limped off when we played them I think we would have taken them. He was getting Dangerfield well in hand but after Libba went off Dangerfield got on top again. And when Dangerfield goes then so does Selwood and when Selwood goes Duncan goes and so on down the line. No other team relies on one player to start up the band the way that Geelong relies on Dangerfield to get them going.

Dunno about Sydney. Looking back at the Grand Final they did well to only get beaten by 4 goals because we were up for anything that day. We could have beaten Man U in a FA cup final or the Dallas Cowboys at NFL that day. They have a bit of real talent to come back in too, Heany, Alir (I'm a huge Alir Alir fan-he could be great for us) and a few more. Hard to pick their form and finishing place this year, but I'm not brave or silly enough to go down the "Sydney in decline" road that we all seem to start the season with. They may win the premiership or they could win the wooden spoon-neither would suprise me overly.

[Topdog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

I reckon two out of North, Geelong or Hawthorn will miss the eight..

So you think one of Geelong or Hawks will miss the 8?

North will win the spoon this year.

[Topdog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

If you think about it statistically, outside of what we did last year, you have to finish top 4 to win the flag. Maybe what we did is the beginning of breaking the mold, maybe it was a once off.

Most people look at it and say that GWS finished top 4. They'll improve a bit, so should finish top 4 again. We finished 7, we'll improve a bit (potentially a lot...) but we need to go up from 7th... will we make top 4?

But people that look at things statistically will look at it a heck of lot more closely than that. They will notice that in 2016 7th was 1 win out of top 4 and 2 wins off 1st.

7th place in the last 10 years has not been that close to both spots.

2015: 3, 4
2014: 4, 5
2013: 1, 5 (4 to 2nd)
2012: 2, 3
2011: 5, 8
2010: 2, 5
2009: 2, 7
2008: 1, 9
2007: 2, 6
2006: 1, 4

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

So you think one of Geelong or Hawks will miss the 8?

North will win the spoon this year.

Yep, one of Hawthorn or Geelong to miss. I reckon probably Geelong. Both missing wouldn't surprise me but I just reckon Hawthorn to eke out one more year as finalists but not enough quality to actually go anywhere. They have Clarkson too. Clarkson is the second best coach in the caper

[1eyedog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

That's the premiership cup talking, that is. It has an energy of its own. I used to read all that stuff in the sagas about Viking swords and how each sword had a personality of its own and think "oh yeah, it's just a bunch of metal" but having held the cup, our cup in my arms, I think I know what they are on about. It's everything, that cup.

Yep and those Viking swords were everything to those Vikings.

In terms of the above my feeling is both Geelong and Hawthorn will be playing for a position between 6-8 as will half a dozen other teams. Geelong will probably beat us again...

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

Yep and those Viking swords were everything to those Vikings.

In terms of the above my feeling is both Geelong and Hawthorn will be playing for a position between 6-8 as will half a dozen other teams. Geelong will probably beat us again...

The fixture has again been set up to suit them with a Friday night down there on the back of us playing West Coast in Perth.

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

Depends on what sort of night Dangefield is having I guess.

Seriously I think beating Geelong would be pretty high on this groups list. The fact we haven't beaten them in so long (was it 3 coaches ago?) must grate on them a bit. It grates on me a lot.

[Eastdog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

Depends on what sort of night Dangefield is having I guess.

Seriously I think beating Geelong would be pretty high on this groups list. The fact we haven't beaten them in so long (was it 3 coaches ago?) must grate on them a bit. It grates on me a lot.

We are due for a win against them. It has been a while. Very disappointing the way we played first up against them last season at Etihad and the 2nd time we played them at Kardina Park we played better but still lost and was disappointing. So frustrating in that first game that they didn't miss a beat and we scored only 5 goals that night but anyway who cares cause in 2016 we got them all and became premiers

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

We are due for a win against them. It has been a while. Very disappointing the way we played first up against them last season at Etihad and the 2nd time we played them at Kardina Park we played better but still lost and was disappointing. So frustrating in that first game that they didn't miss a beat and we scored only 5 goals that night but anyway who cares cause in 2016 we got them all and became premiers

Two such wonderful words to put together and then apply to us.

[Eastdog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

Two such wonderful words to put together and then apply to us.

At the time during H&A season of 2016 we wouldn't have thought with all our injuries that will going to lift the cup but it happened and it was unbelievable.

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

At the time during H&A season of 2016 we wouldn't have thought with all our injuries that will going to lift the cup but it happened and it was unbelievable.

Miraculous is what it was.

[Bornadog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

Dogs 'have to change' to survive at the top: Hunter

THE WESTERN Bulldogs are embracing the tag of being "the ones to beat" as the reigning premiers look to go back-to-back, according midfielder Lachie Hunter.

The Bulldogs are enjoying the pride that comes with winning a flag, but Hunter says the players are well aware they need to evolve and improve if they're to lift the cup again this season.
"It's a bit of different feeling (to be premiers), but it's a good one to have though," Hunter said at the club's community camp in Ballarat.

"We're coming off a great season and we're the ones to beat."
"You have to change or else you won't survive at the top and we've done that."

Coach Luke Beveridge commended his players for the condition in which they came back from the off-season break, but Hunter was always confident of the professionalism of the group.

He believes that attitude is testament to the ambition of the team.
"(Beveridge) was really happy with how everyone came back (in good condition), Hunter said.

"Everyone drove each other in the pre-season and we knew (what shape) we had to come back.
"In terms of the pre season, you obviously start four weeks later (after playing in the Grand Final), so the fitness has taken a little bit longer to get there.

"Hopefully by round one we'll be right to go."
And when quizzed on his own game, the prolific ball-winner says he aspires to become a more complete footballer in 2017.

Hunter's name was in the conversation for All Australian honours last season after collecting the most uncontested possessions (514), finishing fourth in total kicks (391) and sixth in total possessions (719).

"I'd love to work on my defensive side a bit more," Hunter said.
"I think I've got fair bit left (to get to my best)."

[dukedog]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

^^^^
I expect nothing less than coach of the year / Jock Mchale medalist, to have the boys pumped for 2017. Beveridge is all class. He has a very . Very bright future ahead.

[Twodogs]

Re: Want back-to-back flags? Then what do we to need change or improve in 2017?

^^^^
I expect nothing less than coach of the year / Jock Mchale medalist, to have the boys pumped for 2017. Beveridge is all class. He has a very . Very bright future ahead.

If there was a European Chamionship like comp involving all the clubs around Australia and the interstate clubs had become dominant at the game the Victorians had first developed and Australia had a population of 800 million then Bevo would lead us to the AFeL European cup at his first try