2008-2010 under Bevo

[Mofra]

Up until 2016, the 2008-2010 teams were the best Bulldogs sides I'd seen, especially the back 6 and especially in those brief moments Tom Williams had been on the park long enough to get continuity into his game.

Ultimately we were the 3rd best side in each of those years although I still think we were desperately unlucky in the 2009 prelim.

I do wonder though - what would have happened in those years if Luke Beveridge was at the helm? How different would our sides have played, and does anyone think a Bevo-coached side in those years could have gone further?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Well, that is hypothetical and disrespectful to Rocket.

I don't want to even think about it.

What has passed cannot be changed. Let us concentrate on the future and enjoy the ride.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Well, that is hypothetical and disrespectful to Rocket.

I don't want to even think about it.

What has passed cannot be changed. Let us concentrate on the future and enjoy the ride.

I'm as big a Rocket Eade fan as there is but I don't think it's disrespectful to him to compare the two. Eade did a terrific job taking the hard he was dealt, getting us into the EF in 2006 was a terrific effort given we lost as many players to injury through the season as we did and getting us up for three top four finishes in a row with the 18-24th players we typically carried in those teams was also a great effort. We were a Nick Riewoldt dive from a Grand Final spot in 2009, I'm a loud and proud Ricket fan.

Having said all that you just can't compare the two. They are similar in some ways but absolute polar opposites in others. We were and are lucky to have them. They allowed us be proud of the boys.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

I'm not sure it changes. In 2008 we choked badly. So many misses by Eagleton, Minson and others. I don't think the coach changes that, or having numerous passengers who couldn't have been dropped (I.e. Johnson). In 2009 in the QF we choked, and in the PF we were robbed by umpiring. Again, not sure Bevo would've changed that. In 2010 we weren't really, really strong contenders in my book.

So I'd say the same would've happened.

[1eyedog]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

I'm not sure about 08-10 but we were close. The 97 team is the best I saw and I'll bet your bottom dollar that Bevo wouldn't have left Smith on Robran = flag.

[Greystache]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

The obvious differences between the two teams was the commitment of all the players to all do the team things in 2016 vs the senior players being allowed to largely play on their own terms in 2008-10, plus the lack of mental toughness of the 2008-10 teams who often looked like a dear in the headlights in finals while the 2016 team played their absolute best when the game was at its most intense. That's a coaching issue and something that didn't improve at any point.

Tactically we were ahead of the curve in 2016 as opposed to following it in 2008-10, but given the weaknesses above I'm not sure it would've made the difference.

[Happy Days]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

The obvious differences between the two teams was the commitment of all the players to all do the team things in 2016 vs the senior players being allowed to largely play on their own terms in 2008-10, plus the lack of mental toughness of the 2008-10 teams who often looked like a dear in the headlights in finals while the 2016 team played their absolute best when the game was at its most intense. That's a coaching issue and something that didn't improve at any point.

Tactically we were ahead of the curve in 2016 as opposed to following it in 2008-10, but given the weaknesses above I'm not sure it would've made the difference.

Yeah came here to say this. No way the current team misses those goals in the 09 prelim.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

The obvious differences between the two teams was the commitment of all the players to all do the team things in 2016 vs the senior players being allowed to largely play on their own terms in 2008-10, plus the lack of mental toughness of the 2008-10 teams who often looked like a dear in the headlights in finals while the 2016 team played their absolute best when the game was at its most intense. That's a coaching issue and something that didn't improve at any point.

Tactically we were ahead of the curve in 2016 as opposed to following it in 2008-10, but given the weaknesses above I'm not sure it would've made the difference.

Yep, agree about the commitment of the playing group. It kind of felt conditional under Rocket, like some senior players loved the club more than anyone else but only in their terms, but the buy in under Bevo seems total and unconditional.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

I don't believe we had the full compliment of players to take us to a premiership in those years. WE had some glaring holes in the team and did extremely well to get where we did.

If Barry Hall came into the team in 08 and 09, there could have been a difference. In 2010, we had too many injuries and lack of depth to cover the injuries.

As for coaching styles, again, you can't compare the two as they are different era's and footy is played differently now to 10 years ago.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

The 1985 team was the best I saw up until last year. It had strength, pace and skill and was coached by a coach who had a few innovative ideas.

In old speak the team bristled with talent on every line.

[Mofra]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Tactically we were ahead of the curve in 2016 as opposed to following it in 2008-10, but given the weaknesses above I'm not sure it would've made the difference.

Interesting point to mention because I thought in 2006 Rocket was ahead of the curve with the fast link up football and attacking off the HB line which soon became the antidote to the dour Swans/Eagles grindfests.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Interesting point to mention because I thought in 2006 Rocket was ahead of the curve with the fast link up football and attacking off the HB line which soon became the antidote to the dour Swans/Eagles grindfests.

Yep, Rocket invented the mass flood way back when coaching Swans and then in 2005 went with the fast link up footy. This clicked towards the end of 2005 and we won 5 of the last 6 (losing by 4 points in the loss). It continued in 2006 and we made finals. Geelong also copied our style and took it one step higher as they had the better players.

[1eyedog]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Yeah came here to say this. No way the current team misses those goals in the 09 prelim.

Gee whizz we blew some chances in front of the big sticks against GWS though.

[Mofra]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Gee whizz we blew some chances in front of the big sticks against GWS though.

Blew our chances against the Crows in 2015

[Ozza]

Re: 2008-2010 under Bevo

Gee whizz we blew some chances in front of the big sticks against GWS though.

I thought we kicked very well against GWS.
Of the 11 behinds, 2 were rushed, 1 was after the siren - it was only really JJ that was a culprit of bad kicking with 0.3 - and those were outside or near 50 on the run. Of set shots, I can only recall Clay missing a set shot at quarter time, and maybe Dunkley also.