Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

One thing I think set the tone early was on our first inside 50 the whole team really made an effort to lock the ball in there until we kicked a goal. That inferred pressure was what led to the dinky clearing kick that MacLean intercepted and kicked our first goal from.

Our goalkicking was our usual mess but our forward pressure and desire to lock it in and have multiple shots was back to its best today.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

What a win! Just wonderful seeing the hunger and aggression back in a big way, also beating those pack of cheating scumbags is a little extra bit of icing on the cake. 4am start so can't gasbag too much. Night all

Wooooooo!!

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Sweet dreams G-Mo.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

One thing I think set the tone early was on our first inside 50 the whole team really made an effort to lock the ball in there until we kicked a goal. That inferred pressure was what led to the dinky clearing kick that MacLean intercepted and kicked our first goal from.

Our goalkicking was our usual mess but our forward pressure and desire to lock it in and have multiple shots was back to its best today.

A lot of our missed shots were from angles, although we did miss some from in front. Essendon did well to block the corridor which forced us wide and to kick at goal from all sorts of difficult angles. Bailey Dale's goal from the boundary was a beauty.

[Eastdog]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Great win today. I enjoyed that and it is great to beat a local rival. Good to go back home happy on the train.

We fought hard and played for the jumper today. Where was this the last 2 weeks?

Our forward and defensive pressure was very good and our ball movement through the middle was great actually hitting up forward targets. Hunter, Macrae, Dunkley, McLean, Bont, Dale, Dahl, English, Gowers, Wood very good today really the whole team put in.

Now onto the Swans next week back at Etihad to try and make it 2-2.

Go Dogs!!

[westdog54]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Must need new specs- I think it was Dickson who did great run down and tackle!!

I was at home and that tackle got me out of my seat. Ripping chase and tackle, beautiful technique.

[Eastdog]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

I was at home and that tackle got me out of my seat. Ripping chase and tackle, beautiful technique.

I got out of my seat a few times today at Etihad celebrating a few of those goals.

[Jeanette54]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Can't sleep...... still doing the happy dance

[hujsh]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Some posters were asking last week how does Williams get a game over Webb, and I answered he gets more of the ball, and today I thought he was fantastic. Still only 20 years old, he is slowly but surely getting better every week. Kicked his first AFL goal today.

I also made a case for his strengths over Webb and I'm glad he didn't make me look foolish (this week at least)

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

What did posters think of the 5 man forward setup and loose man in defence? At one stage in the last Bont started at CHB and then ran forward.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

What did posters think of the 5 man forward setup and loose man in defence? At one stage in the last Bont started at CHB and then ran forward.

Bit of a gamble. Gotta hit your man in the forward line otherwise their extra in their defense means they can rebound freely into ours.

All's well that ends well

[kruder]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Nice to see Bevo have Honey and Dahl play close attention to an opposition player. Its not something we have done much in the past but as a developing side I'd like it to continue.

[jeemak]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

Two weeks in a row I was not able to attend the game unfortunately. Was able to see it on the box, and was super impressed with everything but the goal kicking.

The story of the week will be lacklustre EFC's unwillingness to work hard enough and finish off a side on its knees. Whilst partially true, if you're slightly off at the start of the game you only get to play to the standard the opposition will let you until you step into gear. EFC were only down by a kick at the first change - meaning they responded to our early (first 15 minute) efforts, that we managed to increase our lead to half time and three quarter time after EFC started to get into the game suggested we actually had answers to that escalating effort.

This was a game in which we were bound to give up a couple of easy ones to them, because of the way we moved the ball and the decisions we took to do so. Not sure how it looked at the ground, but it was clear we were willing to take the option that was more difficult, higher risk, but clearly right when setting up from defence. Our outlet kicking wide was excellent, and we managed to bring the ball centre when we needed to. It reminded me a lot of 2016.

One big takeaway from me was the knowledge that Dickson and Redpath, whilst not having a large impact, managed to still get some run into the legs and hands onto the ball. They will be much better for the run and having them didn't hurt us like having some less experienced players would have.

I couldn't be more impressed by Richards. When he gets the footy he looks to run fast and use it with intent. Bailey Williams was cooler than a cucumber, in fact, today he was the guy cucumbers aspire to be.

Bont, Macrae, Suckling, Hunter, Dahl, JJ and even Wood late showed us the leadership through actions we've needed to see. The likes of Daniel, Dunks, McLean, Cordy and Honey played really solid games as that second tier.

From a set-up perspective it looked like we made the ground harder to defend than we have in recent times. WCE made it look like there was plenty of wide space (which they are normally pretty good at doing due to the lack of space Subiaco had wide) and we managed to do the same when we had the footy, but stopped EFC from doing the same which was great.

Wish I was there.

[Twodogs]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

I thought it was Suckling's best game for a while.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Game Day Round 3, 2018 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon at Etihad Stadium

I only saw the 2nd half, but there was a lot to like. Our intensity was up. We moved the ball quickly. We harassed and pressured the ball carrier. Do that every week and you are in with a chance.