Geelong V Western Bulldogs R11, Thursday 22/5/25 at GMHBA Stadium at 7:30pm

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Close to a textbook Geelong game for us, maybe a little gentler than normal.

Crowd has nfi
They don't miss.
Umpires favour them heavily (not as egregious as it ha sbeen though)
They kick the most arsey goals.
Commentator lovefest and prolonged shots of their "stars" regardless of relevance to the game.
Random significant milestone (although Duncan is more cooked than Duryea)
We are super wasteful
We battle really hard but gallantly lose by a smallish margin

Only box we didn't tick was we didn't feed their interceptor the whole night (instead opting to turn it over before getting it there)

Thought we actually played fairly well, and it was just our inability to execute that stopped us.

Much more encouraging from Naughton this week, if we are experimenting with the idea of Duryea forward lets stop that now, really struggled to get run out of defence happening (Kardinia issue really), Lobb was immense and is such a weapon, Richards is insanely good, and having watched it only once it I blame him for popping it over Bukus head, Khamis was great including his short stint back and was close to my votes, one more goal and he's there, Kennedy is incredibly good, I thought he was going to be a poor mans Dunkley but I'm not sure he is worse, some of the young blokes are going to really appreciate the week off, English was good and aggressive again (although that did cost us).

I think Dempseys mark was close enough that I'll accept the umpires in the perfect spot opinion (the camera angle can never really judge the curved line anyway), but man it was infuriating at the time.

Still really positive about this season, but we need to snag a few wins that we aren't expecting in the run home. We are absolutely as good as anyone, but if we don't make that mean anything then its all moot.

Great post. It was all too familiar and predictable. I honestly didn't think we'd fight back like that so it is promising.

We were a tall short last night, however I understand why the MC went shorter for extra run. Unfortunately it backfired due to poor disposal and being caught out lost/lazy (? cant tell on TV why in the first half the transition was so easy when a turnover wasn't the cause) one too many times. They moved the ball far too easily and quickly between the arcs setting up easy shots at goal. Would it have been even easier with an extra tall? Ultimately an extra tall would have helped us given the amount of turnovers we had but if we were just a little bit cleaner I think our extra run would have won us the game.

Someone mentioned expectation has crept up on is and I couldn't agree more. We've all suddenly got top 4 expectations. Whilst we're not there yet, let's hope the 2nd half of the season, which is easier on paper, shows a continual progression because this group has the right mentality to go far.

Also f*** that shite excuse for a ground with its stupid non-existent wings. Should never be afl standard. No one should have to play there yet every God dam year we have to go. To top it all off the umpires give them silver surface. Truly disgusting stuff down there.

[comrade]

Feels like we’ve seen that loss 4 times already this year. I’m not completely flat and really liked the fight back but damn, some tweaks are needed in this higher pressure games. Treloar and Darcy back will be massive you’d hope.

[The Underdog]

So….I wasn’t able to watch the game, how much effort should I make to sit down and watch, knowing the result? Is there enough positive to spend my time or will I be just letting myself be annoyed by something that I truly can’t change.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

So….I wasn’t able to watch the game, how much effort should I make to sit down and watch, knowing the result? Is there enough positive to spend my time or will I be just letting myself be annoyed by something that I truly can’t change.

Don't watch it. You'll just be annoyed.

Although I didn't watch the 2nd half.

[doggies ftw]

Real shame we lost that, just shouldn’t with that scoreline.

Think they jumped us early with a pressure level we weren’t ready for, and our ****ing turnovers geez we love a dodgy turnover, need some more elite kicks in the backhalf desperately.

But overall we settled into the game very well and should have pinched it, probably even ran away with it. Unfortunately goal kicking let us down tonight too when it mattered, McNeil a common culprit here really undoes his good work in front of goal. Wasn’t the only one though.

Was a night of almosts for us, just a few key moments that went wrong like Richard’s missing a sure thing target he hits 99/100 times. Geelong not able to miss, 4-5 posters for us and then an absolute drubbing by the umps leading to goals - a clear out on the full goal, English getting done for? Tackling Stanley? It was laughable the umpiring reaming we got - but even still we put ourselves into position to win but couldn’t finish off the hard work.

Bit concerning we haven’t been able to finish off the good sides but I think looking at each of the games individually, not as a whole, there’s pretty clear reasons behind each loss and nothing overly concerning. Obviously if it continues it’s a problem but im confident it will start to trend our way.

We are a bloody good side, the previous iteration of this side would have been smacked after that second qtr but this team is never out of it and will always claw a way back into a game when it’s not going our way. Which is the biggest trait of a great side - next step for this team is winning these close games against good sides and showing a bit more composure in the dying minutes. This will come.

That one hurts a lot, **** Geelong and everything about the cheating whining ****s, the fact we didn’t get Baz at Marvel just says it all really. These ‘previous team rival’ games are almost exclusively always at the previous teams home ground, for the added ‘drama’. Not Geelong and Baz of course though…

But we’re a better team than them and will smack them up if we’re lucky enough to get them in the finals in Melbourne. We’re definitely one of the best teams in it this year, and top 4 is very much still in play.

[EasternWest]

Real shame we lost that, just shouldn’t with that scoreline.

Think they jumped us early with a pressure level we weren’t ready for, and our ****ing turnovers geez we love a dodgy turnover, need some more elite kicks in the backhalf desperately.

But overall we settled into the game very well and should have pinched it, probably even ran away with it. Unfortunately goal kicking let us down tonight too when it mattered, McNeil a common culprit here really undoes his good work in front of goal. Wasn’t the only one though.

Was a night of almosts for us, just a few key moments that went wrong like Richard’s missing a sure thing target he hits 99/100 times. Geelong not able to miss, 4-5 posters for us and then an absolute drubbing by the umps leading to goals - a clear out on the full goal, English getting done for? Tackling Stanley? It was laughable the umpiring reaming we got - but even still we put ourselves into position to win but couldn’t finish off the hard work.

Bit concerning we haven’t been able to finish off the good sides but I think looking at each of the games individually, not as a whole, there’s pretty clear reasons behind each loss and nothing overly concerning. Obviously if it continues it’s a problem but im confident it will start to trend our way.

We are a bloody good side, the previous iteration of this side would have been smacked after that second qtr but this team is never out of it and will always claw a way back into a game when it’s not going our way. Which is the biggest trait of a great side - next step for this team is winning these close games against good sides and showing a bit more composure in the dying minutes. This will come.

That one hurts a lot, **** Geelong and everything about the cheating whining ****s, the fact we didn’t get Baz at Marvel just says it all really. These ‘previous team rival’ games are almost exclusively always at the previous teams home ground, for the added ‘drama’. Not Geelong and Baz of course though…

But we’re a better team than them and will smack them up if we’re lucky enough to get them in the finals in Melbourne. We’re definitely one of the best teams in it this year, and top 4 is very much still in play.

English got done for his late hit on Stewart which although was minimal contact was definitely a free kick as per how that is adjudicated.

I can understand his frustration though, the play immediately before should have been HTB against Stanley.

[Happy Days]

English got done for his late hit on Stewart which although was minimal contact was definitely a free kick as per how that is adjudicated.

I can understand his frustration though, the play immediately before should have been HTB against Stanley.

Stanley should’ve been done for holding at literally every ruck stoppage. We’ve been hit over the head with arms around being an auto free for years now but Stanley got away with at least 50 of them. Getting a free kick for what could’ve only been getting too badly owned in a tackle was just the icing on top.

[Eastdog]

In the big moments that mattered, Geelong made us pay and we blew our chances. It hurts. But that is the difference. We drew level in the last quarter. We had our chances. Especially early in the last quarter. But we could not make them pay.

It truly is a game of margins and that was the difference in the end. Be in favour in those margins and we win. We had more than enough chances. There is a different feeling with the team this season in our ability to fight back well when we are down like we were at half time last night. There was eerie similarities to the Freo game earlier this year.

[doggies ftw]

English got done for his late hit on Stewart which although was minimal contact was definitely a free kick as per how that is adjudicated.

I can understand his frustration though, the play immediately before should have been HTB against Stanley.

Yeah that’s what I was referring to, the one before the 50 where Stanley grabbed it out of the ruck, English brought him to ground, he dropped it and the ump paid a free kick for what exactly? I don’t even know what the ruling was, was pure bullshit.

[EasternWest]

Yeah that’s what I was referring to, the one before the 50 where Stanley grabbed it out of the ruck, English brought him to ground, he dropped it and the ump paid a free kick for what exactly? I don’t even know what the ruling was, was pure bullshit.

It really was.

[SquirrelGrip]

So….I wasn’t able to watch the game, how much effort should I make to sit down and watch, knowing the result? Is there enough positive to spend my time or will I be just letting myself be annoyed by something that I truly can’t change.

Yes, definitely watch the game. Just skip the second quarter and you'll see us win 102-88. You'll also not have to see Duryea up forward.

[Sedat]

Real shame we lost that, just shouldn’t with that scoreline.

Think they jumped us early with a pressure level we weren’t ready for, and our ****ing turnovers geez we love a dodgy turnover, need some more elite kicks in the backhalf desperately.

But overall we settled into the game very well and should have pinched it, probably even ran away with it. Unfortunately goal kicking let us down tonight too when it mattered, McNeil a common culprit here really undoes his good work in front of goal. Wasn’t the only one though.

Was a night of almosts for us, just a few key moments that went wrong like Richard’s missing a sure thing target he hits 99/100 times. Geelong not able to miss, 4-5 posters for us and then an absolute drubbing by the umps leading to goals - a clear out on the full goal, English getting done for? Tackling Stanley? It was laughable the umpiring reaming we got - but even still we put ourselves into position to win but couldn’t finish off the hard work.

Bit concerning we haven’t been able to finish off the good sides but I think looking at each of the games individually, not as a whole, there’s pretty clear reasons behind each loss and nothing overly concerning. Obviously if it continues it’s a problem but im confident it will start to trend our way.

We are a bloody good side, the previous iteration of this side would have been smacked after that second qtr but this team is never out of it and will always claw a way back into a game when it’s not going our way. Which is the biggest trait of a great side - next step for this team is winning these close games against good sides and showing a bit more composure in the dying minutes. This will come.

That one hurts a lot, **** Geelong and everything about the cheating whining ****s, the fact we didn’t get Baz at Marvel just says it all really. These ‘previous team rival’ games are almost exclusively always at the previous teams home ground, for the added ‘drama’. Not Geelong and Baz of course though…

But we’re a better team than them and will smack them up if we’re lucky enough to get them in the finals in Melbourne. We’re definitely one of the best teams in it this year, and top 4 is very much still in play.

Agree with most of this but Geelong's performance has been undersold IMO. They are brilliant at taking away from the opposition and denying the game be played on opponent's terms, and it happened again last night in the 1st half. We were jumpy and panicky with our usually sure hands in tight in the face of real heat by Geelong and we didn't cope/adapt for 60 minutes.

Furthermore, when the game all square with 8 minutes left and all the momentum was with us, it was Geelong who showed composure and made excellent decisions thereafter. They also won 8 of the last 9 clearances after we smashed them in this area for the previous 3 and a half qtrs.

Geelong showed last night why they are the scalp and we aren't as yet. We aspire to be the scalp sooner rather than later (and we are trending in the right direction to be so in the future), but we fluffed our lines when it really counted last night, and not for the first time this season.

[SonofScray]

Agree with most of this but Geelong's performance has been undersold IMO. They are brilliant at taking away from the opposition and denying the game be played on opponent's terms, and it happened again last night in the 1st half. We were jumpy and panicky with our usually sure hands in tight in the face of real heat by Geelong and we didn't cope/adapt for 60 minutes.

Furthermore, when the game all square with 8 minutes left and all the momentum was with us, it was Geelong who showed composure and made excellent decisions thereafter. They also won 8 of the last 9 clearances after we smashed them in this area for the previous 3 and a half qtrs.

Geelong showed last night why they are the scalp and we aren't as yet. We aspire to be the scalp sooner rather than later (and we are trending in the right direction to be so in the future), but we fluffed our lines when it really counted last night, and not for the first time this season.

The way they took off big chunks of time on the clock across the last quarter and our inability to win the ball back was a credit to them.

[The bulldog tragician]

My postie just told me he thought we got absolutely crucified. He barracks for Port Adelaide so I’d call it a definitive judgement.

I’ve been thinking about the “we lose the close ones” narrative. It FEELS different when you lose having rallied strongly and can’t get over the line, than if you are a team that loses having led all day. It’s also easy to lump all close losses in together when there are different factors in each.

So far I think the reasons have been more lapses and poor quarters than mental fragility when the game is there for the taking. Even the much maligned McNeil was, if I recall correctly on this occasion zipping around and pinging from goal on the run from 30-40 metres, rather than missing set shots from 20 metres (though he has had this in his repertoire too and you could also say that overall he just does not hit the scoreboard enough).

Random thoughts to run by my postie on Monday I guess.

[Stevo]

Close to a textbook Geelong game for us, maybe a little gentler than normal.

Crowd has nfi
They don't miss.
Umpires favour them heavily (not as egregious as it ha sbeen though)
They kick the most arsey goals.
Commentator lovefest and prolonged shots of their "stars" regardless of relevance to the game.
Random significant milestone (although Duncan is more cooked than Duryea)
We are super wasteful
We battle really hard but gallantly lose by a smallish margin

Only box we didn't tick was we didn't feed their interceptor the whole night (instead opting to turn it over before getting it there)

Thought we actually played fairly well, and it was just our inability to execute that stopped us.

Much more encouraging from Naughton this week, if we are experimenting with the idea of Duryea forward lets stop that now, really struggled to get run out of defence happening (Kardinia issue really), Lobb was immense and is such a weapon, Richards is insanely good, and having watched it only once it I blame him for popping it over Bukus head, Khamis was great including his short stint back and was close to my votes, one more goal and he's there, Kennedy is incredibly good, I thought he was going to be a poor mans Dunkley but I'm not sure he is worse, some of the young blokes are going to really appreciate the week off, English was good and aggressive again (although that did cost us).

I think Dempseys mark was close enough that I'll accept the umpires in the perfect spot opinion (the camera angle can never really judge the curved line anyway), but man it was infuriating at the time.

Still really positive about this season, but we need to snag a few wins that we aren't expecting in the run home. We are absolutely as good as anyone, but if we don't make that mean anything then its all moot.

Fantastic post Soup, you've nailed all the points. Just clicking the thumbs up was insufficient,