Western Bulldogs V Hawthorn R13, Thursday 5/6/25 at Marvel Stadium at 7:30pm

[jazzadogs]

We also failed to put score board pressure on them. Lobb missed a vital one in the third and the last and the two we missed running into open goals was unforgiveable.

We had the momentum but let ourselves down with poor F50 entries.

Nah we never had momentum imo. They controlled the entire game. The few moments we looked like kicking a goal they got it right back.

The game was over 5 minutes in, we were all just trying to convince ourselves it might change.

[DOG GOD]

Naughton- one of the most overrated players in the league.

how much is English and him costing us in $$$ vs performances ?

[Eastdog]

Just got home now. That was a disappointing evening at the footy. We just were not there tonight at all. We looked really flat. That first quarter really sunk us and from there we were even scoreboard wise but could not claw the margin back. We do this when we go in as favourites into a match we just can't handle that tag. We are better when we are not the favourites.

My focus now is just to make the finals. Top 4 looking more and more less likely considering we have lost 6 matches already and pretty much it has to be near on perfect to finish there.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I’m all for selection integrity and he deserved his spot but surely his papers are stamped after tonight,. That was as bad a performance as I can remember seeing.

I disagree. Deserving based on what? He's been on the list 5-6 years and he is what he is. How much more evidence does the MC need? The gulf between VFL and AFL is extraordinary and 'form' matters little. The carryover of skillset and role is paramount, so what did the MC see as his skill set and role for tonight? He has never been a good defender, he's reactive and therefore not an interceptor, he's not a rebounder... So if he's not, and never, been able to defend nor rebound, WTF is he in the side for when it's a BIG game against quality opposition when we have other options available!?

This was a horrendous night for Bevo and the coaches. Hawks attacked us at the source and kept width, we never adapted and kept +1 on the inside. We refused to press up on them all night coming out of our forward line, and so Weddle/Impey/Ambrosio continually ran through us and kicked over us. No adjustments made. We had NO idea what to do with the extra mid and had Libba parked at HBF for much of the second half, especially the last quarter. We also lacked another defender, and had F all run with Dale shut down (and also bed shitting).

Such a disappointment. This club are experts at building you up to tear you down. We have a number of players who continually fail the big stage (Dale, Naughton, West, Harmes, Williams, McNeil, Gardner, English and to a lesser extent Richards who is yet to perform against the very best at HIS best). Not getting enough from some kids (Sanders/Davidson/Dolan) while others are fringe (Cleary/Bramble/Buku).

The sobering truth is we are not good. We can beat up on average teams, but we cannot handle the top 6 who ask questions and demand you to problem solve.

[Bornadog]

Nah we never had momentum imo. They controlled the entire game. The few moments we looked like kicking a goal they got it right back.

The game was over 5 minutes in, we were all just trying to convince ourselves it might change.

Can't agree. After quarter time the difference was only 2 points in our favour - We missed two many goals. The momentum was there going into the last with only 16 points in it.

[angelopetraglia]

I disagree. Deserving based on what? He's been on the list 5-6 years and he is what he is. How much more evidence does the MC need? The gulf between VFL and AFL is extraordinary and 'form' matters little. The carryover of skillset and role is paramount, so what did the MC see as his skill set and role for tonight? He has never been a good defender, he's reactive and therefore not an interceptor, he's not a rebounder... So if he's not, and never, been able to defend nor rebound, WTF is he in the side for when it's a BIG game against quality opposition when we have other options available!?

This was a horrendous night for Bevo and the coaches. Hawks attacked us at the source and kept width, we never adapted and kept +1 on the inside. We refused to press up on them all night coming out of our forward line, and so Weddle/Impey/Ambrosio continually ran through us and kicked over us. No adjustments made. We had NO idea what to do with the extra mid and had Libba parked at HBF for much of the second half, especially the last quarter. We also lacked another defender, and had F all run with Dale shut down (and also bed shitting).

Such a disappointment. This club are experts at building you up to tear you down. We have a number of players who continually fail the big stage (Dale, Naughton, West, Harmes, Williams, McNeil, Gardner, English and to a lesser extent Richards who is yet to perform against the very best at HIS best). Not getting enough from some kids (Sanders/Davidson/Dolan) while others are fringe (Cleary/Bramble/Buku).

The sobering truth is we are not good. We can beat up on average teams, but we cannot handle the top 6 who ask questions and demand you to problem solve.

Yes. 100%. Well said.

[angelopetraglia]

Such a disappointment.

I really thought we would win and win well. They just had a game plan to beat us and it didn’t help that it looked like we were still at the beach during the first quarter.

When we decided to actually turn up, the game was basically over and they controlled us all night. Even with a little momentum in the 3rd term it never looked like we were going to win.

Gutted. We are just not good enough.

[angelopetraglia]

Can't agree. After quarter time the difference was only 2 points in our favour - We missed two many goals. The momentum was there going into the last with only 16 points in it.

Never looked like it. Beaten all over the ground and they played with us and even literally rubbed it in our face by showing us the ball. Not good enough.

[jeemak]

That was a complete yet totally predictable shit show.

Some gutsy performances with developing and limited manpower as a side in transition all but count for nothing, after such an insipid effort across the board.

Back to square one after failing another test.

[Grantysghost]

Can't agree. After quarter time the difference was only 2 points in our favour - We missed two many goals. The momentum was there going into the last with only 16 points in it.

When you're behind though the opposition can play a little more conservatively to keep you at bay.

Equalling them is losing and I don't think you can hang your hat on that.

If we start well, then the Hawks may have to match the extra at the stop and lose the sweeper.

[angelopetraglia]

When you're behind though the opposition can play a little more conservatively to keep you at bay.

Equalling them is losing and I don't think you can hang your hat on that.

If we start well, then the Hawks may have to match the extra at the stop and lose the sweeper.

100%

Game was lost in the first quarter. It was all over. They controlled everything after that.

That we turned up unprepared for battle is unforgivable.

[SonofScray]

Worst loss of the season. A massive backwards step, unfortunately.

If the ledger to this point represents the sort footy that has me comfortable with a Sign Bevo position. This performance was an echo of the past few seasons and Sack Bevo footy.

Broadly, the loss cements the story that we aren’t good enough against the teams above us when they come to play. There was a narrative out there to grab onto that the close losses were circumstantial, or indicative of a team that is growing and next crack it at it, will have the answers to nail the final moments. The narrative now is that we just aren’t good enough, when it matters.

it’s a real shame to, because I believe we are in fact good enough. Our best footy beats your best footy.

A lot of passengers tonight, some terribly soft footy played. Sadly, club defining levels of softness. Broken tackles galore, pushed off the ball, the pill ripped away from the contest. They were up for it physically and we looked really poor in comparison. Very unlike a Dogs outfit that looked like it was finding that part of the game again.

Thought their system gave us grief and we struggled to find an answer. Outnumbered at the fall of the ball frequently, they seemed to get the overlapping run or wide player for uncontested possessions too easily. We chased their tails all game.

I think we’re showing too much of our hand in these losses now. Other teams will be looking to take our game away from us in the manner that GCS, Hawks and Cats have. There’s a few avenues to a win against us now.

[kruder]

That was easily our worst performance of the year, nights like these make those close losses hurt even more. The media make me laugh, they all over the hoks yet we started the game outside the 8 and have been their darlings so far this year. It just makes no sense at all.

It was a collective tonight I wont mention the fringe players but gee Naughty just looks like a defender playing forward, he is just not natural at any part of the game. He is running out of excuses real quick, easily the most over paid player on our list.

We are back in the quagmire once again it just feels like groundhog day at the kennel, If we don't get a scalp soon enough we will continue on our current trajectory of the last 3-4 years.

[Mofra]

Our mids were smashed in the first quarter.

Instead of blaming fringe players in base salary, this is on our millionaire mids to deliver under pressure and at the start of the game they failed the test. Again. Quote

[BiteNibbleChomp]

I'm so sick of losing to Hawthorn.

I went down to Tassie for that game against them in 23 when English screwed up the kick-in a minute before the end (a memory seared into my brain every time I think of Tim now). We haven't beaten them since.

- BNC