How do we get our bark back?

[DOG GOD]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

I think the media massively overrated our list (especially midfield). It’s funny, a saints friend of mine highly rates our midfield and can’t understand why we aren’t top 3-4 with our midfield core group. I simply reply with “because our mids are overrated and that’s why we drop games against the likes of a North, Carlton and GC”.

We look good on paper, but in reality our mids are one trick ponies with the majority having poor skills, slow, and very poor defensively. Unless this changes, then 2021,2022 and 2023 will be similar to what we’ve dished up since the GF.

As much as I love a Bonti, I don’t think I’ve seen a bonifide star get caught holding the ball as much as him.
Macrae gets a lot of the ball, but is he that damaging? He reminds me of Tom Mitchell/Zack Merrett style in the amount Of footy he does get, where we need more of a Lachie Neale who can run and carry and give scoreboard pressure.

[DOG GOD]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

Means we don't have the right players that can contribute for 4 quarters.



Ideally we do.

Need to be ruthless:

Not worth persisting

Dale, Bailey

Gardner, Ryan R

Gowers, Billy

Greene, Fergus

Hayes, Will

Lynch, Bradley

Porter, Callum

Smith, Roarke R

Maybe or unknown

Sweet, Jordon R

Young, Lachie R

Young, Lewis

Cavarra, Ben

Khamis, Buku R

The trouble is when we have injuries to best 22, we have to choose from above. I maybe harsh on some players but so be it. I want another premiership.

From that list Bornadog, which I agree with btw, it would not surprise me one bit to see Gardner, Hayes and Smith get another year or 2.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

Means we don't have the right players that can contribute for 4 quarters.



Ideally we do.

Need to be ruthless:

Not worth persisting

Dale, Bailey

Gardner, Ryan R

Gowers, Billy

Greene, Fergus

Hayes, Will

Lynch, Bradley

Porter, Callum

Smith, Roarke R

Maybe or unknown

Sweet, Jordon R

Young, Lachie R

Young, Lewis

Cavarra, Ben

Khamis, Buku R

The trouble is when we have injuries to best 22, we have to choose from above. I maybe harsh on some players but so be it. I want another premiership.

How ruthless is this though? It’s a large number but really only 1 of those players has gotten regular games this year (Dale). The others have barely featured or haven’t at all. We won’t see much improvement through cutting fringe or depth players. Ultimately we need an improved and consistent effort from our core players.

btw I don’t disagree with your list. I just don’t think they are the cause of our current issues

[DOG GOD]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

Dale, Greene, Lew Young (who I reckon has asked to be traded) and Sweet would be the only ones I’d consider staying from that list.

On our standard players who get a regular jumper, I’d consider Lipinski, McLean, Jong and JJ if we could get some players of need (Zac Williams).

[Bornadog]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

Dale, Greene, Lew Young (who I reckon has asked to be traded) and Sweet would be the only ones I’d consider staying from that list.

On our standard players who get a regular jumper, I’d consider Lipinski, McLean, Jong and JJ if we could get some players of need (Zac Williams).

Yes I agree on bolded, maybe I am harsh on Dale.

I don't agree on JJ and Jong. We keep getting rid of players in the 26 year plus bracket and that is one of our current issues. The majority of players are under 25/26 and then we jump to a few mature recruits, plus Wood. We need to keep some mature players, because you know what, "we will end up saying, We were too young tonight"

On top of the list above, we will have Dickson, Suckling most likely to retire

[DOG GOD]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

Jong and JJ were only listed if we can get “better” players in their age brackets to take their place. I certainly wouldn’t move them on to bring in a kid.

[Grantysghost]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

One thing that really grinds my gears about the Cats game is that I think they're maybe in a bit of a form dip. People have gone a little over the top with them again this season, and yes we can only go with what evidence we have but I will be watching with interest at the pointy end. I watched the game v the Crows and I thought Geelong were outplayed for large portions of that game.
I'm the same, the longer the week has gone the more annoyed i am we couldn't capitalise on a 6 goal lead.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

We need more pricks in the team. We have too many 'nice' players.

Libba is a mongrel. Cordy is a mongrel, but was missing. Smith has it sometimes. Naughton has swagger, but it's not quite the same thing.

We need one more bastard. A Clay Smith. A Tim Callan, who would walk to the quarter time huddle boasting about how he ground some opponent's face into the mud (yes, I overheard him talking to Ayce one break at Willy).
I don't think we play with enough "edge".

I'm not sure about pricks, but yes i agree we are unbalanced. Too many lighter running players and not enough of the types that win you those finals/tight physical games.

I also think we are going through a learning phase with Bont being captain. He's appears to be playing like he feels it's all on him and his performance if we win or lose. He's been more erratic than ever this year with his output.
I'm not a big fan of having the best player in the team also be the captain, especially at the bulldogs. Doesn't always work for the better. Ideally Mitch Wallis should of been in line to be captain, he's an outstanding leader and speaker and is at the right age now, but due to his injury history and mixed performances, he has fallen out of favour.


We should of won that game last Friday and i was bitterly disappointed, however, it was a much better effort in that we didn't fall apart completely during the second quarter where we have done so 6 times previously this year. We managed to hang on and slightly slow down the response. Granted we needed to attack more and if we had finished a couple of our chances it would of been a different story (looking at Bruce!).
Going two players down we were never going to win that game, i'm surprised we hung on as long as we did.

As things are never as bad as they seem (remember 2016). I'm looking at the positives in that our first quarter was the best footy i had seen in quite some time, and all we need to do is tweak the personel slightly and things will turn.
Jong, Duryea could help with some toughness and experience. Dickson is done, so we will have to find someone up forward,
and please stop playing Gardner, especially on players like Rohan!

[DOG GOD]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

So Gardner is out of contract? Do we all expect him to be kept on ? I do.

[comrade]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

So Gardner is out of contract? Do we all expect him to be kept on ? I do.

I'd give him a better than 50% chance.

[Axe Man]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

So Gardner is out of contract? Do we all expect him to be kept on ? I do.

I don't think we have much choice unless we bring in another key defender. Assuming Trengove is gone we can't go into 2021 with only Keath, Cordy and Lewis Young (and that's if Young doesn't leave as well). I think he's improved the last few games and is ok as key defender depth.

[Grantysghost]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

If we only we had a resource to check contract status. Oh wait....big footy

[Grantysghost]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

So Gardner is out of contract? Do we all expect him to be kept on ? I do.

Yep think he will get an extra year.

[Axe Man]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

If we only we had a resource to check contract status. Oh wait....big footy

I prefer playakontraktz.com

[Grantysghost]

Re: How do we get our bark back?

I prefer playakontraktz.com

Not working for me?