If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
I actually smiled for the first time this arvo. Good work my friend.
Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023
I think a few careers are on the line in these next few weeks. If we crash out, drop to 5th and fall out in week one then there's both coaches and players who need marching.
Except we haven’t even made the finish line before crashing in a heap.
It was worth a teensy chuckle though Comrade, and we need it.
[url]www.bulldogtragician.com[/url] A blog about being a lifelong fan of the Dogs and our quixotic attempt to replicate 1954. AND WE DID
Author of [URL="http://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/mighty-west"]"The Mighty West: the Bulldogs journey from daydream believers to premiership heroes[/URL]"
Twitter @bulldogstragic
I think a few careers are on the line in these next few weeks. If we crash out, drop to 5th and fall out in week one then there's both coaches and players who need marching.
Really? 100% no chance of redemption from here? I get primacy recency.. But I just cannot submit (and I sure hope the club doesn't) that we're cooked.
Really? 100% no chance of redemption from here? I get primacy recency.. But I just cannot submit (and I sure hope the club doesn't) that we're cooked.
There’s almost a confirmation bias at play, our anxiety told us this would happen, it has and we’ve looked in the mirror and said “I told ya so!”
Certainly not denying the validity of the sentiment, however we can still turn this seemingly unstoppable dumpster fire around.
For starters we match up well against Port, we’ve given some of our better early year performers some time and match fitness and short of a couple we are almost at full strength. We certainly look tired, whether it’s mental, physical or parts both I’m not sure but we beat Port, roll into finals with some confidence and who knows your luck in the big city.
There’s almost a confirmation bias at play, our anxiety told us this would happen, it has and we’ve looked in the mirror and said “I told ya so!”
Certainly not denying the validity of the sentiment, however we can still turn this seemingly unstoppable dumpster fire around.
For starters we match up well against Port, we’ve given some of our better early year performers some time and match fitness and short of a couple we are almost at full strength. We certainly look tired, whether it’s mental, physical or parts both I’m not sure but we beat Port, roll into finals with some confidence and who knows your luck in the big city.
I’m rekindling my faith (trepidatiously).
Go Dogs!
Edit : Plus we have a McNeil
I wonder if we have been on a heavy training load in the lead up to finals?
Is the whole ‘heavy load and then back it off for finals’ still a thing teams do?
There’s almost a confirmation bias at play, our anxiety told us this would happen, it has and we’ve looked in the mirror and said “I told ya so!”
Certainly not denying the validity of the sentiment, however we can still turn this seemingly unstoppable dumpster fire around.
For starters we match up well against Port, we’ve given some of our better early year performers some time and match fitness and short of a couple we are almost at full strength. We certainly look tired, whether it’s mental, physical or parts both I’m not sure but we beat Port, roll into finals with some confidence and who knows your luck in the big city.
I’m rekindling my faith (trepidatiously).
Go Dogs!
Edit : Plus we have a McNeil
I think there is also a difference in people’s expectations. Throughout the season, some take each game with the view on how it impacts our chances of winning a flag. So whilst we might win the individual game, some people see concerning trends that they think will come unstuck in a tilt for the ultimate success. There are then others who take it one game at a time and just enjoy the ride. I’m the former. When we’re a legit chance, I’m analysing everything in the context of winning the flag. It might be why some have seen this coming (well no one saw THIS coming). But there have been signs of a demise for a few weeks now. But yeah even then I didn’t think it’d get this bad.
I don’t see how this gets turned around. Of course it’s possible. It’s all going to come down to our mids. But when you’ve got 4-5 years of history of not wanting to do the team things, why would that suddenly turn around now?
What will the story be in another 6 days time? And then another 4-5 weeks time? That’s all that matters. How were we feeling in 2016 heading into the final round? After the final round?
Very different years, groups, and competition. But. Anything can happen.
I wonder if we have been on a heavy training load in the lead up to finals?
Is the whole ‘heavy load and then back it off for finals’ still a thing teams do?
Its possible although I’m not sure in these uncertain times with Covid they could really plan that far ahead and do that taper style training ?
I really think the ruck situation coupled with midfield drop off is key here. We go +1 at stoppages that’s fine, but we can’t do that in the centre and lost 10 of 14 centre clearances, with 3 in a row coming in that crucial period when they scored into the wind in the third. I can’t recall but did Young ruck at this point?
We simply have to play English forward mainly from here and roll the dice with Sweet or Martin (if can get from stoppage to stoppage).
We were -13 in hitouts to advantage, -9 in first possessions (after stoppage) they’re unsustainable numbers. I feel the longer we play him in the ruck the lower his confidence gets.
Treloar has to go into the centre bounces. He went in twice yesterday (the same as Caleb), hopefully it’s just getting him back up to speed. For context Liberatore attended 15.
It’s really looking like trying to get our injured guys back before finals has had an effect. They’re all struggling. LVDM was negative in the player ratings yesterday.
Not sure that was the question, what was it again...? Oh training loads ! Erm maybe, but don’t think so. More structural deficiencies being exposed and injured players returning less than optimally.
For me, there haven’t been many questions about the squad than can be answered until finals time. The best footy we’ve played this year, I already knew we had that in us. Most of this season has been affirmation of our best traits. The nature of the past few seasons however has left me wondering if our true face is:
1. The talented, resilient and joyful footy delivered fairly frequently prior to the most recent Norf game, or
2. The impotent, joyless and disjointed footy that sees us dealt with by teams at the selection table, or 10 minutes of accurate footy from and opponent. It’s footy that gets exposed in a final.
If we expose what we hope our true face is and fall short, fair enough, that’s the way a contest works. Play like we have these past 2 games against Port and into the finals series and it’ll be hard to argue #2 isn’t our true face. It will have punctuated a decent stretch of Bevo’s tenure at this point.
Comment