Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

[EasternWest]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

Just the one. Their other two 50s resulted in potential shots but Caldwell handballed the first one off for reasons known only to him, and they were unlucky enough for the least skilled player in the league to end up with the other one.

Leaving aside the legitimacy of the 50m penalties themselves, how telling is it that three of their most meaningful forward entries for the entire game came from umpire escorts? We totally wrecked their ball movement and our team defence looks to be back in good health.

It's good to have you back HD.

[Happy Days]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

It's good to have you back HD.

Thanks cuz.

[hujsh]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

It's also good to have the concept of happy days back after the last 3 weeks

[jeemak]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

Just the one. Their other two 50s resulted in potential shots but Caldwell handballed the first one off for reasons known only to him, and they were unlucky enough for the least skilled player in the league to end up with the other one.

Leaving aside the legitimacy of the 50m penalties themselves, how telling is it that three of their most meaningful forward entries for the entire game came from umpire escorts? We totally wrecked their ball movement and our team defence looks to be back in good health.

Absolutely we did, and it's important to be factual which you have been.

Basically their game stood up whilst ours was down. As soon as we clicked into gear theirs crumbled and ours became stronger. We ended up smashing them in contested possessions and almost had double the tackles inside fifty they did.

I hope internally as well as externally they lament the umpiring for as long as possible. It will distract them from realising how far away they are from the better teams, and how much work they need to do in changing the way they play to match it with them.

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

Absolutely we did, and it's important to be factual which you have been.

Basically their game stood up whilst ours was down. As soon as we clicked into gear theirs crumbled and ours became stronger. We ended up smashing them in contested possessions and almost had double the tackles inside fifty they did.

I hope internally as well as externally they lament the umpiring for as long as possible. It will distract them from realising how far away they are from the better teams, and how much work they need to do in changing the way they play to match it with them.

We also worked on the centre clearances with a view of stopping Jake just waltzing out of the middle.

[jeemak]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

It's good to have you back HD.

Agreed.

[Mantis]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

Absolutely we did, and it's important to be factual which you have been.

Basically their game stood up whilst ours was down. As soon as we clicked into gear theirs crumbled and ours became stronger. We ended up smashing them in contested possessions and almost had double the tackles inside fifty they did.

I hope internally as well as externally they lament the umpiring for as long as possible. It will distract them from realising how far away they are from the better teams, and how much work they need to do in changing the way they play to match it with them.

With the deterioration of playing conditions due to the rain the inside contest became that of one inside a phone box and when our best inside mid is the best at that in the game it was weighed heavily in our favour. We did struggle early on when the game was played in more space, but when it became a territorial slog, we smacked them from all angles.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

With the deterioration of playing conditions due to the rain the inside contest became that of one inside a phone box and when our best inside mid is the best at that in the game it was weighed heavily in our favour. We did struggle early on when the game was played in more space, but when it became a territorial slog, we smacked them from all angles.

Interesting that post match a point made was that the weather conditions in Brisbane are nothing like that.

[jeemak]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

With the deterioration of playing conditions due to the rain the inside contest became that of one inside a phone box and when our best inside mid is the best at that in the game it was weighed heavily in our favour. We did struggle early on when the game was played in more space, but when it became a territorial slog, we smacked them from all angles.

I think the conditions and the situation more broadly kicked us into gear and I'm grateful for it. Though when we bring the heat alongside better ball handling in the dry we'll be able to match it with anyone. If you recall things were supposed to turn out for the better for West Coast once it dried up at Optus Stadium, but it didn't quite turn out that way.

Strong attack on the ball, good pressure, a tight defencive structure and a willingness to run with the footy and use it well is universal/ agnostic to conditions. We bring these things and we're a pretty good team and easily able to account for the likes of Essendon. We just didn't bring these elements to much of the first half which is why we were all flipping out!

[Bornadog]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

[Mantis]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

I think the conditions and the situation more broadly kicked us into gear and I'm grateful for it. Though when we bring the heat alongside better ball handling in the dry we'll be able to match it with anyone. If you recall things were supposed to turn out for the better for West Coast once it dried up at Optus Stadium, but it didn't quite turn out that way.

Strong attack on the ball, good pressure, a tight defencive structure and a willingness to run with the footy and use it well is universal/ agnostic to conditions. We bring these things and we're a pretty good team and easily able to account for the likes of Essendon. We just didn't bring these elements to much of the first half which is why we were all flipping out!

I think that said more about WC than us, but I do agree that when we're ''on'' we can match it with all... let's hope we got the reminder to what it looks like with our 2nd half performance and we bring it again against Bris.

[Jeanette54]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

dons.jpg

[Jeanette54]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

dons.jpg

Some mornings its just good to be alive.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

One of the Lystics guys posted an interesting tweet about Cody suggesting that drawing free kicks has been a part of his game since before he was drafted:

https://twitter.com/LysticsAFL/status/1431876082295140354?s=20

The comment "It's frustrating for opposition fans but is all part of the art" really resonated with me. Some players just have the knack of getting free kicks. I would have suggest two were there, one was tenuous but 'probably' there (Draper contact) and one wasn't there at all - not even a little bit and I genuinely have no idea what the umpire was looking at (Merrett one)...but what can I say, some time you get the good and other times the 'not so good'. Our free kick total vs PA last week was incredible given it was a 2-point game - and I think it was mentioned on here without being highlighted...

I actually think the club should make a statement sticking up for Cody - some of the treatment on socials is really unpleasant - and I think Essendon should do the same. We need to take some steps to change the narrative here otherwise the next free kick Cody receives will be sometime in the 2022 season...the umpires will be hearing all the noise and without some kind of 'leveller' there is no chance he gets a kick next week - and he will be matched up against Starcevich who will be belting him off the ball from the first bounce.

Agreed on the last point.

The game is so fickle…. 1000000000% that is exactly what will happen.

[Happy Days]

Re: Western Bulldogs V Essendon - 1st Elimination Final 2021

Yeah we should fully expect Cody to not get another free kick for the rest of the finals.

Luckily for us, and contrary to what his Instagram comments section would tell you, he's a total gun who is super dangerous any time the ball's near him inside 50. You don't need to look any further than that poor bastard Marty Gleeson flopping to his knees and chucking a bearhug on him to see how terrified defenders get one on one with Weightman with the ball coming in.