Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

To reiterate:
Aker made two great tackles in the forward 50 in the second quarter that led to goals. He also crumbed the ball early in the third that led to another goal. The bloke is trying his heart out, sometimes it's just impossible to run guys down all day. On that point, Johnno ran down a player too, as did Harbrow, twice. That's a huge return from a forwardline as far as forward pressure goes.

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How many run-down tackles inside 50 is a team expected to make? Maybe two, three a game to change the momentum? That's six I can remember off the top of my head, and you think that our forwardline doesn't chase? If delivery is into no-mans-land, a forward can hardly be blamed for being 10 metres behind the play -- those 10 metres are the 10 metres he has managed to get clear and would use to snaffle the ball if delivered to advantage.

I was more disappointed that Scarlett wasn't more physically man-handled. I don't mean breaking his cheekbone, but we should have been happy to give away a couple of 50s by just falling on his head or running through him. At least tackle him hard and make the damn things stick. It was like we missed an opportunity to make a statement to their leaders.

Having said that, I can't think of who in our team would physically intimidate Scarlett. Maybe Hahn.

Perhaps I was watching a different game, but can't remember those Akermanis tackles Lantern, and the stats didn't credit him with a single tackle.

Harbrow was the only forward whose defensive pressure was up to scratch, imo at least.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

There were plenty of players down Saturday, none more so than Everitt.

Agree with this. He has made steady progress since returning from injury but he lacked poise, desperation and smarts on Saturday. Was a weak link in our defensive 50 on the day. I still believe he is in our best 22 but I think a run up the field onto the wing might make better use of his talents in the current line-up - my preferred best back 6 would be Williams (assuming full fitness), Lake, Morris, Hargrave, Gilbee and Addison.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Agree with this. He has made steady progress since returning from injury but he lacked poise, desperation and smarts on Saturday. Was a weak link in our defensive 50 on the day. I still believe he is in our best 22 but I think a run up the field onto the wing might make better use of his talents in the current line-up - my preferred best back 6 would be Williams (assuming full fitness), Lake, Morris, Hargrave, Gilbee and Addison.

Tim Callen?

[Rocket Science]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Having said that, I can't think of who in our team would physically intimidate Scarlett. Maybe Hahn.

Surely if Minson's not taking marks he'd at least be handy in this regard too.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Perhaps I was watching a different game, but can't remember those Akermanis tackles Lantern, and the stats didn't credit him with a single tackle.

Harbrow was the only forward whose defensive pressure was up to scratch, imo at least.

Then the stats are straight out wrong. Aker did lay two tackles early on, I remember them clearly.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Then the stats are straight out wrong. Aker did lay two tackles early on, I remember them clearly.

Fair enough.

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

To reiterate:
Aker made two great tackles in the forward 50 in the second quarter that led to goals. He also crumbed the ball early in the third that led to another goal. The bloke is trying his heart out, sometimes it's just impossible to run guys down all day. On that point, Johnno ran down a player too, as did Harbrow, twice. That's a huge return from a forwardline as far as forward pressure goes.

--

How many run-down tackles inside 50 is a team expected to make? Maybe two, three a game to change the momentum? That's six I can remember off the top of my head, and you think that our forwardline doesn't chase? If delivery is into no-mans-land, a forward can hardly be blamed for being 10 metres behind the play -- those 10 metres are the 10 metres he has managed to get clear and would use to snaffle the ball if delivered to advantage.

He only made the tackle because other's had busted there ass chasing and the bloke and he was standing right in front of him. You can believe that his defensive effort's were ok, I believe they were piss weak!!!

And yes the delivery to the forwards was atrocious, but the Geelongt defender's had no troubles reading where the ball was going.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

The critics will be out again saying we can't go all the way without the traditional CHF. On a narrow ground like Kardinia Park, you do need a strong CHF to funnel the ball through. I still believe we have the forward set up to kick enough goals on the expanses of the MCG.

Agreed - relieve the pressure from midfield by actually getting on top, and our forward structure will perform like it has 13 other times this year.

One loss like this doesn't rob you of credibility IMO - though a 10 goal thumping in September might, especially if it's 2nd/3rd week in.


There's a lot of work to do, but at least we know exactly what it is and have 6 weeks to do this.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Tim Callen?

I'd have Addison currently ahead of him in the kamikaze small defender role.

[ledge]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

I have a question on what the club wants with Tiller, when he started at the club he was a forward, he came into the side as a leading forward and kicked a couple of goals a game, but he has been playing in the backline at Willy and at the dogs.
Last week against Melbourne he started in the forward line and lead well and got free but was never delivered the ball.
This was noted in previous posts about the Melbourne game.
He showed good hands and speed in the forward line and we all know we lack a key forward.
He is trying his guts out in the backline, but i think he is more a natural forward.
Is there any reason why he hasnt been pushed as a forward?

[The Pie Man]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

I have a question on what the club wants with Tiller, when he started at the club he was a forward, he came into the side as a leading forward and kicked a couple of goals a game, but he has been playing in the backline at Willy and at the dogs.
Last week against Melbourne he started in the forward line and lead well and got free but was never delivered the ball.
This was noted in previous posts about the Melbourne game.
He showed good hands and speed in the forward line and we all know we lack a key forward.
He is trying his guts out in the backline, but i think he is more a natural forward.
Is there any reason why he hasnt been pushed as a forward?

Is it football education?

My understanding is that he was brought to the club as a forward - it's nice to have someone 6'2 / 6'3 to be able to play both ends comfortably and provide run from half back - it'd be even better to develop a key forward should you have a young man with the potential to actually be one. Would create more pressure on the Harley's/Scarlett's running out of their back half then Minson, purely through physical capability.

Saw one lead of his honoured in the 1st quarter vs Melbourne, had his arms chopped quite badly, no free kick. Not the only umpiring howler against Melbourne (that Minson mark)

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

I have a question on what the club wants with Tiller, when he started at the club he was a forward, he came into the side as a leading forward and kicked a couple of goals a game, but he has been playing in the backline at Willy and at the dogs.
Last week against Melbourne he started in the forward line and lead well and got free but was never delivered the ball.
This was noted in previous posts about the Melbourne game.
He showed good hands and speed in the forward line and we all know we lack a key forward.
He is trying his guts out in the backline, but i think he is more a natural forward.
Is there any reason why he hasnt been pushed as a forward?

By you.....We all know he is your love child.

He isn't alone in not having the ball kicked to him. The Bulldogs team has long been a boys club where the 'senior' players play kick to kick especially when the side is struggling.

[hujsh]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Next time we play Williams should take Mooney. Let Lake take Lonergan or Ottens. Then Everitt might have to play 30-40% of the game as a key backman.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

Then the stats are straight out wrong. Aker did lay two tackles early on, I remember them clearly.

I know, SS, it's a mystery. I wonder about this -- I was looking through some stats re: tackles and frees inside 50 for a couple of games (Dogs/Geelong and North/Collingwood) and they straight out contradicted my direct memory of the games. Maybe Champion Data have a different (ie. wrong) definition of tackling because if you asked the blokes tackled they'll sure as hell tell you they were tackled.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Cats

I'd have Addison currently ahead of him in the kamikaze small defender role.

No way!

Addison is great and hard as nails, but he's playing out of position in defence. He would develop into a great in and under player if Rocket can teach him how to handball it out asap like your Crosses and Wests.

Tim Callan is a seasoned body and professional who knows how to defend -- when to stick to your man, when to leave him to be third man up, when to get across and spoil, when to guard space. The thing that lets him down is his disposal, but as a defender he is MILES ahead of Dylan at the moment.