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Good article from the Mongel Punt
The Aaron Naughton Conundrum
With every week the Western Bulldogs lose a game, I’m hearing the same constant question;
“Why doesn’t Bevo move Aaron Naughton back in defence?”
Every time I hear that question, it gets more and more irritating. Are we watching the same team out there?
We all know that the Western Bulldogs drafted him as a key defender way back in the 2017 AFL Draft and it’s a fact that in his first year at the club, he finished fourth in the club’s best and fairest playing predominantly in the back line – it felt like a natural fit.
Since then, as a part of Luke Beveridge’s crusade to stick players out of position, hoping that there is some kind of positive change to the side, Naughton up forward has been something that has genuinely been one of the better positional changes since being appointed as head coach.
Remember when he thought playing Easton Wood as a forward was going to work? Ha, yeah those were some hairy days.
But, to move him back in defence after putting the last few years into working him as the next generational key forward would only further compound the woes that are currently surrounding the Bulldogs right now.
They’re sitting at 6-6 after 12 games and are in real jeopardy of missing finals altogether after making the Grand Final last year from fifth. In truth, they had been one of the best sides for most of that year, losing those last three games really hurt their standing a bit.
There’s a lot going wrong with the Dogs’ defence at the moment but moving Naughton back won’t solve any problem whatsoever. Yes, he’s got the hands that mean he can pluck a lot of good intercept marks, but considering what’s going on up forward this year, it’s robbing the forwards to pay the defence.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan hasn’t kicked on just yet, although six goals in the VFL the other week suggests that he’ll find his way back eventually. Josh Bruce is expected to come back to the VFL after the bye weekend this week, and Josh Schache? Forget about him.
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The Aaron Naughton Conundrum
With every week the Western Bulldogs lose a game, I’m hearing the same constant question;
“Why doesn’t Bevo move Aaron Naughton back in defence?”
Every time I hear that question, it gets more and more irritating. Are we watching the same team out there?
We all know that the Western Bulldogs drafted him as a key defender way back in the 2017 AFL Draft and it’s a fact that in his first year at the club, he finished fourth in the club’s best and fairest playing predominantly in the back line – it felt like a natural fit.
Since then, as a part of Luke Beveridge’s crusade to stick players out of position, hoping that there is some kind of positive change to the side, Naughton up forward has been something that has genuinely been one of the better positional changes since being appointed as head coach.
Remember when he thought playing Easton Wood as a forward was going to work? Ha, yeah those were some hairy days.
But, to move him back in defence after putting the last few years into working him as the next generational key forward would only further compound the woes that are currently surrounding the Bulldogs right now.
They’re sitting at 6-6 after 12 games and are in real jeopardy of missing finals altogether after making the Grand Final last year from fifth. In truth, they had been one of the best sides for most of that year, losing those last three games really hurt their standing a bit.
There’s a lot going wrong with the Dogs’ defence at the moment but moving Naughton back won’t solve any problem whatsoever. Yes, he’s got the hands that mean he can pluck a lot of good intercept marks, but considering what’s going on up forward this year, it’s robbing the forwards to pay the defence.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan hasn’t kicked on just yet, although six goals in the VFL the other week suggests that he’ll find his way back eventually. Josh Bruce is expected to come back to the VFL after the bye weekend this week, and Josh Schache? Forget about him.
Read More
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