Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

[Topdog]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

How can anyone trust this team (believe in them)? You literally have no idea what you are going to get from quarter to quarter, let alone week to week and an entire season.

IF it clicks, IF we perform, IF we stop run ons, IF IF IF IF IF. Those are all trust issues

[Mantis]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

40+ is very generous. We stopped dead like we have with full sides, we always find an excuse from somewhere.

We stopped because we had 2 injured players who would traditionally play 95% game time, and another one hobbled who plays similar minutes.

The rest had to pick up the slack and we ran out of petrol.

[ratsmac]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

All I know know at this point of the season we are undefeated!

I don't know if it's just pre season and feeling fresh but my gut feeling is that we are going to give it a shake this year and make those so called experts look stupid by years end.

I think the Sanders and Darcy effect will energise the rest of the group. Also with the turn over of the coaching department will have big impact of on field performance. And as others have mentioned, the new Mission Whitten Oval must make coming to work a joy for the players.

And I think Bevo has a point to prove with the way he has been belted from pillar to post not only from the media but from the faithful also. I'm not saying it's without merit either but Bevo is a proud man and a real competitor and I get the feeling he has a fire in the belly this year that didn't look like it was there since 2021.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

This thread is interesting in what it says about Smith. It's almost like it's forgotten he'll miss the entire season. But are we forgetting that fact? I'd bet that if it was Naughton, Marra or English out for the year that most on here would write the season off. But not so much with Smith. We've got a guy who hasn't played a game replacing him and a lot of us think that's enough for us to make a decent charge in the finals. So what does all this say about Bailey? Do we really rate him as much as the hype?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

This thread is interesting in what it says about Smith. It's almost like it's forgotten he'll miss the entire season. But are we forgetting that fact? I'd bet that if it was Naughton, Marra or English out for the year that most on here would write the season off. But not so much with Smith. We've got a guy who hasn't played a game replacing him and a lot of us think that's enough for us to make a decent charge in the finals. So what does all this say about Bailey? Do we really rate him as much as the hype?

Well it is not just about Bailey Smith, although his output in 2023 was disappointing.

Yes we are happy that we have Sanders and probably expect his output will be close to what B Smith delivered in 2023.

Additionally, we are expecting Coffield, Harmes and perhaps Bramble to provide something better than our bottom 6 of 2023.

We also believe there will be improved output from Jamarra, JOD and Darcy with something from at least one of the 2022 draftees.

On balance I see us in a good place and it is incumbent on the coaches to have the list ready to compete and on the players to perform.

BRING IT ON!!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

Well it is not just about Bailey Smith, although his output in 2023 was disappointing.

Yes we are happy that we have Sanders and probably expect his output will be close to what B Smith delivered in 2023.

Additionally, we are expecting Coffield, Harmes and perhaps Bramble to provide something better than our bottom 6 of 2023.

We also believe there will be improved output from Jamarra, JOD and Darcy with something from at least one of the 2022 draftees.

On balance I see us in a good place and it is incumbent on the coaches to have the list ready to compete and on the players to perform.

BRING IT ON!!

With all that said then, would you offer a $1 million multi-year deal to Smith?

[mjp]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

With all that said then, would you offer a $1 million multi-year deal to Smith?

I would.

I think he's worth more than footy to the club that he's playing for. He might not be a generational footballer but he is a 'brand' the likes of which the AFL has pretty much never seen. Having him in Bulldogs colours is good for ALL of our sponsors which is good for the club...

You just cant buy stuff like that.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

With all that said then, would you offer a $1 million multi-year deal to Smith?

Without claiming to be on top of player salaries I don't see how Baz is worth that.

We have several players warranting more salary.

About $700K is where I would see him.

[SonofScray]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

I believe in us. And I am somebody.

Can?t blame outsiders for not believing, we?ve eroded a lot of trust in recent years, even in house. I know our best is good enough. I don?t know how often, or if we?ll see a lot of our best. But I have high expectations and I am maintaining them.

[Countrydog5]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

I'm an eternal pessimist, and actually have us finishing maybe 10th this year on form. Like has been said, the teams performance for the last 3 years has really eroded my confidence in us making that leap into a real contender. I believe our issue is almost entirely between the ears, and our off season changes are unlikely drastic enough to really alter that for this season, no matter the individual performance of our guns.

I really believe our season hinges strongly on our first 4-6 weeks. If we perform well and get a roll on, we could do anything by building that belief that we belong at the top. If we struggle, I think we could really flop for the season, leading to my less than optimistic prediction. We should be going 4 and 1 to start the year at a minimum, and anything less will really put the pressure on.

I absolutely love the club and this team, and I want so badly for them to reach their massive potential. No matter what I will support them, but I can't help but feel our team is so dependent on good vibes that just one or 2 bad games can, and has, de-railed a season.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

Without claiming to be on top of player salaries I don't see how Baz is worth that.

We have several players warranting more salary.

About $700K is where I would see him.

I don't disagree but I suspect we'd have to pay him in the vicinity of $1m in order to keep him.

Now to mjps point, he's worth more to the club than just the on field aspect. Do we sell our soul for this? He's a bloody hard contract to value. Doing his acl only complicates it further.

[GVGjr]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

I would.

I think he's worth more than footy to the club that he's playing for. He might not be a generational footballer but he is a 'brand' the likes of which the AFL has pretty much never seen. Having him in Bulldogs colours is good for ALL of our sponsors which is good for the club...

You just cant buy stuff like that.

It's hard to balance the on and off field value a player might bring a club. Sure we all see it with Bontempelli as both a player, a leader and how the club might market him in terms of memberships/sponsorships etc but with Smith his value as a player is what most of us focus on and currently that is short of 1M a season. I'm not sure how this will play out but I suspect he will sign with us to FA because coming off the knee injury there might not be a lot of clubs willing to mortgage the farm for him. I guess it only takes one though

[Topdog]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

I'm an eternal pessimist, and actually have us finishing maybe 10th this year on form. Like has been said, the teams performance for the last 3 years has really eroded my confidence in us making that leap into a real contender. I believe our issue is almost entirely between the ears, and our off season changes are unlikely drastic enough to really alter that for this season, no matter the individual performance of our guns.

I really believe our season hinges strongly on our first 4-6 weeks. If we perform well and get a roll on, we could do anything by building that belief that we belong at the top. If we struggle, I think we could really flop for the season, leading to my less than optimistic prediction. We should be going 4 and 1 to start the year at a minimum, and anything less will really put the pressure on.

I absolutely love the club and this team, and I want so badly for them to reach their massive potential. No matter what I will support them, but I can't help but feel our team is so dependent on good vibes that just one or 2 bad games can, and has, de-railed a season.

Yeah it's very hard to gauge what the team will do and that by itself is extremely frustrating.

I thought last year our start to the season would define it and at 7-3 after 10 games and having just won 5 in a row believed that we were absolutely primed for a big end before we disappointingly limped to the bye round and losing 3 of our next 4.

And yep we all absolutely love the club, as frustrating as they can be at times

[Axe Man]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

I don't disagree but I suspect we'd have to pay him in the vicinity of $1m in order to keep him.

Now to mjps point, he's worth more to the club than just the on field aspect. Do we sell our soul for this? He's a bloody hard contract to value. Doing his acl only complicates it further.

I disagree. I can't see any club paying anywhere near $1 million, even before the ACL, regardless of his marketability.

If by some chance they do then goodbye and good luck Baz.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Nobody believes in us. Are they right?

The closer we get to Rd 1, the more my faith waivers.

I can?t see why anyone who isn?t a dogs fan would think we?re a better flag chance than Dees, Lions, Pies.