Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

[Sedat]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

Watching the replay (finally) - very good result and game.

Much better intensity and pressure at the source which fuelled our intercept game and then our run and carry.

Individually I was impressed by Khamis, Darcy, Baker and Bramble. Important we get contributions from these types and they were excellent.

Bont and Libba immense. Cant be understated. Jones very good.

Thought Williams had some good moments at half back - hope he stays there. JJs run is vital, Richards was strong prior to the concussion, Sanders much improved, Treloar a LOT better all round performance.

Positive signs, but it's one week.

Yep, we defended the entire ground a lot better this week. The media are focusing on our record number of rebound marks in D50 (which was great) but the work done further up the ground by our mids/high half forwards/wingers to pressure GC's ball movement into their F50 was at the level we need to be a contender in 2024. It was encouraging to see.

Pretty underrated performance by us actually - GC are a quality team and we bossed them all game except for 5 minute patches late in the 3rd and in the middle of the 2nd.

[Mantis]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

Yep, we defended the entire ground a lot better this week. The media are focusing on our record number of rebound marks in D50 (which was great) but the work done further up the ground by our mids/high half forwards/wingers to pressure GC's ball movement into their F50 was at the level we need to be a contender in 2024. It was encouraging to see.

Pretty underrated performance by us actually - GC are a quality team and we bossed them all game except for 5 minute patches late in the 3rd and in the middle of the 2nd.

How big an impact did Witts out have on the result?

Without Witts GC are just a run of the mill team such is his importance to their clearance game.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

Yep, we defended the entire ground a lot better this week. The media are focusing on our record number of rebound marks in D50 (which was great) but the work done further up the ground by our mids/high half forwards/wingers to pressure GC's ball movement into their F50 was at the level we need to be a contender in 2024. It was encouraging to see.

Pretty underrated performance by us actually - GC are a quality team and we bossed them all game except for 5 minute patches late in the 3rd and in the middle of the 2nd.

Are you saying the media doesn't understand intercepts and scoring opportunities are often symptoms of what happens elsewhere on the ground? No way!

[Sedat]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

How big an impact did Witts out have on the result?

Without Witts GC are just a run of the mill team such is his importance to their clearance game.

Witts out was definitely a factor in our favour, but English didn't really boss the stoppages/clearances on the day as he otherwise would have been expected to against Moyle.

GC got enough looks inside 50 to be much more competitive and in the game than they were. I was happy with the way we defended the whole ground when GC had possession - 1 game is a tiny sample size but it was a big improvement on what we've done the last 2 years when we don't have the ball.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

Witts out was definitely a factor in our favour, but English didn't really boss the stoppages/clearances on the day as he otherwise would have been expected to against Moyle.

GC got enough looks inside 50 to be much more competitive and in the game than they were. I was happy with the way we defended the whole ground when GC had possession - 1 game is a tiny sample size but it was a big improvement on what we've done the last 2 years when we don't have the ball.

We were pretty good at it in the first half of last year as well. That's why I struggle with the game plan and coaching talk from a tactical and strategy perspective. The difference between shit and good with us usually comes down to effort.

[azabob]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

We were pretty good at it in the first half of last year as well. That's why I struggle with the game plan and coaching talk from a tactical and strategy perspective. The difference between shit and good with us usually comes down to effort.

So taking that thought a bit further.

You have been really strong on the players not pulling their weight effort wise and our depth is questionable.

Do you think if we maintain the rage (effort) over the entire year that can offset our depth issues?

Or it’s not as simple as that?

[jazzadogs]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

So taking that thought a bit further.

You have been really strong on the players not pulling their weight effort wise and our depth is questionable.

Do you think if we maintain the rage (effort) over the entire year that can offset our depth issues?

Or it’s not as simple as that?

The question wasn't for me, but yes absolutely. It won't mean we win the flag, but our football talent is good enough for top 4 when we have relentless effort.

Our 2024 list is better than Collingwood's in 2023. But gee they wanted it, and worked together for it, in a way that our team hasn't since 2021.

[azabob]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

The question wasn't for me, but yes absolutely. It won't mean we win the flag, but our football talent is good enough for top 4 when we have relentless effort.

Our 2024 list is better than Collingwood's in 2023. But gee they wanted it, and worked together for it, in a way that our team hasn't since 2021.

With our effort being so inconsistent the last couple of years hopefully that switch has permanently flicked for the remainder of 2024.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldogs V Suns - Round 2, 24/3/24 Mars Stadium, Ballarat 1.00pm

So taking that thought a bit further.

You have been really strong on the players not pulling their weight effort wise and our depth is questionable.

Do you think if we maintain the rage (effort) over the entire year that can offset our depth issues?

Or it’s not as simple as that?

I think it's enough for us to be really competitive and make finals, possibly be in the top four or five teams in the competition. Especially if our depth players raise and maintain the requisite standard.

It's too early in the season to really know who's going to be good, and that has a massive bearing on how good we are.