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- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases - -
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
He's not the Dog's b&f.
The Scott Wests and Daniel Crosses of this world are supposed to eat the Brad Sewells for breakfast. Matty Boyd?
Embarrassing.
Having said that: Hudson did pretty well in the ruck tonight -- played hard and got his hands on it with second efforts.Comment
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
Absolutely insipid performance.
Game plan? What was it, handball to somebody under pressure yet again? Six weeks to prepare and Eade came up with this? Let's think about it, all this time, and yet we had NO strategy to combat Hawthorn's cluster. Nobody ran and nobody played accountable football. The Hawks had free players in our forward half, in the midfield & spotted up PLENTY of targets going forward. WTF were we doing, other than providing witches hats? Morris had NO help whatsoever. Couple of times he brought the ball to ground, but Buddy had support and finished it off. Absolute garbage - why didn't Minson/Hudson drop back? Why didn't midfielders run into their space?
That's the most disappointing thing. Six weeks to prepare, and we were ridiculously out-coached. IMHO Eade's spot is in jeopardy if he doesn't win next week - it's been a dead set disaster the last 10 or so weeks.
Aker playing a defensive role on a first year player? Was our aim to actually win the game? He's a match winner, we recruited him to play in THESE big finals to WIN games. WHY would he try to negate a first year player for a quarter and a half? I want that answered. As soon as he went forward, he was dangerous & kicked a couple.
Ray/Eagleton - pathetic. Both shouldn't be on our list next year. Ray probably played as bad as I've ever seen anyone tonight. He's gone.
Griffen, Hill & Cross - well done. Griff stepped up to the pressures of Finals football, the only one to take them on, Hill found space & took some strong marks whilst Crossy battled hard. Aside from those three, and Morris tried hard, what a disgraceful effort.W00F!Comment
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
Some of my observations/queries are:
Playing on
I like the fact that we are trying to play on at all costs, but i think we too often handball to a person in the wrong position. There were so many instances where the receiver was static, and as soon as he received the ball, he was tackled or under immediate pressure.
Then there were times when there is a running receiver, but he's within a metre of the handballer, so as soon as the receiver gets it, he's immediately under pressure from the would-be tackler.
From what I saw of the hawks, and what i remember of the cats, they work the ball out backwards far enough so that the player has some time to access his options and dispose of the ball with some purpose.
First Option is Sideways/Backwards
There were times tonight where the player would not even look forwards. I remember hearing Luke Darcy saying that the team felt they were much more dangerous when they were able to switch the ball into some space and move it forward from there. I think the rest of the competition is awake to that now. It also doesn't help when there aren't many options, with most of the leads being at most half-arsed.
Clearances
There was no doubt we were smashed today in this department. We seemed to have more players in close and when we did get it, there would be a blind kick forward to one of the defensively placed hawks players who haven't followed their man into the contest. I would have thought with the numbers in close, our prefered option would be to handball it to a free player with some time and space to try and hit up a target.
One Percenters
And finally my biggest peeve, the lack of shepherding and helping other team mates out. This goes part and parcel with clearances. If our player does get the ball, I don't think he's provided much time to compose himself because so many of his team-mates are waiting for a dinky handball rather than protecting the ball carrier with a shepherd. What annoys me most is that it doesn't take a skilled or talented player to do this, just a team player.Comment
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
This was worst than my worst case scenario. I couldn't even get angry I was just so stunned by the tripe that was dished up tonight. It was one of those games, when absoulutely nothing went our way, nothing!
There ridiculous stop start game, constantly handballing backwards.
No body stood up tonight, Cross tried but didn't do much with the ball just got a million possessions. Griffin tried to do a couple of runs but we needed more of it. The only player that has my respect was Josh Hill, he stood the mark on a couple of occasions and kicked a nice goal, oh and Lake and Morris - but that was it.
I hate bloody Caro, Gary Lyon and Brownless but unfortunately they are all right about our team - soft, buckle under pressure and unlikely to ever win another flag. I am feeling very depressed now
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
I noticed that to. At one stage two forwards came off when the ball was on the other side of the ground. Whilst their backs were turned we had no one to kick it to and the ball was tuned over again.Comment
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
There was very little positives to come out of this. Hawthorn smashed us, everywhere! Name a position anywhere on the ground and we were probably beaten there. In the end we were pretty lucky tonight is they kicked straight it could have been a triple figure deficit.
I've bought into all the "heavy training" excuses and looking to far ahead well after tonight what is the excuse? We've been planning for this game for what 6 - 7 weeks?
It was embarassing tonight! I'm just so disappointed right now I'm not going to be able to get to sleep which in turn will ruin my entire weekend.
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Re: Game Day Finals Edition - Bulldogs vs Hawks
Now the dust has settled a little since our initial rage/disappointment, can we look at things a bit more clearly?
Obviously the effort wasnt acceptable.
I think that early on we looked good, but a few misses didnt allow us to put the score on the board to create the pressure on Hawthorn. Did anyone else notice how it wasnt necersarily Hawthorns good play allowed them to score, but poor decision making & turnovers by us created a lot of their opportunities.
There were a few cases of 11 point turnarounds where we had a shot that should have been converted that wasnt then Hawthorn went straight up the other end a kicked a goal.
I cant understand why Scott Welsh isnt played from the goalsquare. He is purely a mark & kick type player who appears to be lost when played up the ground. Very disappointed with his effort.
The other thing that really stood out tonight was the structure of the team. We all know about the lack of KPP's, but it really bites when then the pressure of finals is on.
I hope that we attempt to trade for one (although we probably wont given the gold coast & west sydney concessions)
I dont think its all doom & gloom for the future, but we need to address the team structure as a matter of priority.
Hawthorn didnt play Gilham as they didnt have a larger forward for him to match up on.....says a lot imo.Comment
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