Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

[BulldogBelle]

We all want that elusive Premiership Cup to proudly be on display at Bulldog HQ – can this be the year that we achieve it? I love hearing about “1954” but ‘1954’ sits alone and needs a companion year...could 2009 be it? How good would that be?

Realistically, how confident are you that we can take that next step up in season 2009 to win a Premiership? If not, does 2010 seem more realistic to you or perhaps you think we will never win one again?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I have to admit that I don't feel that confident about this year, too many interrupted pre seasons for key players, the zoning gameplan and last year we had quite a bit of luck with some of our games i.e. Adelaide round 1 and Fremantle. Can we repeat it this year - I am not sure.

The upside is that I was a bit pessimistic about this time last year, and the year before I was sure we would win the premiership.

[comrade]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

2011

Grant, Cordy, Roughead will have all developed physically by then – with potentially Boumann as another forward option.

A crack midfield of Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Ward, Addison etc with Cross and Boyd in the defensive roles.

Lake to handle the gorillas, with Williams and Everitt the tall mobile defenders. Morris still in his prime, Gilbee will also be dangerous.

Our top 10 players by this stage will match up against anyone in the league.

1. Cooney
2. Griffen
3. Higgins
4. Williams
5. Lake
6. Gilbee
7. Grant
8. Morris
9. Ward
10. Cordy

It's the next 10 that will win us the premiership. Players like Hill, Everitt, Harbrow, Tiller, Callan, Wood, Lynch, Stack all need to develop into solid and consistent AFL players – able to play contested footy and dispose of it well.

Potential best 22:

F: Harbrow Grant Lynch
HF: Murphy Cordy Hill
C: Higgins Cooney Ward
HB: Gilbee Williams Everitt
BP: Morris Lake Hargrave
R: Minson Cross Griffen
I: Roughead Tiller Hahn Addison

Good spine, great forward pressure through Harbrow and Lynch (even Grant), a rock solid defense that depends on a lot of things going right in the next two years.

By this time a few developing teams will also be pushing for glory so it’ll be interesting how it pans out.

God, I hope we win one soon.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

It's an interesting discussion and it depends if you buy the whole "window of opportunity" thing. For mine 2009-2011 is our best shot.

All you need is a few things to click. If Cooney, Griffen and Higgins play A grade football then they're going to win us a lot of games of football combined with the consistent efforts of Cross/Boyd. If, for example, Williams/Everitt have break out years - then who knows what could happen. Whilst we don't have a quality KPF ready at the moment, Grand Finals are often won in defence. Sydney and Geelong have been a testament to this in recent times, whilst West Coast had a stellar midfield. All forward lines were adeuqate too - but they weren't in Hawthorn's class.

In an ideal world, we'd have two KPF's up and firing, but that's going to take another 2 years at least. 2011 definitely shapes as a great chance. By then, our smalls and talls should be hitting their peak. Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Ward, Hill, Cross & Boyd is dangerous. Lake, Gilbee, Morris, Williams, Everitt and Callan is a strong possible backline. Grant, Cordy, Harbrow, Murphy, Gia and Hahn is still a good forward line. Obviously a few will drop off and a few will come on, but overall, 2011 looks pretty strong for us.

We're still behind Hawthorn and Geelong at the moment, but with a few tinkers and possibly the addition of two talls (Williams? Everitt?) and improvement from Hill, Harbrow, Higgins and Ward - then we could possibly take that next step and reach a Grand Final. After all - we kicked ourselves out of the 08 GF, we had Geelong on toast for a while but blew it several times.

I am quietly optimistic without being too strong for either side. We could easily slide down the ladder with a few injuries, key players needing more time to develop etc. but in the right scenario, on any given day - we could still click and defeat a Geelong/Hawthorn. It all depends - but certainly 2009-2011 seems to be our best bet, with the latter seemingly sporting a stronger chance.

[Before I Die]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

God, I hope we win one soon.

Been waiting a while. I think the window is as open as it has ever been since at least '61. What is excitng is that it looks like it may even open further over the next few years. But then, as Blight's Geelong demonstrated, winning Premierships is about more than having the best team. I think Blight's Adelaide also proved this in reverse. Given we get at least three new players each year, it is not really possible to predict beyond about 2012. However, if we don't have a cup on the shelf by then, I may never get to change my user name.

[mighty_west]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

This season is also a bit of an unknown for me, we always for whatever reason have a very good season, the fall off the pace the next, it's been going on since i remember [since the late 70's].

I do believe this crop of kids is the best "coming through", but thats it isn't it, when do we have a team with a genuine chance with players not only coming through, but are ready in their prime, or has the game changed these days, can Premiership teams afford to carry a few kids?

We are all genually excited with the likes of Cooney & Griffen [they are now ready mades], Ward, Higgins & Everitt [still developing], Grant & Cordy [pups], do we have to wait for our tall forwards to get in their prime to have a genuine chance, or can we snag one with Johnno as our numero uno forward?

2007, whilst we did have alot of injuries to key players, it is still at the back of the mind, after a very good 2006, we then took a massive nose dive, 2008 was another very good season.....now 2009?

What i have liked was the day Rocket was appointed, was that he really came in to mould a team, and not have un-realistic views on having to win a Premiership in his first or second seasons, he's in for the long haul, and i have to say, i'm pretty damn excited with the group he is building.

So when will we win our 10th Premiership? I have no idea really, all i know is that we have quite a few seasons of exciting times, as long time supporters of a club that has always had to scrap on & off the field, i think we deserve that.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I believe that we have the team to did as soon as this year. You definitely do not have to have to have the best team, Hawks proved that last year. I would like to see us try one of the pups at FF, working tandem with Johnson, Minno, Aker, Murphy.

With our best team on the park, we have the skill and the discipline, we need to believe that we are good enough... and not fall asleep for 10 or 15min periods because thats what has killed us in the past.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I have thought for a long time now that our premiership window would be 2007-09.

All of the 99-00-01 crew in their prime and the high draft picks such as Cooney, Griffen and Higgins starting to blossom. We have one year left.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I truly think this is the year for us!

Yes fair dinky, the hawks showed last year that you make your own luck and I have thought over the last two years that we had been one year behind them.

i too think that after the next two years we will be talking about the likes of hawthorn, Carlton, Essendon, richmond and the dogs being the best bet.

remember "we are on a mission from god"

[Dry Rot]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

In an ideal world, we'd have two KPF's up and firing, but that's going to take another 2 years at least. .

Agreed. Can't see us winning a flag without at least one good KPF preferably two, therefore about 2012 at the earliest.

[lemmon]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I believe that we have the team to did as soon as this year. You definitely do not have to have to have the best team, Hawks proved that last year. I would like to see us try one of the pups at FF, working tandem with Johnson, Minno, Aker, Murphy.

With our best team on the park, we have the skill and the discipline, we need to believe that we are good enough... and not fall asleep for 10 or 15min periods because thats what has killed us in the past.

Very well put agree 100%, for too long we've been saying next year is our year. Nows the time to grab the oppertunity.

[mighty_west]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

Agreed. Can't see us winning a flag without at least one good KPF preferably two, therefore about 2012 at the earliest.

History shows that you need at least one good KPF.

[The Underdog]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

I prefer not to have any expectations, I'll just let them surprise me when they win it.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

Agreed. Can't see us winning a flag without at least one good KPF preferably two, therefore about 2012 at the earliest.

That's been a depressing reality for too long, but hopefully its before 2012 - Williams and Everitt could make the difference before then.

The problem with this whole window of opportunity is that its fickle, some players arrive quickly as league players and then guys who you hoped could stay at there peak drop off

On the basis of last year you'd think we could be around the mark, but how much will Aker, Johno, Hudson, Welsh and Eagle drop off? Remembering Welsh, Johno and Aker kicked about 120 goals between them last year.

I find it increasingly difficult to know where we are at this preseason. How will our personnel hold up to this emerging zone game?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Taking that next step - to a Premiership!

History shows that you need at least one good KPF.

Don't get sucked into the media hype. Gary Lyon and BT were both KPF they go on and on about the big forwards. Last year weren't we the highest scoring team in league? if not were we definitely second. Yes a big guy can help, use one of the kids, but i don't believe A KPF are as important as everyone makes out.
How many goals did franklin kick in the GF? I can't think of the last time (recently) someone kicked a bag of goals in the GF.
I believe that making the most of the opportunities in front of goal. Locking the ball into the forward 50 and forwards putting pressure on their opponents will be super important if we are to take the next step.