Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

[hujsh]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Picken can no doubt be a very valuable player with us. If he can keep opponents like Harvey to 18 disposals that have little influence and not be a liability with the ball (he certainly didn't look too bad with it) then we've got a great tagger.

[comrade]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

I thought we were fairly stagnant up forward and our structure broke down at times - I think Welsh has to come in next week and stay deep. Maybe Aker gets a rest?

[hujsh]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Maybe Aker gets a rest?

Might not have a choice there.

[ledge]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Aker gets free a lot every game but we never seem to look for him as much as we could, i understand his frustration at times.
Actually saw him kick one out on the full, thats a first !

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Messy game with plenty of errors but I am glad we came away with a win, especially as we looked to be struggling halfway through the last. North had the momentum and we were making poor decisions time and time again. Gilbee missed Lake by a mile at CHF, and NM got a goal out of that. After that though, a few players lifted and we managed to get over the line. The umpiring was very, very poor - it ruins the game.

Ward and Higgins both have good skills but I found them disappointing today. Ward has very little awareness and coupled with a lack of pace, he was caught quite a few times today. One which turned the game. He needs to work on this and quickly. On the bright side, he did show some poise with good foot skills and an appetite for the contest. Higgins fumbled dreadfully and missed two goals that he could've and should've passed off. Both Hill and Cooney were all alone and could've made a certainty, but Higgins decided to take a shot himself and on both occasions missed.

Lake was incredible today. His hands and reading of the playw ere second to none. For mine he was a clear BOG and helped us get over the line. At times he was creative, but when he needed to be he showed plenty of poise. It really was a terrific match.

Hill was quiet but ended up having a huge last term. He ran hard and linked up several times and, of course, helped set up and then kick the winning goal. He seems to step up in patches and today finished with another 3 - a good effort.

I thought Johnson was very good today too. Strong hands (should have been paid the last one) and presented well. Nice to see him find form again. Picken was impressive on debut and made perhaps a match saving tackle causing Harvey to spill the ball inappropriately with not much time left. Cross and Boyd were their usual selves too and were good in close.

Overall, a grinding match that was at times difficult to watch, but pleasing that we managed to find a way to win against a side that we've struggled to find something "extra" against in recent times.

[lemmon]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Aker gets free a lot every game but we never seem to look for him as much as we could, i understand his frustration at times.
Actually saw him kick one out on the full, thats a first !

Along with Hill they seemed a cut above, class wise. Dangerous when they got the ball and disposal was very good.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Aker gets free a lot every game but we never seem to look for him as much as we could, i understand his frustration at times.
Actually saw him kick one out on the full, thats a first !

Aker picked the ball up well today but his decision making/disposal was pretty bad. One of the worst games I've personally seen him play. He gave away a few frees and and turned it over a bit. Looked a little disinterested at times.

Hopefully he finds some form next week.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

AFL headlines "Bulldogs defeat gallant Kangaroos by 15"

so this must make it a HEROIC victory then!

[ledge]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Who won the Dempsey medal?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Who won the Dempsey medal?

Ryan Griffen.

[ledge]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Thanks TCD mm after his first two games he might have a few votes in the brownlow, we were warned!

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Has Aker got anything to be worried about re that contact to the head?

I really don't think so. But who knows what will happen when you play Russian Roulette

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Thanks TCD mm after his first two games he might have a few votes in the brownlow, we were warned!

4 or 5 votes I would think.

Could well be leading the count by the end of the first on air stubbie at this stage.

[dog town]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Important win against a team who fancies playing us. We beat them for contested ball and clearances which was very pleasing. I think if it had been a dry day we probably would have broken them wide open as we were a bit slick in close with our hands. Once the ball got wet we were not as clean coming out of the stoppages as we normally are and that made a difference IMO.

The second quarter was dissapointing in how long it took us to adapt to the kangaroos tactics and change in weather conditions. They had about 10 consecutive inside 50s in the 2nd and we were lucky our backline had a blinder. After half time we started to play a little more direct and got more one out marking contests going forward.

I thought our backline was absolutely brilliant. Hargrave and Lake in particular were very good. Hargrave had something like 15 contested possessions and Lake took a stack of marks.

Kicking off the ground absolutely shits me to tears. Just bend over and pick it up. Players look scared when they do that. You should always take possession unless your going for goal.



Aker was very good in the heavier conditions as usual. Just his smarts made a real difference. He can get a quick handpass out or spot up a target or even just stick his bum in the right spot to shield one of our players. Thought he was more than handy.

Griffen also enjoyed the slippery conditions. Generally players who are that strong through the hips really enjoy those conditions.

Boyd and Cross were very good again. Cross played an important role filling the hole inside defensive 50 quite a bit. Boyd is a very good player now. Taken another step up I think.

Picken is going to be an interesting one. Didi a great job today but we dont need a tagger every week. Hard to say whether he wil just become a horses for courses type selection.

Johnson was the most dangerous forward on the ground.

Guido was a bit down I thought.

Ward made a few errors that have been covered but you have to love the way he gets in low and attacks the footy. Attack on the ground level ball reminds me of Selwood a little bit.

Hill was very dangerous all day. We probably dont kick the ball really well to him at times. We just need to kick to his advantage a little more and he is rarely going to be beaten in the air.

[soupman]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Kangaroos

Ward and Higgins both have good skills but I found them disappointing today. Ward has very little awareness and coupled with a lack of pace, he was caught quite a few times today. One which turned the game. He needs to work on this and quickly. On the bright side, he did show some poise with good foot skills and an appetite for the contest.

Regarding his lack of pace, whilst not overly quick I don't think he is slow. What he fails to do is accelerate, something the likes of Cooney and Gilbee do very well. When they get it they go full pelt to give themselves some room before steadying for the kick. Ward, particularly when he tried to run past two North players on the half-back flank, fails to push himself to give that extra space, meaning that he's always poised to kick it, but very easy to catch.