Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

I hope the boys sort a few things out this week, some of that game wasn't flash at all. If we'd played 4 quarters, we'd have won by 100!

Aker for P.M !!! when the game was there to be won, he put it beyond doubt. That's what real champions do. He's such a smart player. I felt in that awful first quarter that Welsh might've given us something... hope he's back soon. Tiller did better in 2nd half, but I reckon he could make way.

I reckon Cooney is at about 80% fitness/health. Did a few handy things, but definitely out of sorts. Hope it's only fitness. Griff was down, but still love watching him in action. At times tries to hard to beat his man, doesn't always pull it off. Higgins is a gun - potentially the next Johnno for us ? (the small forward who can kick a bag), and Addison's work ethic is terrific. Josh Hill is exciting, a bit too laid-back at times, but the guy is talented - can take a great grab too.

Will and Huddo were really good I thought - Will with the efforts to make a contest, and Huddo's well-known 2nd efforts.

All in all - good to get that kind of win when we gave them a head start, and with several key players down. Have to love a Tiger thrashing! As for Wallet and Browny, the money-hungry traitors, as the great EJ once said "We stuck it right up 'em"

Would have to agree, it was so pleasing to win against these guys! It was an awful start - first quarter was really horrible to watch - all those points, and to think we kicked 25 -7 in WA first game I kinda take heart that even though at times we didn't play well, sloppy field kicking as well as in front on goal, we were able to put the foot down and show our class. Thought Eagleton was terrific, and I love the way Addison and Higgins go about their footy. Thought Mitch Hahn was quiet, as was Johnno and Cooney, but again, isn't it still a good sign that we can take a 48 point win when these guys are having a quiet one? Loved the points that Brownie kicked - every Bulldog supporter around where I sit gave him hell - what a weak effort to leave the ground so quickly after the game. I'm a happy camper, as the remainder of the game kinda pushed that ugly first quarter to the background.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Skills were pretty bad from both sides but I was really impressed with
Hill- Electric, going to be a very good player
Picken- Fantastic to have a nuggety little, pain in the ass tagger who will scrag for every contest in the side. Fast becoming one of my favourites
Higgins-Clean and found a heap of it
Eagleton- Chasing, tackling and harrasing. The competition for spots in the side has really put a rocket up him IMO
Addison- Tough and so good above his head
Aker- He may have lost a yard of pace and his kicking lacks the penetration it once had but he has the best footy brain Ive seen, knows exactly where to go to make himself dangerousCross and Boyd- Worked hard and did what was expected
Lake- Probably our best played on Richo and beat him comprehesively
Morris- Regular Morris performance and managed to sneak forward and kick a goal

One the flip side I thought Griffen was a bit quiet and Cooney didnt look fit, he didnt have his normal zip today and looked to lack a yard of his pace when breaking away from packs. I would give him a rest this week and wouldnt take him to Perth. Williams needs more football, is still incredibly raw but the upside is massive.

What about that Aker mark in the last quarter - with him running with his back to the ball! Then tops it off with a great goal -

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Young Hill just made my day I think in the end he was a little too unselfish around goal. Adison and Higgins were nearly as good aker was just able to grab the game by the throat and choke every bit of life out of the tigers. All in all a great team effort after the first quarter full of guts and run

[comrade]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

How good is it to have Hill, Higgins and Addison in the best handful?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

How good is it to have Hill, Higgins and Addison in the best handful?

And i'm hanging out to see reid in there too!

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Was good to see the Tigers live up to Teflon's pre-match promise to really attack the game hard today and take the Bulldogs on head-to-head

Richmond are wasting their time on implementing a horrendous to watch midfield cluster if their useless players can't hit the side of a barn door under any sore of pressure.

[dog town]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Pretty good win considering how much was riding on it for the tigers.

I think we got it a little bit wrong early. Both teams were dropping numbers back a long way behind the ball in a virtual old school flood. Richmonds foot skills are suspect when they are put under pressure but by sitting back a little bit we were giving them time to set up and bring the ball forward. After quarter time we played a bit more like our normal set up by pressing up the ground and they started coughing the ball up. It also meant they couldn't get there own numbers back because a lot of our forward 50 entries were straight off turnovers.

Our pressure and second effort chasing was very good. Every single player was working hard to close space and put pressure on the Richmond ball carrier which was very good to see. We look fitter and I think that is showing up in some of our defensive stuff.

Our slick use of handball has been something I have noticed so far this year. I think we look really sharp with it at the moment. It is going to come in handy because its the best way to break down some of the midfield zones that have been employed.

Hudson- Really liked his game. Only a dozen touches but all of them contested and his influence was so much more than that. Just competes all day and some of his tap work is underrated.

Minson- Very good when he was in the ruck today. Was able to put the ball in the path of our midfielders pretty well. Competed well up forward but could easily have kicked a bag today. He had 5 or 6 chances to mark inside 50 today and they were all pretty gettable. I just dont think he really wants it when its in the air. He does not attack it like he thinks he will mark it.

Hill- Very important to our set up at the moment. Obviously he does a lot of special things but because he is such a good contested mark he also gives us another deep option to look for.

Gilbee- Got a free ride off Wallace which is surprising. Made them pay with a 28 touc game.

Aker- When he lost his form last year we started to struggle. He is really important to us up forward. Makes some other guys look pretty good at times.

Griffen- Still needs to get more handball receives and uncontested marks but I was impressed with the way he stayed involved in the contest today. Tackled all day and chased, spoiled, competed all day.

Cooney- Not sure what everyone is so worried about. I thought he just took another step in his rehab today and his numbers support that. Yeah he made a few errors but he generally does and he will be better for the run. I was really happy with his endeavour and clean hands in tight.

Higgins- Improved fitness is helping him stay involved in the contest longer which means he can get a few extra touches. I watched him follow up effort after effort today until the ball was out of his area and thats the difference at the moment. Was the best player on the ground to half time.

Picken- Another good job tagging an outside player. I think they are the type of players he will get. Will probably get Kerr next week who is more of an inside player. The eagles are playing him behind the ball at stoppages at the moment so he is playing more of an outside role.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Our pressure and second effort chasing was very good. Every single player was working hard to close space and put pressure on the Richmond ball carrier which was very good to see. We look fitter and I think that is showing up in some of our defensive stuff.

Good observation DT. I thought our work when we didn't have the ball was first-rate after qtr time. Really hunted their ball carriers and forced the turnovers time and again. By contrast, we were quite sloppy and careless on frequent occasions when we were actually in possession.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

It wasn't the easiest game to watch, riddled with mistakes from both sides, and the first quarter was painful to watch. Cooney just doesn't look right, he was limping and just seemed to have no interest in the game.

Loved Hill's work - he was great down back or in the foward line - in my opinion our best player. Higgins just oozes class, loved his first goal - nice set shot. Aker (aka cool hand luke) we have to keep seeking him out in the foward line - he can deliver.

We are 3-0 which was better than my predictions for this time, and we should account for West Coast, although they will be fired up after getting a hiding from the Saints (is it me or are we constantly coping some very pissed off teams) Hopefully we will have tidied up some of our skills ready for Carlton.

We managed to beat the Tige's by a greater margin than what Geelong did last week - so I take something out of that.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

It wasn't the easiest game to watch, riddled with mistakes from both sides, and the first quarter was painful to watch. Cooney just doesn't look right, he was limping and just seemed to have no interest in the game.

Loved Hill's work - he was great down back or in the foward line - in my opinion our best player. Higgins just oozes class, loved his first goal - nice set shot. Aker (aka cool hand luke) we have to keep seeking him out in the foward line - he can deliver.

We are 3-0 which was better than my predictions for this time, and we should account for West Coast, although they will be fired up after getting a hiding from the Saints (is it me or are we constantly coping some very pissed off teams) Hopefully we will have tidied up some of our skills ready for Carlton.

We managed to beat the Tige's by a greater margin than what Geelong did last week - so I take something out of that.

I see he is going back under the knife - hopefully we can keep on winning games without a strong contribution from him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Good win and I expected a margin of that kind (predicted 45 pts), but our skills were down this week and hopefully that was just a wee blip on that front - because other sides would have punished us. Nothing more pleasing than seeing a dejected Brown and Wallace at various intervals during the game. I hope they both crash and burn, even though they more or less already have.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

The Good:

Undefeated in 2009.

Shutting up some Feral Richmond Supporters.

Josh Hill, fast becoming my second fave player, behind Dale Morris.

Aker!!!!!!!!

Slim Pickens adding another scalp. restricted Deledio to 16 possies. And if he doesn't get suspended - maybe Daniel Kerr?

Despite some key players being down on performance, to still beat a team by 47 points, shows the dogs don't have to rely on one or two players.

Brian Lake was awesome

Tom Williams not getting injured, keep it going Tommy!

Shaun Higgens - does the No 7 proud.

A Gilbee Special : )

The Bad:
The first Quarter -

Sloppy turnovers and poor decision making.

The UGLY:

Griffen's two step attempt at a set shot, even I could have kicked that!!!!

Far too many out of bounds.

Liam Picken getting reported.

The news that Cooney will be having knee surgery

The dillema:
Who replaces Cooney? Should Aker be rested? If Picken gets suspended, who goes on Kerr?

The West Coast: Bring 'em on!!!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

One or two things disappointed me today.

During the first quarter in particular, our inability to handle their zone caused too many turnovers. We have had the entire pre-season to practise how we handle this but a lack of patience led us to kick to no-one and turn the ball over.

Later in the game we were woefully caught on the rebound reminding me of the Rhode days when everyone drifted forward allowing a long opposition kick to find us out badly.

We got away with it today due to the poor quality of the opposition. We will not be so lucky against the better sides.

The forward line misses the leading Murphy badly. Hahn in the CHF position is a problem because he has a wide turning circle and is suspect overhead in a contest.

We should all pray for a quick Murphy return before we play the good sides

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Just had to post this...

Watching the 4th quarter of the game on Foxtel replay, we got a close-up of Richo after he kicked his goal. He took a drink, and to no-one in particular, clearly said (well, I lip-read!) "F****g s**t football" ..... maybe he's not as dumb as I thought....looked close to tears at times too

[wb_age]

Re: Game Day - Bulldogs vs Tigers

Just had to post this...

Watching the 4th quarter of the game on Foxtel replay, we got a close-up of Richo after he kicked his goal. He took a drink, and to no-one in particular, clearly said (well, I lip-read!) "F****g s**t football" ..... maybe he's not as dumb as I thought....looked close to tears at times too

Yeah I saw it to, he then went on to add some more elaborate verbs.
Poor bloke, loyalty is one thing, what is doing is something else.


SLAP - Higgins jumping in without hesitation for young Picken after Deledio had a go at him. If you watch it closely i'm quite sure Higgins managed to throw in a nice fist to Deledio which resulted in his blood rule.

Neither a slap nor sledge, but when Lake was outmarked by Morton in the third, i found it funny that he went on to throw his opponents mouthgard 20m way.
The umpire saw this and then had a little chat with him, funny guy!