5 Rounds After The Bye

[The Coon Dog]

Bit of a tough run over the next 5 games.

R13. North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs MCG (Sat)
R14. Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn ES (Sat N)
R15. Western Bulldogs v Collingwood ES (Fri N)
R16. Essendon v Western Bulldogs ES (Fri N)
R17. St.Kilda v Western Bulldogs ES (Sat N)

4 of the 5 games are at night at Etihad Stadium.

To win 5 would be outstanding. I'd be content if we won 4 out of 5 as I think we should account for North & Essendon. The assignments might be a touch tougher against Hawthorn & Collingwood, with St.Kilda a touch harder again.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Very tough next ten weeks.

We play Geelong, StKilda, Hawthorn and Collingwood twice. We also have to play Brisbane at the Gabba.

An absolute horror draw.

In saying that, if play like we have the last few weeks we can beat anyone anywhere.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

if we keep up this form there's no reason why we can't win all of them. It all depends on how we go after the break. Some times lift, some teams fall over (like us in the past couple of years). I think the easiest game for us there is Collingwood.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

I would be happy with 3 and rapped with 4 and ecstatic with 5.

[comrade]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Very tough next ten weeks.

We play Geelong, StKilda, Hawthorn and Collingwood twice. We also have to play Brisbane at the Gabba.

An absolute horror draw.

In saying that, if play like we have the last few weeks we can beat anyone anywhere.

Perfect preparation for finals. If we perform well, we'll have crucial momentum going into September.

Our destiny is in our own hands. If we're good enough, we'll win at least 7 or 8 of the next 10.

[Number 3]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Perfect preparation for finals. If we perform well, we'll have crucial momentum going into September.

Our destiny is in our own hands. If we're good enough, we'll win at least 7 or 8 of the next 10.

Absolutely agree. I'd hate to have the majority of games like tonights going into the finals. I think we have 8 good solid hit outs before finals, with a couple of nice easy ones against WC and Freo at home to freshen us up later in the season. If we can win 5-6 of those tough games, we will be so much better prepared for what is required of us in September, rather than the unaccountable, easy wins that we can rack up against poor teams.

I really hope we knock off Geelong or St Kilda before finals, I think that would be enormous for self belief for the players.

[comrade]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

I really hope we knock off Geelong or St Kilda before finals, I think that would be enormous for self belief for the players.

You get the feeling our pre-season was geared towards building towards a strong finish to the season, rather than a fast start and hoping we can maintain it. Because of that, I honestly believe we can win at least 1 of our games against Geelong and St Kilda.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

You get the feeling our pre-season was geared towards building towards a strong finish to the season, rather than a fast start and hoping we can maintain it. Because of that, I honestly believe we can win at least 1 of our games against Geelong and St Kilda.

Its like a mirror image of last season, well at least I've felt that way all along this season.

[dog town]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Bit of a tough run over the next 5 games.

R13. North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs MCG (Sat)
R14. Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn ES (Sat N)
R15. Western Bulldogs v Collingwood ES (Fri N)
R16. Essendon v Western Bulldogs ES (Fri N)
R17. St.Kilda v Western Bulldogs ES (Sat N)

4 of the 5 games are at night at Etihad Stadium.

To win 5 would be outstanding. I'd be content if we won 4 out of 5 as I think we should account for North & Essendon. The assignments might be a touch tougher against Hawthorn & Collingwood, with St.Kilda a touch harder again.

Such a variety of styles among those opponents as well. Hard to see us winning them all. To win all of them we would have to win a couple on flat days. Break is probably at a good time looking at that. Time to re-focus and steel ourselves for the battle ahead.

[Mantis]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

All things being equal we should account for North & Essendon.

We have a great recent record against Collingwood so I am confident that we can beat them.

We should be able to win one of the Hawthorn or St.Kilda games.

Pretty easy when you look at it that way, but I would take 3 wins out of the 5.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Yeah 3/5 would be good.

I think you can mark down North & Hawks..but Essendon are one of those sides that would catch us off guard and strike..same with Collingwood..they came back last year we only managed to beat them by 10pts i believe. StKilda will be a big one, I think their engines are running out and will lose at least 2 games before we play them

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Must be 4/5 at least. That will keep us well and truly in touch to keep 3rd spot on the ladder.

If we cannot beat Collingwood, undermanned Hawks and/or the Saints - then for me we are not genuine contenders. I think we need to be looking at 16 wins, and putting performances together that show not only can we mix it with others, we can beat them. Call the draw tough, call it what you like, we need to beat these types of teams to win finals, i'd like to think if we are going to a Grand Final, we could beat many/all of these sides in the season proper.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

All things being equal we should account for North & Essendon.

We have a great recent record against Collingwood so I am confident that we can beat them.

We should be able to win one of the Hawthorn or St.Kilda games.

Pretty easy when you look at it that way, but I would take 3 wins out of the 5.

Thats pretty much the way I see it

If North beat us it would be a debacle.

Essendon could beat us but you'd hope our midfield was switched on enough to get on top, and that we'd physically dish it up to them.

I think we will knock over Collingwood - should be too strong in the ruck and have a too much depth for them.

Hawthorn will hit form at some stage and Buddy and Roughy always mean they are not easy to beat. They smashed us in the middle in the final and obviously it was an extremely disappointing performance

St Kilda are obviously flying and beat us comprehensively earlier in the year

[BulldogBelle]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

We still have several areas for improvement in the 2nd half of the season............

-We have played some very good football this season without regular contributions from two of our regular forwards, Murphy and Welsh...
-Cooney is still getting back to full fitness and form...he hasent really been amoungst our best players
-Griff hasnt exploded like we all know he is capable of...stay tuned
-Williams has been injured, and could come back in and play some good football
-We have Callan, Williams, Everitt, Tiller, Stack, O'Keefe, Skipper, Addison, Grant, Reid and Wight who didnt play against Port who could all easily play senior and finals football

I'm praying that we dont have a mid season collapse, similar to last year...and that our fitness increases as the season goes on, and doesnt drop off of bottom out like it did last season.

I'm sure we could beat the Saints, the Cats and the Hawks...not all three in the regular season, but 2 of the 3

Essendon, Collingwood and North should be tough gmes but i'm comfortable we can beat all of them

[Mantis]

Re: 5 Rounds After The Bye

Hawthorn will hit form at some stage and Buddy and Roughy always mean they are not easy to beat. They smashed us in the middle in the final and obviously it was an extremely disappointing performance

They aren't travelling anything like they were last year. Our midfield will hopefully get themselves up for this game as they have a score to settle. I think we will go into this game with a point to prove and should give a good account of ourselves.

St Kilda are obviously flying and beat us comprehensively earlier in the year

Their form over the last 2 or 3 weeks has dropped away a little, especially the output they are getting from their lower ranked players who were so good early on. Perhaps the break comes at a good time for them and I know they were far too good for us earlier in the season, but I am pretty sure we will be up for the challenge next time around.