Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

[The Pie Man]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Does anyone know why Scarlett was free so often? It really pissed me off today, BIG TIME!!!!

30 touches and most were effective - it does hurt.

Particularly first half, we weren't playing anyone deeper than 50 out, which helped their defence.

[The Doctor]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

- Some senior players didn't stand up to be counted when the pressure was on.

This is the one I have most issue with.

I'll name them.

Giansircusa - absolute rubbish game. I once got heckled for criticising his soft approach but I've got him in my sights again. He doesn't put his head over the ball. He is slow. He often takes the wrong option (ie passing to Eagleton on the boundary surrounded by cats. He makes sure it's an overhead marking contest as we all know Eagle is so good in the air). He always, I repeat always, slips or goes to ground at the hint of a contest. I've had it with him. Fit or not fit he cost us badly today.

Hahn - Arguably worst on ground. Gave us nothing. Kicked out on the full when we need a senior player to kick a needed goal. On one occassion Johnson and Gilbee fought hard to get the ball out of defence, Hahn was the upfield option but he didn't present. He just stood there. I went off my head. He is slow, doesn't work hard enough and once again exposed in the heat of finals football.

Eagleton - We all know he doesn't put his body on the line. Today was bad by even his standards. He had a great opportunity to cut off a lead when the Cats ran the ball from defence but opted not to go. Why do we kick it to him in one on one marking contests? I'll never know. His use of the ball was ordinary as well. His saving grace was he ran hard.

Johnno - Battles hard but 2 big issues today. Not kicking that goal in the last. The worst one was feigning for a free kick in a one on one in the last 1/4. He went to ground, no free kick and rightly so, Cats run away with it. Not good enough. Reminded me of the prelim last year.

Murphy - Doesn't seem to be able to step up in the pressure cooker of finals football.

I think the Bulldogs have to make some hard decisions at the selection table this week. I want to see sentiment thrown out the window. I am sick of seeing the same players making the same mistakes. It is obvious some of them cannot handle finals footy.

Out: Giansiracusa, Hahn

In: Reid and Everitt

Reid will put his body on the line and do the hard stuff and won't fall over unless hit by a tank. Everitt will offer a lot more than Hahn in terms of presenting and is a far superior kick. Give the young lions a go.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Hahn - Arguably worst on ground. Gave us nothing. Kicked out on the full when we need a senior player to kick a needed goal. On one occassion Johnson and Gilbee fought hard to get the ball out of defence, Hahn was the upfield option but he didn't present. He just stood there. I went off my head. He is slow, doesn't work hard enough and once again exposed in the heat of finals football.

Murphy - Doesn't seem to be able to step up in the pressure cooker of finals football.

I hear ya on the disappointment with Hahn's game - I'm over it, I hope Everitt plays well tomorrow and they actually bite the bullet.

Murph's knee had to be giving him grief - I love him, but his disposal today was maybe worse then last year's prelim. Killing us

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

This is the one I have most issue with.

I'll name them.

Giansircusa - absolute rubbish game. I once got heckled for criticising his soft approach but I've got him in my sights again. He doesn't put his head over the ball. He is slow. He often takes the wrong option (ie passing to Eagleton on the boundary surrounded by cats. He makes sure it's an overhead marking contest as we all know Eagle is so good in the air). He always, I repeat always, slips or goes to ground at the hint of a contest. I've had it with him. Fit or not fit he cost us badly today.

Hahn - Arguably worst on ground. Gave us nothing. Kicked out on the full when we need a senior player to kick a needed goal. On one occassion Johnson and Gilbee fought hard to get the ball out of defence, Hahn was the upfield option but he didn't present. He just stood there. I went off my head. He is slow, doesn't work hard enough and once again exposed in the heat of finals football.

Eagleton - We all know he doesn't put his body on the line. Today was bad by even his standards. He had a great opportunity to cut off a lead when the Cats ran the ball from defence but opted not to go. Why do we kick it to him in one on one marking contests? I'll never know. His use of the ball was ordinary as well. His saving grace was he ran hard.

Johnno - Battles hard but 2 big issues today. Not kicking that goal in the last. The worst one was feigning for a free kick in a one on one in the last 1/4. He went to ground, no free kick and rightly so, Cats run away with it. Not good enough. Reminded me of the prelim last year.

Murphy - Doesn't seem to be able to step up in the pressure cooker of finals football.

I think the Bulldogs have to make some hard decisions at the selection table this week. I want to see sentiment thrown out the window. I am sick of seeing the same players making the same mistakes. It is obvious some of them cannot handle finals footy.

Out: Giansiracusa, Hahn

In: Reid and Everitt
Reid will put his body on the line and do the hard stuff and won't fall over unless hit by a tank. Everitt will offer a lot more than Hahn in terms of presenting and is a far superior kick. Give the young lions a go.

Agree with these outs!

I doubt our selectors will make the necessary changes though

Our selectors will simply say, lets go for experience over youth.....Reid and Everitt will make bad decisions under finals pressure....Gia's fitness will improve....

Hahn was slow, didnt chase, doesnt get of the ground in any marking contest, didnt harass and didnt present in the forward line...

Everitt at CHF is a FAR better option...

If we play Brisbane, Williams if fit will be included I imagine also

[DOG GOD]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Well said Doc.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Like always No Chance they will make any changes id say.Unfortunately.

Maybe the 1st quarter next week we just need to stack the backline or everyone follow the ball, so hopefully the opposition doesnt skip away with a big score while awake from our 1st qrt slumbers.

[Dry Rot]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

The easy option is to lay the blame at our lack of height up forward again. It's a convenient excuse albeit not that accurate.

.

Disagree - it's part of the problem but not the whole problem.

[Studentlib]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

My take on today was: we lost by 14, played poorly, Cats played well, we come back next game with our good team and style of play; not the team that played Freo and WCE and played dumb footy like today.
We seem to have too many players who are either mentally unable to dominate a good opposition or to concentrate for a full 100 minutes and then put team under pressure with poor decisions and execution of basic skills creating turnovers and more pressure. And too many are carrying injuries which affect their skills and speed. In finals we all know that everything goes up another 10 %.so why didn't griffen play one game at least in VFL and keep Reid/Everitt in team. Big Selection mistake I thought. Hill could go for Everitt. Hill has been carried for most games and we can't afford it in September.
.
Eade said tonight that Murph has had a knee for 8 weeks; we know Cooney has an ankle, Cross also and Gia has not recovered fully. As a result their kicking is poor and just not good enough for finals footy. Unfortunately we don't have the depth not to play them. The team is only competitive when all 22 contribute to the highest level.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Eade said tonight that Murph has had a knee for 8 weeks; we know Cooney has an ankle, Cross also and Gia has not recovered fully. As a result their kicking is poor and just not good enough for finals footy. Unfortunately we don't have the depth not to play them. The team is only competitive when all 22 contribute to the highest level.

Why? Reid could easily do just as well as a half fit Gia, and he wouldnt hesitate to put his head over the ball.

I think for a coach to turn around and say 4 players arent fit (or struggling to shake injuries, but playing ahead of FIT players) is disrespect to those fit players missing out.

Reid, Everitt and Wood have showed signs of being good contributors. To say we dont have the depth not to play them is a cop out.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

No one performed genuinely badly, everyone did their bit really. What we needed was a game breaker, and while Cooney, Higgins, Akermanis, Johnson and Griffen threatened to do that at times, the only real standout player was Gilbee imo.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Saw Matty Robbins as i was walking to the gates today, hes still looking as fit as when he was with us....

[Dazza]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

No one performed genuinely badly, everyone did their bit really.

I disagree I would say Hill, Giansiracusa and Griffen all had shockers.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I disagree I would say Hill, Giansiracusa and Griffen all had shockers.

Totally agree.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Disagree - it's part of the problem but not the whole problem.

I agree with that.

It's a huge problem, but not totally the reasons as to why we struggle in finals.

You need a large forward target up there, and not Minson (IMO he isn't the answer). You need someone who is smart & is able to read the play and know where to lead, as well as when to lead. If you watch Geelong, Brisbane etc.. they are forced to straightened because there big strong forwards lead hard, and lead straight. It's ok to have the style of play we do during the home & away season, but when it's put under finals intense pressure, it struggles.

The reason for this IMO, is that teams lift another notch & put more pressure on the ball carrier. Which in turn creates errors, and doesn't allow teams to run the lines as much as they would like to, we i feel, fall into this category.

Because we can't run the ball as much as we do at the dome, on the MCG, we are forced to go wide and bring the ball in. Either pumping the ball long to a short forward line, or being forced to pinpoint a pass to a small leading player in a pocket. When we do get the ball running through the middle of the ground, our small forwards have to lead wide anyway. Because we can't put the ball up a little in the air for a key target to jump and mark, our small forwards have to lead out wider.

It's just one of the problems with our team, the other being that the structure of the team is flawed. We don't have a solid spine from FB, all the way to FF.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - QF2 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

There were a few things that stood out for me today.

I think there was two kick ins that resulted in turnovers & goals to Geelong.

I dont think we created one.

Thats 12 points of the 14 we lost by.

The way that Geelong tired in the last quarter, made me feel that we may've been able to pinch it....
The way we are running out games, we appear to be fitter than other teams. If we play the Cats again, i think we can go in with a bit of confidence.

We just need to start better.

I agree we had players down, but if we can get that close with a few not playing well, its not all doom & gloom. I hope that the players can bounce back next week.

I reckon Griffen needs a change to defence and play a role like Goddard does at St Kilda, I dont feel that we are getting the best out of him playing as a mid. Alternatively if we can get a decent forward for him, i would be happy to trade him.

We need a big forward that can play close to goal, I know we all agree that we can kick high scores with our small forward line, but it would be nice to have the option to just roost a ball to an area about 15m out from goal than have to pinpoint passes everytime.

It looks like we will play the Lions on Friday night, so that looks better than Carlton who we have struggled against recently.