Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

-Will Minson. Surely that would have to be one of the worst games he's ever played. It's hard to continue calling Leigh Brown a spud when Will plays like a potato. Usually his disposal by foot is good and his ruckwork is pretty good also. Today he looks slow and cumbersome, couldn't mark a thing and his diposal was woeful. I was very dissapointed with his performance and felt he was a leading candidate for worst on ground.

Looks like Minson might go back-to-back for the most clangers in the season. As Rocket has said "For such an intelligent man, he does some stupid things."

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Nothing more that a 50 pt win will satisfy me.

Nothing less?

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Crossy tried, but there wasn't a lot of defensive running from Higgins, Griff and Gia for mine.

I'm a big Gia fan - but he was disappointing. And I've posted on another thread what I think of Higgins defensive work at times.

In fairness to Higgins, Brown stitched him up twice during the game so I'd say the wind was knock out of sails a bit. I wonder if he had been placed on the hit list.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Cooney, Griffen and Higgins are three that should out to me yesterday.

I have had this thought for a while with him, not just from yesterdays game. Just seems to me as though he doesn't work hard enough defensively, happy to look good when he has the ball, but won't work hard enough to shut down his opponent or the opposition.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

I have had this thought for a while with him, not just from yesterdays game. Just seems to me as though he doesn't work hard enough defensively, happy to look good when he has the ball, but won't work hard enough to shut down his opponent or the opposition.

I mentioned this after our West Coast loss last season (prior to Hall coming to the club of course) - 6 of our rotating forwards are very much attack-minded playmakers, and the defensive pursuits don't come naturally to them. I'm talking Johnson, Gia, Aker, Murphy, Higgins and Hill, with Hahn being the only exception. Hall has clearly redressed this imbalance but our forward 50, especially if the ball is not delivered in there with precision, still has the occasional tendency to trampoline straight out of there with minimal pressure. Our team currently doesn't have that psycho defensive half-forward who tackles with intent to hurt (ie: Rooke or McQualter), nor do we have the quick small forward pocket to pressure the opposition ball carrier from behind. Unfortunately we don't seem to have either type in our squad either.

Having said all that, it isn't as though these 6 players cannot perform defensive roles for us when needed - it's just that this isn't their first thought when the ball comes into their area. And when our all-over pressure is slightly down around the ground, we get trapped into having shootouts (which we rarely come out on top of). Our defensive pressure was well down in the first 6 rounds last season (we were 3-3 at the time) and then in the next couple of months we put the squeeze on the opposition and conceded only around 70 points a game (ironically this stretch ended against the Pies last season). If someone like Tiprat Milne can chase and harrass every week (even though bit clearly doesn't come naturally to him), I reckon our talented forward group can also bring this mindset to the table every week.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Either way i dont think he's up to it.
Id much prefer the tenacity and hardness of a Ward or Moles, even Tim Callan, Wood, Reid etc
An odd flashy touch or mark isnt enough for me

This.

I'd go as far as to say this year ought to be a make it or move on year for Hill.

Really no excuses anymore.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Those criticising Higgins. IMO he's the best finisher at the club, and as a half forward in the top 4-5 in the league.

[Before I Die]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

This.

I'd go as far as to say this year ought to be a make it or move on year for Hill.

Really no excuses anymore.

I really don't think he needs any excuses. He played 24 out of 25 last year and kicked 33 goals, ranked 4th in the club. He has played a total of 43 games, has all the tools and will most likely be a 200 game player. Quite possibly an absolute champion. Consistency and hardness will come with maturity.

Born on 19/1/89, he is slightly younger than Everitt (13/3/89, 25 games) and more than a year younger Harbrow (18/2/88, 49 games) and Stack (26/5/88, 3 games) who were all recruited the same year as him.

We are also likely to lose Akermanis, Eagleton and Johnson next year and Hahn will be turning 30.

Yes, he didn't have a great game on Sunday and yes, he can look a little soft at times. But it is not a make or break year for him. He has made it already and he will be very important to our team in the very near future if not already now.

[chef]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

This.

I'd go as far as to say this year ought to be a make it or move on year for Hill.
Really no excuses anymore.

Can't see that happening. We will have 3 retirements at the end of this year as well as probably losing a best 22 player to the GC.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Those criticising Higgins. IMO he's the best finisher at the club, and as a half forward in the top 4-5 in the league.

So, you're happy for laud one player who has a distinct lack of defensive pressure, but not another who you perceive as soft?

Yes, Higgins is a terrific finisher and should become a top line player. He still has a lot of work to do to ensure his game becomes more well rounded, otherwise he'll be another flashy player who can't do much else. His skills and game sense are terrific, but his speed, contested skills and especially his defensive efforts which often leave a lot to be desired (and have for his entire time at the club).

Hill, for all the talk of him being "soft" is one of our hardest working defensive players. He lacks the physical side to his game, but that is fine. I'd like to see him put his body on the line more often, but some players just aren't going to win contested ball time and time again, and he is one of them. We know he contests very hard aerially, that takes courage. He also chases harder than just about any other forward we have.

If we are expecting him to play the role of an inside mid, sure, punish him for not winning contested ball. The fact is we aren't. He has a defined role in the side, and I think he plays it pretty well.

Without Hill, our F50 pressure would be absolutely stuffed!

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Yes, Higgins is a terrific finisher and should become a top line player. He still has a lot of work to do to ensure his game becomes more well rounded, otherwise he'll be another flashy player who can't do much else. His skills and game sense are terrific, but his speed, contested skills and his defensive efforts often leave a lot to be desired (and have for his entire time at the club).

They are as a whole pretty piss poor.

Having watched parts of the game this morning (and from the past) he just doesn't push himself hard enough defensively. On a couple of occasions he was happy to give his opponent 10m of space and then after 2 or 3 possesions his opponent still had the same gap and received the ball. If he had closed the gap initially his opponent wouldn't have been an option and we would have had more chance of creating a turnover.

Higgins is no doubt an extremely talented player, but is falling into some bad habits, which as a leader he shouldn't have.

[chef]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

So, you're happy for laud one player who has a distinct lack of defensive pressure, but not another who you perceive as soft?

Yes, Higgins is a terrific finisher and should become a top line player. He still has a lot of work to do to ensure his game becomes more well rounded, otherwise he'll be another flashy player who can't do much else. His skills and game sense are terrific, but his speed, contested skills and especially his defensive efforts which often leave a lot to be desired (and have for his entire time at the club).

Hill, for all the talk of him being "soft" is one of our hardest working defensive players. He lacks the physical side to his game, but that is fine. I'd like to see him put his body on the line more often, but some players just aren't going to win contested ball time and time again, and he is one of them. We know he contests very hard aerially, that takes courage. He also chases harder than just about any other forward we have.

If we are expecting him to play the role of an inside mid, sure, punish him for not winning contested ball. The fact is we aren't. He has a defined role in the side, and I think he plays it pretty well.

Without Hill, our F50 pressure would be absolutely stuffed!

Excellent post Griffen#16, sums up my thoughts too.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

I really don't think he needs any excuses. He played 24 out of 25 last year and kicked 33 goals, ranked 4th in the club. He has played a total of 43 games, has all the tools and will most likely be a 200 game player. Quite possibly an absolute champion. Consistency and hardness will come with maturity.

Born on 19/1/89, he is slightly younger than Everitt (13/3/89, 25 games) and more than a year younger Harbrow (18/2/88, 49 games) and Stack (26/5/88, 3 games) who were all recruited the same year as him.

We are also likely to lose Akermanis, Eagleton and Johnson next year and Hahn will be turning 30.

Yes, he didn't have a great game on Sunday and yes, he can look a little soft at times. But it is not a make or break year for him. He has made it already and he will be very important to our team in the very near future if not already now.

Johnson is on the vets list so he doesn't count.

Moles will be elevated, taking up a spot.

Liberatore and Wallis will take up 2 more spots.

Another couple will have to go, and Hill would be one under consideration (obviously trade rather than delisting).

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Another couple will have to go, and Hill would be one under consideration (obviously trade rather than delisting).

There will be a few in front of him though, imo.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day - R1 Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

On another note I think Eade shoul give Harbrow a run in the forward pocket this week. As we need a small fast forward to pick up the
crumbs in the games we are lacking hitting targets or just being dominated.