Will we make the top 4?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

I think we still will, we were in the same position as this last year.

[chef]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

Is it a lack of fitness or a lack of runners in the 22? We have obviously been compromised with a few injuries to midifelders/runners but we definitely look top heavy atm.

Is it something to do with our training as we had the same problem at this time last year and it wasn't until round 7 that we started to run out games(have a look at our 3 game losing streak from rounds 3-6, we looked stuffed in the last quarters).

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

Is it something to do with our training as we had the same problem at this time last year and it wasn't until round 7 that we started to run out games(have a look at our 3 game losing streak from rounds 3-6, we looked stuffed in the last quarters).

It's probably by design so we can 'peak' later in the year. As you suggest, perhaps we have been loading the bodies up heavily over the past few weeks?

We've been a very fit side over the past seasons, so there is no reason to think it'll be any different this year. Hopefully we can start to see some improvements over the next couple of weeks.

[Mantis]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

I think we still will, we were in the same position as this last year.

That may be the case, but many teams have improved. Last year there was a clear gap between the top 4, the next best 4 and the also rans. Besides a couple of exceptions (Richmond, WC & Adelaide) the gap has certainly closed meaning at present there isn't as many 'easy' games.

I guess a lot can change over the course of the season, but at present it's a much harder task to pencil in games as certain wins than previously.... But I guess that has much to do with our own indifferent form as it has to do with other teams improvement.

[Mofra]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

Given Boyd (best Midfielder on performances this year & last) Picken (best tagger) & Ward (hard inside mid) are due back and Johnno still looks like he is regaining touch we still have a fair bit of improvement in the side.

Murphy's form slump can't last forever and Griffen looks like he is lifting his output. I think we will make top 4 but we wouldn;t want to drop the game this week or any other gettables.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

I voted no.

We just don't look consistent enough and there aren't too many "easy" games to pick up this year. Maybe we can sneak it but it's going to be a struggle. Having said that I'm very happy to be persuaded otherwise.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

The heart says yes but my head voted no. According to form this year we have only beaten the super easy beats. Combined after 6 rounds those teams we beaten have only won 1 game in total! We didn't stand up in the other matches when it counted...in that all important 4th quarter.
This year the overall competition has really improved and teams seem so fast and we are that one year older. This can be decisive when you are on the wrong side of 30.
Also our forward line hasn't really clicked yet and time is running out if we don't want to drop anymore games for a while.
Our other worry is winning the close games against quality oppositions in the last couple of years. I can't see where we can improve this.
I think we are going to have trouble this Friday against Melbourne's speedy type of game and then we travel to Canberra to play Sydney.
If we win both of those two games then I would reassess our chances again perhaps more optimistically.
But in reality I think we will make the 8 somewhere between 5th & 8.

[Sedat]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

That may be the case, but many teams have improved. Last year there was a clear gap between the top 4, the next best 4 and the also rans. Besides a couple of exceptions (Richmond, WC & Adelaide) the gap has certainly closed meaning at present there isn't as many 'easy' games.

I guess a lot can change over the course of the season, but at present it's a much harder task to pencil in games as certain wins than previously.... But I guess that has much to do with our own indifferent form as it has to do with other teams improvement.

The way 2009 panned out, we had several 'tough' games against fellow top 4 aspirants (we played the Pies, Saints and Cats all twice) but we also had more 'gimmee' games against the strugglers. This year have a much bigger proportion of games against mid-range contenders and finals aspirants, so our potential path to a top 4 finish is a lot more unpredictable this season. If we play to our ability and bring the necessary defensive intensity to the table, we will win a lot more games than we lose for the remainder of the season, but if we are a fraction off our game we will struggle to win enough games to make top 4.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

if we are a fraction off our game we will struggle to win enough games to make top 4.

There was a great article in this mornings Advertiser (strange, I know) by Mark Ricciuto essentially stating that it's very much in the mind these days, and if a team is not switched on, they are easily beaten.

It's not online, but here are a few pieces that I thought were worth a read:

"Fitness does not have a major say in outcomes because every club has professional fitness coaches and access to the best and latest technology.

Factors that can have a detrimental influence on mindset and confidence are the bounce of the ball, umpiring decisions, injuries, the crowd, weather, form and skill errors - including goal kicking. How players cope with these factors is crucial to the outcomes. Some players will be affected by it, others won't. Often it will come down to how many leaders you have in your team as opposed to how many followers there are.

Leaders are generally stronger in the mind and can rise to the occasion in any situation. Followers can fall by the wayside."

[Charlie the Wonder Dog]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

for me its a resounding YES.

I've posted the 'why' in another thread, but essentially I see us as having a lot of improvement in us. I am confident our brains trust have a specific plan to set us up to peak at the right end of the season.

I remember the Bulldogs side that was red hot in the early middle of last season, we have a number of very important players down on form currently, that won't continue indefinitely.

[chef]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

The heart says yes but my head voted no. According to form this year we have only beaten the super easy beats. Combined after 6 rounds those teams we beaten have only won 1 game in total! We didn't stand up in the other matches when it counted...in that all important 4th quarter.
This year the overall competition has really improved and teams seem so fast and we are that one year older. This can be decisive when you are on the wrong side of 30.
Also our forward line hasn't really clicked yet and time is running out if we don't want to drop anymore games for a while.
Our other worry is winning the close games against quality oppositions in the last couple of years. I can't see where we can improve this.
I think we are going to have trouble this Friday against Melbourne's speedy type of game and then we travel to Canberra to play Sydney.
If we win both of those two games then I would reassess our chances again perhaps more optimistically.
But in reality I think we will make the 8 somewhere between 5th & 8.

I feel we will account for the Demons quite easily. We will come out breathing fire.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

I feel we will account for the Demons quite easily. We will come out breathing fire.

Here's hoping you are right and I am wrong. Normally I am a very optimistic supporter but just at the moment for various reasons that I have previously mentioned I have my doubts.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

There How players cope with these factors is crucial to the outcomes. Some players will be affected by it, others won't. Often it will come down to how many leaders you have in your team as opposed to how many followers there are.

Leaders are generally stronger in the mind and can rise to the occasion in any situation. Followers can fall by the wayside."

I've said pretty much the same thing in a different thread (the Gia one) about pressure. For some reason we don't look like having a lot of players who will simply drag the team across the line the way Johnno wants to (and is why he is still the clear captain) but can't really physically do anymore.

A team like Brisbane in the early noughties (and Geelong to a certain extent) were chock-a-block of players like this on every line, and Voss himself would bash and crash three packs just to change the momentum of a game. We are full of uber-skilled players who are hardened in the body, but we don't have a player that is willing to do the crazy, foolhardy competitive-nut stuff that will stamp our authority on the game.. we tend to win by silk (Lake plucking defensive marks, Cooney running away from a pack, Gilbee spotting up a teammate 60m away, Griff picking up the ball one-handed), and silent assassins are all very well and good, but sometimes we just need a hand grenade.

The only one last Friday trying to crash through packs at pace was Harbrow. Even Coons, on that last ball up after the Saints had scored their last goal, didn't want to pick the ball up and rather timidly toe-poked it forward five metres and ran after it. And we've always heard that Griff shies away from the leadership positions, which is a real shame.

We need statement players, making statement plays when the moment calls for it, where we play like the favourites we're supposed to be, rather than be full of front-runners too scared to take the responsibility of carrying the mantle of the best team in the comp.

Callan Ward, come on down. (When fit, of course, and maybe not this year, but soon. If he's not a clear candidate for the captaincy over the next 5 years, I'm a lemon-fish.)

[DOG GOD]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

I've said pretty much the same thing in a different thread (the Gia one) about pressure. For some reason we don't look like having a lot of players who will simply drag the team across the line the way Johnno wants to (and is why he is still the clear captain) but can't really physically do anymore.

A team like Brisbane in the early noughties (and Geelong to a certain extent) were chock-a-block of players like this on every line, and Voss himself would bash and crash three packs just to change the momentum of a game. We are full of uber-skilled players who are hardened in the body, but we don't have a player that is willing to do the crazy, foolhardy competitive-nut stuff that will stamp our authority on the game.. we tend to win by silk (Lake plucking defensive marks, Cooney running away from a pack, Gilbee spotting up a teammate 60m away, Griff picking up the ball one-handed), and silent assassins are all very well and good, but sometimes we just need a hand grenade.

The only one last Friday trying to crash through packs at pace was Harbrow. Even Coons, on that last ball up after the Saints had scored their last goal, didn't want to pick the ball up and rather timidly toe-poked it forward five metres and ran after it. And we've always heard that Griff shies away from the leadership positions, which is a real shame.

We need statement players, making statement plays when the moment calls for it, where we play like the favourites we're supposed to be, rather than be full of front-runners too scared to take the responsibility of carrying the mantle of the best team in the comp.

Callan Ward, come on down. (When fit, of course, and maybe not this year, but soon. If he's not a clear candidate for the captaincy over the next 5 years, I'm a lemon-fish.)

Fantastic post Lantern, Agree 100%

For me, Hahn would be the IDEAL hand grenade in our team bar Bazza. As he goes in and out of games he sometimes needs to just "bust a nut" and crash some packs whether fwd or midfield.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Will we make the top 4?

How things have changed from about 5 minutes to go against the Dees to 9 nights later.

We are already 4th, that was a bit quicker than I expected. So what about our rivals.

I see Collingwood and Geelong as locks to finish in the top 3.

Freo are 6-2 and I don't think they were that bad on Friday, running out of steam after a 6 day break traveling across our great land. They should be right up there if they can keep winning at home.

The Swans have lost 3 games against quality opposition and are really struggling with injuries to key players. Huge game against Freo, I think they are in the next bracket of sides now.

Saints have lost 3 of their last 4 games. Their next 3 games are against sides in the bottom four. I think they might struggle against West Coast at Subi though. Lucky to finish top 6 and could even miss out on the 8.

The Lions have been hit massively with injury. Drummond is an enormous out for the season and Brennan's versatility will be really missed. Fev and Brown are obviously hampered. Another one which will struggle to hold onto a spot in the top 6/8.

Carlton are emerging as a top 4 contender. They have worried us for awhile and have been in impressive form over the last 5 weeks. Wins away and against both grand finalists, the only lose being to the red hot Pies.

Two massive games next week with Pies v Cats and Swans v Freo.

My top 8 at end of H & A season FWIW (without looking at the fixture and bound to change by Friday night)

Collingwood
Geelong
Bulldogs
Fremantle
Carlton
Sydney
Brisbane

I found the top 4 easier than 5-8.