Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

[Greystache]

Robert Walls touched on it a couple of weeks ago, and as much as I try to take no notice of anything he says, his article about the Bulldogs lack of a “Bus Driver” has stuck with me.*

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/key-dogs-need-to-steer-team-to-a-premiership-20100506-uguz.html?rand=1273152813789

*
Basically he was saying that the Bulldogs don’t have a player that when the big moment comes can stand up and drag his team over the line.* Friday night provided another opportunity for someone to disprove the theory and unfortunately no one was able to do it.* This got me to thinking*the one thing we don’t have and haven’t had for (at least in the 30 years) I’ve been watching the Bulldogs is not just a player who can drag their side to victory in a big game the way James Hird, *Darren Jarman, Michael Voss, or Paul Chapman have done in recent finals, but a player who can step up on the big stage when the moment calls for it.
*
On Friday night we kicked 2.5 to 4.1 in the final quarter to lose by 3 points (several of which we pretty gettable shots), this followed the 2009 preliminary final last quarter where we kicked 1.4 to 2.0 to lose by 7 points (again several were pretty easy shots), the 2009 qualifying final last quarter where we kicked 4.6 to 1.3 and while we were probably never going to win that one we had all the momentum and killed it by missing some really easy shot.* Even in the 2008 prelim final we had Geelong on the ropes but again blew our chances by kicking 2.4 and a couple of others failing to score (Eagleton and Minson) in the 3rd quarter.*
*
The Americans call it a clutch performer, here we call it a Big Game Player or more accurately a Big Moment Player, but the question remains why have we failed to produce players that carry this intangible quality?* When talking about our club and current playing group, experienced players (in particular Aker and Barry Hall) have mentioned numerous times about what a humble group it is without lots of egos.* Does this lack of arrogant players also leave us with a void of players who want to be headline news?* Does our leadership groups determination to have such a team culture stamp out the characteristic that also helps a player take the big moment by the scruff of the neck and say “I’m the man to deliver”.

I was at Friday night’s game with some neutral supporters, predominantly Essendon, and their view was “the Bulldogs just don’t have that big headed bloke with a swagger that wins you the close games”.

What are the views of other Bulldogs supporters on this?

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

The group as a whole is too conservative for mine. If a player shares a different view, we lose our marbles. (Eg. Aker's Handstand v Port) It seems as though it's very easy to derail this group's line of thinking. At football clubs, there's different personalities and opinions - IMO we have too many of the same and aren't accepting of those outside of it.

Arguably our recruiting leans this way too. We overlooked Lance Franklin for Ryan Griffen and although Hawthorn did too, they selected Roughy as their 'safe' option who isn't bad either. Griff's a good player but unfortunately he's not a match winner and it's looking more likely he never will be. I can understand why we'd pick Griffen over Franklin at the time, but again - the whole conservative, safe approach doesn't always work.

We would of hoped Cooney and Higgins would fill this void but both aren't capable to date either. Their skill level in high pressured games isn't great and aside from a couple of games, haven't ever 'dragged' us over the line in a close game.

Lake has the ability to do it forward and back but he can't play in two positions at once (sadly). The only other guy I see potentially becoming a match winner for this club is Jarrad Grant. He take a big grab, he's exceptionally quick, he's smart and is always very lively/dangerous around the ball. He's displayed unique qualities in most of his games this year. Whether he can develop into the player the club hopes, I'm not sure, but he's our next best bet IMO.

[stefoid]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Coon, Lake and Johno have done it from time to time.

Johno tried to do it late in the game against the hawks but there was just nobody to kick it to, and he was probably buggered as.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Totally agree and unfortunately it has been the case for awhile with the dogs, don;t have any players who just demand that ball to kick the winning goal. I also think J grant is our best bet, saw him win a game for Willy off his own boot, when he gets bigger and fitter he will be unstoppable. Seems to have that something about him.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Bob Murphy looked like he wanted to have a say in the final quarter on Friday - one shot on the run from 50 bounces a few metres closer to goal and we're all in different moods today.

Boyd grabbing the ball out of the ruck to give to Wood (who's run and penetrating kick forward under pressure I liked) was inspirational. Pity it wasn't rewarded with 10 more seconds of time left....or a decent shephard

Aka has the swagger - I think back to the Melbourne game, he was clean in the wet in the 3rd quarter when it looked like slipping away from us. I still like him in our side if he can get fit and lose his voice.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Cooney and Griffen the most likely, but both seem to not have the mental aptitude or swagger as you put it to consistently stand up in big games. Coons seems like a knockabout bloke who is more of a follower than a leader (although i think he's improving), and Griff comes across as quite a shy type of kid.
Cal Ward for mine has that strut. He verbals guys, hits hard, and looks hungry and willing to take the game on, he wants the ball to go his way or he'll make it. When he gets to 25 he will be that player i think. Maybe a focused recruiting strategy in the future will bring some more guys like him our way.

Hodge, Mitchell and Franklin's last quarter clutch goals on Fri night illustrated your point, made all the difference.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

I reckon Boyd is our best guy to step up when it counts. Hes tough and the ball out. Last year he managed to kick a few goals also. Only problem his skills / disposals are not always the best. Hmmm
Even in the last quarter against the Hawks he seemed the only one who got the ball forward etc...
Even the last play he was the one who got it out to Wood i think.
Maybe he doesnt quiet have the class of Selwood, Judd, Mitchell, Hodge, Dane Swan but not sure they are real classy? Hmmm classy would be more Ablett, Chapman, Simon Black in his day....
Well they are all good players and step up when it counts. For the most part i think Boyd tries to also. Well hes less likely to go missing compared to Cooney i reckon

[The Pie Man]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Cooney and Griffen the most likely, but both seem to not have the mental aptitude or swagger as you put it to consistently stand up in big games. Coons seems like a knockabout bloke who is more of a follower than a leader (although i think he's improving), and Griff comes across as quite a shy type of kid.
Cal Ward for mine has that strut. He verbals guys, hits hard, and looks hungry and willing to take the game on, he wants the ball to go his way or he'll make it. When he gets to 25 he will be that player i think. Maybe a focused recruiting strategy in the future will bring some more guys like him our way.

Hodge, Mitchell and Franklin's last quarter clutch goals on Fri night illustrated your point, made all the difference.

3rd quarter collect of the loose ball and head straight to goal to find Johnson was gold - just made it look so easy, and it was all about making a positive move.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Griff's a good player but unfortunately he's not a match winner and it's looking more likely he never will be.

Round 7, V Melbourne. Short memories !
IMO, A little side issue, We need a bit more leadership. that is why we are fading away, not for want of a 'clutch player' . Hodge and Mitchell are good leaders. They were the difference on Friday.


Anyway, In short, I feel we have the cattle this year but not the consistent captaincy. On paper, we should maybe should have won Friday's game but lacked a little poise perhaps?..

[Greystache]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Round 7, V Melbourne. Short memories !

I wouldn't call Melbourne the big stage.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Well, you could say that. You could also look at it that Melbourne did almost pip Collingwood ( Pies by a point and very lucky to win) . Comp is much more even than people give credit for.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Well, you could say that. You could also look at it that Melbourne did almost pip Collingwood ( Pies by a point and very lucky to win) . Comp is much more even than people give credit for.

Eagleton is nearly BOG every Semi Final, but it doesn't make him a big game/moment player.

Griff has a long, long way to go before he can be called a match winner.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

Does any one remember the spray Cooney got by Rocket at the Gabba game (a couple of seasons ago) and Cooney cleared the ruck with the ball strode down the middle and kicked that goal when it was needed?

Thats what i want more of!

[Flamethrower]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

There is more to it than being the player to step up and kick an important goal. There is also the issue of allowing the opposition time and space to kick goals when the game is on the line.

Twice this year (v St Kilda and now Hawthorn) we had a lead in the last Q only to allow the opposition to win a clearance and kick a goal to give them the lead. It was Sam Fisher for the Saints, who was all by himself when he got the ball to give the Saints the lead. And again on Friday night, Sam Mitchell and then Luke Hodge were metres clear when they gained possession to kick goals for the Hawks.

Being switched on in these situations is just as important as nailing a goal at the other end. Unfortunately for Mitch Hahn, he was the culpritt on at least 2 of these occasions, as he was caught out of position without an opponent at the stop plays. Will Minson and Matthew Boyd were also culpable - both blindly punching the ball into a dangerous area right where Mitchell and Hodge were waiting.

[Desipura]

Re: Big Moment Players or Clutch Perfomers

The player that Walls refers to is an out and out champion. We do not have one, we rely on an even contribution from all players.