Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

In the age, it says delivery to hall was just too high,

True enough, and very frustrating (for us, let alone Barry!)

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

barry caanot play in the wet or dew. if any game is like this in the future he should be a late withdrawl

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I didn't think Barry was that bad.
I thought he worked his backside off pushing up the ground and trying to keep the ball in the F50. At the end he was either stuffed or injured. He got a lot of poor delivery and was often out numbered. 2 shots were from 50+. He was no worse than Higgins and Grant were for 3 quarters, Roughead for 4.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Barry had multiple on him on a number of occasions. Where were the crumbers?

Does Grant always misjudge marks? He generally seems to either run under the line or if he gets there it's almost past his apex and he's trying to mark at full extention, almost behind his bodyline.

Thought Roughy was poor, but with Hudson possibly tired, Barry injured, he may be needed down forward. If Huddo is drained then i really think Mince should come in. He's roaring atm.


Like to see Wallis and Libba stay in.

The Pies match is a real test for those that flashed in late in the game against Freo who should be 3-4 quarter perfomers.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Our game plan won't allow us to apply the pressure that Essendon were able to, and we won't handle the pressure Collingwood apply any better than Essendon did.

Bit harsh 'stache. Our game plan last night was good enough to withstand (for 117 minutes anyway) a team that implements a forward press every bit as fanatical as Collingwood's or Essendon's, and furthermore we were successful in regularly picking holes ourselves through the press. We have been frankly rubbish at handling the press, not to mention counter-attack through/around the press, in the last season and a bit, so for me the rate of improvement in 4 short weeks against this style of game has been significant. The key is for the playing group to buy in to this every week from now on.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

We do have a tough run coming up. Like MJP I was pleased with the intensity last night as well as the never give up attitude, which was lacking last year.

After watching some of the Essendon match, I thought Collingwood looked vulnerable, particularly with the Essendon talls in their forward line. Essendon really lost because Hooker is not good enough to take on Cloke. Our skill level is going to have to be spot on against Collingwood.

Actually, after watching today's game Hawks V Geelong, actually the Cats who I think may pose the greater challenge. Either way, I think we have to be realistic about the season.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

As an aside, I noticed that Ryan Crowley had the grand total of 2 possessions for the entire match playing a (monumentally unsuccessful) defensive forward role on Murph - going on that performance, I think Jayden Schofield might still have trouble recognising him

[Greystache]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Bit harsh 'stache. Our game plan last night was good enough to withstand (for 117 minutes anyway) a team that implements a forward press every bit as fanatical as Collingwood's or Essendon's, and furthermore we were successful in regularly picking holes ourselves through the press. We have been frankly rubbish at handling the press, not to mention counter-attack through/around the press, in the last season and a bit, so for me the rate of improvement in 4 short weeks against this style of game has been significant. The key is for the playing group to buy in to this every week from now on.

It is hard to tell from tv but I felt Freo's press isn't quite a refined as Essendon and substantially down on Collingwood's. Sunday will give us a better indication how much we've improved in our handling of intense pressure, like you said 2.5-3 quarters won't be good enough. The real issue is we yet again find ourselves kicking to a sole target inside forward 50 who has 2-3 opponents marking him, it happened all last season to Hall, and it happened the 2 years before that to Hahn, nothing has changed. It's so predictable opposition coaches know a loose defender across the defensive 50 will have a field day, yet we still allow our forwards to get sucked up the ground and stand stagnant in the midfield while we bomb long to a no win situation. Why? It's not as if they're providing such a vital role through the middle that we couldn't cope without the extra numbers, half the time we're bombing it in from the defensive side of the centre circle.

Which brings me to my major gripe.

The problem, or frustration more to the point, for me is this is only half the game, we also have to pressure and restrict Collingwood's attacks. It seems to me the only real improvement we've looked to make over the summer is in the area you've mentioned, and the jury's still out on how much progress we've actually made. Why we haven't made our primary off season focus to develop a vice like defensive press, or heaven forbid actually take a step forward and develop an evolution of last years successful tactic, and use that to help us take the next step is beyond my comprehension. Essendon were the most one dimensional, all out attacking, defenseless entity in recent memory, yet one preseason of pure focus on building a strong defensive structure and they have managed to pass about 8 other teams, and that's without having Brian Lake to repel attack after attack. We've been talking about it for 3 years, and other than a token effort to bring in a fringe player here and there who will chase in the forward line, we still concede nearly every opposition foray into the midfield will turn into an inside 50 entry, and just assume the defence will bail us out again.

I felt with the squad we've got we should have been a contender this year, but I think we'll be an also ran that gets exposed for lack of defensive structure, and a highly reboundable forward 50, not because we can't do it better but because we won't make it a non-negotiable for everyone in the team.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Which brings me to my major gripe.

The problem, or frustration more to the point, for me is this is only half the game, we also have to pressure and restrict Collingwood's attacks. It seems to me the only real improvement we've looked to make over the summer is in the area you've mentioned, and the jury's still out on how much progress we've actually made. Why we haven't made our primary off season focus to develop a vice like defensive press, or heaven forbid actually take a step forward and develop an evolution of last years successful tactic, and use that to help us take the next step is beyond my comprehension. Essendon were the most one dimensional, all out attacking, defenseless entity in recent memory, yet one preseason of pure focus on building a strong defensive structure and they have managed to pass about 8 other teams, and that's without having Brian Lake to repel attack after attack. We've been talking about it for 3 years, and other than a token effort to bring in a fringe player here and there who will chase in the forward line, we still concede nearly every opposition foray into the midfield will turn into an inside 50 entry, and just assume the defence will bail us out again.

I felt with the squad we've got we should have been a contender this year, but I think we'll be an also ran that gets exposed for lack of defensive structure, and a highly reboundable forward 50, not because we can't do it better but because we won't make it a non-negotiable for everyone in the team.

I don't believe defense is an issue for us. Last year we were in the top couple of teams for least kicked against us and so far this year its a similar situation.

[Greystache]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I don't believe defense is an issue for us. Last year we were in the top couple of teams for least kicked against us and so far this year its a similar situation.

Last year the top 3 sides averaged 110 points per game against us, it's a major issue against premiership contenders.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I felt with the squad we've got we should have been a contender this year, but I think we'll be an also ran that gets exposed for lack of defensive structure, and a highly reboundable forward 50, not because we can't do it better but because we won't make it a non-negotiable for everyone in the team.

It hasn't been a great start but I still think it's another month before we really know whether we can contest. Cooney had no pre-season and still looks far from settled. Just hope it is physical rather than mental or we are truely stuffed. Lake is still really only just out of hospital from a ridiculous number of operations. I hope barry hasn't suddenly hit middle age (yesterday was shocking) and then the grants, rougheads, wards etc need to really start to dig deep. Once shaggy comes back and we start to get some of guys fitter I'm hoping this group will start to gell again. I'm still confident we'll see different outfit in a month or so. The question will be whether it is then all too late. However,..... There's life in these old dogs yet!

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Last year the top 3 sides averaged 110 points per game against us, it's a major issue against premiership contenders.

Collingwood, yes but we also kicked 93, and 103 - still lost though, and that woeful game against Geelong. Forget the Saints they can't kick goals.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Last year the top 3 sides averaged 110 points per game against us, it's a major issue against premiership contenders.

Agree with this, we have leaked like a sieve against the best teams of late. Hence why I think restricting Freo to 85 points (should have been 71 points) on their own patch is a step in the right direction defensively. Worth noting that Freo kicked about the same score against the Cats earlier this season and missed a hatful of gettable goals in that match.

[Desipura]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

The problem is they don't work harder enough to get the pill often enough. Cooney 22 touches, Griffen 23 touches. Boyd doesn't have their talent but has a heart the size of Phar Lap.

Boyd tonight.

45 touches.
24 contested possessions.
12 clearances.
7 tackles.

A captains game.

No one can question they way he lead the team. His opponent had 1 good quarter

[Desipura]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

He's hugely popular with the supporters who often can't find fault with him. At times I think I was the lone hand on the forum that didn't want him as the captain.

Correction, no you were not the only one.