Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

24 contested possessions. 12 clearances. He gets it on inside where the pressure and heat are immense. He was everywhere. Gets a lot of ball to the outside runners. Winning the inside footy is such an important part of the game. He is not the reason we lost.

Not saying he is the reason we lost. We lost for a whole host of other reasons, most notably a dysfunctional forward set up who desppite having most of the possession in the 3rd quarter failing to capiatlise. My issue with Boyd is pretty simple. So often he would get the ball and just kick in hope. Its one thing getting 45 possessions it another using then effectively!

[chef]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I guess that is fair enough, but that was a really good game against very good opposition.

I feel better about the season now than I did before the bounce...

Same here.

[chef]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Was Stack poor?

Hell no, it's just being a whipping boy people focus more on his mistakes than anyone else.

[the banker]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Why start Wallis in the guts when the game is on the line at the start of the last quarter?

They had two easy clearances for two easy goals. They score two goals in 90 seconds after scoring one lucky goal in the entire third term. Very strange decision.

Why not go with your guns in the centre at such a critical time?

And why wasn't Lake down back once we go 7 points up in time on?

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I'm being accurate.

IIRC in late 2000 we took on a hot Carlton side before Kouta did his knee. We were way under strength and beat the bastards. A few weeks later, we beat the "unbeatable" Bombers side.

And then in in 2002 with club in chaos we had that memorable draw against the Bombers and then IIRC last round beat the worthy 2002 grand finalists the Pies.

Victories won with heart against better opponents.

We beat the unbeatable Bombers because Wallace had come up with a brilliant game plan not because we just rallied and won with the heart.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I agree with the few who say there are a few positives to come out of the game:

1) We only just lost to a strong side that's up and running in Perth and quite a few of our A Graders didn't have good nights. A couple in Cooney and Lake can possibly be put on lacking match fitness. Either way, I'd rather them at 100% in September, unlike last year. Yes we need to win enough games to make the 4, but we can still do that.

2) Sherman, whilst not a heap of the ball kicked a small bag and looks to be fitting in well - he'll get better as the year progresses and offers us something we were lacking last year.

3) Higgins is getting a lot of the ball, perhaps not still at the level we need but not far off at all - if he can keep getting 25-30 touches and start nailing all of his shots on goal he's very important.

4) It's a long season. Longer than normal even so we've got time to fine tune, make adjustments and get it right. At this time last year 5 rounds in, Brisbane was 4-1, and Sydney was on top of the ladder. Most pundits were talking about a St Kilda v Geelong grand final and Collingwood were miles off being seen as a dominant force who'll win every premiership for the next 5 years. Hawthorn, who had only won 1 game at that stage made the 8.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

That being said, any day Van Berlo and Bradley kick 4 each is not a proud day.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

OH dear, Williams back related hammy , Lake ankle, so a potential backline against Collingwood of Markovic at FB,Morris, Murphy, Stack and whoever else we have who is tall enough/ strong enough vs Cloke, Dawes, Brown, Jolly etc

Our midfield will have to improve it's effective disposals . Our forward line needs a restructure - we need more defensive pressure, leading for the ball, more crumbing for the ball . We must focus on running the ball into the Forward 50 then make a decision to either kick the goal or pass to a leading player - just bombing it in to a stationary pack does not work

How much pressure we can apply to Collingwood to restrict their ball movement will determine our place in the 8

.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Did anyone watch the Anzac game and get a bit of hope?
I thought Essendon were right in it. They are a bit of a smaller team like us, or slighter. If we bring that intensity last night into the game, I'll be pretty satisfied.

[mjp]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Really? About our inability to ice games, or convert opportunities, or execute basic skills?

No. About our ability to crack in at the contest, apply defensive pressure and continue working/fighting when the chips are down.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Did anyone watch the Anzac game and get a bit of hope?
I thought Essendon were right in it. They are a bit of a smaller team like us, or slighter. If we bring that intensity last night into the game, I'll be pretty satisfied.

I did but they were squashed last night when they threw away another close game against quality opposition. I've simmered since last night but my outlook is still pretty bleak right now for next week and beyond.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Did anyone watch the Anzac game and get a bit of hope?
I thought Essendon were right in it. They are a bit of a smaller team like us, or slighter. If we bring that intensity last night into the game, I'll be pretty satisfied.

Nope, I think we'll get thumped.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

No. About our ability to crack in at the contest, apply defensive pressure and continue working/fighting when the chips are down.

Fair enough, I think our deficiencies negate those things.

[mjp]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

A number of heart transplants.

This is crap.

We played hard last night and I don't think we lost because of lack of effort. The past two games we had crushing wins and all anyone could talk about was the poor clearance work and lack of pressure...last night both of those things were excellent.

We came back from 20 points down early in the last quarter playing interstate in front of a very large (and loud) crowd...we didn't ice the game...OK - I get it. But pointing the finger at individuals or suggesting we need a heart transplant is simply wrong.

The things that cost us (yes, Stack's handball, Boyd's rushed kick out of the defensive stoppage) were errors of commission - players trying desperately to do things - rather than errors of ommission or mistakes made due to laziness or inaction.

[mjp]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Fair enough, I think our deficiencies negate those things.

But last week they WERE our deficiencies and what everyone wanted to see. It is all about winning - I get that - but sometimes the parts are greater than the whole. A gallant performance interstate - with a trip together at the end of it - has the potential to galvanise us. It was not the same side that played against Essendon last night.