Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

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.

Nice

[Greystache]

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 went, I took no hope from it.

The team that crushed us were outclassed by the team we played next week.

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. I'm expecting a blowout.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

The simple problem was a failure to execute.
I think I heard that we have a 54% kicking efficiency, not good enough at this level if you want to win games. Most of the other things needed to win the game were there, if we can get back to the elite disposal from a couple of years back then we will be hot favorites and good enough to take out the big one.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

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.

I had another look at Stack's handball. Grant had the ball and tried to runaway from his opponent in the forward 50, but was about to be caught, so instead of kicking it he turned backwards and handballed to Stack who was under pressure. Stack was tackled so he handballed towards Libba, but unfortunately it was at his feet and Freo took possession.

This is just one incident in many during 120 minutes. At the end of the day we should have tried to hang on in the last few minutes but with both Lake and Williams off the ground our defence wasn't able to hang on.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

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.

Well put, but I'm not sold. No, it wasn't the same side that played against Essendon, but it was the same one that can't put teams away when they should. A performance like that, but where we showed we can ice a game that we should have, would convince me more.

Nothing would please me more than to be proven wrong on this.

[Maddog37]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

If we split the next two weeks we will be 3/3. Same as last two years isn't it?

Getting Shaggy and Wood back would allow us to play Murphy forward which would gave been ideal last night.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

If we split the next two weeks we will be 3/3. Same as last two years isn't it?

Getting Shaggy and Wood back would allow us to play Murphy forward which would gave been ideal last night.

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.

[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.

Hall must be played with a crumber. It's madness otherwise.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Indeed! And even the commentators are calling him 'Shermanator'

In the age, it says delivery to hall was just too high, allowing McPhee to punch it out at will.

[anfo27]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Indeed! And even the commentators are calling him 'Shermanator'

In the age, it says delivery to hall was just too high, allowing McPhee to punch it out at will.

He played in the forward line

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I thought our intensity was up and we certainly flipped the ball around with speed, thus enabling a player to get free. But the freed up player would either bomb the ball forward or try to hit a leading target. A leading target needs to mark the ball out the front of his face in a contested situation. I saw Cloke do it against Essendon, but we seem unable to do it at all. We have the ball punched away from us or we drop it.

I am concerned about our leg speed and think we will struggle to contain the spread and run of teams like Collingwood and Essendon.

Add to this is our appalling execution where we make unforced errors of missing targets completely. What concerns me most is that we have been like this for a couple of years now. Gone are the days when Gilbee would be run through the middle with a long pinpoint pass to our forwards. The top teams don't miss targets like we do. And in a game that is essentially keepings off we just have to do better if we are to be top 4 in 2011.

[anfo27]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

I didn't see many positives last night other than our intensity, never give in attitude and another game into the kids.
I've red a few posters suggesting we are still top4 material, i think we need to be realistic. There are a number of teams who have clearly gone past us and we are quickly becoming irrelevant when it comes to serious finals challengers. We should worry about making the 8 let alone the 4, i think we are in a world of trouble & a big chance not to make the 8.
Yes i am one of the Stack bashers but thought he tooka step in the right direction tonight. Yeah he made some errors but overall i saw more from him last night than i have from his previous 14 games combined. Gilbee on the other hand is a worry, missed 2 shots which is his bread & butter in the 1st 5 minutes of the game.
Was disgusted with Rougheads effort for the first 3quarters. He has a guy in the 2's who has played 3 BOGs and to come out with that tackling effort on Van Berlo (i think, can't remember quarter) to kick an easy goal was disgraceful. Wasn't pleased with Huddo's first 3quarters either.
I have never seen a team drop so many uncontested mark in a game before, that really hurt us.
Cooney's decision making and kicking is bewildering for someone who is suppose to be elite. Classic example was when he had the ball on his own 55m out, had 2 team mates run to provide an option and all he had to do was draw the defender, handball over the top for an easy goal but no he had to choose the most difficult option which stopped us from scoring all together, I can't believe we didn't score from that.
Big Barry was terrible. We really need a runner to carry a snickers bar with him at all times for situations just like last night.
Can't understand posters potting Boyd for last nights effort. We know his kicking isn't top shelf so we shouldn't be expecting perfection. He gets the ball under a lot of pressure and he doesn't have the ability to do what a Pendlebury can. Libba on the other hand showed great composure to pick out Grant in that last quarter when under immense pressure.
Hats off to Morris, Picken, Boyd & few others who were fantastic.
I'm going overseas next week so thankfully i will spared from watching the Collingwood game as i really can't see us get within 10 goals of them.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

The Age gave one of the worst summaries of the game I have seen. A goal to 'ryan' Higgins, and Cooney in the best, among other clangers (conversely ward, Morris and Picken NOT in best, seeming to suggest a reporter who just scanned possession numbers.) Hopeless.

For what it's worth, thanks to MJP and Rocco for summing up my feelings about the game. Not a lack of heart or effort, but maybe a history of failure that has hung around the club makes us over anxious, introverted, burdened by fear of losing which sometimes swamps more than the fierce desire to win. Anyone who doubts their desire and heart is just silly.

But, we could have, should have, won. Despite these factors which give me hope :

1. shockers from our better players..cooney, hall. You'd like to think they could not play as poorly again. Also seriously doubting where gilbee is at.
2. back line which has been unstable for first few rounds..Brian absent, markovich though fitting in well still learning, stack ditto. Our key defenders Williams and Brian were not out there in last quarter (Williams injured, Brian in fwd line and then ??? Injured??)
3. Draw has not helped us regain confidence, skills, flow, and a recognizable 'game plan '.

Yet if we had eliminated one or two of the howlers (stacks handball, murph's OOF, hudsons dropped mark, hill's defensive effort which all cost goals)..we would have won, in a tough road trip. how buoyant would we all be if just one of those things had gone differently. I know some may say the point is, they don't far too often, but this is a game of inches..ask the saints and a rogue GF bounce.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

He played in the forward line

McPharlin

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R5 Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle

Big Barry was terrible. We really need a runner to carry a snickers bar with him at all times for situations just like last night.

He's a health nut, he wouldn't eat it!

i really can't see us get within 10 goals of them.

Agreed, unfortunately.