Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

[Evel]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Really makes you wonder where this midfield group is at, we've seemingly gone from a highly skilled, quick moving though heavily outside unit, to a tough in and under, hard ball winning unit with lesser skills but this year we're seeing the worst of both, poor skills and smacked in the clearances, all without a massive turnover in midfield personnel.

You've pretty much summed it up. Certainly in the last couple of years our midfield hasn't adapted to the way top teams play. In all our games this year, when we win the ball, we do tend to hack the kick forward instead of trying to spread or look for a running option and it's always got us into trouble. Teams like the Pies and even Essendon this year all seem to be able to break away from the contest, whereas we've struggled. Our lack of midfield pace with players like Cross and Boyd has been discussed before and from the Victorian games I've seen this year, this lack of pace does show when these players can't get to a contest in time or run to close the space when trying to defend.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Boyd can get all the ball he wants each week, but if he uses it at 67% efficiency, it's useless.

Thats a comment that Mark Maclure mentioned in his post match reviewon ABC radio. He said that Boyds stats showed he picked up plenty of possessions but he didnt really notice him having any real effect on the game.

[Evel]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

At least we have picked a good year to have a bad season. No one will get close to Collingwood for the flag this year.

We are probably better off concentrating getting some experience into Wally, Libba, LJ, Roughy, Merlin, Marko etc, so they will be ready to complement the existing players for a full on assault at the flag in 2012 and 2013.

As for Rocket, the game plan is fine - it is the execution and lack of work ethic that is killing us.

Agree with this. Although it stings to lose, getting games into younger players is a good thing. We've lost a lot of senior experience last year and likely to lose some more this year. In a tough competition, realistically we were always likely to slip. It will not be a wasted year if we get games into the above quoted players and perhaps a few more like Djkrra (sorry for abbreviation), Veszpremi, Skinner, Schofield just to get a taste of their capabilities. After all this is list we have and we need to give opportunities if they are deserved. If we cop an injury even Dalhaus must be a chance for promotion. I give Eade credit in that I think he realises he needs to develop new players to reload.

Please don't think I'm being a smart ass, but I would love to hear your thoughts on Rocket's game plan and what he's trying to execute. I have only seen the Victorian games this year from level 3 on the wing and I honestly cannot pickup what our game plan is.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Thats a comment that Mark Maclure mentioned in his post match reviewon ABC radio. He said that Boyds stats showed he picked up plenty of possessions but he didnt really notice him having any real effect on the game.

It's not the first & won't be the last time he does this, him and Cross are very much culprits of this.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Who did Picken and Morris pick up today? Noticed they a prominent once again in The Marmo votes.

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Who did Picken and Morris pick up today? Noticed they a prominent once again in The Marmo votes.

Picko was on McGlynn, Morris was on Goodes when forward and when he wasn't he rotated on many.

Both were more than serviceable.

[the banker]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

The big thing for me though was that we look unfit as a group. What exactly were they doing during the pre-season?


Feel this could have been the strategy and ATM looks like it will backfire. We have failed to see seasons out strongly and maybe we have had the training regime geared to the backend of the season?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Who did Picken and Morris pick up today? Noticed they a prominent once again in The Marmo votes.

McGlynn was kept quite, but, Picken was our worst user of the ball today.

[ledge]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

The way the Tigers are playing tonight we will get smashed next week.

[Greystache]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

They're Richmond, there's always hope.

The way the Tigers are playing tonight we will get smashed next week.

Nah I think we'll belt Richmond, the one thing I'm confident about this team is they'll belt a weakish team. Boyd, Gia, Higgins will all have a field day, against a good team they'll give us nothing, but give them a chance to front run and we'll be away.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

The big thing for me though was that we look unfit as a group. What exactly were they doing during the pre-season?


Feel this could have been the strategy and ATM looks like it will backfire. We have failed to see seasons out strongly and maybe we have had the training regime geared to the backend of the season?

I think this was the strategy, due to fade outs over the last couple of seasons. The trouble might be that if your not in contention it's all for nought.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Tiges are going to be bloody tough to beat if we play like we did in the 3rd qtr we are GAWN

[Greystache]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Yeah 10 marks, 23ish possessions and 2 goals in a losing side amounts to exactly nothing...

Sydney aren't a good team, they're middle of the road along with us, Adelaide, and Carlton.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Boyd can get all the ball he wants each week, but if he uses it at 67% efficiency, it's useless.

So Boyd had more effective disposals than anyone, then?

[azabob]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R7 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney Swans

Im at a loss what should be done.

I thought our rucks were beaten quite badly, our midfield was poor and so was the forward line.
Both forwards and mids don't seem to work hard enough to help out when needed.

When Murphy cramped why were there teamates hanging around him rather than running to space to provide an option?

It appears we are in some sort of transition phase but still expecting to win.

Cross did well today - I think he went head to head with Bolton but who does he match up on next week? Richmond is very very quick.

Jones and Grant are struggling and the forward line looks just as slow as it did last year.