Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

[Greystache]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

As we all know he had three fairly significant back to back operations over the pre season. I'm not sure we're really giving Brian enough respect here. I fear there is a production line mentality going on with his recovery timeline.

Although it is hurting us now as we desperately want him to return in all his glory, I'd prefer we err on the side of letting Brian know how how his body is fairing post op rather than having to swollow the line that 'all players play through injury', that he should be somehow pushing through it harder.

Absolutely, lets encourage him to regain his fitness and confidence but I'm struggling to condemn him for his lack of progress.

Nobody rates Lake higher than I do, but as Bornadog said Lake looked seriously underdone. Underdone to the point where you have to wonder what's been going on, how could such a key player be so far off the pace at this time of year.

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Not alone at all.

How Hill gets dropped and Stack is allowed to dish up that sort of garbage week after week without consequence is remarkable.

and what sort of garbage are you referring to?

Look, I do stick up a bit for Stack, because I am prepared to give him some slack. He has played less than 20 games and shown something. Yes he does struggle with his decision making but he also shows potential. Between the development of Wood and Stack, I would say they are even. I compare them as they are fighting for a similar role in the team, and they have both played around the same number of games. Stack just needs to ensure his intensity is up nfor 100% of the game and not less as is the case sometimes.

If you are not prepared to develop players with some pain along the way, we will have to keep the older players as long as possible.

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Nobody rates Lake higher than I do, but as Bornadog said Lake looked seriously underdone. Underdone to the point where you have to wonder what's been going on, how could such a key player be so far off the pace at this time of year.

Having said that, I hope he plays this week, because if he can play VFL, then he can play AFL and we need him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Hill was much worse than Stack against Richmond and wouldn't have been in our bottom 10 against West Coast.

In my opinion I would prefer Hill to Stack every day of the week. Hill will fluctuate with form, but he is 10 times the footballer Stack is.

I would like to see Josh back in the forward line, he is a tricky match up and even when he is not in the game he still manages to kick goals.

This is Josh's last chance at the club as far as I can see. We have a plethora of forwards who are struggling, I just can't see how he is not given an extended run.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

and what sort of garbage are you referring to?

Look, I do stick up a bit for Stack, because I am prepared to give him some slack. He has played less than 20 games and shown something. Yes he does struggle with his decision making but he also shows potential. Between the development of Wood and Stack, I would say they are even. I compare them as they are fighting for a similar role in the team, and they have both played around the same number of games. Stack just needs to ensure his intensity is up nfor 100% of the game and not less as is the case sometimes.

If you are not prepared to develop players with some pain along the way, we will have to keep the older players as long as possible.

How much slack can you give a bloke?

It's not only his decision making that is questionable, he plays purely on instinct and doesn't have the disposal to think on the run. He fumbles more time than not and offers no drive with his run or disposal. He constantly plays on and runs right into a pack of opposition players.

I 'm scratching my head at how you can compare Stack's development to Easton Wood???? equal amount of games is the only similarity, their development couldn't be anymore polar opposite.

[Mantis]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Having said that, I hope he plays this week, because if he can play VFL, then he can play AFL and we need him.

I would be absolutely staggered if you really believe this....

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

I would be absolutely staggered if you really believe this....

Should have put in a small proviso, ie as long as his fitness is up

[Doc26]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Nobody rates Lake higher than I do, but as Bornadog said Lake looked seriously underdone. Underdone to the point where you have to wonder what's been going on, how could such a key player be so far off the pace at this time of year.

Having said that, I hope he plays this week, because if he can play VFL, then he can play AFL and we need him.

Apologies to the OP as we're now off topic (although not all a bad thing )

He's most certainly underdone in both fitness and form.

Although not unprecedented it would be a remarkable turnaround if this week he was to be selected in our first 22 and hold his own against the Hawthorn forward line.

As already conveyed his performance last week barely stood up to VFL standard, it would be a brave MC call to promote him on the output I saw.

[1eyedog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Although I'm not necessarily advocating for a change of coach I do advocate for a change in our leadership culture across the board.
Should Rodney take sole responsibility for all of this ? I don't think so although that's not to say he may now inadvertantly be playing some part in the cultural issue. I do feel it would be short sighted and narrow minded to simply change the coach as the panacea to our fall when there are more systemic issues regarding broader leadership, list management and development that has been going on for many years.

Cultural and leadership issues aside I am concerned with our inability to play with intent to the modern game plan. The injuries to key players has not helped our cause but it is concerning how amateurish we have looked trying to handball our way out and generally cope with Collingwood's and West Coast's press. This is an area that Rodney should take responsibility for.

If we must entertain a change to our coaching panel I would be giving Scott Burns a call as he has been able to get his troops engaged and with great discipline to the modern game plan. Getting him though will be no easy task as I suspect Buckley probably has him high on his shopping list.

This sounds great but what does it mean? Dropping players as an example? Ommitting others from the group? Sorry, I don't see any cultural or leadership issues you have discussed so why do you set them aside?

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

As already conveyed his performance last week barely stood up to VFL standard, it would be a brave MC call to promote him on the output I saw.

I wasn't there last Saturday and I am not sure whether it was you or someone else who said that Brian looked like he didn't want to be there. Is it now his fitness (we are up to round 10 for the year, so surely he is getting close to full fitness)) or his attitude and demeanour and maybe he is just better off in the AFL?

[1eyedog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Pretty harsh on Murphy. Would probably be winning our B&F atm. Cross is the other harsh one, but i understand the justification with him, especially when you consider the mixture of similiar players at the club (hard at it one paced players like Boyd, Addison, Ward, Reid, Liberatore).



But realistically where do you find another Jonathan Brown? How many are in the entire league? There would be barely any. I agree that I would love a leader of the ilk of Brown, but you can't just go out and "recruit" one.

I will assume he means he will retire Murphy in 2-3 years time.

[Mantis]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Should have put in a small proviso, ie as long as his fitness is up

All reports coming back is that his fitness is below the standard required so until it improves he needs to continue to play in the VFL.

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

All reports coming back is that his fitness is below the standard required so until it improves he needs to continue to play in the VFL.

Thats fine, but why did we play him against Freo and Collingwood? Was he fit then? If so, what happened, did he reinjure himslef. I just don't get it.

[Greystache]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

I wasn't there last Saturday and I am not sure whether it was you or someone else who said that Brian looked like he didn't want to be there. Is it now his fitness (we are up to round 10 for the year, so surely he is getting close to full fitness)) or his attitude and demeanour and maybe he is just better off in the AFL?

Or is it his attitude toward training that is affecting his fitness? I can't understand if he's been training at 100% intensity for the past 12 weeks how he can still be so unfit. Something doesn't add up.

[Bornadog]

Re: Candidacy - Senior Coach - Western Bulldogs

Or is it his attitude toward training that is affecting his fitness? I can't understand if he's been training at 100% intensity for the past 12 weeks how he can still be so unfit. Something doesn't add up.

Yes thats what I am saying. We haven't been told the truth.