Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Also their mids seem to run a LOT harder. When the got the ball there seemed to be players busting their guts to get to open space with not a Bulldog player to be seen. Was it a forward press causing these holes further up the ground?

They worked harder all night, as evidenced by their numerical advantage at almost every contest.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

He is not a full back, he plays better at CHB and not so deep in the opposition forward line.

We lost the game today because the midfield got smashed. Cooney, Griffen, Boyd, Cross, Ward no where to be seen when Ziebel and Swallow picked up nearly 80 disposals between them.

Bit harsh on Ward I reckon. Played alright.

Griffen has been off the past couple weeks.
Boyd has an unreal ability to, from a free kick/mark situation, hit the opposition lace out and 5 meters in the clear. It cost us at vital times today.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

They worked harder all night, as evidenced by their numerical advantage at almost every contest.

So just lack of work rate and not positioning? It happened to often which why I question our positioning when the ball was in the forward half.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

I had Tom right in front of me.
He got pinged for holding two or three times and rightly so. He's panicking and hugging his opponent. Worries too much about his man and needs eyes for the ball at times

Yeah saw a lot of that too, seemed to go back to some of his old form when he is getting smashed. I just think the mids really didnt help him today, and without lake he needs that help, like someone else said he is a better chb that a FB.

I dont think we will ever make a Fb out of Tommy, but without lake who do we have, i dont think Matkovik is up to it. does ok but his disposal is beyond ordinary.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Bit harsh on Ward I reckon. Played alright.

Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.

No doubt about that. We got destroyed.

I think theirs had/has a better balance of inside/outside.
Boyd
Cross
Ward
Reid
Cooney
Griffen

They all go in and get it. We could've used Sherman out there today, sitting off the pack and running away with it.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Your probably right, I was just trying to make the point their midfield really killed us and that was the difference in the end.

The difference was they wanted it more. We were beaten in an arm wrestle. Comes down to a wrestle, foot race, marking contest and decision making. they wanted it more in all areas bar kicking for goal, which we dd ok in

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

At the game tonight. The million dollar question.

Why did we abandon this supposed new game plan of ours?

We played like we did when we were on our big losing streak, took too many risks carrying he ball through the middle and got killed on the counter when we coughed it up. How the hell do you concede 37 scoring shots to that mob. Can't work it out,

[1eyedog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

They have some good young mids but to lose contested possession battle by 20+ is an indictment on our entire midfield group.

Especially considering we are suppose to have a plethora of strong insiders

[1eyedog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

I think they need to give Hill a full game (rather than make him sub) then we can make up our mind on him once and for all and get rid of him with no regrets.

Go easy on Tommy Williams - bit hard when the balls coming in every second minute.

I love Crossy and Boydy but jeez their footskils kill us.

Reid and Hooper out / Minson and Libba in.

Anyone know what the latest is with Brian?

I agree about Josh, but think we may as well play him until the end now.

Tom was under the pump all night

I'm starting to not love Cross

Minson cannot come in IMO without Hudson going out. Roughead should come in and Hudson stay in. Hudson was sensational last week.

Brian did not play for Willy and has a slight calf strain.

[1eyedog]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

I only watched it on TV so it's hard to see what actually happened in the midfield. Did Wells have an opponent? He seemed alone nearly every time he got the ball.

Also their mids seem to run a LOT harder. When the got the ball there seemed to be players busting their guts to get to open space with not a Bulldog player to be seen. Was it a forward press causing these holes further up the ground?

Griffen went with him before Cross was belatedly put on him in the second half. Cross couldn't keep up.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

I'm no strategist..but was puzzled by our kick-in tactics. We seemed to be doing the huddle? Whatever it was, we struggled badly.

North could always create the overlap once they got it out of congestion. Is that superior tactical nous or a symptom of our lack of work rate?

In the fwd line we often went for Gia with two opponents. Given the quality of the kicks, he had little chance.

All in all, it seemed like a different game style to that v Carlton. Why? Were we cavalier, expecting we could win a shootout and not paying north due respect?

I'm personally not in a state of angst about whether we make finals or not. I just don't think it should be the main focus this year. We should be working on a consistent game plan, selecting the guys we think will be abLe to implement it, if that gets us into the 8 , ok that's a bonus, but we are likely to be smashed as teams that get in by their fingernails usually are.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

Yet another disappointing night. We go from our season best to, at times, absolute garbage. Just so disappointed.

Grant and Hill might as well not have bothered showing tonight. Some have said they're losing patience, I've lost it with these two well and truly.

For all his good work, Boyd goes and hits opposition jumpers lace out.

Griff was just off. Right off. Showed a couple of glimpses, but largely a non-influence.

Coon laboured (and looked like he was labouring), at least started to do some good things in the second half. Ward was tough, and early on got a terrific clearance, hitting the target (forget who it was!).

Bazz was great, IMO. Created the contest, and apart from the poster, converted his chances.

Just really, really disappointed.

[Desipura]

Re: Game Day 2011 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne

I had Tom right in front of me.
He got pinged for holding two or three times and rightly so. He's panicking and hugging his opponent. Worries too much about his man and needs eyes for the ball at times

Disappointing that he went back to playing this way after last weeks game against Carlton. I knew when I read the article on Tommy it was a recipe for an ordinary game.