Pre-season

[Sedat]

Re: Pre-season

In 08 Hawthorn destroyed us and we then beat up on a poor Sydney before being easily beaten again by Geelong.

Can't agree that we were easily beaten in the 2008 PF. But for several inexcusable misses in front of goal when we were dominating in the 3rd and 4th qtrs, we would have been in front of the Cats approaching time-on in the last qtr. As it was we were only a couple of goals down 20 minutes in when Rooke got away with mugging Johnno and kicked the sealer - at that stage we we still coming hard and were in it up to our eyeballs.

We played hard enough from week 2 onwards in September but our biggest problem has been the transition from H&A intensity to first week of finals. Our first finals from 08-10 were all incredibly disappointing from an intensity perspective and it put us behind the 8-ball thereafter in each finals campaign. That says to me it is a mental issue rather than a physical/hardness issue.

[EasternWest]

Re: Pre-season

Can't agree that we were easily beaten in the 2008 PF. But for several inexcusable misses in front of goal when we were dominating in the 3rd and 4th qtrs, we would have been in front of the Cats approaching time-on in the last qtr. As it was we were only a couple of goals down 20 minutes in when Rooke got away with mugging Johnno and kicked the sealer - at that stage we we still coming hard and were in it up to our eyeballs.

We played hard enough from week 2 onwards in September but our biggest problem has been the transition from H&A intensity to first week of finals. Our first finals from 08-10 were all incredibly disappointing from an intensity perspective and it put us behind the 8-ball thereafter in each finals campaign. That says to me it is a mental issue rather than a physical/hardness issue.

Actually thanks for pointing that out. That did slip my mind. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on how well we were performing because I do remember feeling underwhelmed even though we were closer than I remembered. Cheers Sedat.

[Greystache]

Re: Pre-season

We played hard enough from week 2 onwards in September but our biggest problem has been the transition from H&A intensity to first week of finals. Our first finals from 08-10 were all incredibly disappointing from an intensity perspective and it put us behind the 8-ball thereafter in each finals campaign. That says to me it is a mental issue rather than a physical/hardness issue.

I agree with your assessment Sedat, but I suppose it all comes down to interpretation. Many people don't differentiate between being physically soft or mentally soft, they label it all under the umbrella of soft.

[EasternWest]

Re: Pre-season

I agree with your assessment Sedat, but I suppose it all comes down to interpretation. Many people don't differentiate between being physically soft or mentally soft, they label it all under the umbrella of soft.

Not sure if you're referring to me. If you are my original post says I don't necessarily buy into it, but I can understand how outsiders see it that way. Saying poor was probably a poor choice of words on my account though. Unsuccessful? Mediocre? (ok, that one is a joke).

[Greystache]

Re: Pre-season

To get the thread back on track, I went to training this morning, not much of a session.

Nothing to report really other than Morris was getting involved somewhat with the congested ball drills. Williams and Hooper were on the sidelines doing running drills, Cooney did a bit early then left the track, Lake was sighted only briefly, but most of the senior group were out there including Murphy and Hargrave

[Remi Moses]

Re: Pre-season

The other website ( teeny bopper Footy) had Dale suffering a setback and Hooper had OP?
Any truth?

[Greystache]

Re: Pre-season

The other website ( teeny bopper Footy) had Dale suffering a setback and Hooper had OP?
Any truth?

Morris- looked about where I'd expect him to be, he was doing some upper body work (ropes, sledgehammer and tyre, heavy bag), and was walking without a noticeable limp.

Hooper- Seemed to be moving ok for Hooper. He doesn't really have any lateral movement, so it's hard to tell if he's carrying an injury. He and Williams were both working pretty hard.

[jeemak]

Re: Pre-season

I posted on (the affectionately named teeny bopper Footy) that I was told by somebody who I deem to be a reliable source that Hooper had a bout of OP. Not sure on the severity, or current progress.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Pre-season

I'm over the whole SC/DT thing but that still makes me smile.

I'm genuinely sick of talking footy with mates and talking about the Dogs playing hard footy this year and being shot down that we are "soft frontrunners".

Can't wait to see whether we can turn some heads.

You need some new mates.

[Mantis]

Re: Pre-season

Nothing to report really other than Morris was getting involved somewhat with the congested ball drills. Williams and Hooper were on the sidelines doing running drills, Cooney did a bit early then left the track, Lake was sighted only briefly, but most of the senior group were out there including Murphy and Hargrave

Groundhog day circa 2011 pre-season...

[Maddog37]

Re: Pre-season

The improvement needs to come from the way we play as a team together. If we are all on the same page and committed to the team rules I believe we have the talent to win more than we lose regardless of Lake and Cooney.

If Coons and Brian do have good years then we could push well into the eight. Last year was a debacle from go to woa on many levels.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Pre-season

That's your take.

Mine is different. You'll need to accept that, like I accept yours. I'm not getting into yet another argument with you.

Fair enough. If you are waiting for the club to play perfect games in finals then you are dreaming.
To me I could care less whether we played poor or good in a final, the result is the most important thing.
Even Geelong had some poor performances(by your standards) in finals during premiership years.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Pre-season

Groundhog day circa 2011 pre-season...

That's what I've been thinking too. Despite the club being positive about their training, I hold almost no expectation for these two. Hope I'm wrong and they play well.

[EasternWest]

Re: Pre-season

Edit

[Bornadog]

Re: Pre-season

Edit

Lets face it, we played the best we could in finals, we were not soft, we just didn't have that extra A Grader that we needed to get us over the line.

For the coming season, we don't have enough A Graders at this stage to even think about finals.