Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

[Maddog37]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

General Mac and the coaching staff are fully and completely aware that our forward line is inexperienced and undermanned , right from the start when he began to mould the game plan going into season 2012 General Mac knew that the oversize midfield part of the game plan would have to score 2/3rds of the goals and the final 1/3 from defenders moving forward , the rotating ruckman and the two forwards
By having this mindset right from the pre-season the players knew what was expected from them and that it would take time to build momentum before the game plan could be fluid and dynamic over four quarters
The one balancing point is that the oversize midfield must push forward to the 50m arc and make a decision to either hit a target or kick the goal , given that the game plan only uses two forwards the decision first and foremost should be to kick the goal
Now in order for the oversize midfield to push forward to be in a position to make a decision to score or hit a target everything goes back to the core of the game plan , win the ball at any cost , protect the ball carrier , protect the zones , use numbers behind the ball to spread and stretch the opposition zones , attack with numbers any gaps in the opposition zones
By understanding General Mac's and the coaching staffs objectives we clearly see that by building this game plan for 2012 they have taken into account the inexperienced and undermanned forward line as they try to make the team a cohesive and flexible unit , and that it requires a full rebuild of the team work ethic
Our current list may be short of one or two experienced tall forwards but General Mac and the coaching staff know development takes time , knowledge takes time , and rebuilding takes time , and that the time would be well spent if by the end of season 2012 our development of our young forwards was a bonus on top of the teams development


.

Interesting reading. Hw do you know this Westdog?

[chef]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Is this coming from personal knowledge or speculation?

Speculation

[G-Mo77]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Speculation

Yeah I can't remember the articles exactly and can't be bothered looking. I know we chased him and he expressed interest to come here, Melbourne wanted a 2nd Rounder from memory as well.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

General Mac and the coaching staff are fully and completely aware that our forward line is inexperienced and undermanned , right from the start when he began to mould the game plan going into season 2012 General Mac knew that the oversize midfield part of the game plan would have to score 2/3rds of the goals and the final 1/3 from defenders moving forward , the rotating ruckman and the two forwards
By having this mindset right from the pre-season the players knew what was expected from them and that it would take time to build momentum before the game plan could be fluid and dynamic over four quarters
The one balancing point is that the oversize midfield must push forward to the 50m arc and make a decision to either hit a target or kick the goal , given that the game plan only uses two forwards the decision first and foremost should be to kick the goal
Now in order for the oversize midfield to push forward to be in a position to make a decision to score or hit a target everything goes back to the core of the game plan , win the ball at any cost , protect the ball carrier , protect the zones , use numbers behind the ball to spread and stretch the opposition zones , attack with numbers any gaps in the opposition zones
By understanding General Mac's and the coaching staffs objectives we clearly see that by building this game plan for 2012 they have taken into account the inexperienced and undermanned forward line as they try to make the team a cohesive and flexible unit , and that it requires a full rebuild of the team work ethic
Our current list may be short of one or two experienced tall forwards but General Mac and the coaching staff know development takes time , knowledge takes time , and rebuilding takes time , and that the time would be well spent if by the end of season 2012 our development of our young forwards was a bonus on top of the teams development


.

Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Griffen 2, Higgins 2, Lake, Wood, Boyd, Hargrave.



So apart from Gia, how many of our 'full time' forwards scored goals against Collingwood?

(I cant remember if Higgins played in the forward line for most of the game)

The instructions you detailed above are evident as we scored quite a goals from outside of the 50m arc (Lake, Wood etc) - defenders and mids taking pot shots from a distance given our forward line isnt mature or aren't capable creating a suitable option or taking many marks

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

The interesting thing is going to be...
Do we trade? Develop our own? Thoughts?

Given McCartney's influence and his experience at Geelong (and their hesitation to bring players in via trade), I doubt we will be big players at the trade table and simply choose to develop our own

If we do I doubt we will be involved in any big trades

Between Cordy, Hill, Grant, Roughead, Jones, Panos, Dickson etc we have quiet a few forward prospects to focus on developing

[Bornadog]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Given McCartney's influence and his experience at Geelong (and their hesitation to bring players in via trade), I doubt we will be big players at the trade table and simply choose to develop our own

If we do I doubt we will be involved in any big trades

Between Cordy, Hill, Grant, Roughead, Jones, Panos, Dickson etc we have quiet a few forward prospects to focus on developing

I hope we stick to picking up young players in the draft and developing our own.

[Happy Days]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

I hope we stick to picking up young players in the draft and developing our own.

Agreed; a wise man once said "trading is the work of the devil".

Unless of course we can fall into an outrageous deal like the Swans got for Kennedy/McGlynn, I'm happy to stick with cultivating our own.

[Sedat]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Agreed; a wise man once said "trading is the work of the devil".

Clearly the devil hasn't been to the Harbour city for a holiday lately

Trading overs for players that are overhyped and overrated is certainly the work of the devil. Addressing structural weaknesses via the trade table with low-value players who have under-achieved/are surplus to requirements at their present club is something that all clubs should do, in conjunction with consistent regeneration of the list via the ND.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Given McCartney's influence and his experience at Geelong (and their hesitation to bring players in via trade), I doubt we will be big players at the trade table and simply choose to develop our own

If we do I doubt we will be involved in any big trades

Between Cordy, Hill, Grant, Roughead, Jones, Panos, Dickson etc we have quiet a few forward prospects to focus on developing

Think so as well. Basically have to sell the ranch to get a decent Key Forward.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

If we import a gun forward (even supposing we could get our hands on one), we run the risk of becoming "Barry-centric" again and Jones misses out on valuable experience. Let's focus on developing our own.

[LongWait]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Clearly the devil hasn't been to the Harbour city for a holiday lately

Trading overs for players that are overhyped and overrated is certainly the work of the devil. Addressing structural weaknesses via the trade table with low-value players who have under-achieved/are surplus to requirements at their present club is something that all clubs should do, in conjunction with consistent regeneration of the list via the ND.

Agree completely Sedat - Sydney are the masters of the "moneyball" trade and never pay overs.

I hope that we develop our own and, if we trade, we receive draft picks rather than players. Lets spend two years developing our list from within and via the draft and if in two years we still have a pressing need for a key forward (or any other player type), only then should we trade for players.

[Eastdog]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Agree completely Sedat - Sydney are the masters of the "moneyball" trade and never pay overs.

I hope that we develop our own and, if we trade, we receive draft picks rather than players. Lets spend two years developing our list from within and via the draft and if in two years we still have a pressing need for a key forward (or any other player type), only then should we trade for players.

I believe that is the best way to go about. Do you reckon it could of been different had we got Barry Hall earlier. I don't think anyone will know.

[Driver Leader]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

I mentoned in the Liam thread that I think Gia and Higgins make Jones' role harder. They aren't typical modern smalls, offering pressure and the like. They are almost like little KP forwards who do little offer than score a goal or two a game. Don't get me wrong, I think they are worth their spot but they don't really help the guys around them.

Interesting call.

I think this correct and as a result one of Gia and Higgins is one too many. Jones I think is a higher up the the ground forward who capable of receiving the releasing kick from half back however through necessity is being forced to play deep. We need him higher up and a bigger body player deep (Redpath would be good but a Rookie and a while off yet) so we have the ruckmen and will so for a while. Panos needs to play forward for Willy for a few weeks to get a chance at the post as he is being thrown everywhere currently and this is harming his chances at senior promotion.

[Bornadog]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Panos needs to play forward for Willy for a few weeks to get a chance at the post as he is being thrown everywhere currently and this is harming his chances at senior promotion.

Firstly welcome to Woof with your first post.

On Panos, this is not correct. You need to read this article

[stefoid]

Re: Stats confidential: Western Bulldogs desperately need a gun forward

Yeah, interesting article - it goes along with what someone was saying about new new setup where basically we only have 2 stay at home forwards (tall ones who can contest the long ball I presume) and the other forwards charge up and down the ground obeying Macs mantras of 'numbers around the ball" and "defence first".

As Panos is a leading type, I guess he isnt deemed suitable to be one fo the stay at home forwards, one of which is probably going to be a resting ruck and the other Liam Jones.