Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I was bitterly disppointed in Sherman's efforts tonight. He doesn't take the game on at all when he has the pill and when put under any pressure he quickly gives a handball off, usually to someone who is then even more un der the hammer than Sherman was. Doesn't do anywhere near enough with his pace and talent.

I agree.. i think he's playing too much in traffic and he's not a good enough decision maker to do that. Either give him a role where he can run straight and kick long (like on a HBF) or he can run ahead of the play and go straight for goal, like the Varcoe or Motlop role. He loves kicking a goal and we need more natural goalkickers.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Gutsy, gritty performance.

Only ourselves to blame in the end. We had enough clunks and shots within 40 metres that we maybe/probably should have won.

In one way, encouraging signs that Jones found some form with his hands and Roughy clunked a few while working himself into good positions.

On the other hand, these same two guys did their best to kick us out of it .

It's not all doom and gloom, not at all, but it's hard to watch our players killing themselves for our club for no reward.

Still rather watch 2012 Dogs than 2011.

Well said, I especially agree with the last line.
We beat the premiers in most aspects of the game besides kicking goals. I really don't get how those 20-25 metre shots can be missed so regularly. Good signs for the future if the kicking can be vastly improved. Minson was influential again.

[LongWait]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Only had 14 touches and 7 kicks - none were damaging. Did Geelong tag him?

Geelong tagged Griffen and Dahlhous heavily, so I'd doubt very much that Sherman also rated a tag.

My criticism of Sherman is not whether he gets enough of it - it's more that he doesn't take the game on if there is any traffic at all around him. If he had even a little bit of Griffen's daring I'd be much happier. The old addage "he's a good driver in heavy traffic" certainly doesn't apply to Sherman.

[LongWait]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I agree.. i think he's playing too much in traffic and he's not a good enough decision maker to do that. Either give him a role where he can run straight and kick long (like on a HBF) or he can run ahead of the play and go straight for goal, like the Varcoe or Motlop role. He loves kicking a goal and we need more natural goalkickers.

Perhaps you're right Lantern, but I don't think that the coach wants players who are completely and utterly incompetent in any traffic. They can't all be Libba or Boyd, but they also can't just shit themselves and flip the ball off to someone else at the first sign of any pressure on the ball.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Gutsy, gritty performance.

Only ourselves to blame in the end. We had enough clunks and shots within 40 metres that we maybe/probably should have won.

In one way, encouraging signs that Jones found some form with his hands and Roughy clunked a few while working himself into good positions.

On the other hand, these same two guys did their best to kick us out of it .

It's not all doom and gloom, not at all, but it's hard to watch our players killing themselves for our club for no reward.

Still rather watch 2012 Dogs than 2011.

Some terrific points there EW. Whilst we let ourselves down tonight I see some better signs than I did 12 months back.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

It was Jones' best game of the year by a fair way. I think we just have to keep getting games into him.

.

Agreed. I think we have to keep persevering with him unless we are confident that a spell at Williamstown will serve him better. I'd be prepared to cop a couple of more poor games because over the longer term he will come good for us.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Perhaps you're right Lantern, but I don't think that the coach wants players who are completely and utterly incompetent in any traffic. They can't all be Libba or Boyd, but they also can't just shit themselves and flip the ball off to someone else at the first sign of any pressure on the ball.

I think Boydy is an unfortunate comparison. Watching him tonight, he is clearly an elite contested ball winner and has lovely clean hands off the deck, but his decision making isn't a major strength. It's an old chestnut, but he simply isn't that damaging by foot. Opponents actually actively drop off him when he has the ball in space and he only ever kicks it to contests. Much better by hand.

Libba, on the other hand, is a flippin amazing decision maker, even in little to no space. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

[comrade]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I think Boydy is an unfortunate comparison. Watching him tonight, he is clearly an elite contested ball winner and has lovely clean hands off the deck, but his decision making isn't a major strength. It's an old chestnut, but he simply isn't that damaging by foot. Opponents actually actively drop off him when he has the ball in space and he only ever kicks it to contests. Much better by hand.

Libba, on the other hand, is a flippin amazing decision maker, even in little to no space. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I thought Boyd played within his limitations tonight. I can't recall any explicit clangers by foot and his handball work in close was good as always.

We really do need some elite kickers of the footy in that midfield.

[comrade]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Agreed. I think we have to keep persevering with him unless we are confident that a spell at Williamstown will serve him better. I'd be prepared to cop a couple of more poor games because over the longer term he will come good for us.

By the time he's 24 - 25, he should be a very good player. It's obvious that his lack of confidence in his kicking really effects him.

I think his career might trend in a similar way to Hawkins. Pump the games into him, let him grow into the role and build up his confidence so he's comfortable out there - then we'll see the results.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I thought Boyd played within his limitations tonight. I can't recall any explicit clangers by foot and his handball work in close was good as always.

We really do need some elite kickers of the footy in that midfield.

Agree with all of that. No clangers isn't really a ringing endorsement but you'll take that from Boydy. Really notice our lack of quality on forward 50 entries though.. even when in space most of our players - bar Gia and Libba - can't pinpoint a pass to a free or leading player, something most AFL midfielders can do blindfolded.

Coons normally can but he wasn't getting much separation or space, and Griff doesn't look like he even looks up on forward 50 entries anymore.. for all his amazing attributes, his kicking has become almost completely one dimensional. It's almost always exactly that long, floating kick that goes around 60 metres to a contest. Rarely ever puts one on the chest of a teammate.

[LongWait]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

I think Boydy is an unfortunate comparison. Watching him tonight, he is clearly an elite contested ball winner and has lovely clean hands off the deck, but his decision making isn't a major strength. It's an old chestnut, but he simply isn't that damaging by foot. Opponents actually actively drop off him when he has the ball in space and he only ever kicks it to contests. Much better by hand.

Libba, on the other hand, is a flippin amazing decision maker, even in little to no space. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I used Boyd to illustrate what Sherman can't do.... hold on to the ball under physical pressure and either break away from the traffic, or take the body contact and force a stoppage or a hand-off to a player in a better position. I agree that Boyd's use of the ball in space is not damaging, but neither was Stevie J tonight, who I thought was given way too much credit by the commentators as he regularly turned it over or failed to kick to his team's advantage.

Sherman frustrates me because I think he has the attributes to be a game breaker. Mostly though, he is a non-event who flashes into the odd game with an occasional eye-catching goal. I don't like to routinely knock players but I had high hopes when we acquired Sherman and he had bitterly disappointed.

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Have the Geelong players become a bunch of primmadonnas?

So many of their players look for a free kick at every contest.

[LongWait]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Have the Geelong players become a bunch of primmadonnas?

So many of their players look for a free kick at every contest.

It's a bloody good question. You have to wonder after watching tonight's game and their newly found, bruise-free style of footy.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Have the Geelong players become a bunch of primmadonnas?

So many of their players look for a free kick at every contest.

Do you think Hawkins may come under the eye of the MR for his dive with little or no contact from Lake.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R9 Western Bulldogs vs Geelong

Pretty proud tonight. We could have thrown in the towell numerous times but kept cracking in.

Smashed them in clearances, smashed them in contested footy, it's just a shame we didn't convert our opportunities in the second half.

Was happy we went man on man, we just needed to be smarter and play infront of our opponents in the corridor. Geelong made space beautifully so we needed to make them take the harder option of over the back rather than the easy lead ups.