Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

What about Leon Cameron? Do you think we could of been another good choice not that Brendan McCartney wasn't a good choice as I think he is a good choice.

No way, Cameron was not the guy to take us forward.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

I don't see that at all. I think he was disappointed, as any coach would be. However for mine, I think he comes across as very confident. I think he is also not an open book, and is smart enough not to try and coach his team via the media. He has absolutely nothing to gain by giving away his exact thoughts to the media. And whilst it might be frustrating as a fan who wants answers, I completely agree with his disinterest in giving the media any sound bites.

He was pausing, stuttering, speaking softly, didn't know what to say. He came across not very confident at all.
No coach gives away anything, but he basically said nothing and said it mumbling.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Do you rate McCartney?

We have to start wondering why we are playing three rucks, plus Jones plus two big talls down back. We are too slow and cumbersome. What is going on with the selectors?

We have start wondering why when we get so much of the ball we just bomb it long, lose possession and cop goal after goal. These are all instructions from the coach.

[SonofScray]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

This season is starting to turn into worse case scenario type stuff. Its looking ugly for the rest of the year and unfortunately there are more and more questions being asked than answered.

I accept we aren't in a good position skill wise and talent wise. There are a significant number of teams who are just better at playing the game at this point in time. But I hate the fact that we just get dealt with as a matter of course.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

We are horribly unskilled so we can't hit a spot-up target on the lead to save ourselves, which means our forwards can never get a lace-out opportunity to hit the scoreboard.

We are treacle slow so we can't get any separation on the opposition, which means we always rush our already unskilled disposal.

Because we are so slow and unskilled, we never ever take the game on and pull the trigger. Our ball movement out of defence in particular (especially sans Murphy) is so slow and conservative and just butt-ugly to watch. We are clearly the worst team in the competition aesthetically - how the hell will our membership dept be able to sell memberships next season?

Apparently after a major review, the only problem we had was the senior coach. Everything else in the footy dept was supposedly hunky-dory. Fitness and conditioning? Tick. Skills coaching? Tick. Recruiting? Tick. List management? Tick. Player contract negotiations? Tick. All we needed was a 'refresh' (whatever the hell that means) and a new coach apparently

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

We are horribly unskilled so we can't hit a spot-up target on the lead to save ourselves, which means our forwards can never get a lace-out opportunity to hit the scoreboard.

We are treacle slow so we can't get any separation on the opposition, which means we always rush our already unskilled disposal.

Because we are so slow and unskilled, we never ever take the game on and pull the trigger. Our ball movement out of defence in particular (especially sans Murphy) is so slow and conservative and just butt-ugly to watch. :

The trouble is our forwards don't lead at all. Have a look at be way the Essendon forwards lead and then the ball carrier hits them on the chest. We just bomb the ball long and expect a contested mark.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

The trouble is our forwards don't lead at all. Have a look at be way the Essendon forwards lead and then the ball carrier hits them on the chest. We just bomb the ball long and expect a contested mark.

It's chicken and egg...because of our painfully slow movement out of defence, our forwards don't know when to lead and they are also disadvantaged numerically by opposition structures. And because they are static, our defenders/mids don't know when to pull the trigger anf kick to a target inside 50, so invariably they just bomb it to the hot spot and hope for the best. It is so messy and ugly to watch.

[SonofScray]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Apparently after a major review, the only problem we had was the senior coach. Everything else in the footy dept was supposedly hunky-dory. Fitness and conditioning? Tick. Skills coaching? Tick. Recruiting? Tick. List management? Tick. Player contract negotiations? Tick. All we needed was a 'refresh' (whatever the hell that means) and a new coach apparently

Good points. I'm right behind Mac at this point in time but the sentiment above really rings true. There are some facets (footy dept in particular) of the Club which are really starting to stink. I'm just not sure what we are trying achieve or represent anymore.

That being said, I understand what Mac is trying do and if it works, will correct some of the issues I see in our playing group and leadership. There is some decent pay off.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Good points. I'm right behind Mac at this point in time but the sentiment above really rings true. There are some facets (footy dept in particular) of the Club which are really starting to stink. I'm just not sure what we are trying achieve or represent anymore.

That being said, I understand what Mac is trying do and if it works, will correct some of the issues I see in our playing group and leadership. There is some decent pay off.

Personally other than winning CP which is what we were told about I can't see what Macca is trying to do ?

[SonofScray]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Personally other than winning CP which is what we were told about I can't see what Macca is trying to do ?

I'm not seeing a lot on game day either. For me its been the message he is putting out there consistently. It isn't a tactics thing, he appears to be trying to introduce values.

He has been talking about players learning and excelling at their role and working through adversity etc. His language is consistent, some of stuff around sticking with Plan A, or playing certain players or combinations fits in with that idea (it isn't fun to watch and probably isn't working, I accept).

The whole CP mania as a measure of 'cracking in' needs to be broadened, I am hoping that we aren't so narrow to think that the stat is a true indicator of 'cracking in.' For mine it is about doing our job and bringing a ruthless enthusiasm to beating your man, the measures for this should be different for different roles.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

I don't blame it all on Clayton, we seem to have made some poor recruiting decisions post Clayton as well, in consecutive drafts too, and also with trades.
We wasted the Harbrow pick, - who did Brisbane end up selecting with the Harbrow pick we sent there way for Sherman.
It makes me sick to see Hill performing well for West Coast, and last week seeing Everitt sink a clutch shot at the death to give Sydney the win is making me feel very nervous indeed.
Why is it other clubs seem to do well with our discards?

In hindsight they wasted the Sherman pick, but in a good side Sherman looks good.
Everitt hasn't nailed down a spot in Sydney, unusual for discards in Sydney.
Hill is getting of the leash in Perth and will be interesting how he goes under the intense finals pressure.

[Scraggers]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Good points. I'm right behind Mac at this point in time but the sentiment above really rings true. There are some facets (footy dept in particular) of the Club which are really starting to stink. I'm just not sure what we are trying achieve or represent anymore.

That being said, I understand what Mac is trying do and if it works, will correct some of the issues I see in our playing group and leadership. There is some decent pay off.

Serious question ... What is he trying to do ??? Please explain it to me, because I'm totally lost !!

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

I don't understand...before the season started, the overwhelming consensus was that our list was going to struggle, we lacked quality and speed, and that contested ball would be our strength. Everyone seemed fairly happy with that (with some exceptions, AndrewP6 being one off the top of my head). Having just had a look over the 'Predictions' thread, the majority picked us to finish 12th-14th with a few 'lucky' 7ths and 8ths.

As disappointing as the season is, it's hardly a surprise and I struggle to feel too upset about it. Our young players are getting exposure to AFL, we are developing leaders and a new game style. Change isn't going to happen overnight. We have a poor list, and need t

What wasn't I happy about? Can't remember back that far!

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Lake

No way, tonight was bad, but he's been pretty good in 2012 IMO. We're so bad, we can't give away one of the few who are any good.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R14 Western Bulldogs vs Essendon

Maybe we need to start thinking whether we have the right coaching staff

Agree 100 %