Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

I think this is the first time I have been angry after losing this season. I really spat the dummy tonight.

Still a little grumpy so the sixer I left in the fridge will help me sleep a little. Just skimming through the last page I notice that no one mentioned Jarrad Grant's game tonight. I thought he was really good in his first game back. Some really good forward pressure, I think he ran down Yarran at one stage as well.

I don't think Minson lost a ruck contest tonight but we still struggled at the stopages especially in the second half.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

That was pretty much the last straw for me.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

I think this is the first time I have been angry after losing this season. I really spat the dummy tonight.

Still a little grumpy so the sixer I left in the fridge will help me sleep a little. Just skimming through the last page I notice that no one mentioned Jarrad Grant's game tonight. I thought he was really good in his first game back. Some really good forward pressure, I think he ran down Yarran at one stage as well.

Whilst Grant had a couple of good patches he's still a way off playing to his ability. We have to stick with him though.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

In much the same way as Sockeye's 20-game-rule for players, Macca (and the assistants) are going to take time to settle into their roles. We took this risk when we appointed a first year coach. I would hope that the club continues to back him in, as it has so far.

"We" weren't all in favour of it, and for mine, nothing has happened to change that view.

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

Of course he would be aware that we need to develop our outside game as well. I'm a bit over the criticism of Macca's coaching. People talk about him like as though he has absolutely no idea...of course he has an idea. There is no instant fix for our football club. He's trying to develop our side, and at the moment our side just isn't up to it. This is where our list is at. We were able to compete with the Blues while they weren't playing great football. Once they turned it up a bit, they got on top of us.

They were playing footy akin to a bottom 4 team so why should we get excited by this?

We are currently a developing football side, which is going to lead to depressing losses such as tonight. As much as our team is developing, so too is our coaching staff and I feel we need to give them a bit of allowance for their inexperience. In much the same way as Sockeye's 20-game-rule for players, Macca (and the assistants) are going to take time to settle into their roles. We took this risk when we appointed a first year coach. I would hope that the club continues to back him in, as it has so far.

The problem is we aren't progressing which is why we are all a little touchy.

I understand that this was a disappointing loss, for me it was the most disappointing loss of the year, but I don't think the blame can be laid solely at Macca's feet. He doesn't have much to work with just yet. (I understand you're not blaming Macca YHF, just the general feel I'm getting).

So who do we blame? Someone is responsible for the crap footy we are playing and the terrible state our list is in... Give me some answers.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

I've gotta say, I'm not as devastated as many others (and perhaps as I should be). I picked a 2 goal loss, and wasn't far off the mark unfortunately. I am disappointed we let another game slip, but I'm strangely resigned to this happening. We're almost completely devoid of A-graders, and players who will/can stand up and deliver when we most need it. Coaching moves/selections are continually baffling, but hey, they're cracking in and getting an education, and they're good people, right?

On the game: Really disappointed for Higgins, thought he's shown a bit at times this year and was doing well tonight. Tom W. looks good in the F50, and Lakey continues his good form. Despite the Gilbee critics, I reckon he's done some good things since coming back in, and the kids do need a few experienced heads around.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

Whilst Grant had a couple of good patches he's still a way off playing to his ability. We have to stick with him though.

It's a lot better than what we have been seeing so it's a step in the right path especially after 4 - 5 weeks away from AFL. I think it was one of his better games since coming to the club.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

I liked DJs efforts

What in particular did you like? His fumbles, his missed tackles, the absolute ease with which the opposition sell candy to him, his inability to find the footy?

[Mantis]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

What in particular did you like? His fumbles, his missed tackles, the absolute ease with which the opposition sell candy to him, his inability to find the footy?

E/ All of the above.

He's a keeper.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

So who do we blame? Someone is responsible for the crap footy we are playing and the terrible state our list is in... Give me some answers.

I get where you are coming from but we were pretty bad last year and I never read the same level of frustration from you as you are now sharing.
The signs were all there last year mind you but we were all kidding ourselves if we thought a new coach was going to get us back on track in one season. He inherited a train wreck and was never going to fix it in one season.

Eade took a number of short term fixes and given 3 top four finishes it had some merit but the last two seasons I think we over achieved but not in a good way for the longer term.

[jazzadogs]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

"We" weren't all in favour of it, and for mine, nothing has happened to change that view.

Yep, understand that and therefore understand the frustration. But I personally don't think this year would have looked too much different with anyone else at the helm. The next few years are the test.

They were playing footy akin to a bottom 4 team so why should we get excited by this?

The problem is we aren't progressing which is why we are all a little touchy.

So who do we blame? Someone is responsible for the crap footy we are playing and the terrible state our list is in... Give me some answers.

We are a bottom 4 team, nothing to be excited about but something to be realistic about.

I think 17 games is a bit early to be expecting significant improvements. Last year was just the start of a downhill slope (the J curve, Ghost Dog was calling it), and Hall saved us from looking worse than we were. This year there is more responsibility being placed on our young talls, who are still not up to it. Skill level and speed are not things that Macca can change, they are list management decisions which he will (hopefully) make at year's end.

As far as the terrible state our list is in, I can't see any way that Macca is to blame for that. If the list is still in bad shape in 2-3 years, I'll be right behind you in the line to criticise him.

Re: our brand of footy, I think that it comes down to our list and the fact that we don't have speed or skill. With the way the current game is played, you can only do so much with a slow unskilled outfit, exacerbated by our youth. Macca is working on the factors he can work on...contested ball, developing decision making and trying to effectively manage the high number of young talls on our list.

Is he flawless? No, of course not. He is 17 games into his coaching career. But I'm content with job he is doing.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

Maybe I'm a bit slow off the mark, but has Tim Callan been our runner all year? I thought I noticed him last week, and again tonight. Confirmed on the replay on Fox.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

Maybe I'm a bit slow off the mark, but has Tim Callan been our runner all year? I thought I noticed him last week, and again tonight. Confirmed on the replay on Fox.

I'm pretty sure he has. I sat near the Bulldogs entrance at the North game and remember seeing him in the runner's uniform.

[Sedat]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

I get where you are coming from but we were pretty bad last year and I never read the same level of frustration from you as you are now sharing.
The signs were all there last year mind you but we were all kidding ourselves if we thought a new coach was going to get us back on track in one season. He inherited a train wreck and was never going to fix it in one season.

Eade took a number of short term fixes and given 3 top four finishes it had some merit but the last two seasons I think we over achieved but not in a good way for the longer term.

We struggled last season but we didn't raise the white flag like we've done with monotonous regularity this season. I remember games last year, like the West Coke game at Etihad, where we were garbage early but fought out games to the death. We still tried to take the game on last season. By contrast this season we take the safe option, we move the ball at glacier speed, we hit the boundary - we are far uglier to watch this season compared to last. That is why we get 24k to a home game against Carlton on a beautiful night for football.

[GVGjr]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R17 Western Bulldogs vs Carlton

We struggled last season but we didn't raise the white flag like we've done with monotonous regularity this season. I remember games last year, like the West Coke game at Etihad, where we were garbage early but fought out games to the death. We still tried to take the game on last season. By contrast this season we take the safe option, we move the ball at glacier speed, we hit the boundary - we are far uglier to watch this season compared to last. That is why we get 24k to a home game against Carlton on a beautiful night for football.

But we were sliding back at an alarming rate and basically held up by the likes of Barry Hall. We are paying for the short term decisions over the last 3 years. Keeping Eagleton and Hahn on well part their use-by dates. Keeping Akermanis on one season too many. Trading for Sherman wasn't a good decision then and certainly isn't now. Promoting Mulligan and Hooper who weren't ready and alienating some youngsters and not tying up some other talented youngsters with contracts at the appropriate time are all contributing to where we are now.

We can continue to point the finger at McCartney and Fantasia but I reckon Eade is being made up to be more of a messiah than he really was. He isn't being blamed even in part for leaving us with a flat footed playing list and some significant gaps in recent draft crops.