Game Day 2012 - R21 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney

[azabob]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R21 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney

Great summary Bulldog Bite. We really need Murphy, Boyd, Cross, Lake and Gia to play lesser roles but still contribute in the next one to two seasons, otherwise the pain will last a lot longer.

Hopefully players such as Williams, Higgins, Addison, Griffen, Minson, Wood can step up to help ease the load on both the old and younger players.

[Bornadog]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R21 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney

My short take on the game:

- We have some young talent to work with. Smith and Jong were really impressive and despite having similar faults, there's no doubt they can 'play' at this level. Jong was great in the first quarter. He's already quite strong and is a good athlete who is very courageous. He made a few skill errors, but he wasn't as bad as I thought he'd be my foot. Thought he used his body well in contests and has quick hands in close. There's a lot to like -- if he can replicate this performance in the next two games, he'll get upgraded. Additionally, JJ could be a really classy player in years to come. He has great composure and uses the ball well in both a physical sense (skill level) and a mental sense (decision making). He also takes the game on, but he does so at the right time, not Harbrow-like where it's boom or bust.

- Dickson is a really quality forward with great goal sense, a nice burst of speed and an ability to win one-on-one contests. In a good side, Dickson could kick 40+ goals. I'm excited to see him develop next season.

- Griffen deserves a mention. I don't think he's had a great year, but that was his best game for the club arguably. He was enormous in every sense of the word; we got hammered in the end, but Griff showed a real 'Hodge' like ability to drag the side over the line. Still wish he'd put his hand up to be inthe leadership group.

- Our senior core is poor. Boyd's ability to find the ball is second to none, but what's the point when you continually butcher it? Truth is he hurts us more than he benefits us. Murphy's decline has been rapid and I'd suggest he only has one year left, Lake possibly the same (a shift forward may extend his career) and Gia is physically finished. When you add Markovic and DJ to this group of senior players, it's an ugly mix. This group has let us down constantly this season and again today when the pressure was turned up.

It sounds harsh and dis-respectful, and I do mean this in the nicest possible way, but I'm looking forward to our senior group moving on so that we can develop a new batch of leaders.

There is only one thing I can't agree on. Lake to the forward line is a waste of time. We need a two time all Australian Fullback playing in his rightful position, and teaching Roberts how to take over. Markovic isnot the answer in the backline, nor is Roughead.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Game Day 2012 - R21 Western Bulldogs vs Sydney

There is only one thing I can't agree on. Lake to the forward line is a waste of time. We need a two time all Australian Fullback playing in his rightful position, and teaching Roberts how to take over. Markovic isnot the answer in the backline, nor is Roughead.

If Lake was in that kind of form then I would agree, but aside from 5-6 games I don't think it's been a good year for Brian from a defensive standpoint. He's been beaten regularly and looks slower than he did a couple of years ago. Obviously he will still play next year as a FB for the majority of the season, but I don't think he has long left in the game. If he wants to extend it to 2 or so years, he/we might have to consider a move to FF, because he won't be able to keep up with the forwards in 2014.