WB 2013 its gunna be...

[Missing-Dog]

WB 2013
Its gunna be ....

another long frustrating year. But kinda expect it
I hope I'm wrong but will try to remain positive anyhow

Will try to refrain from negative posts

Cheers! Heres to a few improvements for WB 2013!!

Anyone see it differently?

[Greystache]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

This could get ugly, let's try to keep it considered discussion.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

As Clubber Lang said in Rocky 3.. "My prediction. PAIN"

[AndrewP6]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

No comment. I need a drink.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

No comment. I need a drink.

Make mine a double with a handful of anti depressants. Sigh....

[LostDoggy]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

As Clubber Lang said in Rocky 3.. "My prediction. PAIN"

Yeah. But Clubber went on to lose that fight???????
Are you suggesting the Dogs had a minor fall tonight and with a catchy and inspiring montage mid season they will defy the odds and win the title?

[Greystache]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Yeah. But Clubber went on to lose that fight???????
Are you suggesting the Dogs had a minor fall tonight and with a catchy and inspiring montage mid season they will defy the odds and win the title?

Anyone seen the movie Major League??

[bulldogtragic]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

It's gunna be free from controversy. No claims of performance enhancing can be levelled at us!

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Let's try and make this a good discussion, rather than throwing out a few one liners. It might help ease some very early season pain.

What are the things we desperately need to work on? There's a few areas.

Skill Level:
I don't have the statistics, but I am positive that for the last 2-3 years we have been in the bottom four for this stat. It is a disturbing trend; if it does not improve this season, then players and coaches need to be held accountable. In terms of drafting, we need to apply the Hawthorn and Richmond philosophy -- if you can't kick, we won't pick you. Thankfully it seems that our recent batch all have decent skills, but this needs to be a concentrated approach at the draft table for 2-4 years and not just 1.

Apparently it has been a real focus this season that whilst was pleasing to read, clearly was not evident in our first game of 2013. Whilst it is understandable to a degree that the skill level will be down, the errors are consistently coming from the same players. I've always been of the belief that you can't teach skill; you can either hit targets well or you can't. Whilst there are some exceptions to the rule (Jobe Watson), the reality is that Smith/Jong/Boyd/Wallis/Addison/Cross/Talia etc. are never going to be damaging disposers of the ball. At best, they will be average.

My biggest concern is that players who used to have skill, have lost it. Griffen is a prime example of this; I shudder when he has the ball, because it rarely ends up on our chest. He's made an extremely poor habit of bombing the ball long, often to the advantage of the opposition's KPD's. Tonight, Fletcher was given first class service from Griff. Higgins and Murphy are two others who make far more errors than they should, for players of their ability.

End result: there's no way around it. Draft players who can kick, trade those who can't. Before anyone replies with "Howard/Tutt" examples, obviously they need to be able to play too.

Forward Structures:
Last year, we had no structure at all, and more often than not we were out-numbered. Tonight, I lost count how many times we bombed the ball to a 2-on-4, 1-on-3 type scenario. At times, we didn't even have anyone deep in our forward line. I'm not sure if this is a coaching thing or young players getting lost, but it really needs to be changed, and it SHOULDN'T be hard to change. The 'youth' tag line can only last so long, at some point they have to start applying what they supposedly learn ... or they aren't played.

End result: much the same as above. If they aren't learning and improving, don't play them. Cordy is the main one I'm looking at, but ditto Grant. It might mean we have to play Roberts and Stringer before they are ready, but I would rather this than playing guys who have been in the system for 4-6 years (Cordy/Grant) and who produce very little. I understand young guys need a few games to find their feet, but at some point, they need to start showing something. I really hope we don't persist and persist with Cordy & co. if they aren't improving. It also means that come draft time, we need to look at taking a mix of 2-3 tall/medium forwards. At this stage, Jones/Dahlhaus/Dickson are OK whilst Stringer/Hunter/Roberts are young and untried. We desperately need to add 2-3 more to this group, given some (Dahlhaus, Higgins, Stringer? Hunter?) will be part of midfield rotations etc. anyway.

Defensive Structures:
We are a very unaccountable side and this can be attributed to a few aspects such as being an inexperienced side and not having the required fitness/strength all over the ground. Again, though, the expectation of improvement needs to stand strong. I hope in the games that follow we DO NOT play Markovic/Austin over Roughead/Talia/Roberts and possibly Williams if he's playing down there. I think Goodes showed he's going to be a good inclusion down there, Lower I am less convinced about (skill level was as bad as Boyd's) and Young did OK. Morris was pretty damn good on return IMO and will be invaluable for the young defenders that we have in JJ/Pearce etc.

End result: it will take time, but this is a promising area of the ground. We will cop some thrashings and look amateur at times, but there's some solid potential in Talia/Roberts/JJ/Pearce. Obviously Goodes and Lower are stop gap for a few years, whilst Morris won't be around a whole lot longer, so in the next 2 drafts we'll definitely need to add to this group in terms of KPD's and medium defenders.

Conclusion:
We are quite a long way off where we'd like to be. Much depends on our drafting in the next 2-3 years. The early signs from this year's crop sounds good, and Libba/Wallis/Dahlhaus/Smith will be long term players. Our midfield looks OK, albeit it's very reliant on Cooney producing good football. In reality, we need to add more class to this area in the next 1-2 years. I've heard we are developing Macrae on flanks etc. which is fine for his initial development, but we need him to become a genuine mid in a couple of years. It's a difficult job balancing your draft needs, and right now, our biggest area we need to address is our forward half. However, in the next year or two, a classy skilled mid is still required.

Lastly, we need to be ruthless this year. By that, I mean we need to separate those who we think can/will make it from those we think will struggle/won't. It's a very early call, I know, but my faith in Cordy, Howard and Tutt (for example) is non-existent. If they don't show good signs early on when they'll undoubtedly be given opportunities, I hope we "cut our losses" and turn our focus to developing other players. I'm still bewildered that Cordy got a 3 year contract, but whatever.

One of my biggest criticisms in the past has been our refusal to turn over the list quicker. We give players far too many chances to prove they cannot play. Yes, young players need time. But you can usually make an educated guess as to whether a kid will make it after 15-20 games. For example, Jong, Pearce and JJ have had far limited game exposure than Howard and Tutt, but all three have a much better chance of making it than the latter.

Rant over.

[The Underdog]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Anyone seen the movie Major League??

Is Clay Smith our Wild Thing?

[LostDoggy]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

It's gunna be free from controversy. No claims of performance enhancing can be levelled at us!

Don't jinx it

[Greystache]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Great contribution Bulldogs Bite, very considered and thoughtful post.

[Remi Moses]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

I agree with a lot of TBB points, but the call in particular with Tutt is way to harsh.
Be fair he has hardly played any footy .
Worried about Cordy to be honest, I think Grant's at last chance saloon.

[Remi Moses]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Don't jinx it

Our finishes suggest we're on Prozac or Valium.

[Dry Rot]

Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...

Great contribution Bulldogs Bite, very considered and thoughtful post.

+1. Good readTBB. And accurate.