Where to from here for the season?

[Bornadog]

We smashed Brisbane in the first game thinking we had improved dramatically, but that has proven we were only beating a mediocre team. Since then we have been competitive in only a few quarters.

So, what now for the rest of the season. Do we start bringing in more young players and just giving then game time? Do we try something different as GD pointed out in his thread on moving players to different positions? Do we say goodbye to some of the older players (Gia for example).

If you were the coach, what would you do, given the current injuries and situation.

[boydogs]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

I don't think you throw in the towel after 4 weeks, but we do need to work out who can take us forward and who can't. Players like Grant, Howard, Tutt, Veszpremi, Pearce, Markovic, Austin, Cordy and Campbell need to be tested when the opportunity presents.

Younger players will get more out of being brought into the side in a controlled manner where we can be competitive than playing every draft pick from the last 3 years at once and getting smashed

[Dry Rot]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

I don't think you throw in the towel after 4 weeks, but we do need to work out who can take us forward and who can't. Players like Grant, Howard, Tutt, Veszpremi, Pearce, Markovic, Austin, Cordy and Campbell need to be tested when the opportunity presents.

Agree with this, but would add IMO it's time to test more experienced guys like Grant and Vez.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

We have to do both, compete like crazy, win games where we can, but keep adding kids to the mix, and finding out who is part of the future.

I want to see us playing much better and wanted us to be 2-2 and have won one of our last two games, but it was never going to be a smooth climb back up the ladder.

With a young full back, and young developing key forwards I never thought we could easily or quickly turn it around.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

Our younger players seem to have a bit more composure. Then let them play. I'd upgrade Austin, move Roughead to the forward line for parts of games ( swingman ) , take Cordy back to Williamstown - add Stringer to the line up. Drop Dahlhaus to find form, replace with Macrae. Looks much better already.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

As others have said we need to test certain players so that we can make definitive calls on them at the end of the year. This includes:

- Veszpremi (capable or not?)
- Grant (capable or not?)
- Tutt (position?/capable or not?)
- Howard (capable or not?)
- Wood (injury prone/position?/capable or not?)
- Williams (injury prone)

We also need to develop the following with senior games:

- Talia (Should be fast tracked)
- Roberts (Should be groomed as a FF)
- Pearce
- Smith
- JJ
- Macrae
- Stringer
- Hrovat

[Remi Moses]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

Our younger players seem to have a bit more composure. Then let them play. I'd upgrade Austin, move Roughead to the forward line for parts of games ( swingman ) , take Cordy back to Williamstown - add Stringer to the line up. Drop Dahlhaus to find form, replace with Macrae. Looks much better already.

Disagree entirely.
Why on earth would you groom Roughy to play on the gorillas, then use him as a "swing man"

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

I believe it is a time for perserverance.

We do need to keep working on the process that the coach has in place even if, as supporters, we sometimes struggle to understand what is happening.

This probably means perservering with Jones/Cordy. There should be coaching behind the scenes that will have them improving in their own understanding and execution of their roles.

We also need to test out others on the list. This includes giving Grant and Vez at least 3 consecutive games at some point with the opportunity to prove their worth before they are discarded.

The younger players will also need resting and this will provide opportunities for others.

The injury list looks horrific and it is our older/experienced players that have missed games. This puts more pressure on the younger brigade.

Where we are looking now, we are going to struggle. The next winnable game looks like Gold Coast.

I recall 2005 when we played Adelaide in Adelaide and scored 5.5 (35) in a 12 goal smashing, yet won 6 of our next 7. Things can and will turn around, but we have a way to go with so many players on less than 50 games experience.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

I am worried that if you throw in too many kids you will start getting smashed and enter into a vicious Melbourne like spiral where you just can't get better no matter how many draft picks you get.

[G-Mo77]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

We smashed Brisbane in the first game thinking we had improved dramatically, but that has proven we were only beating a mediocre team. Since then we have been competitive in only a few quarters.

I think that's it right there. We smashed Brisbane and most people, including myself started thinking that we won't be so bad. FWIW I picked us to finish 2nd bottom with only 4 - 5 wins. We are at the bottom of a rebuild, time to strap on your armour and bring a box of tissues because it's going to be a long painful process.

What we do now? Who knows? I honestly think the plan would have been to continue to evaluate the list by playing almost everybody. I think we'll almost get a game into the entire list (Minus Rookies) this year. Strengthening the basics seems to be the philosophy as well. I doubt they'll steer far from that.

[KT31]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

I think that's it right there. We smashed Brisbane and most people, including myself started thinking that we won't be so bad. FWIW I picked us to finish 2nd bottom with only 4 - 5 wins. We are at the bottom of a rebuild, time to strap on your armour and bring a box of tissues because it's going to be a long painful process.

What we do now? Who knows? I honestly think the plan would have been to continue to evaluate the list by playing almost everybody. I think we'll almost get a game into the entire list (Minus Rookies) this year. Strengthening the basics seems to be the philosophy as well. I doubt they'll steer far from that.

I don't disagree with this, I do however have an issue with how easy we seem to throw in the towel and the lack of leadership and endeavor we have shown in the last couple of weeks.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

Well i think the round 1 win has made the last 2 losses all the more frustrating when in reality we all thought prior to the season we would still be pretty bad.

The way i see it is:

2011 - The start of the decline. Finals are no more and the wins drop off. This was hard to accept after years of success
2012 - Hitting rock bottom and doing a complete cleanout - Putting the peices in place for a rebuild of the future. Players retire/are delisted/are drafted. This is a long year of pain with the rare glimpse of hope.
2013 - Development begins. The rebuild is well underway. The peices are in place, we have a vision and we start to build of rock bottom that was last year. Can and should only be better than last year but the reality is we will still be pretty bad. BUT the 10 goal drubbings should be less frequent.
2014 - Start to gain some consistency and momentum to move up the ladder. We should be competitive
2015 - Pushing for finals
2016-17 - Expectation is to make finals

So we are still in the dark stages of a rebuild. But the worst should be behind us. Time will tell

[soupman]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

Disagree entirely.
Why on earth would you groom Roughy to play on the gorillas, then use him as a "swing man"

This.

Can we stop calling for Roughead to be moved away from his new position within which he is showing his best and most consistent form to date?

Roughead's name is written in permanent texta at full back for the rest of the season, we aren't going to suddenly start throwing him forward.

[always right]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

This.

Can we stop calling for Roughead to be moved away from his new position within which he is showing his best and most consistent form to date?

Roughead's name is written in permanent texta at full back for the rest of the season, we aren't going to suddenly start throwing him forward.

This.

If this is rebuild or development year...then leave blokes in the positions you want to develop them for. Roughead stays in defence and we persevere with a Cordy, Jones and Stringer combination up forward.

[EasternWest]

Re: Where to from here for the season?

This.

This.

Can we make our points without this needless trend?

Sorry, maybe I'm in cranky old man mode.

Roughead plays fullback. He's a natural. Way more mobile than I thought he'd be too.