2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

[Happy Days]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

I love how bravely and gallantly we continually let teams beat us by easily getting loose men forward of the ball and when we randomly kick to opposition defenders on their own.

Our 2nd half was really competitive, but I'm pretty sick of watching the same deficiencies over & over.

Lots of positives but the same negatives.

Yessir.

It's the price you pay for cracking in at forward 50 contests. It's pretty much the only way we score but is also the reason why we lose.

[Eastdog]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Yessir.

It's the price you pay for cracking in at forward 50 contests. It's pretty much the only way we score but is also the reason why we lose.

What % was our kicking by foot at the end if the game. At one stage I think in the 2nd quarter it was like 28% which was very poor.

[AndrewP6]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

57.9% vs 66.5% for Geelong. Hard going in the wet.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

How did you rate Higgins game? Didn't see him get involved to much in the game like others who did.

He was poor and that is putting it nicely.

He is such an ordinary defender. I could understand us playing him down back to get some cheap kicks/confidence, but to play an entire season there? It doesn't work. He did make one good defensive effort last week v Melbourne late, but 8 times out of 10 the efforts are average.

His kicking has been poor the last two weeks too.

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

He is trying to ensure the younger brigade are two way footballers which I love.Higgins is long gone unforetunatly . Obviously he was awful defensively tonight but the last two weeks his foot skills have been shocking.

Couldn't agree more. You need to play both ways, and unfortunately Shaun doesn't do that.
To be honest it's an easy gig off half back.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

I think Hiigo's been good this year. He is generally a good user of the football and he reads the play well. He's not a natural half back, but I like him i that position. As for it being easy off half back.....its one of the most important positions because it is the launching point for most attacks and the first line of defence. Its no secret thatmost teams put their best users of the football on this line.

[G-Mo77]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Couldn't agree more. You need to play both ways, and unfortunately Shaun doesn't do that.
To be honest it's an easy gig off half back.

You played there have you Remi?

A good half backman drives needs to be a good ball user by foot and have the ability to run and make space. On top of that he also needs to keep his opponent in check.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Does anyone else believe that Bontempelli has added a bit of size this year? Normally it's a bit hard to do as the youngsters tend to struggle with the amount of running required but I think Bonts would have added a few KG since we drafted him.

Yes. Was checking out his legs, in a platonic way, during the warm up. They're very strong for a first year player, They'll be tree trunks in two years time, but hopefully not too much to hinder his galloping.

[Sedat]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Very interesting comments from BMac post-match about Macrae. Basically said that he was lucky to be in the team this weekend and that weight of possessions aren't everything - made references to Macrae straying away from non-negotiables, which he knew and understood, and then said that he went away from these again late in the game yesterday.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

That is the closest thing to a massive bake I have ever heard BMac serve up - very unusual. Macrae must be in big trouble.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Very interesting comments from BMac post-match about Macrae. Basically said that he was lucky to be in the team this weekend and that weight of possessions aren't everything - made references to Macrae straying away from non-negotiables, which he knew and understood, and then said that he went away from these again late in the game yesterday.

Thought that was interesting also. Very rare for Macca to single out and name a player in a negative context to the public. Goes to show there is a lot going on out there in the field of play that us fans arent picking up on. There are lots of reasons for players being dropped that we are not aware of. The coaching staff dont just draw names out of a hat each week

[Ozza]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

You played there have you Remi?

A good half backman drives needs to be a good ball user by foot and have the ability to run and make space. On top of that he also needs to keep his opponent in check.

...and has to read the play well, and has to often get back and fill the hole and/or help the full back.

[Ozza]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

Thought that was interesting also. Very rare for Macca to single out and name a player in a negative context to the public. Goes to show there is a lot going on out there in the field of play that us fans arent picking up on. There are lots of reasons for players being dropped that we are not aware of. The coaching staff dont just draw names out of a hat each week

It's a good point.

Thought Macca's press conference was really interest and pointed this week. In particular I liked that;

1. As much as we have all lauded Macrae this year, it is good to hear some confirmation that they are challenging him (and all players) on the defensive/accountability side of their game now - and not letting Macrae develop/continue with bad habits. Often the really good U/18s players have been their teams best player - and come through having had to do very little on the defensive side of things - hence it has to be developed extensively at AFL level.

2. Macca mentioned that; 'we believe we are now 'there' in terms of being a tough team, we are getting close to becoming an accountable team, but we having plenty of work to do towards being a smarter team'. I think thats an acknowledgement supporters would appreciate, and shows the clear development pathway.

3. Also enjoyed that, although he jumped the gun on the journo, Macca was quick to shut down the 'poster boy' comment about Bonti.

[Hotdog60]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

It was a good presser and the last thing you would need is a young player start believing his own press. I think the honeymoon is over and Maccas last couple of week have shown some frustration. We may see some funny calls at the selection table but it well maybe that rules are not being followed.

I wouldn't be surprized if there is only one change this week if any.

[Scorlibo]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 16 - Geelong V Western Bulldogs

The whole season I've been concerned about the amount of uncontested football that Macrae has been winning. He's been pretty regularly racking up 20+ uncontested touches - which says a fair bit about his ability to get to the right places but also means that he has the onus on him to use the ball in a damaging manner. When he's not doing that, the ball comes back the other way and whoever Jack has left on his own from the other team can hurt us.

He needs to start winning more contested ball because for all the plaudits coming his way this season, every elite midfielder in the competition wins at least 40% of their ball in the contest. Jack's going at something like 25%. He's only young, but bad habits stick easily and we want him to be more than an Andrew Gaff, Nathan Eagleton or Bachar Houli.