2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

[lemmon]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

At 94-all, we contested the next centre bounce without Libba. Was a big mistake in hindsight. We should have rushed him back on after Bont's goal to make sure we could at least halve the contest in the middle - instead Essendon got the centre clearance and scored a goal soon afterwards.

As an extension of that I didn't think we were great in the middle all day. On paper I thought we should have belted Essendon in contested footy and had first use for the majority but Ryder was good and their mids fed on that

[jeemak]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Griffen had a huge last quarter really but I would like to see him take responsibility and be a little more selfish sometimes. He could have pulled the trigger and kicked a crucial goal at one stage in the last quarter but handballed and we fumbled. For a man of with such ridiculous ability he does this a little too often for my liking. It is quite harsh given that he is bringing others into the game but I don't think we get enough damage from him.

I know the passage you are talking about. He managed to baulk one player but the second one closed him down....handballing was the right option. Unfortunately Stevens fumbled.

Most teams are very conscious of Griffen's ability to kick goals from distance. It's why you see them scramble whenever he approaches any distance within 60m.

100% agree with you. Players like Griffen and Stringer who can bust through tackles are so rare that they just need to be looking to utilise that ability, and capitalise, whenever they can. The next time Griff touched the ball, he didn't muck around, and set up the goal for Bont. I liked that.

My memory might be hazy however, I thought he could have pulled the trigger rather than baulk (which he did to release Stevens by drawing fire to himself) as he was on about the 50m line.

I think he's a touch too unselfish at times.

[Ozza]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

At 94-all, we contested the next centre bounce without Libba. Was a big mistake in hindsight. We should have rushed him back on after Bont's goal to make sure we could at least halve the contest in the middle - instead Essendon got the centre clearance and scored a goal soon afterwards.

Noticed that also....Libba didn't know quite what to do with himself, and then trudged out to the wing. From memory it was definitely Boyd and Griffen inside, and I think the other was Cooney. Little bit of the senior blokes pulling rank and trying to take responsibility for winning it out...would think it will get highlighted to them as an error to have our no.1 clearance man standing on a wing.

[Ozza]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

My memory might be hazy however, I thought he could have pulled the trigger rather than baulk (which he did to release Stevens by drawing fire to himself) as he was on about the 50m line.

I think he's a touch too unselfish at times.

I thought he should have taken the shot. The handball to Stevens looked ordinary from side on...low and in front of him, and Stevens certainly didn't make it look any better (Bont would have just grabbed it in one duke!).

[GVGjr]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Are they the same reasons the MC weren't prepared to move Austin onto him?

Austin and Roberts both have there weaknesses, but I'm all for playing the bloke who has far much more upside. Especially given the circumstances of our season currently.

Don't think it's a MC decision on match days. They assist in picking the squad but Macca has to change things around given how the game is panning out. They might have thought plan A was going to work and Macca changed it up given the match conditions.

If you only wanting to play the youngsters "with upside" then why would we play anyone over the age of 25 or 26 for the balance of the season? I don't think we should gift games just because of a players age. JJ for instance has had to work his way back into form and has done very well because of it. I don't think gifting games helps with the development of players anyway.

I don't have a problem with Roberts but he hasn't knocked the door down. He was good on Sunday though. To me he is just a bit slower than Austin and I don't think he is any stronger.

[anfo27]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Don't think it's a MC decision on match days. They assist in picking the squad but Macca has to change things around given how the game is panning out. They might have thought plan A was going to work and Macca changed it up given the match conditions.

If you only wanting to play the youngsters "with upside" then why would we play anyone over the age of 25 or 26 for the balance of the season? I don't think we should gift games just because of a players age. JJ for instance has had to work his way back into form and has done very well because of it. I don't think gifting games helps with the development of players anyway.

I don't have a problem with Roberts but he hasn't knocked the door down. He was good on Sunday though. To me he is just a bit slower than Austin and I don't think he is any stronger.

Fletch is a hell of a lot more polished with the ball though. You can't have too many guys in the back half who aren't great with the ball and we have a few of them back there.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Don't think it's a MC decision on match days. They assist in picking the squad but Macca has to change things around given how the game is panning out. They might have thought plan A was going to work and Macca changed it up given the match conditions.

If you only wanting to play the youngsters "with upside" then why would we play anyone over the age of 25 or 26 for the balance of the season? I don't think we should gift games just because of a players age. JJ for instance has had to work his way back into form and has done very well because of it. I don't think gifting games helps with the development of players anyway.

I don't have a problem with Roberts but he hasn't knocked the door down. He was good on Sunday though. To me he is just a bit slower than Austin and I don't think he is any stronger.

Not sure where that has come from as that was never said.

I'm of the strong opinion if you have 2 blokes that are fairly similiar players, both have glaring weaknesses and I would argue the performance of both when in the senior side has been pretty even. Then I would rather be getting games into the younger player who is improving at a pretty good rate, rather than keep playing Austin who has possibly reached his ceiling as a footballer.

With Morris, Roughead and Picken already in defense. Roberts foot skills would be a welcome addition. Can't really afford to have 4 blokes in your back half who aren't the greatest by foot anymore.

Roberts has been very solid all year without breaking the door down. But hasn't done alot wrong when given the chance at AFL level. Which is about how I would sum up Austins season to date.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

When was the extended period that Austin, as a rookie listed player, knocked the door down?

[Dry Rot]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Tonight Grundy showed why Roughead isn't a very good fullback.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Tonight Grundy showed why Roughead isn't a very good fullback.

He was good wasn't he?

[Dry Rot]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

He was good wasn't he?

Yes. Ditto Teddy Richards.

I'm very amused how the Swans have conned the rest of the competition and fans with all the attention on Franklin, the COLA and Tippett.

Everyone forgets about the Swans great back men, and bizarrely good young 'uns like Parker.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Tonight Grundy showed why Roughead isn't a very good fullback.

Very harsh on a guy who has only played a couple of seasons at fullback and less than 70 games and not peaked yet as a tall at age 23 years only compared to Grundy with 157 games and aged 28

[G-Mo77]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Yes. Ditto Teddy Richards.

I'm very amused how the Swans have conned the rest of the competition and fans with all the attention on Franklin, the COLA and Tippett.

You might find it funny, I find it disgusting that a team gets such a big advantage on the rest of the league.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2014 Game Day Round 18 - Western Bulldogs V Essendon

Yes. Ditto Teddy Richards.

I'm very amused how the Swans have conned the rest of the competition and fans with all the attention on Franklin, the COLA and Tippett.

Everyone forgets about the Swans great back men, and bizarrely good young 'uns like Parker.

A lot of people thought the Swans were paying overs to Essendon for Ted Richards. In fact at the time I'm pretty sure journos were saying the AFL should step in and stop the trade going through.