Our Worrying Defence

[Bornadog]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Is it time to change the title of this thread? 16-17 entries in that second quarter for two goals, missing 2 vital players in Bob and Marcus, great work boys.

Wood, JJ?

[Bornadog]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

I thought Hamling got better as the game went on and Roberts was steady again and starting to get some confidence.

We need these big blokes to keep improving and both are still 23 years old and have improvement left in them.

[hujsh]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

If Roberts could just hold his marks he'd be looking pretty good right now

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Still ranked #1 for points against after 12 rounds. Great effort by the coaches and players.

[Bornadog]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

If Roberts could just hold his marks he'd be looking pretty good right now

Needs to go the punch instead of trying to outmark everyone and get beaten every time.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Roberts punched quite a few. Watch the replay.
Had Dixon's measure a few times.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Roberts punched quite a few. Watch the replay.
Had Dixon's measure a few times.

But when Dixon marks them he's going to be crazy good.

[hujsh]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Needs to go the punch instead of trying to outmark everyone and get beaten every time.

I'm thinking more of the ones that bounce off his hands

[EasternWest]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

But when Dixon marks them he's going to be crazy good.

He was always a threat. At least, that's what we were being told.

[Bornadog]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

He was always a threat. At least, that's what we were being told.

and told over and over.

[comrade]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Dixon dropping every mark was actually good because it was 'predictable' for their small forwards according to the broadcast.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Dixon dropping every mark was actually good because it was 'predictable' for their small forwards according to the broadcast.

They've been working on it all summer, and it's just started to click.



If you'd have told me we'd have the tightest defence at the half way mark, I'd have laughed at you. If you'd said we'd do it with players such as Murphy, JJ, Wood and the revelation Adams missing multiple games, and our up and comer Hamling not getting many games, I don't know how I would've reacted.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Just looked at some stats. Our best ever h&a defensive effort (since the 22 round season was introduced in 1970) has been 241 goals conceded in 1974 (10.95 per game), this year we are at 172 goals conceded in 16 games (10.75 per game).

When you think back to some of the dour teams we had playing their home games at Whitten Oval, it is remarkable that this current crop is on track to concede less playing mostly at Etihad.

Given the defensive mess Bevo inherited, our lack of a fully developed quality KPD and the raft of injuries our defenders have experienced this year, it really has been an astonishing performance from our coaching team; Bevo and Rohan Smith in particular.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

Just looked at some stats. Our best ever h&a defensive effort (since the 22 round season was introduced in 1970) has been 241 goals conceded in 1974 (10.95 per game), this year we are at 172 goals conceded in 16 games (10.75 per game).

When you think back to some of the dour teams we had playing their home games at Whitten Oval, it is remarkable that this current crop is on track to concede less playing mostly at Etihad.

Given the defensive mess Bevo inherited, our lack of a fully developed quality KPD and the raft of injuries our defenders have experienced this year, it really has been an astonishing performance from our coaching team; Bevo and Rohan Smith in particular.

Very much so.

Will be interesting to see how the dynamic changes next year with Crameri back, Boyd/Stringer more influential etc. We should be a much better attacking side next season, so I'll watch with interest how that will impact our defense first mantra.

[Greystache]

Re: Our Worrying Defence

We're 16th in the AFL for scores conceded per inside 50m. I thought we'd struggle this year but nowhere near this badly. Our game plan is built around limiting inside 50s, but once we do we may as well jog back to the centre because a goal is a given.

Massive amounts of work ahead for next year, even with injuries reduced.