Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

[hujsh]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Macrae and Hunter can use the ball. I think they'll look like much better users if we have a better system forward that gives them targets to hit or alternatively a long bail out option that's a decent chance to take the contested mark 1v1 or if not bring the ball to ground.

Dunks is probably a bit worse but he can hit up a target when there are actually targets to hit.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Macrae and Hunter can use the ball. I think they'll look like much better users if we have a better system forward that gives them targets to hit or alternatively a long bail out option that's a decent chance to take the contested mark 1v1 or if not bring the ball to ground.

Dunks is probably a bit worse but he can hit up a target when there are actually targets to hit.

So what’s the source of the problem of no targets then? Why did we see just two games (against north and Adelaide) where we had any sort of space and fluid ball movement into our 50? Is that simply because of the inferior opposition? Do the better teams know that clogging our 50 is so effective because our forwards are hopeless? If so that’s and easy win each week for them. I don’t buy it though. Bruce has played in functioning forward lines. He’s been around long enough. Wally is a smart guy. They can’t be that inept at knowing where to be and staying out of each others way.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

So what’s the source of the problem of no targets then? Why did we see just two games (against north and Adelaide) where we had any sort of space and fluid ball movement into our 50? Is that simply because of the inferior opposition? Do the better teams know that clogging our 50 is so effective because our forwards are hopeless? If so that’s and easy win each week for them. I don’t buy it though. Bruce has played in functioning forward lines. He’s been around long enough. Wally is a smart guy. They can’t be that inept at knowing where to be and staying out of each others way.

Its a puzzler, but the common theme when I have watched them live this year is how often our forwards, before the player upfield disposes of the ball, either:
a) don't move...OR
b) when they do, they seem to converge on top of each other.

It's even more frustrating when I'd then see the opposition forward line be able to generate space to be hit on the lead

[DOG GOD]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Do we move Daniel to a wing and JJ to a hff ?

[DOG GOD]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

So what’s the source of the problem of no targets then? Why did we see just two games (against north and Adelaide) where we had any sort of space and fluid ball movement into our 50? Is that simply because of the inferior opposition? Do the better teams know that clogging our 50 is so effective because our forwards are hopeless? If so that’s and easy win each week for them. I don’t buy it though. Bruce has played in functioning forward lines. He’s been around long enough. Wally is a smart guy. They can’t be that inept at knowing where to be and staying out of each others way.

I agree, it’s obviously the delivery into the fwd 50 that’s the problem. It’s either too slow, or the kicking is lacklustre. As good as macrae can be getting the ball, 80% of his kicks are bag of wheat floaters. We seriously need great users of the ball.

[hujsh]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

So what’s the source of the problem of no targets then? Why did we see just two games (against north and Adelaide) where we had any sort of space and fluid ball movement into our 50? Is that simply because of the inferior opposition? Do the better teams know that clogging our 50 is so effective because our forwards are hopeless? If so that’s and easy win each week for them. I don’t buy it though. Bruce has played in functioning forward lines. He’s been around long enough. Wally is a smart guy. They can’t be that inept at knowing where to be and staying out of each others way.

Might be partly forward structure, might be partly how we move the ball forward. It's harder to say not having seen us play live in over a year.

We have shown at times that we can hit up our forwards on the lead and kick some big scores but that doesn't tend to last against better teams

[hujsh]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

I agree, it’s obviously the delivery into the fwd 50 that’s the problem. It’s either too slow, or the kicking is lacklustre. As good as macrae can be getting the ball, 80% of his kicks are bag of wheat floaters. We seriously need great users of the ball.

It could be as simple as actually kicking the ball. Sometimes we just handball more than we need to. Lipinski was a good example when he had a little space at f50 and needed to take the kick but instead handballed to Bont who was immediately tacked because he had no space from his opponent.

[azabob]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Do we move Daniel to a wing and JJ to a hff ?

Yes and no.

In theory HB is easier to play thank HF, JJ would struggle no end.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

It could be as simple as actually kicking the ball. Sometimes we just handball more than we need to. Lipinski was a good example when he had a little space at f50 and needed to take the kick but instead handballed to Bont who was immediately tacked because he had no space from his opponent.

I agree. Lipinski should’ve had a shot. A lot of our players are deers in headlights when they reach the 40-50 metre range. They have to get it into their heads that they have free reign to have a shot, especially if they are dead in front, running directly toward goal.

Let’s look at the first quarter against Geel, where we looked fantastic. Why? We moved the ball quickly, not overusing handball, getting into 50 quickly, and when faced with a defensive wall, hand balling back just enough for “that guy” to have a shot. That’s pretty much the only time I saw that this year. Obviously Geelong changed tactics at quarter time, but I also think we went into our shell to “save” the game instead of putting the foot on the throat.

I really liked the look of JJ wing/hf. He looked rejuvenated and his pace would be ideal coming off a wing/hf. Put that with Daniel in the front half and we already change the delivery/pace of our delivery into 50.

We also need a “leader” in our fwd 50 and I’m really hoping we go hard at Breust or Gunston. Their knowledge and experience is something we are desperate for.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Yes and no.

In theory HB is easier to play thank HF, JJ would struggle no end.

Struggle in what way?

[azabob]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

Struggle in what way?

To actually get the football, impact the game and hit the scoreboard.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

It could be as simple as actually kicking the ball. Sometimes we just handball more than we need to. Lipinski was a good example when he had a little space at f50 and needed to take the kick but instead handballed to Bont who was immediately tacked because he had no space from his opponent.

That was a horrendous decision from Pat.

[comrade]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

That was a horrendous decision from Pat.

Just doesn't have the temperament for finals footy. Should have rolled the dice on VDM.

[DOG GOD]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

To actually get the football, impact the game and hit the scoreboard.

I see where you’re coming from but I don’t think he would have a problem hitting the scoreboard if he had opportunities to. At least he’s one of our rare players that can kick 50 on the run. And what I like most about him, is that given an opportunity for a goal he’s normally running directly at goal, none of this pocket BS.

[Bornadog]

Re: Gerard whateley delivers honest assessment of the bulldogs

I agree, it’s obviously the delivery into the fwd 50 that’s the problem. It’s either too slow, or the kicking is lacklustre. As good as macrae can be getting the ball, 80% of his kicks are bag of wheat floaters. We seriously need great users of the ball.

I think the issue is more conversion than anything. We are 4th in the AFL for marks inside 50, just above Saints, so we are hitting targets alot of the time. On Saturday, Wally missed two gettables, Hunter hit the post and Smith missed one from 20 metres out dead in front. Having said that we had 742 inside 50s for 169 marks and 168 goals, 159 behinds. The leader was Richmond with 842 inside 50s for 180 marks but only 172 goals, 159 behinds.

One thing this season was the running patterns inside 50 between Naughton and Bruce. Naughton missed a lot of games plus their were 5 fewer H&A games which meant the two of them have not worked enough together to get some sort of rappor going.

However, it is really annoying when guys like Macrae, Lippa and a few others won't have a shot at goal and keep looking for someone closer to goal. I would rather they had a ping and missed than getting caught with the ball and resulting in a turnover and 12 point turnaround.