Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

[comrade]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

I think we've somehow added 2 to replace him in Daniel and McLean

You’re probably right but at least those two are versatile enough to move around when required - Daniel is obviously an elite HBF and McLean is capable inside 50. Dunks should never leave the centre and trying to shoe horn forward so much over the last 3 years was silly.

How we line up in the midfield is going to be very interesting this year - I worry for Treloar.

[D Mitchell]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

Leaving aside
(a) the paragraph about the culture of the Club. That has to be speculation;
(b) the suggestion that Beveridge might be the problem in players leaving. Dunkley aside, a serious loss but that's life, assuming those named were distractions or bad influences, the Club has been right to move them on;
(c) predictions. Always dangerous before rounds 3 or 4
I agree with most of the article and add that the poor defensive games of the mids last year was only half the story, the forwards were even worse. If the defensive part of the players' game, generally, improve, then, on paper at least, there's reason for optimism for 2023.

[GVGjr]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

Leaving aside
(a) the paragraph about the culture of the Club. That has to be speculation;
(b) the suggestion that Beveridge might be the problem in players leaving. Dunkley aside, a serious loss but that's life, assuming those named were distractions or bad influences, the Club has been right to move them on;
(c) predictions. Always dangerous before rounds 3 or 4
I agree with most of the article and add that the poor defensive games of the mids last year was only half the story, the forwards were even worse. If the defensive part of the players' game, generally, improve, then, on paper at least, there's reason for optimism for 2023.

A) The speculation of the culture challenges at the club last year was very strong and it does appear that we addressed it at the end of last season.
B) Players don't appear to be leaving us because of Bevo so from my perspective that is an assumption that might have been over-hyped.

The balance of the article is around the mark.

[Mantis]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

You’re probably right but at least those two are versatile enough to move around when required - Daniel is obviously an elite HBF and McLean is capable inside 50. Dunks should never leave the centre and trying to shoe horn forward so much over the last 3 years was silly.

How we line up in the midfield is going to be very interesting this year - I worry for Treloar.

It's a big watch isn't it. We seriously need the pace of Treloar & Smith around the ball as much as possible so how we balance the midfield minutes of the main core (Bont, Libba, Macrae, Smith & Treloar) will be fascinating... would hope we see one of Treloar & Smith in the middle at all times.

[Happy Days]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

You’re probably right but at least those two are versatile enough to move around when required - Daniel is obviously an elite HBF and McLean is capable inside 50. Dunks should never leave the centre and trying to shoe horn forward so much over the last 3 years was silly.

How we line up in the midfield is going to be very interesting this year - I worry for Treloar.

I get the worry but he really couldn’t have been more reassuring in that practice match. In choppy conditions he still got 90m onto a lot of possession chains, which is his whole deal at his best.

I’m more worried (for the first half of 2023 anyway) about Barry. His disposal is as unpolished as ever and his pre-season has been every bit as limited. Concerned he’s gonna take a month or two to knock the rust off and given our early draw it’s a luxury we can’t afford.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

A) The speculation of the culture challenges at the club last year was very strong and it does appear that we addressed it at the end of last season.
B) Players don't appear to be leaving us because of Bevo so from my perspective that is an assumption that might have been over-hyped.

The balance of the article is around the mark.

What was the speculation? Or was it about Bevo losing it a bit (Morris etc?). Or Dunks didn't think others prepared well enough?

[GVGjr]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

What was the speculation? Or was it about Bevo losing it a bit (Morris etc?). Or Dunks didn't think others prepared well enough?

The distractions with Hunter and the playing group was something that kept getting mentioned.

[Bornadog]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

The distractions with Hunter and the playing group was something that kept getting mentioned.

But that is not a culture issue, that is an issue with personnel.

[GVGjr]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

But that is not a culture issue, that is an issue with personnel.

That impacted the culture of the group. There were a few that stuck with Lachie and that created a rift.

[bulldogfan]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

I think it’s a load of bullshit seriously the amount of players we signed up last year yes we lost Dunkley and he was a fantastic player but nobody is writing up articles about Fremantle loosing lobb acres logue meek and also Melbourne loosing Jackson and this year probably kozzie it’s a load of bs

[GVGjr]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

I think it’s a load of bullshit seriously the amount of players we signed up last year yes we lost Dunkley and he was a fantastic player but nobody is writing up articles about Fremantle loosing lobb acres logue meek and also Melbourne loosing Jackson and this year probably kozzie it’s a load of bs

Players moving around is now just a fact of the AFL so that was not and issue for us.

[mjp]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

I think it’s a load of bullshit seriously the amount of players we signed up last year yes we lost Dunkley and he was a fantastic player but nobody is writing up articles about Fremantle loosing lobb acres logue meek and also Melbourne loosing Jackson and this year probably kozzie it’s a load of bs

Ummm - they are over here.

Been a lot of criticism of Freo and how they have gone about it in Perth. I think Freo have tried to 'hold' short-term whilst trying to improve for the long-term (Jackson)...but they have seriously compromised both their best 22 (Acres - better than he's given credit for) and depth (Logue, Tucker, Meek). I think best case for them now is (ladder position) 6-8 - and they can sell that - but if it turns into 10-12, well...it's going to be a hard sell (particularly if West Coast continue to suck).

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

Ummm - they are over here.

Been a lot of criticism of Freo and how they have gone about it in Perth. I think Freo have tried to 'hold' short-term whilst trying to improve for the long-term (Jackson)...but they have seriously compromised both their best 22 (Acres - better than he's given credit for) and depth (Logue, Tucker, Meek). I think best case for them now is (ladder position) 6-8 - and they can sell that - but if it turns into 10-12, well...it's going to be a hard sell (particularly if West Coast continue to suck).

How does Freo explain losing their top goal kicker from last season and a host of good enough players and adding just Jackson back?
You're right if they miss the 8 and the coasters languish in the bottom third the scribes over there will be all over them.

[mjp]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

How does Freo explain losing their top goal kicker from last season and a host of good enough players and adding just Jackson back?
You're right if they miss the 8 and the coasters languish in the bottom third the scribes over there will be all over them.

Well - if you recall they held off on the Lobb trade and I swear that was PR not 'real-life'...aka they wanted to be able to 'sell' the supporters that they wanted to keep him but...

The reality is though that Jackson is a Fremantle boy - East Fremantle junior - and it is almost impossible to overstate how much the average Freo supporter wants 'FREMANTLE PEOPLE' playing for the Fremantle Footy Club. So as long as they got Jackson, no-one cared. And yep - I know the clubs greatest players list includes people like Pavlich (SA), Mundy (Vic) etc - but everyone forgets that...it is all Freo all the time with those guys.

So what about Lobb and Logue etc I hear you ask - aren't they WA boys? Well, yep. But they are from the Swan Valley (Swan Districts footy club juniors) and, well - Freo people don't care about Swan Districts. Of course, Michael Walters is from Swan Districts and was holding his fingers in an 'M' sign for 'MIDLAND' after goals in 2022 (not that there were many of them)...I guess most Freo people know 'vaguely' where Midland is (inland suburb, 30 mins from Perth) but most couldn't imagine ever actually GOING there...

It's a strange dynamic over here, what can I tell you. West Coast supporters just want to win-win-win and can't imagine why any player:
a/. Wouldn't want to play for them.
b/. Would ever leave them.

Freo supporters want to win (of course) but they want to do it on THEIR terms. With Freo players/coaches/staff etc. Hence Peter Bell (South Fremantle junior) is an ideal Head of Footy and Longmuir - ex Freo player despite coming from the bush/West Perth zone an ideal coach.

[Mofra]

Re: Why the Bulldogs will take a tumble in 2023

He's not wrong.

Cultural questions - we've all asked them. Dunks comments - we all wonder what the truth is about the culture and what is 'WRONG' ('cos it often looks like something is wrong). Bevo is a unique talent as a coach but he DOES do some things that drive all of us crazy - when I posted a thread about this with a poll the responses were many and varied. We ARE skinny for small defenders and goodness knows what's gonna happen if Doc is out for an extended time (and he's getting old so that is highly likely). We DO have a tough draw to start the season.

Hell - he could have added in "what are they thinking with that forward line", "Do they have any idea what they will get from Rory Lobb or Liam Jones", "Is Tim English EVER going to deliver on his promise in a game that matters" and "Is there any chance that Alex Keath returns to 2021 form 'cos they darn well need him". And on top of that, he could have added in the David King "They still don't have a true intercept player on their list" angle as well.

Plus, he used the word "Elucidating" - that's a 50-cent word in ANY article.

If you think we will slide, there are a lot of reasons why it could happen...

I'll bite on one point.
Alex Keath had played one good season as a KPD and multiple as an interceptor. The answer may be staring us in the face (and create a second problem!)