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Eade says Western Bulldogs still in the hunt
Three losses in a row looks bad, but Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is confident his team is not spiralling into a season-defining slump. After being strangled by St Kilda's relentless pressure at Etihad Stadium last night, the Dogs coach was surprisingly upbeat about the 28-point loss.
"We can take a lot of positives out of it," Eade said.
"Obviously they are on top of the ladder. Them and Geelong are going to be the benchmark at this stage, so I think we do take some positives out of it.
"If we can have that endeavour and workrate, then a win is not far away. If we got blown out of the park today with a lack of endeavour then you would start to worry about it."
Eade was particularly pleased with his side's final term given they didn't throw in the towel with the game clearly shot, instead winning the quarter by kicking four goals to two.
"We can take some consolation," he said, "because we hung in there. Even in the third quarter when we were getting beaten I thought our endeavour was OK and I think it was a bit of reward in the end for that endeavour."
Indicators in key areas including contested ball and stoppages were good. The Dogs went inside 50m 46 times, but failed to capitalise.
"The opposition pressure was fantastic," Eade said. "Most of our problems have been our execution, which is normally a strength. The previous two weeks were poor execution for whatever reason, but this week was as much due to the opposition.
"You worry if you are in a slump and lost three in a row, I've been in that position a lot of times, then you worry about players' endeavour or their confidence level and the way they attack a contest.
"Today, even though we made some mistakes, I thought our guys got back on the horse. They hung in there."
The Bulldogs meet Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Sunday and could regain defender Tom Williams, who was a late withdrawal yesterday because of a foot injury.
Ruckman Will Minson may come under the scrutiny of the match review panel for a flying elbow that appeared to make high contact on St Kilda's Brendon Goddard in the third quarter.
Three losses in a row looks bad, but Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is confident his team is not spiralling into a season-defining slump. After being strangled by St Kilda's relentless pressure at Etihad Stadium last night, the Dogs coach was surprisingly upbeat about the 28-point loss.
"We can take a lot of positives out of it," Eade said.
"Obviously they are on top of the ladder. Them and Geelong are going to be the benchmark at this stage, so I think we do take some positives out of it.
"If we can have that endeavour and workrate, then a win is not far away. If we got blown out of the park today with a lack of endeavour then you would start to worry about it."
Eade was particularly pleased with his side's final term given they didn't throw in the towel with the game clearly shot, instead winning the quarter by kicking four goals to two.
"We can take some consolation," he said, "because we hung in there. Even in the third quarter when we were getting beaten I thought our endeavour was OK and I think it was a bit of reward in the end for that endeavour."
Indicators in key areas including contested ball and stoppages were good. The Dogs went inside 50m 46 times, but failed to capitalise.
"The opposition pressure was fantastic," Eade said. "Most of our problems have been our execution, which is normally a strength. The previous two weeks were poor execution for whatever reason, but this week was as much due to the opposition.
"You worry if you are in a slump and lost three in a row, I've been in that position a lot of times, then you worry about players' endeavour or their confidence level and the way they attack a contest.
"Today, even though we made some mistakes, I thought our guys got back on the horse. They hung in there."
The Bulldogs meet Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next Sunday and could regain defender Tom Williams, who was a late withdrawal yesterday because of a foot injury.
Ruckman Will Minson may come under the scrutiny of the match review panel for a flying elbow that appeared to make high contact on St Kilda's Brendon Goddard in the third quarter.
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