What happened to the Bulldogs?

[LostDoggy]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I actually think the article is a load of shit. Its easy to sit in a commentary position or as a supporter and take pot shots at a non-existent game plan, but its equally easy to forget just how outside we were in the last few years and how short that game plan came in terms of winning finals football. Winning the constested footy has to be the basis on which our next flag tilt is based. The downhill skiers/outside runners will be added once the basic plan is instilled in the team as a non-negotiable.

The club spin on a refresh is just that this is a rebuild, but a rebuild from a solid base. The well at the club is not bare. We have an exciting pipeline of young talent that needs time. This is not a Melbourne rebuild where the old guys have been thrown out and young guys asked to do too much. We are overendowed with inside players, because this is the focus we need to take, but also a reflection that in 1 or 2 years guys like Cross and Boyd will be gone. Today it is too soon to ask Wallis, Libba and Smith to take on the hard inside work mantle without support. They need help, but in a season or two their bodies will have hardened and they will be better for this season.

As for our forwards, yes its dysfunctional, yes we could go the option of a smaller more productive forward line, but did that win us a flag, when arguably in Johnno, Aker and Welsh we had three of the best small/med forwards in the game? No. All premiership sides in the last 10 years have had effective big blokes in their forward line around which the small/med work. It is a tall dominated model, not a small dominated model. We have 2 really good tall prospects in Jones and Cordy, they need time to develop. Maybe a season, maybe 2, but they will both be exceptional players.

As for the off field. This is where the club I think is failing. The fans aren't stupid, they know that after 5 or so seasons of exciting competitive footy and eventual heartbreak with elimination in 3 prelims that the next few years are going to be lean. The trick is to use that to your advantage. By failing to acknowledge a rebuild they have failed to grasp the opportunity of using the next generation to fuel excitement. In tough times the thing that brings people through the gate, that gets sponsors names in the paper and on TV are the development of young kids - and we have some beauties - Dahlhaus, Jones, Cordy, Wallis, Tutt, Howard, Libba and Smith are the next generation - this is what the club should be using to generate the next batch of supporters and maintain the excitement.

We are rebuilding. We have a group of young players who are "Hot Prospects" and in some cases are beginning to showcase their talents. We have a group of ageing stars who have 150+ games of experience, have played finals, but who slowly, but surely are losing their ability to offset the deficiencies of the young guys.

We have a coach who has a strategy, which by definition is a long term plan, which means more than a couple of weeks. The LTP is centred around strong at the contest football. Because that basis is so central to the strategy, the coach has determined that all other aspects of the game will be sacrificed so that the team collectively win the contested ball as if it was a reflex/second nature. Once this is in place, other bits can be added to the game plan.

I bet that McCartney on Saturday was chuffed that the concept of winning the contested ball was so ingrained in the guys that they didn't waiver from winning it despite it not delivering the results. That is a sign that the message and the strategy is taking hold. No its not going to win games this year. yes we are going to have to endure games where it appears as though we don't fire a shot, but once embedded, a contested ball mentality will mean that the foundation of the strategy is in place.

I maintain that the article is a load of shit, because it fails to grasp the strategic element to what Macca is doing. he's not building a game plan which with play finals footy this year (seeing us scrape into the 8 and "over achieve", rather he's taking a much tougher option and building the foundations of a dynasty. Rome wasn't built overnight and funny enough neither was Geelong. We are 13 games into a season of change, it will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.

There are things wrong with the footy club, but I don't think they are in the football department. I think the real problems the club has are elsewhere from Board level, to membership, to marketing/PR. You can say we are rebuilding and use it as an excuse for bad performances, or you can say we are rebuilding and use it as an opportunity to showcase the next generation of bulldog champions. The club has missed an opportunity.

A fantastic post, responded to and rebutted with yet another fantastic post. I agree with you wholeheartedly, and I can see why you're getting shot down. You can't defend a coach once the knives are out.

Your comment about it being a load of shit was spot on the mark. Any opinion on our game plan based on us playing finals at the moment is a load of shit, pure and simple. You walk before you run.

Thanks for posting this GG and some really good comments in this thread. The two standouts for me are;

"What do we stand for?" and " A huge challenge lies ahead".
I disagree that the brand of footy we have been playing is that bad to watch. It's not 'ugly' footy.
However, our blokes simply have to understand. For a struggling club like ours, one win is almost worth two for us - compared to clubs that are better off. We simply must compete, and our fans will stand by us if they see us keep at it, right to the line.

Huge bags kicked on us are heart breaking and the absolute worst thing for me is seeing valued fans, like Lantern, just walk away in disgust. It's time for a younger generation to take the reins and our marketing and decision making has to reflect that.
The thing that heartens me is I see a lot of kids at Bulldogs games.

I've said this before, but for me, this year more than any other, I'm getting really annoyed at the Bulldogs fans. Let them walk away. I'm sick of watching the club take the easy option to appease idiots, forsaking a strong long term strategy because the fans just won't come to the party no matter what we do. We were struggling as hard for members in 2009 as we are now. We need to build a base, and work from there. Every “fan” that tells me they're waiting until we win a flag before they sign up, well, let's just say the look of total disgust and disregard I give them probably doesn't make me many friends, but I'm just sick and tired of hearing the same old shit from “observers”, people who, like me, have never stood on the line and had a go at it themselves. I would consider that I have absolutely no right to ask Smorgon to stand down, as I couldn't do his job to save my life. Same goes for Macca. Same goes for every player out there.

(I'm not calling Lantern an idiot at all, by the way. Actually I'm quite surprised at hearing that.)

Come to the footy to support your team. Not to see them win.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

A fantastic post, responded to and rebutted with yet another fantastic post. I agree with you wholeheartedly, and I can see why you're getting shot down. You can't defend a coach once the knives are out.

Your comment about it being a load of shit was spot on the mark. Any opinion on our game plan based on us playing finals at the moment is a load of shit, pure and simple. You walk before you run.



I've said this before, but for me, this year more than any other, I'm getting really annoyed at the Bulldogs fans. Let them walk away. I'm sick of watching the club take the easy option to appease idiots, forsaking a strong long term strategy because the fans just won't come to the party no matter what we do. We were struggling as hard for members in 2009 as we are now. We need to build a base, and work from there. Every “fan” that tells me they're waiting until we win a flag before they sign up, well, let's just say the look of total disgust and disregard I give them probably doesn't make me many friends, but I'm just sick and tired of hearing the same old shit from “observers”, people who, like me, have never stood on the line and had a go at it themselves. I would consider that I have absolutely no right to ask Smorgon to stand down, as I couldn't do his job to save my life. Same goes for Macca. Same goes for every player out there.

(I'm not calling Lantern an idiot at all, by the way. Actually I'm quite surprised at hearing that.)

Come to the footy to support your team. Not to see them win.

I'm right behind you. I buy a membership for me and my kids every year without thinking.
I told my kids we were in for a bad year and explained to them why. We go to the footy and if we lose they're not upset, they're disappointed.
They understand it's only a chapter in a long story.
If they saw a movie where only good things happens, and there's no challenges or battles it's a boring story. I, and my kids embrace the ride, I'm not selling them fairy floss, I'm giving them a good square meal, with HEAPS of fibre.
We played in 3 consecutive preliminary finals.
We had our window. We missed it.
Time to rebuild.
It's not a disaster, it's just the changing of the seasons.

I agree with what Chris Grant said, footy is about more than premierships.
When you support the Dogs it's more about family, community, loyalty and heart.

That's what sustains us.

I for one would hate to see the club trade for players and maintain a game plan that keeps us permanently competitive and mid table.
I'm prepared to take the pain and re build and then really enjoy the ride.
The roller coaster is more fun than the puffing billy. The puffing billy Grinds along, it's Reliable, makes lots of smoke and noise but when you're on it, the novelty wears pretty thin very quickly.

[AndrewP6]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I'm right behind you. I buy a membership for me and my kids every year without thinking.
I told my kids we were in for a bad year and explained to them why. We go to the footy and if we lose they're not upset, they're disappointed.
They understand it's only a chapter in a long story.
If they saw a movie where only good things happens, and there's no challenges or battles it's a boring story. I, and my kids embrace the ride, I'm not selling them fairy floss, I'm giving them a good square meal, with HEAPS of fibre.
We played in 3 consecutive preliminary finals.
We had our window. We missed it.
Time to rebuild.
It's not a disaster, it's just the changing of the seasons.

I agree with what Chris Grant said, footy is about more than premierships.
When you support the Dogs it's more about family, community, loyalty and heart.

That's what sustains us.

I for one would hate to see the club trade for players and maintain a game plan that keeps us permanently competitive and mid table.
I'm prepared to take the pain and re build and then really enjoy the ride.
The roller coaster is more fun than the puffing billy. The puffing billy Grinds along, it's Reliable, makes lots of smoke and noise but when you're on it, the novelty wears pretty thin very quickly.

But the roller coaster has the tendency to make you violently ill.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Sure does.

[jeemak]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I tend not to place much value in what gets said about our club in the media when it comes to game plans and long term strategy.
Dan’s article is no different to any other article I read on a weekly basis. Basic truths, short term comments about strategy and ill-considered remedial actions to all of our woes seem to be a common thread within each of them.

What I will say is that our current “cracking in” strategy is clearly not going to win us many more games this year, on its own merits. Though, what has been misconstrued within the media since its conception is that all we will have to offer on a long term basis is “cracking in” and nothing else. It’s not that I’m a Macca fan, or a Western Bulldogs fanboy that allows me to determine this. Rather, I’m a reasonable person and I understand that the people involved with our football club, irrespective of their shortcomings, are not as naive as they have been presented to be within the media.

The “cracking in” strategy isn’t just about winning contested ball from a team perspective. Instead, it’s about being confident that each and every person within the team is capable of winning the ball, or at least providing a neutral contest when their time comes throughout the course of the game. Irrespective of our previous years tallies in contested ball count (which, after Rocket’s initial years was nothing to sneeze at) our current coach wants it to form the basis of our game plan moving forward. We as fans have to cop that, and allow him to instil it in to our playing group on his terms.

The real test will come in 2013, once he’s had some time to add to the foundations that are supposed to be built this year. We’re going to see a lot of commentary coming from all quarters within the media from this point on, about our “sub-standard” performances, and we’re just going to have to deal with it. It’s something every rebuilding team has to deal with.

As others have said we need to draft well this year to develop our list to supplement the ongoing game plan. Irrespective of what gets put forward by media hacks I’m prepared to wait and see it happen before me. Like many of you, I’m smart enough to know that four or five years or so building towards a tilt doesn’t come cheaply with respect to performance for a club like ours. Or any club for that matter, just wait and see.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I tend not to place much value in what gets said about our club in the media when it comes to game plans and long term strategy.
Dan’s article is no different to any other article I read on a weekly basis. Basic truths, short term comments about strategy and ill-considered remedial actions to all of our woes seem to be a common thread within each of them.

What I will say is that our current “cracking in” strategy is clearly not going to win us many more games this year, on its own merits. Though, what has been misconstrued within the media since its conception is that all we will have to offer on a long term basis is “cracking in” and nothing else. It’s not that I’m a Macca fan, or a Western Bulldogs fanboy that allows me to determine this. Rather, I’m a reasonable person and I understand that the people involved with our football club, irrespective of their shortcomings, are not as naive as they have been presented to be within the media.

The “cracking in” strategy isn’t just about winning contested ball from a team perspective. Instead, it’s about being confident that each and every person within the team is capable of winning the ball, or at least providing a neutral contest when their time comes throughout the course of the game. Irrespective of our previous years tallies in contested ball count (which, after Rocket’s initial years was nothing to sneeze at) our current coach wants it to form the basis of our game plan moving forward. We as fans have to cop that, and allow him to instil it in to our playing group on his terms.

The real test will come in 2013, once he’s had some time to add to the foundations that are supposed to be built this year. We’re going to see a lot of commentary coming from all quarters within the media from this point on, about our “sub-standard” performances, and we’re just going to have to deal with it. It’s something every rebuilding team has to deal with.

As others have said we need to draft well this year to develop our list to supplement the ongoing game plan. Irrespective of what gets put forward by media hacks I’m prepared to wait and see it happen before me. Like many of you, I’m smart enough to know that four or five years or so building towards a tilt doesn’t come cheaply with respect to performance for a club like ours. Or any club for that matter, just wait and see.

If cracking in was teamed with even a measure of flow, would be fine. But the chain links are broken and I don't think you can blame cracking in. It's called football for a reason. Foot skills reign supreme.

[Remi Moses]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I'm right behind you. I buy a membership for me and my kids every year without thinking.
I told my kids we were in for a bad year and explained to them why. We go to the footy and if we lose they're not upset, they're disappointed.
They understand it's only a chapter in a long story.
If they saw a movie where only good things happens, and there's no challenges or battles it's a boring story. I, and my kids embrace the ride, I'm not selling them fairy floss, I'm giving them a good square meal, with HEAPS of fibre.
We played in 3 consecutive preliminary finals.
We had our window. We missed it.
Time to rebuild.
It's not a disaster, it's just the changing of the seasons.

I agree with what Chris Grant said, footy is about more than premierships.
When you support the Dogs it's more about family, community, loyalty and heart.

That's what sustains us.

I for one would hate to see the club trade for players and maintain a game plan that keeps us permanently competitive and mid table.
I'm prepared to take the pain and re build and then really enjoy the ride.
The roller coaster is more fun than the puffing billy. The puffing billy Grinds along, it's Reliable, makes lots of smoke and noise but when you're on it, the novelty wears pretty thin very quickly.

Well thought out, we have to bunker down in the next 12 months for the inevitable calling for our club to be either moved or disbanded. We had a couple of shots in the locker and fell short and now it's time to rebuild.

[Mantis]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

I've said this before, but for me, this year more than any other, I'm getting really annoyed at the Bulldogs fans. Let them walk away. I'm sick of watching the club take the easy option to appease idiots, forsaking a strong long term strategy because the fans just won't come to the party no matter what we do. We were struggling as hard for members in 2009 as we are now. We need to build a base, and work from there. Every “fan” that tells me they're waiting until we win a flag before they sign up, well, let's just say the look of total disgust and disregard I give them probably doesn't make me many friends, but I'm just sick and tired of hearing the same old shit from “observers”, people who, like me, have never stood on the line and had a go at it themselves. I would consider that I have absolutely no right to ask Smorgon to stand down, as I couldn't do his job to save my life. Same goes for Macca. Same goes for every player out there.

(I'm not calling Lantern an idiot at all, by the way. Actually I'm quite surprised at hearing that.)

Come to the footy to support your team. Not to see them win.

So why should I as a long time paying member of the club be subjected to being treated as a fool by our president?

The most poignant statement through the entire process of replacing the coach at the end of last year was that, ' We are going through a refresh and not a rebuild'.... What a load of shit!!! Be truthful with your members and the footy public and communicate that a rough patch could be a head, but we will ride it out and climb back up the ladder... but this statement was a lie and the respect I have for him will never be the same.

[Maddog37]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Mantis he was only doing what he thought was best for the club though. I do not respect him any less but I think he has opened himself up for questions on his judgement. I think he misjudged the state of the list. He is not the first and won't be the last.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Mantis he was only doing what he thought was best for the club though. I do not respect him any less but I think he has opened himself up for questions on his judgement. I think he misjudged the state of the list. He is not the first and won't be the last.

Best thing for the club was to lie to the members?
Who is he to judge the state of the list? He is President not the Coach or the List manager.

[Maddog37]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Read what I said Chops. He made a statement based on his judgement of the list which he thought was accurate. He told what he thought was the truth. His fault was being too optimistic.

Why jump to the conclusion that he lied?

[Mantis]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Mantis he was only doing what he thought was best for the club though. I do not respect him any less but I think he has opened himself up for questions on his judgement. I think he misjudged the state of the list. He is not the first and won't be the last.

As the head of the club he shouldn't be making promises he cannot keep.

He of course needs to be across all parts of the club, but most importantly he needs to know how our team & list are placed or at least have staff under him feeding him correct information... While a few people, including some well resepected posters on here were bullish about our upcoming prospects the general consensus was that we were in for some pain, to make the statement he did, with the confidence he did was negligent within his duties.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

Read what I said Chops. He made a statement based on his judgement of the list which he thought was accurate. He told what he thought was the truth. His fault was being too optimistic.

Why jump to the conclusion that he lied?

And read what I wrote too.
Is he the list manager or coach now?

Why defend him when it obvious it was BS.

[jeemak]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

If cracking in was teamed with even a measure of flow, would be fine. But the chain links are broken and I don't think you can blame cracking in. It's called football for a reason. Foot skills reign supreme.

Agreed. Unfortunately we barely have a player with decent foot skills.

Layers need to be added, no doubt, but that takes time and cattle.

[Maddog37]

Re: What happened to the Bulldogs?

And read what I wrote too.
Is he the list manager or coach now?

Why defend him when it obvious it was BS.

He is the president and was at a press conference. He was putting some spin on the Rocket sacking. It just seems harsh calling him a liar to me.