Bad luck Doggies - keep your chins up

[Gunnar Longshanks]

It was unfortunate for you guys the way things blew out in that last quarter.

We just had to win tonight. You were never going to get us below our best.

I know you guys will be disappointed by the final margin, and the fact that you lost. It's always a hollow feeling when your season is over.

But you guys have taken some massive leaps forward this season. You've won a lot of respect for both the way you play, and for the way you've overcome crippling injuries to key personnel.

You could have trickled into 9th or 10th and blamed injuries to Murphy, Darcy and Hahn. That would have been good enough for Collingwood people.

Instead, young fringe players have gained valuable experience, and you managed to win a final. That's a pretty good outcome considering you didn't play finals last year.

Your young guns in Cooney and Griffen came up short tonight. Don't dwell on it. They're 20 years old.

Those weaknesses that you've so remarkably kept at bay for the entire season just told tonight. Like I said, we simply had to win.

We're a couple of years ahead of you in our development, and a loss tonight would have made our season a spectacular failure. Even after losing tonight, your season has been a spectacular success.

Remember, WC were eliminated in their first final for 3 straight years from 2002-2004. You've got to be there a few times before punching through to the last 4.

Great to see Rohan Smith chaired off by his team-mates. Great player. Great servant of the club.

Keep your chins up. Better times are ahead.

 

[The_Bulldogs_Bite]

It was unfortunate for you guys the way things blew out in that last quarter.

We just had to win tonight. You were never going to get us below our best.

I know you guys will be disappointed by the final margin, and the fact that you lost. It's always a hollow feeling when your season is over.

But you guys have taken some massive leaps forward this season. You've won a lot of respect for both the way you play, and for the way you've overcome crippling injuries to key personnel.

You could have trickled into 9th or 10th and blamed injuries to Murphy, Darcy and Hahn. That would have been good enough for Collingwood people.

Instead, young fringe players have gained valuable experience, and you managed to win a final. That's a pretty good outcome considering you didn't play finals last year.

Your young guns in Cooney and Griffen came up short tonight. Don't dwell on it. They're 20 years old.

Those weaknesses that you've so remarkably kept at bay for the entire season just told tonight. Like I said, we simply had to win.

We're a couple of years ahead of you in our development, and a loss tonight would have made our season a spectacular failure. Even after losing tonight, your season has been a spectacular success.

Remember, WC were eliminated in their first final for 3 straight years from 2002-2004. You've got to be there a few times before punching through to the last 4.

Great to see Rohan Smith chaired off by his team-mates. Great player. Great servant of the club.

Keep your chins up. Better times are ahead.

Thanks a lot Gunnar.

I think posts like these are definitely needed at this point in time. For me, it wasn't the fact we lost. It was how we lost. Just didn't give a yelp. Hard to pick one good player out there, which is very dissappointing.

Good Luck for West Coast. A Premiership is within reach, no doubt.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Thanks a lot Gunnar.

I think posts like these are definitely needed at this point in time. For me, it wasn't the fact we lost. It was how we lost. Just didn't give a yelp. Hard to pick one good player out there, which is very dissappointing.

We just had to win tonight.

A lot of your key players are pups.

You got beaten by a side that has played finals 5 years in a row, who was playing on their home ground in a must-win game.

Don't overlook the enormous gains made this year.

 

[TheBigUnit]

Bad luck Dogs, but great work by the team to get as far as they did. You guys will only keep improving from here on. Best wishes for 2007.

 

[Top Dog]

Thanks for those kind words Gunnar & BU.

Fantastic gesture by the Eagles fans to give Bubba a standing ovation. It really meant alot to him. Class act.

Good luck next week, I know I will be barracking for you guys.

 

[soupaman]

Same here. You guys are very impressive and would deserve a premiership. at least your entertaining. congratulations on tonights effort, you were fantastic and we were woeful, you were clearly the better side on the day.

 

[Fossie 32]

Yeah thanks guys for your comments. Good luck to you and well done.

 

[Frizzo]

Brilliant season Bulldogs. To get to a semi-final with the injuries you had is just incredibly gutsy. The bravest football team of 2006 was without a doubt your Doggies.

Almost brought tears to my eyes cheering Rohan Smith off, what a great man.

 

[Gecko]

Great seasons Bulliues to go so far with outrageous injuries. Congratulations to Scott West, and all the best to Rohan Smith in retirement. Roll on in 2007

 

[Anja_Nees]

During the game I hated the Eagles, but now that a few hours have gone by I honestly hope they win it. They're a great side and the ovation they gave Bubba was terrific. To be honest, I wish the Eagles players had done a bit more at the time, but they had pretty important things on their minds. The crowd were terrific.

Judd's one of those players that deserves to play in a premiership and I hope this is his year.

Top notch post by Gunnar too. Often you find posts after these sorts of losses are patronising and self-serving, but there was genuine sincerity in this one.

 

[Dry Rot]

We just had to win tonight.

A lot of your key players are pups.

You got beaten by a side that has played finals 5 years in a row, who was playing on their home ground in a must-win game.

Don't overlook the enormous gains made this year.

Thanks for your gracious post and the WCE sending Smith off in style.

The hard truth for us, is that you were unlucky to lose last week and you finished minor premiers. We finished eighth. All season we never followed up a herioc victory with a good win.

1st vs 8th - the game mirrored this difference.

Good luck next week against the Crows.

 

[wce_all_da_way]

Yeah I have never really been a fan of the Dogs but the way your fans carried themselves after the game was great, good to see them able to have a laugh still. Good things to come from your boys in the next few years, congrats on a good season

 

[Frizzo]

The Dogs used to be my most hated team back in the Libba days.

But ever since he left my fondness for them has grown and grown, to a point where I'd say they're currently my second favourite team. I'll enjoy cheering them on next season.

 

[fullbull]

A Humble Thankyou From An Eagles Supporter

Hi guys,

I just wanted to let you know that a couple of your fellow Dogs supporters have begun a thread on the Eagles board about tonights game, which I will include a link to at the bottom of this post.

I felt it was necessary to give you guys the chance to read how sportsmanlike and gracious these Dogs supporters are, you guys are a testiment to true AFL fans all around the country, and if all supporters of every club could act this way, we would all be much better off.

Please take the time to read the thread, I have included a decent sized post in it to show my thanks and gratitude.

May the Dogs improve in the years to come, good luck in 2007, and I sincerely hope a flag comes your way soon...

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268728

 

[BarryBreensOnePoint]

Just wanted to say bad luck to you guys. Really loved the way to had a crack at it this year, thanks for some exciting footy. Looking forward to watching you guys play next year. And Rohan Smith you were a star mate.
Baz

 

[countryeagle]

Hi guys, Have just got home from Perth (live in the country) so haven't had the chance to say this before. Good luck for next year I know you guys are going to be real contenders for the flag! I was at the game and I felt honoured to send an absolute champion off, Well done Rohan Smith!! Also Scott West, what a champion

 

[Secco]

The Dogs used to be my most hated team back in the Libba days.

But ever since he left my fondness for them has grown and grown, to a point where I'd say they're currently my second favourite team. I'll enjoy cheering them on next season.

Get ready to hate us again.

Bring on the AKER.