Autopsy Out of our misery

[Sid Nullis]

Sitting on the members wing today I can't remember so much frustration and white hot anger in the crowd (and not just at the umpires). It was absolute exasperation with the lack of defence, lack of intensity, the ease with which Freo were slicing through us, the keeping's off bull*** People were fed up. People walked out at half time. That was telling.

Same on level 2. Either supporters were leaving or hurling absolute red hot abuse at our players and game style. Unless you’re a one eyed fanboy all other supporters have had enough.Biggest off season needs to be had . Recruiting coaches and players and complete overhaul of gameplan

 

[King Harold]

How many marks inside 50 did we give up ?
they looked like they were on world record pace at one point.

Absolute inditement on our systems.
( or the lack of ability of the players to make it work ? )
We don’t have the luxury of a Wood and Morris , both great in the air and closing down space.
just dosnt work with this group of players.

Looked to me we tried to go man on man in the last quarter, and for the most part worked ok.

 

[D Mitchell]

The alternative is to vote with your wallet. If enough of us withdraw our financial support for the club then they will need to take action.

Shudders down the spines of 1989 members. The Club income last year was $42 mil plus, net cash from operations almost $6 mil, the 6th consecutive year of profits and it looks like there's $24 mil in the bank (all you accountants, back off and put your copies of the annual report with your yellow tags back in your brief cases), the Club can just about afford a house in West Footscray, now. Assuming that H31 is a member, then he/she has rights to approach club officials, politely and respectfully, and generally express opinions, advice, complaints etc. We should all do more of that.

 

[Doggy]

Great weekend.. whole family has COVID-19 now

 

[fred cook]

Shudders down the spines of 1989 members. The Club income last year was $42 mil plus, net cash from operations almost $6 mil, the 6th consecutive year of profits and it looks like there's $24 mil in the bank (all you accountants, back off and put your copies of the annual report with your yellow tags back in your brief cases), the Club can just about afford a house in West Footscray, now. Assuming that H31 is a member, then he/she has the rights to approach club officials, politely and respectfully, and generally express opinions, advice, complaints etc. We should all do more of that.

The fact that our current president is also a board member of a private school (Ms Kylie Watson-Wheeler | Mentone Grammar) in a pristine little higher club suburb seems a little conflicting with the history and folklore that surrounds our working class club Also I love Luke Darcy but really should he be on our board we know he LOVES Bevo and has a great friendship with hin and also his son now on our playing lost Not sure

 

[D Mitchell]

... took ages to decide where to kick it, he looked dumbfounded because no-one led into space. The result: yet another kick to a contest.

Precisely. I don't know whether it's Spangher, Bev or the 3 talls not following instructions but that's ultimately why we lost. Disciplined Lobb kicked as many goals as our 3 talls put together.

 

[BrisDog]

The fact that our current president is also a board member of a private school (Ms Kylie Watson-Wheeler | Mentone Grammar) in a pristine little higher club suburb seems a little conflicting with the history and folklore that surrounds our working class club

Did you just say Mentone? FMD. Bevo trying to recreate his own little St Bedes/Mentone autocracy.

 

[D Mitchell]

The fact that our current president is also a board member of a private school (Ms Kylie Watson-Wheeler | Mentone Grammar) in a pristine little higher club suburb seems a little conflicting with the history and folklore that surrounds our working class club Also I love Luke Darcy but really should he be on our board we know he LOVES Bevo and has a great friendship with hin and also his son now on our playing lost Not sure

You touch on a demographically fascinating issue, FC, the evolution of Clubs, players and supporters. Google it, there's a fair bit around on the changing demography of players, there were 13 Bulldogs players from APS Schools against 11 Melbourne former APS Schools players in the early game this year. Footscray, the Union club v Melbourne, the Private Schools club. Nothing stays the same. Don't worry about Luke Darcy, I assess him as remarkably astute, hard nosed and tough as you like but with a charming approach and Sam did enough last night to justify further selection on any objective basis. I wouldn't want to be between a hungry Luke Darcy and the last sandwich on the table, even if I was Bev.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Not being able to defend the fast play is bad enough but to not be able to defend the slow chip of the dockers is an indictment. At half time they were 8.2 from set shots. Most of them from easy marks from a slow built up giving them easy chips between the arcs because we will get a turnover in our backline. That worked well Bevo.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

If you are writing / emailing the Club, don't vent, leave that on internet fora. By all means criticise, ask questions or make suggestions but don't let it get personal about individuals. If you vent, it'll just be deleted. As I understand it, the Club gets plenty of venting, water off a duck's back. Criticism/questioning/suggestions in a respectful way may well earn an acknowledgment, even a reply. That's something you can show your lads.

A couple of years ago, I sent an email to the club with some reasoned and thought out comments relating to at the time, really poor goal kicking. I asked why we didn’t have a goal kicking coach?

Ameet Bains rang me and left a message on my mobile wanting to talk about it. If I had just ranted and raved he wouldn’t have.

 

[NthBondiDoggies]

Wow - that was next level disappointing.

At the game the lack of movement and leading was astounding - seems to run to position and then stand there without movement - so easy and predictable to pick off.

Handling errors were mostly with the experienced players - which was hard to watch.

We looked out of sorts from the first bounce - almost looked like the team had been given bad news just before the game. A guess may be something about Dunkley - he played really well but had few mates. For a team with finals in our grasp we did not look like we wanted it.

Freo sliced us open with short passes easily - aware of our stand off the mark tactic they used this to all their way up the ground and outran us into space consistently. Was a simple tactic we didn’t adjust to even when running out of time.

Defence

• Darcy was great to watch. A fantastic first game. Only he and Red actually took on themselves to challenge. Still looked like a kid but when the ball went near him he looked like he was going to get hands to it. Was pushed in the back a few times and beaten a couple of times but compared to Keath and Cordy looked better which is sad.
• Keath was almost invisible- looked slow and easily pushed off. Cordy was slightly better but showed why he struggles when a player runs and leads. Shows where we are when we missed Gardner.
• Red was brilliant again but couldn’t plug every hole. Badly missed Duryea and sadly Crozier and Williams drop off means a strength has become a weakness we trying to play Trelor there is a high risk stake - not playing Duryea is dumb.
• Dale was poor but not the worst - kept getting lost in defence and didn’t seem to know where to go. Freo did a good job of turning him around by constant movement.
• Trelor has some good games here - but yesterday was not one of them - got lost like Dale but even worse positioning and doesn’t have the defensive skills to read the play - prefer him in the mid or wing - especially when we are playing Williams on the wing.
• Daniel was poor - really poor - but I think his fortunes have been smashed by lack of talls and mediums getting the ball and using him as an outlet - Keath, Duryea, Williams, Wood. He can’t make the play to get the ball but is AA when used in that role.

Mids

• Williams was atrocious and seemed to be coping it from coaches and reacted badly - did not lift at all when he came on.
• I am a fan of McNeil but was killed. Wings of Hunter, Trelor, Smith in form is a long way from Williams, McNeil and Macrae. This lack of gut running played into Freos hand’s especially as we tried to move the ball forward
• Macraes worst game for years - seems to fumble more than I have ever seen - just not like him?
• Bont just didn’t to seem to play with confidence fumbled and missed targets all day. When he just went for it he was good.
• English wasn’t that bad - he and Darcy really crashed in and was a good contest all day.
• Dunkley was fantastic - hard running and layer a lot more mid than previous weeks.
• García played a bit wing and a bit forward - was one of the few who looked like they wanted the fight
• Libba was OK but was struggling to get space to get the ball. Looked like someone did a job on him but can’t recall. Wasn’t the worst but made look slow.
• Smith didn’t seem to handle the inside mid. I have been supportive of getting him time in there as we need speed but he only used that in the open not to break from stoppages. I thought it was a good idea but it did not work. Stick with it but should have moved him to the wing. He got run down a few times but I think this was more looking for a player to come to him and no one did so waiting and then having to run further and kick long.
• overall we just looked slow and lacked power in the Mids. Mundy was brilliant and the others just ran us off our feet - a clear tactic and by the end of the first quarter our players looked cooked

Forwards

• again the shining light was a kid. Until late in the game the only forward making the play was Jamarra. Missed two sitters and should have had an OK night.
• Naughty kicked three but one of those games where stats lie - he was very poor. Was stuck high forward and made easy pickings for Two on one. With Bruce back he has to play CHF and get up the ground where he can take 10-15 marks. Look slow and lacked his usual cat like agility and this meant he was nowhere near their defenders running it out
• Bruce was laughably bad for the first half - literally just standing there presumably to make a contest but no one was jumping in from the side and was being killed by Pearce. and then started to get into it and led for the ball into the flanks drawing defenders asset and looked dangerous - could easily have got 4 in the half but his lack of leading along with Naughty and West created terrible congestion
• West had a shocker - surprised that he even had a stat - when faced with a contest he fought but did not create anything. Looked out of sorts from the first minute but was not alone. You saw it in the warmup when no one was talking or smiling.
• Cody was OK but when you have a congested pack adding another is silly - has to learn where to stand around packs and adjust or spread lead.
• VDM looked off the pace - did not attack enough and a fumble mark over the line when we were coming popped out momentum. JJ is much better but like the others has not been playing to that ability. Maybe more a ‘here’s your chance to prove yourself worthy of a place’ that didn’t work. He has played good games and just back - we needed speed and pressure in the forwards but with him and West not bringing it the impact was huge.

 

[Mr. Walker]

The alternative is to vote with your wallet. If enough of us withdraw our financial support for the club then they will need to take action.

This is what I have done ( but not over this issue). I have had the “Bulldog for Life” membership arrangement going back for years Not sure how long but my membership goes back well into last century ). What do I get ? Well not the deal offered to new members in SEN membership day . I am penalised for being an existing member. So no club raffle tickets for me this year. I will still buy a membership because I love the club but I just want to do something that says don’t take me ( and family) for granted. End rant.

 

[Mr. Walker]

For those at the game yesterday I’m not sure if it was imagination but when we were kicking out we were so stagnate there was no one marking position no plan to get the ball out.

I agree. I posted about this a month or so ago so I am glad to see that others feel the same. If a football nuffy like me can see it what does that say about our coaches or players.

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

So many players being asked to play new roles/ roles they were never suited to play.

Garcia, West, Daniel and Williams are midfielders. Van der meer is a defender, Treloar and Smith should play wing, Naughton is one of the best defenders going around. Etc….

A new coach would immediately see this and play everyone in the position the were meant to play.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

46 goals in 200 games as a wing/mid. That's about 6 goals a season.
Granted his goal v GWS in 2016 prelim was clutch. But it was a straightforward shot other than immense pressure.
He kicked a memorable one v Melbourne 2 weeks ago, set up by Bont.
But I struggle to remember any more.
That's not good enough for an elite mid that gets lots of ball in fwd50.
3 times today at least he had an option to shoot. He gave Baz one on the boundary when he had a far simpler shot. Fortunately Baz kicked it.
Leaders have to take responsibility when it's needed.
He needs to more.

It is not his strength, I agree. I was more taking exception to the allegation that he won’t go down as a ‘great’ because of this one flaw.

 

[D Mitchell]

Wow - that was next level disappointing.

At the game the lack of movement and leading was astounding - seems to run to position and then stand there without movement - so easy and predictable to pick off.

Handling errors were mostly with the experienced players - which was hard to watch.

We looked out of sorts from the first bounce - almost looked like the team had been given bad news just before the game. A guess may be something about Dunkley - he played really well but had few mates. For a team with finals in our grasp we did not look like we wanted it.

Freo sliced us open with short passes easily - aware of our stand off the mark tactic they used this to all their way up the ground and outran us into space consistently. Was a simple tactic we didn’t adjust to even when running out of time.

Defence

• Darcy was great to watch. A fantastic first game. Only he and Red actually took on themselves to challenge. Still looked like a kid but when the ball went near him he looked like he was going to get hands to it. Was pushed in the back a few times and beaten a couple of times but compared to Keath and Cordy looked better which is sad.
• Keath was almost invisible- looked slow and easily pushed off. Cordy was slightly better but showed why he struggles when a player runs and leads. Shows where we are when we missed Gardner.
• Red was brilliant again but couldn’t plug every hole. Badly missed Duryea and sadly Crozier and Williams drop off means a strength has become a weakness we trying to play Trelor there is a high risk stake - not playing Duryea is dumb.
• Dale was poor but not the worst - kept getting lost in defence and didn’t seem to know where to go. Freo did a good job of turning him around by constant movement.
• Trelor has some good games here - but yesterday was not one of them - got lost like Dale but even worse positioning and doesn’t have the defensive skills to read the play - prefer him in the mid or wing - especially when we are playing Williams on the wing.
• Daniel was poor - really poor - but I think his fortunes have been smashed by lack of talls and mediums getting the ball and using him as an outlet - Keath, Duryea, Williams, Wood. He can’t make the play to get the ball but is AA when used in that role.

Mids

• Williams was atrocious and seemed to be coping it from coaches and reacted badly - did not lift at all when he came on.
• I am a fan of McNeil but was killed. Wings of Hunter, Trelor, Smith in form is a long way from Williams, McNeil and Macrae. This lack of gut running played into Freos hand’s especially as we tried to move the ball forward
• Macraes worst game for years - seems to fumble more than I have ever seen - just not like him?
• Bont just didn’t to seem to play with confidence fumbled and missed targets all day. When he just went for it he was good.
• English wasn’t that bad - he and Darcy really crashed in and was a good contest all day.
• Dunkley was fantastic - hard running and layer a lot more mid than previous weeks.
• García played a bit wing and a bit forward - was one of the few who looked like they wanted the fight
• Libba was OK but was struggling to get space to get the ball. Looked like someone did a job on him but can’t recall. Wasn’t the worst but made look slow.
• Smith didn’t seem to handle the inside mid. I have been supportive of getting him time in there as we need speed but he only used that in the open not to break from stoppages. I thought it was a good idea but it did not work. Stick with it but should have moved him to the wing. He got run down a few times but I think this was more looking for a player to come to him and no one did so waiting and then having to run further and kick long.
• overall we just looked slow and lacked power in the Mids. Mundy was brilliant and the others just ran us off our feet - a clear tactic and by the end of the first quarter our players looked cooked

Forwards

• again the shining light was a kid. Until late in the game the only forward making the play was Jamarra. Missed two sitters and should have had an OK night.
• Naughty kicked three but one of those games where stats lie - he was very poor. Was stuck high forward and made easy pickings for Two on one. With Bruce back he has to play CHF and get up the ground where he can take 10-15 marks. Look slow and lacked his usual cat like agility and this meant he was nowhere near their defenders running it out
• Bruce was laughably bad for the first half - literally just standing there presumably to make a contest but no one was jumping in from the side and was being killed by Pearce. and then started to get into it and led for the ball into the flanks drawing defenders asset and looked dangerous - could easily have got 4 in the half but his lack of leading along with Naughty and West created terrible congestion
• West had a shocker - surprised that he even had a stat - when faced with a contest he fought but did not create anything. Looked out of sorts from the first minute but was not alone. You saw it in the warmup when no one was talking or smiling.
• Cody was OK but when you have a congested pack adding another is silly - has to learn where to stand around packs and adjust or spread lead.
• VDM looked off the pace - did not attack enough and a fumble mark over the line when we were coming popped out momentum. JJ is much better but like the others has not been playing to that ability. Maybe more a ‘here’s your chance to prove yourself worthy of a place’ that didn’t work. He has played good games and just back - we needed speed and pressure in the forwards but with him and West not bringing it the impact was huge.

That's a comprehensive and thorough assessment, NBD, you must have stayed up half the night working it through, well worth the read. I can't disagree with most of it but I don't agree with your assessment of the 3 forward line talls, stats support me.

Bruce played half a game as the monster forward, had 3 shots at goal, 1 positive. He's not at 2021 level but knows what he is doing. He had 11 disposals, 6 marks and 1 goal.

Naughton was the best of the 3. He's Riewoldt-esque in his ground coverage and his 2nd and 3rd efforts are far better than N Riewoldt's. He still hasn't got where to present when running back towards goal on a turnover, out the back is where Weightman, West and Johannisen/whoever should be running. Naughton running away from the mid with the ball is a turnover to the pursuing defender.

Ugle-Hagan doubled his disposals (12 : 6) from his undeserved games early in the season, encouraging but back to a goal less game. He still doesn't take contested marks, chase, or convert when it counts. He also had 6 marks. 2-3 goals might have won it for us.

 

[stefcep]

It is not his strength, I agree. I was more taking exception to the allegation that he won’t go down as a ‘great’ because of this one flaw.

FWIW I think as a club we focus too much on individual greats and not enough on great teams. As a club we'd have the most 300 game players or thereabouts in the AFL. Personally I don't see that as mindset of a successful club

Jack is a vital cog in our team, so I'm not too fussed if he ends up as one of greats as long he plays in one of our great teams. Too few of those, IMO and too many "greats".

 

[Dog 36]

That's a comprehensive and thorough assessment, NBD, you must have stayed up half the night working it through, well worth the read. I can't disagree with most of it but I don't agree with your assessment of the 3 forward line talls, stats support me.

Bruce played half a game as the monster forward, had 3 shots at goal, 1 positive. He's not at 2021 level but knows what he is doing. He had 11 disposals, 6 marks and 1 goal.

Naughton was the best of the 3. He's Riewoldt-esque in his ground coverage and his 2nd and 3rd efforts are far better than N Riewoldt's. He still hasn't got where to present when running back towards goal on a turnover, out the back is where Weightman, West and Johannisen/whoever should be running. Naughton running away from the mid with the ball is a turnover to the pursuing defender.

Ugle-Hagan doubled his disposals (12 : 6) from his undeserved games early in the season, encouraging but back to a goal less game. He still doesn't take contested marks, chase, or convert when it counts. He also had 6 marks. 2-3 goals might have won it for us.

Just out of interest D Mitchell we’re you at the game?

Naughton had no appetite to run and create at times. He had space to lead into and didn’t go, he had opportunities to make space for others and didn’t and one on one he seems out of position.


Bruce is just not fit enough.

Our forward line is a shambles real shambles just an ad hoc arrangement

 

[Mutt]

What a disappointing presser from Bevo. Throwing the players under the bus yet again. No mention at all (in almost 10 minutes of depressing rambling) of anything resembling coaching moves or tactics. It's all on the players and their lack of drive and their poor skills according to the coach. Beveridge takes no responsibility at all for our situation or performance. Anybody who thinks he sticks up for the players should listen to his presser. He was even luke-warm in his enthusiasm for young Darcy's game.

I've been very critical of Beveridge for a few years but I've never wanted him to be sent packing. I'm now at the point where I can't justify him coaching next year. The club will give him a pass though, because of 2016, and because we are a weak club. Whatever happened to the dynasty?

Bevo is a one-trick pony that everyone else in the AFL has worked out. The players look to be sick of the message and are probably sick of wearing all the blame. I won't say any more on this, as I don't want to be a repetitive, negative bore. I'm very sad we are in this situation with no prospect of immediate change.

 

[Hobdog]

Thanks, this highlights even more the lack of effort or awareness to recognise a club great, and by all reports a genuinely nice man.

And after the same thing happened with Dave Darcy.

They had SIX DAYS to organise black tape, and a prematch tribute on the scoreboard. But as you say, you can see where the club priorities lay. Disgraceful really.

Too busy trying to see awful ‘retro’ jumpers that should stay where they belong, consigned to history.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[D Mitchell]

Just out of interest D Mitchell we’re you at the game?

Naughton had no appetite to run and create at times. He had space to lead into and didn’t go, he had opportunities to make space for others and didn’t and one on one he seems out of position.


Bruce is just not fit enough.

Our forward line is a shambles real shambles just an ad hoc arrangement

I was, D36. I only ever comment on games I attend. Your assessment of Naughton aside, I agree with you. Bruce isn't fit enough but he's an old campaigner. He produced a competent game in half a game of footy where he should be, monster forward. Naughton's game is contested mark rather than on the lead. Put the ball out in front of him, giving him a run at it and he's at his best. His work rate was up to his usual standard, presenting at half back on occasions. He's on 47 goals (?) with 2 games to go, a 50 goal haul before finals, in this day and age, that's more than satisfactory.

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

I was, D36. I only ever comment on games I attend. Your assessment of Naughton aside, I agree with you. Bruce isn't fit enough but he's an old campaigner. He produced a competent game in half a game of footy where he should be, monster forward. Naughton's game is contested mark rather than on the lead. Put the ball out in front of him, giving him a run at it and he's at his best. His work rate was up to his usual standard, presenting at half back on occasions. He's on 47 goals (?) with 2 games to go, a 50 goal haul before finals, in this day and age, that's more than satisfactory.

Be interesting to know how many goals better off we would have been if we had Naughton defending Lobb not Cordy?

As it is if we can get a fit Bruce an improving Jamarra, Lobb and possibly Darcy up forward why we shouldn’t try and do something about our substandard defence.

 

[D Mitchell]

Be interesting to know how many goals better off we would have been if we had Naughton defending Lobb not Cordy?

As it is if we can get a fit Bruce an improving Jamarra, Lobb and possibly Darcy up forward why we shouldn’t try and do something about our substandard defence.

3 of Lobb's goals came from marks taken on leads, from memory, I doubt Naughton could have done any better than Cordy or Keath. 4 talls forward isn't workable so at least one can be in defence. Darcy did very well for a 1st gamer, especially considering the very limited number of senior games he's played. He's earned his spot for next week, he doesn't need gifted games. Whoever of the talls in the forward line are, they have to do better than all gathering at the top of the goal square waving "kick it to me" Freo's forwards were active presenting multiple options as the ball came forward. We had witches hats (forgive the hyperbole).

 

[jdz101]

I don’t agree with the doom and gloom.

What we need is:
1. Lobb, Jones and an intercept defender like Easton Wood
2. A senior assistant like Cameron and some other changes in the coaching ranks
3. A new primary game plan

And we are back in the hunt.

1a, 1b, and 1c of this has to be getting dunkley to stay even if it means a serious payrise.

Losing him definitely makes us far worse.

 

[D Mitchell]

Completely lost

1a, 1b, and 1c of this has to be getting dunkley to stay even if it means a serious payrise.

Losing him definitely makes us far worse.

I agree, he's good at the hard, tough stuff and a lot of what he does goes unnoticed. Built for finals football.