hlnbidoffer
Rookie
- Mar 16, 2022
- 47
- 151
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
I don't understand why the club reportedly bends over to English's "demands" to play as a one out ruckman, yet when Dunkley isn't signed, we didn't play him where he wanted?
Strategy Trade and List management Thread Part 5 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)
- Thread starter Norm De Guerre
- Start date
- Tagged users None
- Status
VitalDread
The Unofficial Face of Bigfooty Bulldogs-NGA & VFL
Veteran
10k Posts
Western Bulldogs - Mitch Honeychurch Player Sponsor 2017
Western Bulldogs - Josh Prudden Player Sponsor 2017
Palm Dee Or
Western Bulldogs - Cordy, Honeychurch, Prudden, Dale Player Sponsor 2015
Western Bulldogs - Honeychurch/Austin/Prudden Player Sponsor 2014
Western Bulldogs - Christian Howard/Mark Austin 2012 Player Sponsor
Industry sources say the Port Adelaide offer is considered more attractive than the Lions offer. But that does not mean he will choose to head west, rather than north, to continue his career if he wants a fresh start after a request to join Essendon at the end of 2020 was denied when the Bombers refused to give up two first round picks for him.Sorry, don't have access to the Age, so only start of article - but I thought the 'desperate' was interesting....if he was staying he would have signed already, don't you think?
Decision day looms for Bulldogs’ son of a gun
By Peter Ryan
September 4, 2022 — 6.59pm
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club is desperate to re-sign midfielder Josh Dunkley as he weighs up his options after his season ended on Saturday with the loss to Fremantle.
The 25-year-old midfielder has had a long-term offer on the table from the club for close to two months, however he has attracted significant interest from both Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.
The rest is just rehashing of other articles
Don’t think many are saying play West wherever he wants, it’s just play him anywhere rather than not.
Given the wide gap in the performances in their “preferred” positions over the years, I don’t think arguing for Dunkley to be played as a midfielder and arguing for English to be played as a ruck are equitable. Game on the weekend was case in point. If Dunkley had been inconsistent and frequently outpointed as a midfielder then there would be merit to the comparison.
West's form over his last 6 games were worthy of dropping, Garcia and Scott were both in better VFL form and should've been in ahead of him and Vandermeer.
Whilst Libba was fit Dunkley was always going to be the odd one out, the talk with him rucking was an issue from 2 years ago and he only did it predominately for 1 match which we won due to that tactic. If either leave it's up to them but especially in regard to West it's not the coaches fault at all he played 14 games and was dropped due to poor form to end the year thats on him not the coach or MC
ossie_21
Premium Platinum
West’s worst was still better than Vandermeer’s best. That’s where the issue lies when one is still selected over the other.
- Nov 16, 2015
- 5,985
- 10,037
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Yet, Dunkley’s probably had his best year at the club. He’s found a nice balance in the role the coaches have asked him to play. We’ve got too many good mids, so unless you’d prefer some of them to play 2’s, some have had to adapt to playing other roles. In Dunkley’s case, it’s been a success.
I think the club was already pretty keen on giving English ruck minutes, so even though it’s his preferred role, it’s not comparable to any potential issue Dunkley may have.
West was really poor closing out the season, he was rightfully dropped. Obviously needs to work on some things and we should hope he’s mature enough to stay at the club, work on his game and force the coaches hand in selecting him each week.
Potentially putting a trade request in because you can just get handed a game elsewhere is the soft pea heart option and imo says more about the players soft/selfish mentality than what it does about the clubs selection choices.
Rubbish, if a guy doesn't want to be there and leaves for the same money you let him go, you don't want players not committed. Take a first rounder draft a great young onballer and in 10 years time we will likely have won on the deal. This is the guy who nearly left on the club two years ago.
I'm a Dunkley fan and if he stays great yet if he walks its not on the club its on him and him alone.
Yes Vandermeer shouldn't have been selected we all agree on that again for the 400th time Garcia and Scott were both ahead of West anyway
cleveland
Brownlow Medallist
- Apr 25, 2005
- 10,807
- 5,022
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Arsenal
For those suggesting sending Naughton back, i think you will find he sees himself as a forward and doesnt want to play back.
We finally get a forward who can kick 50 goals in a season and we want to send him back
- Sep 22, 2008
- 25,524
- 34,636
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Banned
- #6,061
Obviously I’m not going to lose my shit early haha but just the vibe of it all stinks atm, let’s see how it turns out
So what, this is the sort of mentality that needs to change. Its up to the coaches to decide where he plays, not Naughton.
If they determined the CHB is best for the team so be it. I'm not sure what the answer is, yet they have a preseason to look at all options. We need a better defender than we currently have, whether that's Darcy or Naughton or someone else all options should be on the table. For what its worth I'd keep him forward and try Darcy back next year as its a better grounding for a young bloke.
- Sep 22, 2008
- 25,524
- 34,636
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Banned
- #6,063
Why do we even waste time on this discussion still, it’s not happening. Naughty is not going back lmao.
Can you imagine our forward line relying on a mixture of Bruce, Lobb, Darcy & Marra geez - we saw what happened when Naughtys not up there as he was invisible on the weekend.
Can you imagine our forward line relying on a mixture of Bruce, Lobb, Darcy & Marra geez - we saw what happened when Naughtys not up there as he was invisible on the weekend.
English has never said he wanted to be a one out ruckman.
- Aug 31, 2007
- 3,465
- 6,209
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers
There is a chance also that West is waiting to see if Dunks stays or goes before he commits. If Dunks stays, there obviously is no real path to midfield minutes being behind Bont, Libba, Dunks, Bailey, Macrae, Treloar etc, so if he wants to be playing midfield, then it would be pretty tough at the Dogs.
If Dunks leaves then potentially opens up a few rotations in there for him (and others), so may be a part of his decision making.
If Dunks leaves then potentially opens up a few rotations in there for him (and others), so may be a part of his decision making.
I don't disagree that West's form peaked and then dipped. I wouldn't say his performances were poor though, other than the Free game. But West, Garcia and Scott are all quite different players. However, that's an argument about form, not preferred positions, which is what i was responding to.
I don't think Dunkley being the odd one out because of Libba's presence is that obvious. I think there was also a choice between him and Macrae. They each bring different qualities to our CB and midfield group. But again I was responding to the comparison between the English and Dunkley situations, which I don't think has legs because of their respective outputs in their "preferred" positions.
I suppose the overarching issue you're talking about there is the perception that players have had to or may leave to get opportunities. Uninformed arguments (including mine) can be made both ways from the outside and a fair proportion of people will fall on either side of it.
I don't remember West's form being particularly bad.
Personally I think it's a narrative being spun to excuse poor selection integrity.
Personally I think it's a narrative being spun to excuse poor selection integrity.
- Jul 6, 2015
- 854
- 5,668
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Just wait til he goes to Windy Hill then wins their B&F ...
- Sep 27, 2005
- 15,945
- 25,265
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Other Teams
- Footscray
Gee, I seem to remember a side in black and white playing like busteds last year and something happened over the off-season...anyone remember what that was?
Now they have a proactive President and a coach that actually coaches making the side better and working on deficiencies rather than ignoring them (GF tape, ruck, defence, the list goes on and on)
I'll also add my name to the list of being ropeable if West goes. Bloody ridiculous.
Libbaaaa
Premiership Player
- Jun 1, 2021
- 4,860
- 10,855
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
Pretty sure he has. In the few times we have played Martin or Sweet with him English never starts in the forward line.
BulldogMuscle
Honk For The Dogs
Yep. His manager came out and said as much during last off season, about how he wasn't happy with his lack of ruck time when we bought Martin in.
His manager made a comment before the season started that English was looking forward to having more of a ruck role. Somehow people on here have turned it into English demanding he play in the ruck. It is not true. But I stand to be corrected if can provide the quote from English where he says he wants to only play in the ruck.
- Sep 22, 2008
- 25,524
- 34,636
- AFL Club
- Western Bulldogs
- Banned
- #6,073
Yep, I mean it was only round 15 he kicked 3.3 from 20 touches, 15PAs, 5 tackles, 3 goal assists & 13 of his touches were SI’s, 3 tackles i50
That’s just a ridiculous game, clearly shows his upside - that’s a game few on our list could ever dream of having. VDM, McComb, Hannan, Scott even Garcia will never have a game that good in their life. There would only be a handful of better performances from a small forward this year
Yes he had some quiet games afterwards, most small forwards do - but why is there no leniency for a potential top end talent, when there constantly is for genuine battlers.
It makes zero sense, if West leaves Bevo should be marched out behind him. I can cop Young & Lipinski but not West
Dog 36
Norm Smith Medallist
This is the likely around the mark. Just cant imagine a player dictating where he plays and how long
We need to get a ruck coach to help Tim and any other ruck on our list.
- Sep 7, 2015
- 16,170
- 38,127
- AFL Club
- Tasmania
If it's not form related then what do you suspect was the real reason that West was dropped? Do you think he might have spoken out about something and Bevo is punishing him to silence dissent?
- Status
