Strategy Trade and List management Thread Part 5 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[Dogs Rule]

Because it is bang on the money not only the point you noted but most of it if not all of it.

It's like we feel we owe it to the Footscray players to elevate one or two a year.

No, we don't. If they're not good enough for AFL level, don't draft them. Just don't do it.

 

[Sentinel]

Not very good with links etc sorry but a great read

Welcome to Ocker’s Coaches Corner - Elimination Final 2022
The Claytons Leadership Group is from all teams I played in at the Doggies in 1976,7, 8 and 80, Macca was our coach in 77 and 78. There is a lot of knowledge in this fraternity and at the end of the day we all will stand and fight to the death behind our beloved Bulldogs. The credit and blame can go to many older Doggies – Woof Woof.
Macca is on the mend; he is still being ‘managed’ but is home with his leg in a plaster cast. His email of the match report was titled “THE END 2022”.
We had a huge turnout of supporters from VIC and all over W.A. and a gang of the WA Bulldogs Past Players at the Inglewood Hotel on Friday night. This set the tone for our second consecutive year of finals football. This is a great feeling for one who went through the 70’s when just making the finals was a monumental achievement. Many of us could get used to this, but WE MUST do better to finish higher on the ladder and have the interstaters fly all the way to take us on.
What a sad way to ‘end’ the season!
Let us start by stating the obvious, you should never lose a final after being 41 points up at the 20-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, this is unacceptable!
We have given serious thought how we should approach the Corner for the Elimination Final. We could go into great detail as we usually do or, provide a summary of what happened and go into detail where we need to improve in 2023.
We chose the latter option. Here is a summary of last week’s elimination final:
• We started the game by placing pressure on the ball carrier and limited the extent of zoning only to go back to the old zoning ways of minding grass in the 2nd half.
• Deep defenders folded back to the goal square allowing their direct opponent to take uncontested marks 25-30m out costing us 3 goals.
• An emphasis on spoiling as opposed to intercept marks. It is pointless spoiling as the primary method of defence if you are giving the opposition a 50/50 chance of winning the ball back.
• The lack of a defensive system that restricts the opposition walking the ball to their forward line.
• Lack of aggressively manning the mark and putting pressure on the ball carrier.
• Bombing the ball into the forward line and key forwards lacking separation when leading for the ball.
• Small forwards forgetting their role is to crumb and not fly for marks with our key forwards
• The lack of genuine experienced 2nd ruckman - forward
• Selection of underperforming players.
• Flawed team plan and team structure i.e., emphasis on bringing ball to ground in back half and relying on winning the 50/ 50 contested ball.
The past player fraternity has been discussing these issues long before the finals, it has been a common theme the last 2+ years.
So how do we improve? We start with a review of what has changed since our 2016 success and have included suggestions for improvement.
Review of Football Department
We acknowledge that the executive said there will be a review of the football department. The review needs to be truly independent undertaken by someone outside of the club if we are to improve in 2023. The Adelaide approach in 2019 is a good model, they appointed Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich to conduct a review of their football operations. What we do not need is the rubberstamping of the status quo.
List management
List management needs a change in approach. Elevating 26 & 27-year-old VFL listed players to the AFL list has not worked. The VFL players must be at AFL level, (e.g., Marlion Pickett at the Tigers), or what is the point! There should not be the requirement to give them 30 or 40 games to develop. This has come at the expense of giving our younger players experience and game continuity, e.g., Khamis, West, Bedendo, Sweet and Butler etc.
Bringing in struggling mature age players from other clubs has been at the expense of trading out 23-year old’s that were not given the same opportunities. Two of the players traded out have blossomed at their respective new clubs. It is no surprise they commented in interviews that continuity of games and the coaches showing confidence in them has allowed them to be in the best players most weeks for their new clubs.
This brings us to the upcoming trade talk. Whilst Jones is likely to be a good asset down back, its baffling we would give a 32-year-old a 3-year contract, if this is true as speculated. What is the logic bringing Lobb? He is a 30-year-old forward / ruck looking at his 3rd club who has been a very inconsistent player throughout his career. We should not be blinded by his 4 goals against the dogs in Round 21. They were the result of uncontested lead up marks under no pressure. Tall forwards are not lacking at the dogs. We have had a young ruckman on our list for 4-years, he has been given very few opportunities at senior level. Let us not see him go the way of Lipinski and Young to shine at another club.
We need to reflect on the past to move forward to improve. Many of our 2016 premiership list; Bontempelli, JJ, Caleb Daniel, McLean, Boyd, Roberts, Stringer, McCrae, Hamling, and Clay Smith were recruited by Simon Dalrymple. Sydney is now benefiting from his experience and knowledge with a youth-based recruitment strategy. The Swans are a genuine premiership chance in 2022.
Giving his success recruiting young players to help teams get to the pointy end of the season, it calls into question the current strategy of recruiting mature age VFL players and AFL discards from other clubs.
Except for Jamara and Sam Darcy, we have placed an emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players, failed to target intercept marking defenders and continue to recruit speculative older players as short-term fixes.
It is time for a change in recruiting strategy.
Coaching department
We have lost several important assistant coaches and support staff over the last 3 years, Steven King, Ashley Hansen, Corey Enright, Gia, Jordan Russell, Dale Morris to name but a few. Notwithstanding the soft cap issues, such a high turnover of quality staff would normally raise concerns at an executive level. We acknowledge Luke’ s frustration with the extent of soft cap cuts but it has not stopped teams in the finals race recruiting experienced assistants. You only need to look at the four teams left in the finals; their assistants have extensive AFL experience outside the clubs they are now involved. For example, Craig McRae has two ex- AFL coaches in Leppitsch and Bolton as assistants, John Longmire has Dean Cox and Don Pyke as assistants and, have just signed Leon Cameron to head up their football academy. Their football directors also come from outside the club. Damien Hardwick benefited during the Tigers premiership years having Lippitsch, Williams, Carecella and Ben Rutten as assistants.
We have a couple of playing legends in senior roles at the club. Would they benefit by getting experience at another AFL club to gain a new perspective and experience outside of the Dogs bubble? Bob Murphy is at Fremantle in the Football Directors role. Matty Boyd, previously at the Pies and now at Fremantle as a senior assistant, is looking after defence. No surprises Freo are ranked in the top 3 for defence. We need strong minded assistants that will challenge ideas and provide alternative solutions.
Is it time to bring in new ideas from experienced AFL assistant coaches?
Game plan
The current game plan is not working. It is based on restricting the ball from getting into the oppositions forward line and getting players back to support our backline. We are one of the lowest ranked teams for defending one on ones in our backline and highest scored against from turnovers. The current game plan places little emphasis on putting pressure on the ball carrier, and we continue to peel off outside 5 when standing the mark.
One of the key issues in the back-half is we continue to zone off our immediate player regardless of the game scenario. As we saw in the GF last year, a zone is useless at a centre bounce when it comes straight out the front of the square. A zone also does not work if the opposition move the ball quickly out of their defence and our mids or half forwards cannot get back to zone into the space. When our deep backs are guarding space on an opposition break and, there is no pressure on the ball carrier, the opposition forwards get uncontested opportunities.
The other issue with our back half is it appears our deep backs are instructed to fold back to guard the goal square or, space in an arc in front of the goal square, rather than go with the leading player. As we saw in the Freo games in Round 21 and the Elimination Final, Fremantle had uncontested marks resulting in goals as result of no pressure on the ball carrier or defensive pressure on the forward leading.
Whilst the Pies took the outside 5 approach on Saturday night, (surprising our backline analyst), several mids and half forwards got back quickly to guard space and whilst others put immense pressure on the ball carrier in open play. The Swans take a more man on man approach. What is widely acknowledged is that defence wins finals and there are various iterations how to successfully defend, ours isn’t one of them.
Regardless of the iterations it involves, pressure on the ball carrier and receiver in some form and having an exceptionally good intercept mark down back is a requirement for success: e.g., the McCartin brothers at the Swans, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe who combined for 21 intercepts against Freo, Tom Stewart at Geelong, May and Lever at the Dees.
The dogs game plan relies on spoiling creating 50/50 scenarios at best with small to medium sized players required to win the ball and run it out of our backline. This is at the expense of marking and controlling the ball. Our strategy is always going to put our defence under pressure. This game plan has also influenced our list management with an over emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players.
Let’s look at the game plan that worked for us in 2016, improve on it (see team structure and selection below), learn from the teams that have won the premiership since and those that are contesting the premiership this year.
Team structure / selection and players played out of position
When Luke came onboard, he was the beneficiary of Brendan McCartney placing importance on winning the contested ball, defence first and the sound recruiting by Simon Dalrymple.
Whilst we acknowledge the reasons behind Brendan’s departure, we have difficulty understanding the drastic change in team plan and structure that served as so well in 2016, the basics remain the same.
Our team structure for the GF in 2016 was based on 2 ruckman - forwards, Jordan Roughhead and Tom Boyd, notwithstanding the 3rd man up rule was still applicable. Our defence was based around 3 talls, Joel Hamling, Fletcher Roberts, and Dale Morris. They were supported by an intercept mark in Easton Wood, running backs JJ, Biggs and hard nut and defensive organiser Matty Boyd. Joel Hamling was traded back to Freo for family reasons, Roberts, Mathew Boyd and Roughhead were relegated to playing most of the 2017 season in the VFL. Our team structure has not looked anything like that since.
There is also a concern with players put in roles that does not match their skill set. JJ won a Norm Smith medal paying at halfback but has played as a wingman and half- forward since 2018 with only the occasional success.
Libba, the best clearance player in the competition in 2021 / 2022 spent the first 3-games on a half forward flank in 2022! Ed Richards made his mark in his first season playing of the halfback line. Like JJ he was moved to a wing and half forward with little impact. It is no surprise Ed’s breakout season this year is after he was moved back to the position, he played the majority of his junior footy.
Some of the past players had concerns with the recruitment of Mitch Hannan and elevation of Anthony Scott and others to the AFL list at the expense of young developing players. That said, it was unreasonable to expect Mitch and Anthony to be thrown into the half-backline, positions they have rarely played before and expect them to have an impact.
Some players are position specialists and that is where they provide the most benefit to the team. The philosophy of every player being able to play multiple positions does not always apply.
The Premiers since 2016, have a common theme. The team is built around the spine, a dominant ruckman supported by a 2nd tall with ruck craft, one or two intercept marks and defensive pressure.
We love seeing the Dogs playing finals and we want more, as all supporters do. What we do not want is wasting a season as we have done this year due to poor recruiting, poor game plan, lack of an effective defensive system and the lack of game continuity for the young and emerging players.
This can be a quick and simple fix, it just takes a change of philosophy from our coaches in the game plan, bring in one or two experienced assistant coaches that will challenge the status quo, replicate one or more aspects of the defensive systems of the teams playing off in the preliminary finals and, give our younger players greater game continuity. If this is done, we are of the belief we can push for a top four spot and go deep into the finals next year.
We always put the feelers out to our crew to get a range of views. One of the very learned past players with extensive coaching experience shares his views on where we can improve.
Paul
“ I thought the Corner opening comments and Macca’s were excellent. A few thoughts of my own:
• The four remaining teams have built their teams around strong defences. We have struggled to do so with Gardner, Keath and O’Brien, being cast offs from other Clubs.
• Consideration should be given to playing Naughton and Darcy as key defenders.
• Our small forwards do not kick goals which requires urgent attention.
• English struggles as a knock ruck man and could be better utilised as a key forward together with either Bruce or Schache, with Ugle Hagen as a backup. Bontempelli also should spend more time forward, similar to Dusty Martin.
• Why not use Sweet and Lobb as our two ruckmen.
• The thought of losing Dunkley is a disaster in my opinion as both he and Liberatore have the physical presence that needs to be seen as an asset.
• More thought needs to be given to the likes of Bailey Smith and Macrae to dispose of the ball quicker and with greater accuracy.
• I would like to see Caleb Daniel with his better disposal becoming more effective in the midfield than played out of defence.
• Points in summary:
o Need to play two genuine ruckmen
o Need to establish two quality key defenders.
o Recruitment of small forwards who can kick goals.
o Consider new roles for Naughton Darcy English and Daniel.
o Do all possible to retain Dunkley.”
Whilst it has not been the year we expected, thank you to our great supporters who have given their all supporting the club this year. Let us not forget to support the AFLW team as they sit undefeated to date.
With all the above said, work needs to be done as our Premiership Window is closing!
Maintain the faith and the belief.
CEDE NULLIS
Together WE ARE BULLDOGS.
Go Doggies

Interesting read, agree with almost all of it as I'm sure everyone else will. Although, given they mention a few times the need for an experienced 2nd ruck/forward, why are they so against the recruitment of Lobb who is exactly that?

They also question the current strategy of recruiting mature VFL players and AFL discards compared to what we were doing in 2016. Whilst I generally agree with that comment, our premiership side had Hamling, Biggs and Dickson in that side who all fit that description.

Otherwise, very good read.

 

[Sid Nullis]

Agree. It was a well articulated summary of virtually all the issues raised here

Grant and Darcy have been to the past players lunches and meetings along with other recently retired players. I think they would have read many coaches corners. I just hope they read this one.

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

The more you read and think about this season,the more you realise what a mess it really has been. So many dumb decisions, but McComb at 27 is the cherry on top. A battler at best gets more opportunities than West.
Players have been majorly let down, as have we have as members and supporters.

 

[Dry Rot]

Grant and Darcy have been to the past players lunches and meetings along with other recently retired players. I think they would have read many coaches corners. I just hope they read this one.

Great user name mate.

 

[adogsfan5]

Brisbane favourites for Dunks.. yet he still met with Boak over the weekend. Becoming farcical.

 

[Dry Rot]

Brisbane favourites for Dunks.. yet he still met with Boak over the weekend. Becoming farcical.

This is now bigger than the death of the Queen.

And equally boring.

 

[dergert]

Brisbane favourites for Dunks.. yet he still met with Boak over the weekend. Becoming farcical.

He's a publicity ****.

 

[Dogsman16]

Time to prod the gold coast suns and see what they can offer. If he wants to go to QLD to be near his girlfriend and the lions have nothing to offer (which they don't), then we engage with gold coast.

They have the money open now with Rankine leaving and irrespective of their midfield depth they wouldn't pass up the chance at a player like Dunkley. The last thing i want to see if Dunkley get to the team of his choice and for us to get unders.

 

[ScragCity]

This club is ****ed

 

[BrisDog]

Not very good with links etc sorry but a great read

Welcome to Ocker’s Coaches Corner - Elimination Final 2022
The Claytons Leadership Group is from all teams I played in at the Doggies in 1976,7, 8 and 80, Macca was our coach in 77 and 78. There is a lot of knowledge in this fraternity and at the end of the day we all will stand and fight to the death behind our beloved Bulldogs. The credit and blame can go to many older Doggies – Woof Woof.
Macca is on the mend; he is still being ‘managed’ but is home with his leg in a plaster cast. His email of the match report was titled “THE END 2022”.
We had a huge turnout of supporters from VIC and all over W.A. and a gang of the WA Bulldogs Past Players at the Inglewood Hotel on Friday night. This set the tone for our second consecutive year of finals football. This is a great feeling for one who went through the 70’s when just making the finals was a monumental achievement. Many of us could get used to this, but WE MUST do better to finish higher on the ladder and have the interstaters fly all the way to take us on.
What a sad way to ‘end’ the season!
Let us start by stating the obvious, you should never lose a final after being 41 points up at the 20-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, this is unacceptable!
We have given serious thought how we should approach the Corner for the Elimination Final. We could go into great detail as we usually do or, provide a summary of what happened and go into detail where we need to improve in 2023.
We chose the latter option. Here is a summary of last week’s elimination final:
• We started the game by placing pressure on the ball carrier and limited the extent of zoning only to go back to the old zoning ways of minding grass in the 2nd half.
• Deep defenders folded back to the goal square allowing their direct opponent to take uncontested marks 25-30m out costing us 3 goals.
• An emphasis on spoiling as opposed to intercept marks. It is pointless spoiling as the primary method of defence if you are giving the opposition a 50/50 chance of winning the ball back.
• The lack of a defensive system that restricts the opposition walking the ball to their forward line.
• Lack of aggressively manning the mark and putting pressure on the ball carrier.
• Bombing the ball into the forward line and key forwards lacking separation when leading for the ball.
• Small forwards forgetting their role is to crumb and not fly for marks with our key forwards
• The lack of genuine experienced 2nd ruckman - forward
• Selection of underperforming players.
• Flawed team plan and team structure i.e., emphasis on bringing ball to ground in back half and relying on winning the 50/ 50 contested ball.
The past player fraternity has been discussing these issues long before the finals, it has been a common theme the last 2+ years.
So how do we improve? We start with a review of what has changed since our 2016 success and have included suggestions for improvement.
Review of Football Department
We acknowledge that the executive said there will be a review of the football department. The review needs to be truly independent undertaken by someone outside of the club if we are to improve in 2023. The Adelaide approach in 2019 is a good model, they appointed Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich to conduct a review of their football operations. What we do not need is the rubberstamping of the status quo.
List management
List management needs a change in approach. Elevating 26 & 27-year-old VFL listed players to the AFL list has not worked. The VFL players must be at AFL level, (e.g., Marlion Pickett at the Tigers), or what is the point! There should not be the requirement to give them 30 or 40 games to develop. This has come at the expense of giving our younger players experience and game continuity, e.g., Khamis, West, Bedendo, Sweet and Butler etc.
Bringing in struggling mature age players from other clubs has been at the expense of trading out 23-year old’s that were not given the same opportunities. Two of the players traded out have blossomed at their respective new clubs. It is no surprise they commented in interviews that continuity of games and the coaches showing confidence in them has allowed them to be in the best players most weeks for their new clubs.
This brings us to the upcoming trade talk. Whilst Jones is likely to be a good asset down back, its baffling we would give a 32-year-old a 3-year contract, if this is true as speculated. What is the logic bringing Lobb? He is a 30-year-old forward / ruck looking at his 3rd club who has been a very inconsistent player throughout his career. We should not be blinded by his 4 goals against the dogs in Round 21. They were the result of uncontested lead up marks under no pressure. Tall forwards are not lacking at the dogs. We have had a young ruckman on our list for 4-years, he has been given very few opportunities at senior level. Let us not see him go the way of Lipinski and Young to shine at another club.
We need to reflect on the past to move forward to improve. Many of our 2016 premiership list; Bontempelli, JJ, Caleb Daniel, McLean, Boyd, Roberts, Stringer, McCrae, Hamling, and Clay Smith were recruited by Simon Dalrymple. Sydney is now benefiting from his experience and knowledge with a youth-based recruitment strategy. The Swans are a genuine premiership chance in 2022.
Giving his success recruiting young players to help teams get to the pointy end of the season, it calls into question the current strategy of recruiting mature age VFL players and AFL discards from other clubs.
Except for Jamara and Sam Darcy, we have placed an emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players, failed to target intercept marking defenders and continue to recruit speculative older players as short-term fixes.
It is time for a change in recruiting strategy.
Coaching department
We have lost several important assistant coaches and support staff over the last 3 years, Steven King, Ashley Hansen, Corey Enright, Gia, Jordan Russell, Dale Morris to name but a few. Notwithstanding the soft cap issues, such a high turnover of quality staff would normally raise concerns at an executive level. We acknowledge Luke’ s frustration with the extent of soft cap cuts but it has not stopped teams in the finals race recruiting experienced assistants. You only need to look at the four teams left in the finals; their assistants have extensive AFL experience outside the clubs they are now involved. For example, Craig McRae has two ex- AFL coaches in Leppitsch and Bolton as assistants, John Longmire has Dean Cox and Don Pyke as assistants and, have just signed Leon Cameron to head up their football academy. Their football directors also come from outside the club. Damien Hardwick benefited during the Tigers premiership years having Lippitsch, Williams, Carecella and Ben Rutten as assistants.
We have a couple of playing legends in senior roles at the club. Would they benefit by getting experience at another AFL club to gain a new perspective and experience outside of the Dogs bubble? Bob Murphy is at Fremantle in the Football Directors role. Matty Boyd, previously at the Pies and now at Fremantle as a senior assistant, is looking after defence. No surprises Freo are ranked in the top 3 for defence. We need strong minded assistants that will challenge ideas and provide alternative solutions.
Is it time to bring in new ideas from experienced AFL assistant coaches?
Game plan
The current game plan is not working. It is based on restricting the ball from getting into the oppositions forward line and getting players back to support our backline. We are one of the lowest ranked teams for defending one on ones in our backline and highest scored against from turnovers. The current game plan places little emphasis on putting pressure on the ball carrier, and we continue to peel off outside 5 when standing the mark.
One of the key issues in the back-half is we continue to zone off our immediate player regardless of the game scenario. As we saw in the GF last year, a zone is useless at a centre bounce when it comes straight out the front of the square. A zone also does not work if the opposition move the ball quickly out of their defence and our mids or half forwards cannot get back to zone into the space. When our deep backs are guarding space on an opposition break and, there is no pressure on the ball carrier, the opposition forwards get uncontested opportunities.
The other issue with our back half is it appears our deep backs are instructed to fold back to guard the goal square or, space in an arc in front of the goal square, rather than go with the leading player. As we saw in the Freo games in Round 21 and the Elimination Final, Fremantle had uncontested marks resulting in goals as result of no pressure on the ball carrier or defensive pressure on the forward leading.
Whilst the Pies took the outside 5 approach on Saturday night, (surprising our backline analyst), several mids and half forwards got back quickly to guard space and whilst others put immense pressure on the ball carrier in open play. The Swans take a more man on man approach. What is widely acknowledged is that defence wins finals and there are various iterations how to successfully defend, ours isn’t one of them.
Regardless of the iterations it involves, pressure on the ball carrier and receiver in some form and having an exceptionally good intercept mark down back is a requirement for success: e.g., the McCartin brothers at the Swans, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe who combined for 21 intercepts against Freo, Tom Stewart at Geelong, May and Lever at the Dees.
The dogs game plan relies on spoiling creating 50/50 scenarios at best with small to medium sized players required to win the ball and run it out of our backline. This is at the expense of marking and controlling the ball. Our strategy is always going to put our defence under pressure. This game plan has also influenced our list management with an over emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players.
Let’s look at the game plan that worked for us in 2016, improve on it (see team structure and selection below), learn from the teams that have won the premiership since and those that are contesting the premiership this year.
Team structure / selection and players played out of position
When Luke came onboard, he was the beneficiary of Brendan McCartney placing importance on winning the contested ball, defence first and the sound recruiting by Simon Dalrymple.
Whilst we acknowledge the reasons behind Brendan’s departure, we have difficulty understanding the drastic change in team plan and structure that served as so well in 2016, the basics remain the same.
Our team structure for the GF in 2016 was based on 2 ruckman - forwards, Jordan Roughhead and Tom Boyd, notwithstanding the 3rd man up rule was still applicable. Our defence was based around 3 talls, Joel Hamling, Fletcher Roberts, and Dale Morris. They were supported by an intercept mark in Easton Wood, running backs JJ, Biggs and hard nut and defensive organiser Matty Boyd. Joel Hamling was traded back to Freo for family reasons, Roberts, Mathew Boyd and Roughhead were relegated to playing most of the 2017 season in the VFL. Our team structure has not looked anything like that since.
There is also a concern with players put in roles that does not match their skill set. JJ won a Norm Smith medal paying at halfback but has played as a wingman and half- forward since 2018 with only the occasional success.
Libba, the best clearance player in the competition in 2021 / 2022 spent the first 3-games on a half forward flank in 2022! Ed Richards made his mark in his first season playing of the halfback line. Like JJ he was moved to a wing and half forward with little impact. It is no surprise Ed’s breakout season this year is after he was moved back to the position, he played the majority of his junior footy.
Some of the past players had concerns with the recruitment of Mitch Hannan and elevation of Anthony Scott and others to the AFL list at the expense of young developing players. That said, it was unreasonable to expect Mitch and Anthony to be thrown into the half-backline, positions they have rarely played before and expect them to have an impact.
Some players are position specialists and that is where they provide the most benefit to the team. The philosophy of every player being able to play multiple positions does not always apply.
The Premiers since 2016, have a common theme. The team is built around the spine, a dominant ruckman supported by a 2nd tall with ruck craft, one or two intercept marks and defensive pressure.
We love seeing the Dogs playing finals and we want more, as all supporters do. What we do not want is wasting a season as we have done this year due to poor recruiting, poor game plan, lack of an effective defensive system and the lack of game continuity for the young and emerging players.
This can be a quick and simple fix, it just takes a change of philosophy from our coaches in the game plan, bring in one or two experienced assistant coaches that will challenge the status quo, replicate one or more aspects of the defensive systems of the teams playing off in the preliminary finals and, give our younger players greater game continuity. If this is done, we are of the belief we can push for a top four spot and go deep into the finals next year.
We always put the feelers out to our crew to get a range of views. One of the very learned past players with extensive coaching experience shares his views on where we can improve.
Paul
“ I thought the Corner opening comments and Macca’s were excellent. A few thoughts of my own:
• The four remaining teams have built their teams around strong defences. We have struggled to do so with Gardner, Keath and O’Brien, being cast offs from other Clubs.
• Consideration should be given to playing Naughton and Darcy as key defenders.
• Our small forwards do not kick goals which requires urgent attention.
• English struggles as a knock ruck man and could be better utilised as a key forward together with either Bruce or Schache, with Ugle Hagen as a backup. Bontempelli also should spend more time forward, similar to Dusty Martin.
• Why not use Sweet and Lobb as our two ruckmen.
• The thought of losing Dunkley is a disaster in my opinion as both he and Liberatore have the physical presence that needs to be seen as an asset.
• More thought needs to be given to the likes of Bailey Smith and Macrae to dispose of the ball quicker and with greater accuracy.
• I would like to see Caleb Daniel with his better disposal becoming more effective in the midfield than played out of defence.
• Points in summary:
o Need to play two genuine ruckmen
o Need to establish two quality key defenders.
o Recruitment of small forwards who can kick goals.
o Consider new roles for Naughton Darcy English and Daniel.
o Do all possible to retain Dunkley.”
Whilst it has not been the year we expected, thank you to our great supporters who have given their all supporting the club this year. Let us not forget to support the AFLW team as they sit undefeated to date.
With all the above said, work needs to be done as our Premiership Window is closing!
Maintain the faith and the belief.
CEDE NULLIS
Together WE ARE BULLDOGS.
Go Doggies

F**k, what a spot on summary.

 

[BrisDog]

The more you read and think about this season,the more you realise what a mess it really has been. So many dumb decisions, but McComb at 27 is the cherry on top. A battler at best gets more opportunities than West.
Players have been majorly let down, as have we have as members and supporters.

Completely - I mean who has ever looked at McComb and though “he could be anything”? No one. Whilst West and Co rot in the VFL.

 

[adogsfan5]

 

[Chops]

Please


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Dogsman16]

He's contracted and freo hold all the power. In my view we should abandon and persist with Darcy in the role.

Freo sounds like they are clearing plenty of cap space so I don't think its critical from a freo perspective to trade him.

 

[Doggy]

He's contracted and freo hold all the power. In my view we should abandon and persist with Darcy in the role.

Freo sounds like they are clearing plenty of cap space so I don't think its critical from a freo perspective to trade him.

Why don't people seem to get it that Darcy has played only a few games and fewer quarters as a forward.

Our ruck forward options are shit. Lobb is needed more than you think

 

[willofwest]

Adelaide media (SEN) reporting that Dunks is held up nominating Ken's ballerinas because he wants to assure the trade will go through unlike with Essendon.

That Coaches Corner post is the most brilliant summary of our problems, issues and solutions I've read.

Couldn’t agree with you anymore, a brilliant piece of analysis by the authors of the coaches corner.

 

[Dogsman16]

Why don't people seem to get it that Darcy has played only a few games and fewer quarters as a forward.

Our ruck forward options are s**t. Lobb is needed more than you think

I think you will find when Darcy puts on more size he's not going to have the mobility to play defence. Or certainly not in our setup in which footspeed down back is absolutely pivitol.

And I'm not having him just sit in the 2s for the next 2 years so we can play Lobb. Yes we need more forward ruck options, but a cheaper one, that is uncontracted and we can toss aside is the better option. Rather than Lobb blocking Darcy's development or sitting in the 2s on 500k a season when Darcy goes past him.

Btw good luck to Sam Power if he has the fortitude to deal with a contracted freo tall whilst Peter Bell calls the shots. That bloke is as stubborn as Dodoro and Freo hold all the power.

 

[Doggy]

I think you will find when Darcy puts on more size he's not going to have the mobility to play defence. Or certainly not in our setup in which footspeed down back is absolutely pivitol.

And I'm not having him just sit in the 2s for the next 2 years so we can play Lobb. Yes we need more forward ruck options, but a cheaper one, that is uncontracted and we can toss aside is the better option. Rather than Lobb blocking Darcy's development or sitting in the 2s on 500k a season when Darcy goes past him.

And who might that be because I don't think you have a viable option

 

[Optimistic Dog]

The lions will be clear flag favourites in 2023 if they get Dunkley on top of Ashcroft and keep Mcluggage, Neale and Berry. They would have the best midfield in the comp. Anything less than a top pick 10 for Dunkley is a disaster.

 

[Doggy]

The lions will be clear flag favourites in 2023 if they get Dunkley on top of Ashcroft and keep Mcluggage, Neale and Berry. They would have the best midfield in the comp. Anything less than a top pick 10 for Dunkley is a disaster.

They'd still be shit in Melbourne.

Yes they won one game, they won't be winning this week.

They're still downhill skiers

 

[dergert]

With Dunks going to Brisbane it will need to involve a player..
There isn't a player that stands out to me that would be remotely gettable.

Lohmann is my only interest.

 

[bresker]

Not very good with links etc sorry but a great read

Welcome to Ocker’s Coaches Corner - Elimination Final 2022
The Claytons Leadership Group is from all teams I played in at the Doggies in 1976,7, 8 and 80, Macca was our coach in 77 and 78. There is a lot of knowledge in this fraternity and at the end of the day we all will stand and fight to the death behind our beloved Bulldogs. The credit and blame can go to many older Doggies – Woof Woof.
Macca is on the mend; he is still being ‘managed’ but is home with his leg in a plaster cast. His email of the match report was titled “THE END 2022”.
We had a huge turnout of supporters from VIC and all over W.A. and a gang of the WA Bulldogs Past Players at the Inglewood Hotel on Friday night. This set the tone for our second consecutive year of finals football. This is a great feeling for one who went through the 70’s when just making the finals was a monumental achievement. Many of us could get used to this, but WE MUST do better to finish higher on the ladder and have the interstaters fly all the way to take us on.
What a sad way to ‘end’ the season!
Let us start by stating the obvious, you should never lose a final after being 41 points up at the 20-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, this is unacceptable!
We have given serious thought how we should approach the Corner for the Elimination Final. We could go into great detail as we usually do or, provide a summary of what happened and go into detail where we need to improve in 2023.
We chose the latter option. Here is a summary of last week’s elimination final:
• We started the game by placing pressure on the ball carrier and limited the extent of zoning only to go back to the old zoning ways of minding grass in the 2nd half.
• Deep defenders folded back to the goal square allowing their direct opponent to take uncontested marks 25-30m out costing us 3 goals.
• An emphasis on spoiling as opposed to intercept marks. It is pointless spoiling as the primary method of defence if you are giving the opposition a 50/50 chance of winning the ball back.
• The lack of a defensive system that restricts the opposition walking the ball to their forward line.
• Lack of aggressively manning the mark and putting pressure on the ball carrier.
• Bombing the ball into the forward line and key forwards lacking separation when leading for the ball.
• Small forwards forgetting their role is to crumb and not fly for marks with our key forwards
• The lack of genuine experienced 2nd ruckman - forward
• Selection of underperforming players.
• Flawed team plan and team structure i.e., emphasis on bringing ball to ground in back half and relying on winning the 50/ 50 contested ball.
The past player fraternity has been discussing these issues long before the finals, it has been a common theme the last 2+ years.
So how do we improve? We start with a review of what has changed since our 2016 success and have included suggestions for improvement.
Review of Football Department
We acknowledge that the executive said there will be a review of the football department. The review needs to be truly independent undertaken by someone outside of the club if we are to improve in 2023. The Adelaide approach in 2019 is a good model, they appointed Jason Dunstall and Matthew Pavlich to conduct a review of their football operations. What we do not need is the rubberstamping of the status quo.
List management
List management needs a change in approach. Elevating 26 & 27-year-old VFL listed players to the AFL list has not worked. The VFL players must be at AFL level, (e.g., Marlion Pickett at the Tigers), or what is the point! There should not be the requirement to give them 30 or 40 games to develop. This has come at the expense of giving our younger players experience and game continuity, e.g., Khamis, West, Bedendo, Sweet and Butler etc.
Bringing in struggling mature age players from other clubs has been at the expense of trading out 23-year old’s that were not given the same opportunities. Two of the players traded out have blossomed at their respective new clubs. It is no surprise they commented in interviews that continuity of games and the coaches showing confidence in them has allowed them to be in the best players most weeks for their new clubs.
This brings us to the upcoming trade talk. Whilst Jones is likely to be a good asset down back, its baffling we would give a 32-year-old a 3-year contract, if this is true as speculated. What is the logic bringing Lobb? He is a 30-year-old forward / ruck looking at his 3rd club who has been a very inconsistent player throughout his career. We should not be blinded by his 4 goals against the dogs in Round 21. They were the result of uncontested lead up marks under no pressure. Tall forwards are not lacking at the dogs. We have had a young ruckman on our list for 4-years, he has been given very few opportunities at senior level. Let us not see him go the way of Lipinski and Young to shine at another club.
We need to reflect on the past to move forward to improve. Many of our 2016 premiership list; Bontempelli, JJ, Caleb Daniel, McLean, Boyd, Roberts, Stringer, McCrae, Hamling, and Clay Smith were recruited by Simon Dalrymple. Sydney is now benefiting from his experience and knowledge with a youth-based recruitment strategy. The Swans are a genuine premiership chance in 2022.
Giving his success recruiting young players to help teams get to the pointy end of the season, it calls into question the current strategy of recruiting mature age VFL players and AFL discards from other clubs.
Except for Jamara and Sam Darcy, we have placed an emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players, failed to target intercept marking defenders and continue to recruit speculative older players as short-term fixes.
It is time for a change in recruiting strategy.
Coaching department
We have lost several important assistant coaches and support staff over the last 3 years, Steven King, Ashley Hansen, Corey Enright, Gia, Jordan Russell, Dale Morris to name but a few. Notwithstanding the soft cap issues, such a high turnover of quality staff would normally raise concerns at an executive level. We acknowledge Luke’ s frustration with the extent of soft cap cuts but it has not stopped teams in the finals race recruiting experienced assistants. You only need to look at the four teams left in the finals; their assistants have extensive AFL experience outside the clubs they are now involved. For example, Craig McRae has two ex- AFL coaches in Leppitsch and Bolton as assistants, John Longmire has Dean Cox and Don Pyke as assistants and, have just signed Leon Cameron to head up their football academy. Their football directors also come from outside the club. Damien Hardwick benefited during the Tigers premiership years having Lippitsch, Williams, Carecella and Ben Rutten as assistants.
We have a couple of playing legends in senior roles at the club. Would they benefit by getting experience at another AFL club to gain a new perspective and experience outside of the Dogs bubble? Bob Murphy is at Fremantle in the Football Directors role. Matty Boyd, previously at the Pies and now at Fremantle as a senior assistant, is looking after defence. No surprises Freo are ranked in the top 3 for defence. We need strong minded assistants that will challenge ideas and provide alternative solutions.
Is it time to bring in new ideas from experienced AFL assistant coaches?
Game plan
The current game plan is not working. It is based on restricting the ball from getting into the oppositions forward line and getting players back to support our backline. We are one of the lowest ranked teams for defending one on ones in our backline and highest scored against from turnovers. The current game plan places little emphasis on putting pressure on the ball carrier, and we continue to peel off outside 5 when standing the mark.
One of the key issues in the back-half is we continue to zone off our immediate player regardless of the game scenario. As we saw in the GF last year, a zone is useless at a centre bounce when it comes straight out the front of the square. A zone also does not work if the opposition move the ball quickly out of their defence and our mids or half forwards cannot get back to zone into the space. When our deep backs are guarding space on an opposition break and, there is no pressure on the ball carrier, the opposition forwards get uncontested opportunities.
The other issue with our back half is it appears our deep backs are instructed to fold back to guard the goal square or, space in an arc in front of the goal square, rather than go with the leading player. As we saw in the Freo games in Round 21 and the Elimination Final, Fremantle had uncontested marks resulting in goals as result of no pressure on the ball carrier or defensive pressure on the forward leading.
Whilst the Pies took the outside 5 approach on Saturday night, (surprising our backline analyst), several mids and half forwards got back quickly to guard space and whilst others put immense pressure on the ball carrier in open play. The Swans take a more man on man approach. What is widely acknowledged is that defence wins finals and there are various iterations how to successfully defend, ours isn’t one of them.
Regardless of the iterations it involves, pressure on the ball carrier and receiver in some form and having an exceptionally good intercept mark down back is a requirement for success: e.g., the McCartin brothers at the Swans, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe who combined for 21 intercepts against Freo, Tom Stewart at Geelong, May and Lever at the Dees.
The dogs game plan relies on spoiling creating 50/50 scenarios at best with small to medium sized players required to win the ball and run it out of our backline. This is at the expense of marking and controlling the ball. Our strategy is always going to put our defence under pressure. This game plan has also influenced our list management with an over emphasis on recruiting small to mid-sized players.
Let’s look at the game plan that worked for us in 2016, improve on it (see team structure and selection below), learn from the teams that have won the premiership since and those that are contesting the premiership this year.
Team structure / selection and players played out of position
When Luke came onboard, he was the beneficiary of Brendan McCartney placing importance on winning the contested ball, defence first and the sound recruiting by Simon Dalrymple.
Whilst we acknowledge the reasons behind Brendan’s departure, we have difficulty understanding the drastic change in team plan and structure that served as so well in 2016, the basics remain the same.
Our team structure for the GF in 2016 was based on 2 ruckman - forwards, Jordan Roughhead and Tom Boyd, notwithstanding the 3rd man up rule was still applicable. Our defence was based around 3 talls, Joel Hamling, Fletcher Roberts, and Dale Morris. They were supported by an intercept mark in Easton Wood, running backs JJ, Biggs and hard nut and defensive organiser Matty Boyd. Joel Hamling was traded back to Freo for family reasons, Roberts, Mathew Boyd and Roughhead were relegated to playing most of the 2017 season in the VFL. Our team structure has not looked anything like that since.
There is also a concern with players put in roles that does not match their skill set. JJ won a Norm Smith medal paying at halfback but has played as a wingman and half- forward since 2018 with only the occasional success.
Libba, the best clearance player in the competition in 2021 / 2022 spent the first 3-games on a half forward flank in 2022! Ed Richards made his mark in his first season playing of the halfback line. Like JJ he was moved to a wing and half forward with little impact. It is no surprise Ed’s breakout season this year is after he was moved back to the position, he played the majority of his junior footy.
Some of the past players had concerns with the recruitment of Mitch Hannan and elevation of Anthony Scott and others to the AFL list at the expense of young developing players. That said, it was unreasonable to expect Mitch and Anthony to be thrown into the half-backline, positions they have rarely played before and expect them to have an impact.
Some players are position specialists and that is where they provide the most benefit to the team. The philosophy of every player being able to play multiple positions does not always apply.
The Premiers since 2016, have a common theme. The team is built around the spine, a dominant ruckman supported by a 2nd tall with ruck craft, one or two intercept marks and defensive pressure.
We love seeing the Dogs playing finals and we want more, as all supporters do. What we do not want is wasting a season as we have done this year due to poor recruiting, poor game plan, lack of an effective defensive system and the lack of game continuity for the young and emerging players.
This can be a quick and simple fix, it just takes a change of philosophy from our coaches in the game plan, bring in one or two experienced assistant coaches that will challenge the status quo, replicate one or more aspects of the defensive systems of the teams playing off in the preliminary finals and, give our younger players greater game continuity. If this is done, we are of the belief we can push for a top four spot and go deep into the finals next year.
We always put the feelers out to our crew to get a range of views. One of the very learned past players with extensive coaching experience shares his views on where we can improve.
Paul
“ I thought the Corner opening comments and Macca’s were excellent. A few thoughts of my own:
• The four remaining teams have built their teams around strong defences. We have struggled to do so with Gardner, Keath and O’Brien, being cast offs from other Clubs.
• Consideration should be given to playing Naughton and Darcy as key defenders.
• Our small forwards do not kick goals which requires urgent attention.
• English struggles as a knock ruck man and could be better utilised as a key forward together with either Bruce or Schache, with Ugle Hagen as a backup. Bontempelli also should spend more time forward, similar to Dusty Martin.
• Why not use Sweet and Lobb as our two ruckmen.
• The thought of losing Dunkley is a disaster in my opinion as both he and Liberatore have the physical presence that needs to be seen as an asset.
• More thought needs to be given to the likes of Bailey Smith and Macrae to dispose of the ball quicker and with greater accuracy.
• I would like to see Caleb Daniel with his better disposal becoming more effective in the midfield than played out of defence.
• Points in summary:
o Need to play two genuine ruckmen
o Need to establish two quality key defenders.
o Recruitment of small forwards who can kick goals.
o Consider new roles for Naughton Darcy English and Daniel.
o Do all possible to retain Dunkley.”
Whilst it has not been the year we expected, thank you to our great supporters who have given their all supporting the club this year. Let us not forget to support the AFLW team as they sit undefeated to date.
With all the above said, work needs to be done as our Premiership Window is closing!
Maintain the faith and the belief.
CEDE NULLIS
Together WE ARE BULLDOGS.
Go Doggies

Great read but it shows there’s plenty of decent footy brains on this forum as we’ve been saying much of this all year long . It’s maddeningly frustrating that the coaches persist with a game plan that’s gone to sh1t.

 

[Dogsman16]

And who might that be because I don't think you have a viable option

Im talking cheaper options such as Sam Reid (Syd) McLean (Syd), Strachan (adel), Williiams (WCE), Briggs/Flynn (GWS). Also if our key forward depth got compromised I'd like to see English spend more time forward and have a 2nd ruck take primary duties if need be.

 

[Dogsman16]

FWIW Cal twomey on twitter saying Lobb will request a trade as early as tomorrow to us. So there you go.