Western Bulldogs - Not rebuilding?

[kaiserchief13]

This is what I would've done before this season started:
1. Tell Boyd he is a ****ing terrible kick and to handball it as much as possible. If he isn't happy with this he can gtfo
2. Trade Gia
3. Get Lake to play CHF (has a good mark and kick but needs to work on fitness)

 

[Dazb86]

The big issue is how will they cover the likes of Boyd, Cross, Murphy, Lake, Hargrave, Morris, Gilbee, Cooney and Gia. They will all likely be gone over next few years. Sure some of couple of those guys haven't had a big impact. But I think this is going to be a huge problem. The forward line had been woeful but the likes of Roughead and Cordy could develop.

Boyd and cross will be replaced by Libba and Wallis. Hargrave and Gilbee were lucky to have a spot on the list this year. We've had to do without cooney for the past 2 years anyway. Had to deal without Morris all year.

^^Half the reason why we are currently shit.

So really we will only need to cover for Murphy, Gia and Lake who are still impacting games. Not as bad as it first reads.

But yeah. It's going to get worse before it gets better IMO.

 

[Tas]

We only say we aren't rebuilding because of the impact it may have on membership and the bottom line. Eleven of today's side have less then 30 games to their name

I liked how Brad Scott approached it, said we were rebuilding but didn't set limitations or excuses for rebuilding and that we had a high expectation of the players performing. Teams that rebuild are going to lose games, that is a guarantee, but I don't think it has to mean you wont be competitive. Dogs were competitive earlier on in the season, just have lost some confidence, structure and skill level of late.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Feel sorry for Dogs supporters. So close for a few years and I can't see them doing anything for another few years at least

 

[Rob]

The funny thing is these guys were responsible for WB coming top 4 three seasons in a row.

That's the problem. When those guys leave, they're going to get worse.

 

[Blues_Man]

I worry about the Bulldogs as a club ....as soon as Vlad sniffs an aroma of vulnerability, he will be trying to do away with them. And unfortunately at the moment they look very vulnerable.

 

[ANGEL DARK]

The big issue is how will they cover the likes of Boyd, Cross, Murphy, Lake, Hargrave, Morris, Gilbee, Cooney and Gia. They will all likely be gone over next few years. Sure some of couple of those guys haven't had a big impact. But I think this is going to be a huge problem. The forward line had been woeful but the likes of Roughead and Cordy could develop.

Tend to agree. I can see the next few years will see the Bulldogs bottom out completely to the point at where Melbourne are at now. They will have at least 7 or 8 of their better players either retiring or on the verge of retirement in the next 2 to 3 years and there isnt anyone coming through fast enough to replace those that will be gone. Libba and possibly Wallace may offer any shining light but it wont be enough to replace the many holes that will need to be filled

 

[Auger Martel]

I'm glad someone make a topic on this subject, because it's something I've been following all season and I'm not one iota clearer from the beginning of the season as to what the heck the Bulldogs are trying to do.

Looking at their current team, it's just a bizarre mix of promising youngsters (Wallis, Dahlhaus, Liberatore, Howard), aging veterans (Lake, Hargrave, Cross, Giansiracusa), good but not great players in the 23-27 range (Griffen, Minson,), recycled players which don't contribute too much (Sherman, Veszpremi, Djkerrkura) and a smattering of others who are clearly past it (Gilbee), have been very disappointing (Grant) or are just a pale shadow of what they used to be (Cooney).​

I just don't get the what the Bulldogs are trying to do, both on the field and their future direction list-wise. Are they in the middle of a complete rebuild ala Melbourne? If so, why are they still playing guys like Gilbee and Hargrave? Are they only trying to slowly add youth in the team while still hanging on to their veterans? A combination of the two?

Their defense is extremely old age-wise yet their forward line is young, inexperienced but more to the point absolutely appalling in scoring and general effectiveness. Their midfield is good without being great. The starting lineup is just all over the shop and it is even a struggle to see what consistant gameplan that Brendan McCartney applies week in and week out.

It just feels like a Frankenstein Monster of bits and pieces from everywhere and not to stick the boot in or offend Bulldogs supporters, I feel it's going to be a long road ahead for them.

One thing I will say though is that they need to make a brave decision on Cooney and move on without him. If they have exhausted all their options (surgery-wise) and there is no hope for recovery, they need to tell him that he has been a excellent servant but the club is rebuilding and cannot afford to continually maintain him. If he cannot run out matches, constantly requires maintenance and medical attention and will only be half the player he once was, it will not benefit either the club or Cooney himself continuing the way they are doing at the moment. It's a sucky situation all around but that is the harsh reality.

At the end of the season they need to be very firm and brave, and offer him to retire gracefully and give him a role either as a trainer, assistant coach, admin or let him do media if he so wants. If he insists he can still play, make it as easiest as possible for him to seek an opportunity elsewhere (GWS or whoever would be interested), take a pittance of a pick and amicably move on for both parties. This is partially holding the Dogs back at the moment (in addition to the issues raised above) and they need to move on with a rebuilding phase, gently phasing out the veterans (not all at once mind, don't repeat the same mistakes as the Dees did) who clearly won't be there in the long-run.

​

 

[DTRAIN87]

I worry about the Bulldogs as a club ....as soon as Vlad sniffs an aroma of vulnerability, he will be trying to do away with them. And unfortunately at the moment they look very vulnerable.

I wish the AFL did the same thing with Carlton sometime between 2002-2007

 

[Blues_Man]

I wish the AFL did the same thing with Carlton sometime between 2002-2007

Most successful club in the comp, and one of the big 3......something somebody following a sleepy hollow penne ante club, wouldn't understand .

 

[Kakkle]

I'd like to hear Bulldogs supporters opinion on the future of Jarrad Grant.

 

[Macca19]

You would definitely receive interest for Cross. Getting a bit slow but a lot of club, including mine, are in need of an inside mid.

Gia's a flash in the pan kind of player. But you could get something for him I would think.

Gia will be 31 before next season. Not many clubs are in need of a 31 year old forward flanker. Cross will be 30 early next season, though is good/fit enough to play for another 2-3+.

 

[BRG93]

I'd like to hear Bulldogs supporters opinion on the future of Jarrad Grant.

At this stage myself and a few other dogs fans are giving grant one more year if we don't see improvement then his OUT

 

[schnoods]

I think Eade left the club in a bigger hole than when he joined.

Too many bandaid solutions for long term problems, especially when Eade was under fire as he needed to show some sort of encouraging short term signs that there was improvement. A few high profile recruiting decisions from the likes of Aker and Hall set the club back a couple of years in development. There was always problems kicking a winning score and when alot of the mature players left especially the quality midfielders they were just behind the 8ball with few forward targets.

Dockers had the same problem years ago recruiting mature players who could only give a short term crack at success instead of building a team to get a decent era.

 

[Ridley This]

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/w...article/tabid/4112/newsid/142898/default.aspx

http://www.afl.com.au/Video/tabid/76/contentid/473867/bulldogs post-match/Default.aspx

A rebuild by any other name...

Oh, and if there's one thing worse then people laying the boot in after an abysmal loss, it's being pitied.

 

[frednirk]

The dogs need to get out of Whitten oval. Bad karma it infects the players and club.

You all know that feeling when youre in footscray. Downtrodden lowerclass despair.

Bad karma.

 

[theflea]

GWS..............oh and Richmond!

as if.

 

[Coledinho]

I made this thread 3 months ago and its only gotten worse. More old foggies in the team, youngsters doing less and less. IMO this club has the worst future in the league atm. Sad but true

 

[Ron The Bear]

The big issue is how will they cover the likes of Boyd, Cross, Murphy, Lake, Hargrave, Morris, Gilbee, Cooney and Gia. They will all likely be gone over next few years. Sure some of couple of those guys haven't had a big impact. But I think this is going to be a huge problem.

They'll get worse before they get better. When these players retire, their average age will dip well below the AFL average and they'll be in full rebuild mode. Some are clearly coming to the end, but they don't have enough exposed precocious talent to turn things around quickly, so I expect most of those players to be going around next year at 30+. Would be interested to know which players Dogs supporters think are in line for delisting.

 

[mysainters]

Felt sad for Cross today, his passion for the jumper is evident.

I have a question, why don't they play Murphy at CHF?

A few lace out passes to some young forwards, a bit of instruction by way of kicking to space and asking them to lead, and all the sudden the confidence is up?

 

[PykeDream]

One thing I will say though is that they need to make a brave decision on Cooney and move on without him. If they have exhausted all their options (surgery-wise) and there is no hope for recovery, they need to tell him that he has been a excellent servant but the club is rebuilding and cannot afford to continually maintain him. If he cannot run out matches, constantly requires maintenance and medical attention and will only be half the player he once was, it will not benefit either the club or Cooney himself continuing the way they are doing at the moment. It's a sucky situation all around but that is the harsh reality.

I think the decision may already have been made by Cooney to retire when his contract expires, a few things I've read from their supporters make it sound a certainty.

What we may see is the first post-expansion rebuild - new coach, new brand, new ethos. Two or three years down the bottom of the table after three prelims and a mid table finish. Clean up the mess Eade has left and make the hard decisions on Gia, Gilbee, Veszpremi, Djerkurra and Markovic(?). Focus on getting a hold of good young players, but retain enough experience that they won't fall in a pit of no confidence like Melbourne have.

Liberatore, Wallis, Jones, Dahlhaus, Roughead, Campbell, Cordy, Howard, Smith are a good core to build around in addition to the older players who have plenty of time left (Griffen, Minson, Sherman, Wood) and those who don't (Lake, Cross, Morris, Hargrave, Murphy). With two or three years of top five picks used wisely, the Bulldogs could come out of this a contender after GWS and GC have finished ravaging the comp.

 

[clobba]

Of course we are rebuilding.

thank god as I just thought you were shit...oh hang on I thought that before the season started so obviously I dont know jack

 

[clobba]

Most successful club in the comp, and one of the big 3......something somebody following a sleepy hollow penne ante club, wouldn't understand .

much though I loath them I think the more relevent portion is very few can remember any impact by your club on anything other than wages...

 

[Dazb86]

I think Eade left the club in a bigger hole than when he joined.

Too many bandaid solutions for long term problems, especially when Eade was under fire as he needed to show some sort of encouraging short term signs that there was improvement. A few high profile recruiting decisions from the likes of Aker and Hall set the club back a couple of years in development. There was always problems kicking a winning score and when alot of the mature players left especially the quality midfielders they were just behind the 8ball with few forward targets.

Dockers had the same problem years ago recruiting mature players who could only give a short term crack at success instead of building a team to get a decent era.

We never had problems kicking a winning score. We had problems stopping one being kicked against us against good sides.

When we were good we were #1 or #2 in the comp for scores.

Our forward line has basically retired since then.

 

[Bulldog1954]

You all know that feeling when youre in footscray. Downtrodden lowerclass despair.

Says the fan of the club based in Frankston