What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 2

[Fossie 32]

I know for a fact that our new list manager does not rate our list and thinks that the Flag was an abnormality.

Yes it was abnormal that the coach and players got the very best out of themselves but in doing so they made themselves the best team of the year. Whether that can be repeated without big changes in the squad is the big question ..... 2 bigs.

 

[Unorth]

Cordy, McLean and Macrae have improved since the GF. That's it. Almost all key players from our premiership are down on form and/or injured.

Libba had a bad season and this year got injured. Clay had a bad season then got injured. Picken had a not-as-good season, now is injured. Dickson just got back from injury. Bont's hip is stuffed.

When talking about our decline from 2016, it's the form drop offs of Wood, Dahl, JJ and Caleb that have really worried me the most. Those four were absolutely huge for us. And all of them should be in their primes right now. Instead they're nothing close to what they were not that long ago. Biggs was also important to our side and has fallen off a cliff, and Hunter could average 40 touches a game and I think the opposition wouldn't be too fussed about that.

What's gone wrong with these players? Wood/Dahl/JJ/Caleb were stars. Key cogs of our machine. JJ struggles with a tag for one season, so we just give up on letting him run and create off half back, which was one of the most important aspects of that team. Wood was full of confidence and marking everything. Set up our own plays and took the momentum off of other teams with his intercepting. Dahl and Caleb were crucial in the middle of the ground. But now we've lost the impact all four players had and haven't replaced them. Take a combination of more rotten injury luck with multiple premiership players inexplicably doing a 180 in form/ability while only three actually improve and you end up with what we have.

 

[Dogsman16]

Cordy, McLean and Macrae have improved since the GF. That's it. Almost all key players from our premiership are down on form and/or injured.

Libba had a bad season and this year got injured. Clay had a bad season then got injured. Picken had a not-as-good season, now is injured. Dickson just got back from injury. Bont's hip is stuffed.

When talking about our decline from 2016, it's the form drop offs of Wood, Dahl, JJ and Caleb that have really worried me the most. Those four were absolutely huge for us. And all of them should be in their primes right now. Instead they're nothing close to what they were not that long ago. Biggs was also important to our side and has fallen off a cliff, and Hunter could average 40 touches a game and I think the opposition wouldn't be too fussed about that.

What's gone wrong with these players? Wood/Dahl/JJ/Caleb were stars. Key cogs of our machine. JJ struggles with a tag for one season, so we just give up on letting him run and create off half back, which was one of the most important aspects of that team. Wood was full of confidence and marking everything. Set up our own plays and took the momentum off of other teams with his intercepting. Dahl and Caleb were crucial in the middle of the ground. But now we've lost the impact all four players had and haven't replaced them. Take a combination of more rotten injury luck with multiple premiership players inexplicably doing a 180 in form/ability while only three actually improve and you end up with what we have.

In a nutshell yeah pretty much this.

 

[Werewolf]

So you basically had to go back over 70 years for two examples and what were these teams age profiles?

Im not as anal as some so won’t go back to work out the figures but I’d happily wager they weren’t as young as we were.

Adelaide were not storing flag team and I’d also guess neither were the eagles( addthe drug culture that ripped the club apart) I don’t think they are fair comparisons

You're the one who said "without doubt the worst premiership defense in AFL/VFL history", i.e. since 1897

Now if you'd just said "one of the worst premiership defences in AFL/VFL history", I would've let you off

 

[Doggy]

You're the one who said "without doubt the worst premiership defense in AFL/VFL history", i.e. since 1897

Now if you'd just said "one of the worst premiership defences in AFL/VFL history", I would've let you off

Well we do have the worst list in the history of the AFL

 

[Mattdougie]

You're the one who said "without doubt the worst premiership defense in AFL/VFL history", i.e. since 1897

Now if you'd just said "one of the worst premiership defences in AFL/VFL history", I would've let you off

Your yet to tell me of one worse.

The teams you have put together are either from decades ago when sport was basically amateur and teams changed regularly and you somehow fail to recognise that those teams were around the times of world wars and the effect that may have had on them.

Adelaide and west coast had much older age profiles So yes Imo we are now the worst premiership defence in history

 

[Mattdougie]

Well we do have the worst list in the history of the AFL

Do u add anything???

No one ever said that so keep making things up that’s all you have.

NAT?

 

[Doggy]

Do u add anything???

No one ever said that so keep making things up that’s all you have.

NAT?

Paranoid much

 

[Mattdougie]

Paranoid much

Lol yeah you don’t comment on nearly everything I say or had a huge crack at me severs times

Yeah that’s just me making it up Hahahahah

Enjoy your day another one bites the dust

 

[Doggy]

Lol yeah you don’t comment on nearly everything I say or had a huge crack at me severs times

Yeah that’s just me making it up Hahahahah

Enjoy your day another one bites the dust

Aren't most of us on ignore by now

 

[Golden_6]

It'll be an interesting off season to say the least. A completely new list manager means a completely new outlook on each and every player on the list. It seems our past list manager was quite openly handing out multiple year contracts to mediocre depth players (Campbell, Roberts, Webb, Jong, Redpath etc.). I guess we'll see who Power rates and whether he tries to offload a bunch of these guys for late picks/upgrades.

 

[BEaston]

It'll be an interesting off season to say the least. A completely new list manager means a completely new outlook on each and every player on the list. It seems our past list manager was quite openly handing out multiple year contracts to mediocre depth players (Campbell, Roberts, Webb, Jong, Redpath etc.). I guess we'll see who Power rates and whether he tries to offload a bunch of these guys for late picks/upgrades.

Exactly. I think it's good that Power has a discerning view of the list. McCartney gave out extensions like oprah gives away cars (although he was good at locking down the stars too it must be said).

 

[perro_loco]

You know what this whole A grader, B grader, Z grader stuff reminds me off?

The highly successful Premiership Quadrant.

Means very little. Was our 2016 team the best in the league that year? No. Did we win because we were fiercer at the contest, hungrier and played as a unit? Yes.

Look at the Giants. Full of selfish, ‘look at me’, showboating A graders and sure enough, they still don’t have a flag.

Excellent observation. Look we lost alot of experienced players and their replacements have not come up to the level required. 2016 was good timing, good coaching and the team played like a symphonic orchestra. a team of champions never defeats a champion team. real madrid is a case in point of a champion that scores at the right times, their leaders stand up at the right time and win when they must. it is culture, planning and execution.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Exactly. I think it's good that Power has a discerning view of the list. McCartney gave out extensions like oprah gives away cars (although he was good at locking down the stars too it must be said).

Could be good. Could be a disaster if he decides half the list isn't up to it and culls them in favour of hopes and dreams. I agree with your assessment of McCartney but don't think a discerning view is necessarily any better. Wait and see proposition for mine.

 

[BEaston]

culls them in favour of hopes and dreams.

I just don't think he's that dumb, but you never know I guess.

 

[SCRAY72]

Aside from Essendon in 1913 (6W-12L), Melbourne in 1942 (5W-10L-1D), Hawthorn in 1962 (5W-13L) and Adelaide in 1999 (8W-14L). Also West Coast were garbage from 2008-2010 (16W-50L), starting less than two years after their last premiership


Fair bit of hyperbole here, we're just about the least experienced side in the league and still winning games. Cheer up!


Sure the list problems will be a big challenge to overcome, but the premiership will pay financial dividends for years.

By far the biggest fall from grace, in my opinion, was the team we are playing this week.
Won the flag in 1964. Their 6th in 10 years. They also lost a GF in 54 to us and 58 to the Pies. Then in the next 22 years won 4 wooden spoons, 5 times second last and missed finals until 1987 when they beat us at Western Oval in the last round and made finals.
They then beat North by 118 points , Sydney by 76 points and led Hawthorn by 22 points in the prelim before famously Stynes ran across the mark and Buckenara kicked his 5th after the siren and Dees lost by 2 points. Similar to us in the 97 prelim Demons couldnt buy a goal in the last quarter, they kicked 6 behinds.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Any chance we can turn this back into the media thread?

 

[Bulldogs Legend]

Don't question the club Norman.
You will have a number of blokes on here jumping on you , although a lot of them have gone quiet.
The club has looked a basket case from about mid year last year .
Just looks to me not everyone is pulling in the same direction.
I thought the dumping of Stringer was going to fix everything ?

Yeah how dare anyone support their club!


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[Bulldogs Legend]

We will smash them the May Premiership pretenders on Saturday!


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[Dogs_r_barking]

We will smash them the May Premiership pretenders on Saturday!


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

My other half reckons the same thing.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

JACKSON Trengove could have expected to be taking on All Australian ruckman Max Gawn in Saturday's clash with Melbourne, but the likelihood of standing an in-form Jesse Hogan will be just as ominous.

While Trengove resumed through the VFL in early May following a shoulder injury, Luke Beveridge said the free agent signing needed to force his way back into the seniors by performing a ruck/forward role for the side.

However, recalled for the round nine clash with Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, the familiar surroundings and a customary spot in defence have seen the former Port Adelaide utility hit the best form of his short time at Whitten Oval.

Another impressive performance down back in last week's loss to Collingwood earned the 27-year-old a coaches' vote and reinforced the belief he can contribute wherever his versatility-demanding mentor plays him.

"To be able to go down back, fit in nicely and to be able to play the way 'Bevo' wants me to play was pleasing," Trengove told AFL.com.au.

"I've played a lot of footy down back, and I'm very comfortable in that position, but it's great to give the football club that option of playing me in all three areas of the ground.

"I did a lot of work in the pre-season in that ruck-forward role, and I think at some stage I'll end up moving back into that.

"But the last few weeks I've been able to string some form together, and hopefully that continues."


Lured to the Dogs on a three-year free-agency deal, it surprised many when the Victorian returned through the VFL following a cracked shoulder blade in round two.

But Trengove said a state league stint was part of a recovery process that didn't quiet go to plan.

"The injury was a little bit annoying, and I thought it was only going to keep me out for a couple of weeks, but it was a bit longer than that," he said.

"Getting the strength and power back in my arm took a little bit longer than expected.

"I probably came back a little bit too early, but then the last game (at VFL level) I played I felt a lot stronger, moved around and did my thing.

"It was a frustrating thing because when you're new to a club, you want to be able perform straight away, but I've only been able to do that the last couple of weeks."

The widely held belief was the Bulldogs would bounce back from their underwhelming premiership defence last year and make a return to September action, but with that looking unlikely, Trengove believes becoming a more consistent side will see the Dogs be contenders once again.

"I think our performance last week in the first half against Collingwood, who are a really good team, we were playing some really good footy," he said.

"It's just about getting that consistency now because I think in patches this season we've shown we can match it with some good teams, but we've had some patches where we weren't able to compete.

"We're a really young group, but we don't want use that as an excuse."

 

[gangsta deluxe]

JACKSON Trengove could have expected to be taking on All Australian ruckman Max Gawn in Saturday's clash with Melbourne, but the likelihood of standing an in-form Jesse Hogan will be just as ominous.

While Trengove resumed through the VFL in early May following a shoulder injury, Luke Beveridge said the free agent signing needed to force his way back into the seniors by performing a ruck/forward role for the side.

However, recalled for the round nine clash with Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, the familiar surroundings and a customary spot in defence have seen the former Port Adelaide utility hit the best form of his short time at Whitten Oval.

Another impressive performance down back in last week's loss to Collingwood earned the 27-year-old a coaches' vote and reinforced the belief he can contribute wherever his versatility-demanding mentor plays him.

"To be able to go down back, fit in nicely and to be able to play the way 'Bevo' wants me to play was pleasing," Trengove told AFL.com.au.

"I've played a lot of footy down back, and I'm very comfortable in that position, but it's great to give the football club that option of playing me in all three areas of the ground.

"I did a lot of work in the pre-season in that ruck-forward role, and I think at some stage I'll end up moving back into that.

"But the last few weeks I've been able to string some form together, and hopefully that continues."

Lured to the Dogs on a three-year free-agency deal, it surprised many when the Victorian returned through the VFL following a cracked shoulder blade in round two.

But Trengove said a state league stint was part of a recovery process that didn't quiet go to plan.

"The injury was a little bit annoying, and I thought it was only going to keep me out for a couple of weeks, but it was a bit longer than that," he said.

"Getting the strength and power back in my arm took a little bit longer than expected.

"I probably came back a little bit too early, but then the last game (at VFL level) I played I felt a lot stronger, moved around and did my thing.

"It was a frustrating thing because when you're new to a club, you want to be able perform straight away, but I've only been able to do that the last couple of weeks."

The widely held belief was the Bulldogs would bounce back from their underwhelming premiership defence last year and make a return to September action, but with that looking unlikely, Trengove believes becoming a more consistent side will see the Dogs be contenders once again.

"I think our performance last week in the first half against Collingwood, who are a really good team, we were playing some really good footy," he said.

"It's just about getting that consistency now because I think in patches this season we've shown we can match it with some good teams, but we've had some patches where we weren't able to compete.

"We're a really young group, but we don't want use that as an excuse."

Ok ok - take home message: Gawn = Supercoach captain

 

[Dogs Rule]

Aren't most of us on ignore by now

Hahahahaha...lol

 

[bobby2]

Was our 2016 team the best in the league that year? Yes. Did we win because we were fiercer at the contest, hungrier and played as a unit? Yes.

We just didn't have a team Full of selfish, ‘look at me’, showboating A graders

Understand what you mean, but I was simply going on the H&A season. We got ourselves in a position to be the best side in September (which we were by a mile). We are often too harsh on our achievements, I agree.

Well said Fossie. We actually were the best side across the entire season (including both home and away and finals).

People look at the home and away ladder and see that we finished 7th, and assume we weren't as good as the swans (1st), but here's a fun fact.

Swans 2016: 19 wins - 7 losses.
Bulldogs 2016: 19 wins - 7 losses.

We matched them in total wins, and won the most important games when it counted. The other clubs who finished above us all won fewer games than us. We were clearly the best across the entire season.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Well said Fossie. We actually were the best side across the entire season (including both home and away and finals).

People look at the home and away ladder and see that we finished 7th, and assume we weren't as good as the swans (1st), but here's a fun fact.

Swans 2016: 19 wins - 7 losses.
Bulldogs 2016: 19 wins - 7 losses.

We matched them in total wins, and won the most important games when it counted. The other clubs who finished above us all won fewer games than us. We were clearly the best across the entire season.

You both make very good points.

In the end, we won the flag and that’s all that matters (apart from the fact the Swans campaigners are still salty).