Agreed. Isn't it disappointing to walk away from one of our very few wins with a hallow feeling. That [censored] me off. The effort across the first three quarters was solid though. Also, before I discuss Watts and the rest of the team I think it's important to note the Garland love is through the roof at the moment. What a champ.

Meanwhile, tonight wasn't the night where Watts announced himself, but I can feel him building up to it. I just hope it's not one of those 'switch it on for contract talks' run of performances. The only flawless game Jack has played so far is the defensive game against Essendon last year. I can't wait to see him play one up forward. Just a few poor decisions and one-on-one's that let him down tonight. Incremental improvement though. Should have kicked 5.

A few observations across the rest of the ground:

* Howe needs to work waaaaaaay harder defensively. He's fast becoming a one-trick pony.

* Trenners played his best game for the year. His field kicking was efficient and his tackling as always was first rate.

* Chip was fantastic in defence and supplied much need offensive run.

* Our midfield was killed in the clearances all night, which makes it difficult to fathom how we actually won the thing. The fact that young Libba was the only Bulldog winning those clearances for three quarters probably helped.

* The Geelong model of counter attack from half back seemed to be the go. Garland, Frawley, Terlich (who needs to really work on his kicking - he gets it enough, just butchers it), Clisby (who needs to know his limitations) and Tommy Mac (see the former) provided great rebound out of defensive 50.

* Rodan was fantastic. Easily his best game for us, but not his only good game for the club. He's been pretty consistent as of late. Not only was he creative tonight, but he was instrumental in our ability to stifle the Bulldog midfield for three quarters. He probably kicked the goal of the year thus far too.

* The coaching staff really have to work on the decision making of Terlich and Matt Jones. They are both great readers of the play and can get into the right spots to receive, but their decision making is abysmal. First season players, okay. But if they can iron out those flaws they'll become very valuable members of our side going forward. I'd add Tommy Mac to this point too. What was he thinking at the end of the third? Know your limitations and start taking the right options. Really like him as a player though.

* Starting to get pretty excited by Toumpas. A couple of times tonight he showed great positioning, awareness and an ability to win the contested ball. Considering he doesn't have even a B grade midfield around him, he's beginning to look really, really promising. If we can get a few more hard bodied mids beside him to share the workload with Nathan Jones, he could develop into a really devastating ball user. Just think, young Jack Viney has barely played a game either. Really exciting. I just hope we can bring in one elite experienced midfielder over the summer. We'll also get another highly touted youngster.

* I thought Nathan Jones broke even in the end, but his disposal in the early part of the game was deplorable for someone of his experience and ability. He did improve as the game wore on though.

* Fitzy did a couple of nice things too. His kicking has certainly improved, while his height and mobility should trouble a few defences this year.

* Dawes also did well with his pretty ordinary supply at times. That strong mark and goal in the final quarter proved vital.

* My final thought: please get us a midfield!

Thought he played his best game for the club. The disappointing thing is his man still kicked three and had at least 25 possessions. I felt Nicho, like many of his team mates, let his concentration slip in the last. We've got to work on this.

Sydney are also coming off a hard slog in the rain, against a tougher opponent than us. They also have the flight down south. I think that'll even itself out.

Totally agree. I had quite a strange viewing experience tonight. I was essentially hoarse at three quarter from all my shouting. For the entirety of the final quarter I was detached and somewhat hollow. I'd much prefer us having to slog out an entire game, rather than walk over the line easily at this stage in our development.

The thing that I was looking for from our guys was who would stand up under the pressure when things got tough. It was Garland, Frawley and Dawes. Sylvia attempted to have an impact but he just doesn't influence the game enough. He's the icing on the cake type. Our defence stood up in the last, but our midfield killed us. The all the goals came from midfield. Even those kicked by forwards. It was from direct clearances that were then impossible to defend against.

We have some work to do, but upon reflection I think this win will be really important going forward. It means little in the scheme of the ladder and the AFL season as a whole, but for us it's utterly psychological.

An absolute dud. Thank whatever you believe in that he's gone. I hope he's instrumental in the continued stagnation of the Blues midfield next year too.

Are you serious? We had a great run with the umpires tonight. That was a hopeless decision, but it more than evened itself out across the game. Personally, I could understand a few livid Dogs supporters.

And let's be honest with each other here. Maxy tried hard but was no match for Minson.

I don't understand why people here get stuck into Terlich so much.

His run and attack on the ball is something we have been missing for a long time.

Yes he may make mistakes but he is not on his own in this team.

I would have thought his 80% disposal efficiency last night might have had people talking of his improvement with game time?

I have watched with interest how over the last two weeks the confidence level has risen.

All of a sudden we seem to have purpose that was not there the previous three months.

The players seem to be now having fun.

No idea what Craig has said to them but they look less constrained.

It is almost like he has said " guys lets make this way more simple and let your natural desire take over"

They just seem to be way more free, when they got the ball in the past it was like " now what was I told to do"

Now they just Go with natural instinct which surprise surprise a lot of them have.

Anyone heard what the Dogs are now saying about their team?

A few of them are going down the tanking/priority pick route. The poor, sorry bastards!

I have watched with interest how over the last two weeks the confidence level has risen.

All of a sudden we seem to have purpose that was not there the previous three months.

The players seem to be now having fun.

No idea what Craig has said to them but they look less constrained.

It is almost like he has said " guys lets make this way more simple and let your natural desire take over"

They just seem to be way more free, when they got the ball in the past it was like " now what was I told to do"

Now they just Go with natural instinct which surprise surprise a lot of them have.

They're playing a more run & carry style and closer to the flanks/middle rather than riding the boundary.

Edited June 30, 201312 yr by Dr. Gonzo

They're playing a more run & carry style and closer to the flanks/middle rather than riding the boundary.

I understand that Dr.

In addition they just seem way more free to use their natural talent.

Ps it is a lot better to watch even when we lost against the saints.

I have watched with interest how over the last two weeks the confidence level has risen.

All of a sudden we seem to have purpose that was not there the previous three months.

The players seem to be now having fun.

No idea what Craig has said to them but they look less constrained.

It is almost like he has said " guys lets make this way more simple and let your natural desire take over"

They just seem to be way more free, when they got the ball in the past it was like " now what was I told to do"

Now they just Go with natural instinct which surprise surprise a lot of them have.

Terlich is a gun, played only 11 games, enough said

Clearly Watts is a forward. Clearly Nicho is a run with tagger. Clearly Fitzpatrick finally has shown what he has to offer. I think the whole list has really stepped up. I see belief, confidence, no second guessing.

Craig although its early does seem to be able to coach...

I think Watts can play anywhere, that mark down back in the final seconds was a ripper under pressure.

The worst was when he said this is the first game Sylvia has ever tackled in, and claimed that 'the 2 tackles Sylvia just had are probbaly his first in years'

What a little midget loser Shaw is, Sylvia is one of our most prolific tacklers and always has been.

lol...oh dear, what a shockingly ill informed comment, i was watching without sound so didn't hesr the commentary. Shaw doesn't grate on me like he does others, but that's a terrible call.

I said at the start or the year that he was our Steven Morris. But now he is ten time better then that nuffie.

lol nouns are for objects, not names, that's my lesson for the day. That, and what it's like to be corrected and hit with a retro, yet cutting comeback, on a public forum.

Proper nouns are for names though

I am seriously struggling with the consistent perception that Terlich is a poor user of the ball. The stats don't lie he has been well above league averages all weeks bar one and has been at seriously high levels multiple weeks including 83% this week. The only thing I can think of is that he is a backman that gets 20+ disposals per game, most under heat and he has a couple each week that stick in peoples minds. Maybe he should just stop getting the ball and then people will stop this perception.

I am seriously struggling with the consistent perception that Terlich is a poor user of the ball. The stats don't lie he has been well above league averages all weeks bar one and has been at seriously high levels multiple weeks including 83% this week. The only thing I can think of is that he is a backman that gets 20+ disposals per game, most under heat and he has a couple each week that stick in peoples minds. Maybe he should just stop getting the ball and then people will stop this perception.

Me too. I honestly wonder if I'm watching a different player sometimes; I can't reconcile what I see with what I read on here.

I don't understand why people here get stuck into Terlich so much.

His run and attack on the ball is something we have been missing for a long time.

Yes he may make mistakes but he is not on his own in this team.

I would have thought his 80% disposal efficiency last night might have had people talking of his improvement with game time?

I put the brakes on because the applause often goes too far the other way. Supporters are so used to being crap that they start over hyping the ordinary. Terlich has been a good pick up and is doing as much as anyone could hope for in his first year, but in reality he's a good ordinary footballer. Right now I'm happy with that, but you'll forgive me if I don't get too excited.

We ran out of legs which is understandable given how young we are and how experienced the Dog's midfield is.

Not a good way to finish but my god we dominated for three quarters. Sweet baby Jesus that is a huge effort.

We won. Watts was enormous. Enjoy it.

GO DEES!!!!

Thats pretty much how I see it ( and saw it )..Ithought at the time, theyre tiring a little and its taking a yard off. If this keeps up they will pounce as many other teams are still much more fit than us.

I also thought, I wonder who will have enough sense to pick and choose the moments when to brings momentum ( theirs ) to a halt !!

Hes had many detractors but Jack ( W) can think well on his feet. Hes not alone, granted.

They got al excited for 3 qtrs ( and rightly so ) then ran out of puff. That CAN be addressed.

The shackles are off. Go Dees ( in that wonderful colour correct jumper )

Noticed PJ and Craigy in the background of the Trengove interview last night having a conversation with lots of smiles. What a pleasant change that is.

A few of them are going down the tanking/priority pick route. The poor, sorry bastards!

Really, their that bad!

Just cant believe the confidence they are playing with.........is that really how much difference a coach makes?

I have to point out, Craig said in his interview that this is how Neeld wanted them to play. It's just a difference in the effort the players are putting in and the fact that they are hitting their targets. I'm not going to speculate on why it is that they are now making it work although the fact that they have played against two pretty average teams the last two weeks springs to mind (didn't someone predict that a month or so ago? Wonder who that could have been).

Ralph, he was a dud. Move on.

I have to point out, Craig said in his interview that this is how Neeld wanted them to play. It's just a difference in the effort the players are putting in and the fact that they are hitting their targets. I'm not going to speculate on why it is that they are now making it work although the fact that they have played against two pretty average teams the last two weeks springs to mind (didn't someone predict that a month or so ago? Wonder who that could have been).

Whilst I think Craig is a better coach setting simpler goals and with better communication there is some truth to that. There is also the factor that those who did care for Neeld no longer have the weight off his future weighing on them.

I have to point out, Craig said in his interview that this is how Neeld wanted them to play. It's just a difference in the effort the players are putting in and the fact that they are hitting their targets. I'm not going to speculate on why it is that they are now making it work although the fact that they have played against two pretty average teams the last two weeks springs to mind (didn't someone predict that a month or so ago? Wonder who that could have been).

I wouldn't be surprised if Craig told PJ that Neeld was a dud and won't listen.

I am seriously struggling with the consistent perception that Terlich is a poor user of the ball. The stats don't lie he has been well above league averages all weeks bar one and has been at seriously high levels multiple weeks including 83% this week. The only thing I can think of is that he is a backman that gets 20+ disposals per game, most under heat and he has a couple each week that stick in peoples minds. Maybe he should just stop getting the ball and then people will stop this perception.

thought he uses if well last night as he does most games. The difference with last night was he found more space and had more time so obviously his disposal will be more refined as would any other players. Terlich = gun

Thats pretty much how I see it ( and saw it )..Ithought at the time, theyre tiring a little and its taking a yard off. If this keeps up they will pounce as many other teams are still much more fit than us.

I also thought, I wonder who will have enough sense to pick and choose the moments when to brings momentum ( theirs ) to a halt !!

Hes had many detractors but Jack ( W) can think well on his feet. Hes not alone, granted.

They got al excited for 3 qtrs ( and rightly so ) then ran out of puff. That CAN be addressed.

The shackles are off. Go Dees ( in that wonderful colour correct jumper )

Even when I type this it sounds stupid but when they ran out in that Jumper last night I said to my mate " We are going to win tonight"

His reply was what has bought this on?

I said it has taken five years but we have finally got the red right.

How hard can it have been.

We will probably crying in our beer next week but right now I don't care I am enjoying the next six days.

Go Dees

I have to point out, Craig said in his interview that this is how Neeld wanted them to play. It's just a difference in the effort the players are putting in and the fact that they are hitting their targets. I'm not going to speculate on why it is that they are now making it work although the fact that they have played against two pretty average teams the last two weeks springs to mind (didn't someone predict that a month or so ago? Wonder who that could have been).

And how did we go under Neeld against other average teams? Oh that's right, we lost to the "bigger-bodied" Suns.. by 10 goals... on our home turf, we were getting beat by GWS on our home turf, we lost by 100 points to the Eagles at home.. etc etc.

Last night (for 3/4 quarters) was the best brand of footy, the most dominant brand of footy we have played against a non-franshise side since 2011. There's no co-incidence.

I put the brakes on because the applause often goes too far the other way. Supporters are so used to being crap that they start over hyping the ordinary. Terlich has been a good pick up and is doing as much as anyone could hope for in his first year, but in reality he's a good ordinary footballer. Right now I'm happy with that, but you'll forgive me if I don't get too excited.

cheers Ben and I get what your saying.

but my comment is more based around the perception he is no good rather than people over hyping.

there seems to be a group on here who believe he is a terrible disposal and decision maker.

my opinion is that he is like many others in our team and can make mistakes but we need our guys to sometimes just have a go and accept sometimes mistakes will come.

I certainly am not saying he is a gun but many here seem to want to state as fact re his disposal when in fact he was 80% plus efficiency.