What a reality check. Never a contest and the Dogs' control was never threatened. Too many passengers, and Bernie Vince needs to wake up to himself. Some internal discipline maybe? Fumbly from the start because of their pressure, overused handball and seldom gave to players' advantage. The biggest worry though is that we are suddenly very weak down back when the opposition have big marking tall forwards and quick entry from the transition. It used to be a well served area for us, now it's our most glaring weakness. I shudder to think what West Coast, Adelaide, the Swans and Geelong are going to do to us. With all our improvement, I think there might be some horrible beatings to come from here on in. 

Also, unless the AFL start adjudicating on the dropping to the knees for high tackle free kicks and the deliberate throwing, many games will become frustratingly unwatchable. Clearly there was no attention paid to the Dogs free kick disparity from head office. 

If someone had told me that we would have the same number of wins as Carlton after round eight I would have been very worried. 

4 minutes ago, FireInTheBelly said:

Took too long for Gawn to work out they were just jumping into him in the ruck.

now its a question that niggles me . When things are being done to stymie our game what action do the line and specialist coaches watching on take . I always feel like were a step or ten behind in reacting to things.

We were really poor defensively as a team today. Sure the back-line wasn't great, but the midfield didn't help their cause, allowing too many easy entries into the defensive 50. The zone defense just doesn't seem to be working, we guard space, but seemingly, in the wrong places.

We are way too handball happy, trying to find a loose player. Our preference to handball resulted in handing off to a player with more pressure on them than the one giving it.

Finally, scoreboard pressure if what matters most. We missed many shots on goal today that AFL players' should be kicking. Hogan was a main culprit, but not the only one. Maybe Hogan is too proud, as his attitude towards Ox during the week may indicate, but he needs to address his kicking. Sure he kicked 7.1 a couple of weeks ago, but he needs to improve his accuracy. (We can't tinker with his approach too much, or we will just screw him up too much - Franklin still goes out on an arch, but has found something that works for him. I don't mind his stutter approach, as it is his natural rhythm, but he needs to correct the line he is aiming towards after the shuffling, as he is aiming too far to the right).

Our effort was there and in small patches we looked likely but far too many skill errors, bad decisions, fumbles and dropped marks against a top-4 side.

Jetta was outstanding and I really liked Tyson's game, doing the small things like he should be doing.

Garland is a total liability in the side, completely wastes the valuable spot in the 22 he has. Should be the first one dropped.

We need to learn how to clear the ball from stoppages when Gawn isn't dominating. That's the second time in three weeks the opposition has nullified his dominance and we've lost both games.

Bugg tackles a lot but isn't clean with the ball and this is contributing to our turnovers. I'm not sold on him holding his spot as we start to regain Brayshaw, AVB, Trengove, Lumumba etc.

I lost count of the number of times Watts was ignored after a 50m+ lead into space. He got frustrated from that and let it affect his game I think.

Not a loss to cause too much concern but a reminder that there is still plenty of work to be done.

17 minutes ago, Sylvia Saint said:

I think it's just about time to put a line through Garland. Perhaps it's partly the coaches fault for assigning him to guys that are 10cm+ taller than him but at the moment he is uncompetitive defensively and offers nothing offensively either (9 possessions). At least TMac wins the footy. Dunn can come back, or they can try Frost in the position he was recruited for, or blood Omac. But Garland's gotta go.

He just doesn't read the ball quick enough. The last or second last shot at goal Redpath had, you could see it coming a mile away and yet Garland was just totally caught out. Still as meek as anything in the contest too.

1 minute ago, Mr Steve said:

If someone had told me that we would have the same number of wins as Carlton after round eight I would have been very worried. 

and they have FOUR on the trot to boot

Just now, AdamFarr said:

He just doesn't read the ball quick enough. The last or second last shot at goal Redpath had, you could see it coming a mile away and yet Garland was just totally caught out. Still as meek as anything in the contest too.

someone just needs to set his watch 5 secs fast, it's all balance out then 

1 minute ago, beelzebub said:

now its a question that niggles me . When things are being done to stymie our game what action do the line and specialist coaches watching on take . I always feel like were a step or ten behind in reacting to things.

Agreed. It definitely feels like that, even in the game's we've won. A lot of the things we fail to react to though are completely expectable. I mean most people on here knew how they'd ruck against Maxy. Why did it take so long for us to wake up? Were they expecting to get simple free kicks? Wasn't going to happen because they play the rule well by looking at the ball - that's not saying they're playing the ball however. But it obviously means they're not actually watching Max and he can get around the tactic, which he did (too) late in the game.

9 minutes ago, AdamFarr said:

He just doreasing our midfield butnsn't read the ball quick enough. The last or second last shot at goal Redpath had, you could see it coming a mile away and yet Garland was just totally caught out. Still as meek as anything in the contest too.

Hes 26 or so......should be at his best

Its INteresting that the club has focused on IMidfielders but forgotten about defenders

That zone defence needs more than a tweak.

The sides that move the ball quickly has killed us.

Essendon with their outside run. St. Kilda with genuine leg speed.

 and now we cop the doggies with the slickest ball movement I have seen.

We end up looking flat footed. There has to be plan B for fast teams.

We over do the handball, and get caught after the 4th handball time and time again.

Hogan needs to be relocated to CHF. It's time to give the weid a go at full forward.

ANB to come in. Long overdue.  There may be a couple who face the MRP.

Jetta may be sighted for a jab to the guts.

Pederson may also be done for an untidy tackle!! And of course Vince had been reported, so we will certainly have room for some ins.

 

57 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I made Gawn my captain this week... Poop!

haha me too

We were so sloppy, whereas they are just clinical and composed with the ball in tight, and clear it to a running player with relative ease.

Our team defence was exposed again early. Half personell, half game plan, but whatever it is, it needs to be tweaked.

 

7 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

We were really poor defensively as a team today. Sure the back-line wasn't great, but the midfield didn't help their cause, allowing too many easy entries into the defensive 50. The zone defense just doesn't seem to be working, we guard space, but seemingly, in the wrong places.

We are way too handball happy, trying to find a loose player. Our preference to handball resulted in handing off to a player with more pressure on them than the one giving it.

Finally, scoreboard pressure if what matters most. We missed many shots on goal today that AFL players' should be kicking. Hogan was a main culprit, but not the only one. Maybe Hogan is too proud, as his attitude towards Ox during the week may indicate, but he needs to address his kicking. Sure he kicked 7.1 a couple of weeks ago, but he needs to improve his accuracy. (We can't tinker with his approach too much, or we will just screw him up too much - Franklin still goes out on an arch, but has found something that works for him. I don't mind his stutter approach, as it is his natural rhythm, but he needs to correct the line he is aiming towards after the shuffling, as he is aiming too far to the right).

Do you really think that? He's a more reliable kick around the ground and doesn't approach it like that.

All in all, it was a good showcase of where we need to get to, without embarrassing ourselves like we might have in the past. If that makes sense.

Maybe roos should have swapped watts and hogan around

11 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

I didn't think he imposed himself on the contest enough Beelzebub.

I agree RTG. He just hasn't shown the hunger for the contest this year. I want him to be desperate and demanding. He has stalled, but what do you expect having him play on a HBF. I'd have him on a wing at least, but we still need his good ball use out of the back-line.

Petracca had some bad turn-overs today, but once he gets used to the pace, his kicking will become an absolute weapon. He can kick it a long way and at speed, pile driver-type penetration.

We were simply outplayed by a better team today. The umpires didn't make too many mistakes awarding free kicks, it was their lack of paying them that influenced the game (but in no way did they cost us the game).

Everything I originally wrote I deleted.  Because what I say matters sweet F A.  I only want to comment when we win.  I wanna share the love.  Go Dees.  If we don't beat Brisbane next week I will be in a bad way. We are going to be favourites!  fugging hell!!!!

Edited May 15, 20169 yr by pinkshark

5 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Hes 26 or so......should be at his best

Its INteresting that the club has focused on IMidfielders but forgotten about defenders

Garland is 28 he is getting past his prime.

1 minute ago, Barney Rubble said:

Garland is 28 he is getting past his prime.

Edited May 15, 20169 yr by beelzebub

2 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I agree RTG. He just hasn't shown the hunger for the contest this year. I want him to be desperate and demanding. He has stalled, but what do you expect having him play on a HBF. I'd have him on a wing at least, but we still need his good ball use out of the back-line.

Petracca had some bad turn-overs today, but once he gets used to the pace, his kicking will become an absolute weapon. He can kick it a long way and at speed, pile driver-type penetration.

We were simply outplayed by a better team today. The umpires didn't make too many mistakes awarding free kicks, it was their lack of paying them that influenced the game (but in no way did they cost us the game).

Thank God, I thought it was just me.

1 minute ago, Forest Demon said:

All in all, it was a good showcase of where we need to get to, without embarrassing ourselves like we might have in the past. If that makes sense.

Yep makes perfect sense. It was simply a reality check today. They are a very good side and every chance of playing in a Prelim if not deeper! Their skills and pressure were the difference, and the pressure was the reason we fumbled so much!  

Imagine them with all their injured players in, we may have copped a 10 goaler!

7 minutes ago, FireInTheBelly said:

Do you really think that? He's a more reliable kick around the ground and doesn't approach it like that.

Yes, it is his natural goal kicking routine, change it too much and it will cause more questions than answers

3 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yes, it is his natural goal kicking routine, change it too much and it will cause more questions than answers

I can't recall, was it his natural routine last year?

What was the Captains game like?