Webber

This is becoming a much raised reason for our drop off, and there’s literally nothing to back it up, nor, if it weren’t a phantom, would the Bulldogs be doing any different.

There are two wildly unbalanced stats from that game, and all the others are remarkably tight. We won hit outs 68-18. They won free kicks 25-11. Every sport at the top level should aspire to the best possible quality of adjudication. This was not that. Doesn’t matter how you spin it, that was not a level playing field out there. Season free kick stats equally confirm the Bulldogs are getting a free ride through the season. The big question is why, but nobody’s asking it.

There are two wildly unbalanced stats from that game, and all the others are remarkably tight. We won hit outs 68-18. They won free kicks 25-11. Every sport at the top level should aspire to the best possible quality of adjudication. This was not that. It’s just not a level playing field out there.

Their body work to block, shepherd puts ours to shame. They are a better team, and they’re currently getting better. We are going the other way.

Neither of those two disposals that got to Bontempelli were handballs.

He won’t, and of course he won’t. It needs to be a closed doors conversation. The Bulldogs and Tigers way way out at either end of the free kick differential needs acknowledging and addressing. Why the media don’t run it who knows. It’s ruining the game.

Well at least they only have three times as many free kicks now.

15 seconds before, Smith threw the ball out of a tackle…..nothing.

Yep. All over. Disgraceful umpiring, rubbish football. Not within a paddock of finals-worthy intent.

Yep. All over. Disgraceful umpiring, rubbish football. Not within a paddock of finals-worthy intent.

Does anybody have any legitimate, logical reason why they get such a free kick advantage? Honestly? It’s killing this game, and it’s killing football.

This is going to be a slaughter.

Boy oh boy do they want the hard ball more than us. They’re shepherding, getting in front, making smart blocks….all the things you do in a wet game to create the advantage.

Yep. Can’t understand his burgeoning ‘whipping boy’ status.

Not sure they got lucky with that. It’s on us, surely?

Really well summarised.

This. All other things being equal, we just don’t have the mental or experiential resilience. Goodwin said also that they love the fans, implying that we play better with a crowd. I was at the GWS loss, with a home crowd, and we were horrible. Premiership teams are robust and uncompromising week to week, regardless of externals. For the past 6 weeks, we are the polar opposite of that. Next year maybe, who knows, but with the absolute gift that is our short injury list this year, it looks like being wasted. Grrrrr…..

Take out Burgoyne and it’s a different, uglier picture. He skews the whole thing.

Very keen to hear what the coach has to say about that. Doesn’t seem to be up anywhere though.

Well, there’s ………………………………………………………………………… ah f**k it, I got nothin’.

We don’t need to. That’ll do it.

I would’ve too if I was neutral. They’re half a team of VFL footballers, second from bottom, giving a brilliant account of themselves. We aren’t any of that. Do you think we deserved praise?

Outplayed by a bunch of kids sitting 17th, 10 of whom would be playing in the VFL if they had a fit list, and for whom there was nothing at stake. That we have a full fit list, and sit on top of the ladder leaves only one way to describe that performance - very very enlightening. This is not a team who will seriously contend. After the GWS game I said we MIGHT just be pretenders. The Port win gave me really good pause. That game gives me all the remaining info I need. PRETENDERS WE ARE.

What is it that makes this team so incredibly inconsistent and fragile?

Jeez, imagine if this 17th placed team with 10 of their best 22 out were like us…enjoying a full fit list including some of the superstars of the game.