The heart beats true

So I just did the math and the Bulldogs have AVERAGED +8 free kicks over their last 6 games. ?

In an industry obsessed with statistics nobody in the media ever wants to go near this with a 10 foot pole, but at both ends of that table there are MASSIVE outliers. You could, theoretically, make an argument that Richmond (or any team in that position) are pushing the laws of the game with certain behaviour to explain that discrepancy, but how can you possibly say that one team is playing 'within' the rules by that much more than their opponents? It's not an anomaly.

I’m thinking we have to try Petracca as a deep forward, with 5 minutes on the ball each quarter this weekend. We have too many inside mids who can’t do much else (Viney, Oliver, Harmes, Brayshaw - who’s playing defensive wing to his credit). Tom Mac continues to play high, Brown down the line and Petracca deepest. It’s time to try something different. Put the pressure on Viney and Oliver to win the ball. I still feel like we are a skilled outside player short, but that’s a list issue we can’t fix in July, which is why I’d have Melksham in this weekend. Desperate for a lift from Langdon and Salem too. Without them operating well on the outside the last month we’ve looked much less dynamic.

Essendon got beaten = I don’t hate footy as much.

To people really believe that he’s not concerned about our efficiency? All he’s trying to do is absorb the pressure on behalf of the players, so it doesn’t become an even greater psychological issue.

The 15 metre kick rule is so unfairly applied across the league. Some teams can kick it 7 metres, and some can’t kick it 25. It needs to be addressed in the off season.

Agree. Sadly I have no idea who these players are, but that’s my laundry list.

If I was the list boss I’d be looking to trade in 2 things… Outside skilled midfielder to play the wing. Someone ready to step in. Prefer under 25 but as long as we get 3 seasons then I’d be happy. Half forward flanker with elite foot skills to deliver the ball into the 50. To get those 2 things I say we give up an inside mid and Weed. Then draft for the best available.

How simple is it to be able to have an option to watch the game on TV/devices with the sounds of the game (crowd when available, and players), but no commentary? I’d pay $30 a month for that option. I love the atmosphere, and don’t need anything else.

I think we have to get better spread from the ball, and more carry into the team. Sadly, we just don’t have that many of those types on the list. Oliver, Viney, and Harmes seems to close each other up, and nobody holds width. I feel like we’ve lost our spread with Viney and Harmes in the team. I think Melksham and Sparrow get a shot at the expense of Jordan and Harmes. Melksham can kick, and Sparrow deserves a crack. JJ looks tired. Been great, but we need some fresh legs.

Watching this game in the sun you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a different sport to the game last night.

Sadly, this is true for almost any club in the 8. He is elite. Without him the dogs are a 6-10th team. I’ve watched him win 5 games himself for them this year.

I agree with a lot of this. Our midfield is way too one dimensional again.

Langdon, Salem and Jordan down. Still need more outside balance. We aren’t carrying the ball enough.

We are a very different team. Whether people want to admit it or not we play a very defensive focused team game - hence consistency is the key. The dogs play a more handball, speed based game, and it’s very reliant on the quality of their midfield. Their bottom 8 players are very touch and go, but their best player is the best going around. If you watch them consistently you’ll see he (Bont) gets them over the line a lot. He’s a gun. Our bottom 8 players are no better, but are asked to do more for the team structure.

Have noticed this for 3 years. He’s not one of the lads Jack, or at least he doesn’t appear to be on the field. It’s all very workman like around him, not joyous.

Yeah, but if Umpire 22 goes down with a hammy their season is in serious jeopardy. He’s their second most influential contributor after Bont.

I feel like we have been down on confidence for about 6 weeks. We just don’t seem to have that spring in our step that made the first 10 weeks so enjoyable to watch. Our effort is, honestly, not in question. You can see the guys try so hard. I think next week we will see some changes forward of the ball. Melksham should be back. We need a couple of players who can finish. If we finished off our work in the first half tonight we would have been even at half time, and that score is the difference in the match. I think our younger guys are looking tired too. It’s a long season for them, and it’s starting to take its toll. And finally, I’m so over the way the commentators ALWAYS barrack against us. I do not understand how our team, which has one of the poorest long term success rates of any professional sports team in the world, is somehow never the emotional favourite. The Bulldogs won a flag in 2016. Half those players are still there. You could argue they’ve criminally underperformed since then, yet somehow they are the golden boys. I know it’s a small thing but I’m absolutely over it. We’ve had to cop a lot as a supporter base, but some of the garbage 7 trotted out tonight was embarrassing. They mentioned in passing in the last quarter that the Dogs had over 100% more free kicks. Had there been a crowd there they would have rioted.

Yep

Got 2 of our free kicks that quarter in the back pocket. Spargo and then Hibbo. I can not stand that Channel 7 won’t show the free kick replays either. They have such a huge impact on the game, and they just try and gloss over them.

Dear channel 7, show the [censored] free kick or give up the coverage. You are ruining the sport.

We are killing ourselves. So frustrating to watch. And to make it worse they can’t miss.

Well, that will be remembered as the half of football when Ben Brown lost me as a fan. We really need to finish off our work. it's reminding me so much of our 2017-18 era where we worked incredibly hard and got no reward for it It's also hard to tell on the TV, but is anyone else thinking that Viney is supposed to be doing a negating role on their half backs and getting absolutely annihilated?

Our boys aren’t setting up as well for the conditions. Trying to be too deep. The ball falls short every time and Daniels is there. Need much more from our half forwards. Not competing enough and winning enough 50/50’s. Started well but didn’t take our chances too. Hope we rectify positioning and come at them hard.

What a tool.