View Full Version : Is the Mongrel Returning to the Dogs?
The Doctor
6 Apr 2006, 07:09
One of the things I have enjoyed about our magnificent opening round performance have been the signs that the Dogs are once again showing a bit of that old fashopned mongrel we were once famous for.
Our fierce attack on the ball, our relentless pressure on the opposition ball carrier, the ferocious tackling etc. It was a sight to see.
I enjoyed hearing young Ryan Griffen's comments about the Tigers giving up and arguing amonst each other. And I loved the way Adam Morgan embarrassed Darren Gaspar.
None of this was coacky or arrogant. I'm sure Rocket won't allow any of that to creep in. But it looked like a sign of confidence. Confident Doggies teams have always had a bit of mongrel in them and that can only add further menace to our bite in 2006.
Adelaide Hawk
6 Apr 2006, 07:51
I have no problem with arrogance, just so long as the player/club can back it up with results. There's little more annoying than arrorgant players who aren't as good as they pretend to be. Tossing Richmond around like rag dolls is one thing, when you can do it the better teams then you are onto something.
ErnieSigley
6 Apr 2006, 08:24
The side included Minson, Harris, Hahn and Morgan all of whom make the younger shorter guys walk tall.
I agree Doc, you wouldn't have seen that a couple of year back.
Yes it was only Richmond and I think the test will come when we play a WC or an Adelaide away. The Saints were pushed around a little last week against WC.
And what is going to happen if the Dogs lsoe against Melbourne ?
John Gent
6 Apr 2006, 09:16
And what is going to happen if the Dogs lsoe against Melbourne ?
We'll smash Essendon the following week, lsoe or win against Melbourne
Captain Sensible
6 Apr 2006, 09:30
And what is going to happen if the Dogs lsoe against Melbourne ?
We'll cope. You'd be beter off worrying about your own team.
Although I am aware that it is only round one, but, our defensive pressure both in the forward line and back line was the most ferocious I have seen it since the days of Libba, Jose, and the old gang. It was great to see not just Matty Robbins chasing down in the forward line. There was a moment in the game where it really stood out that our defensive pressure has really stepped up, it was in the last quarter aznd we were already up by 100 points, Richmond took the ball into the forward line, only to be mauled by three of our defenders, I think Harris nearly took the blokes head off. That's what we have wating on for so long, to totally destroy a club and give them nothing for 100 minutes...! Hope we can sustain that great defensive pressure style game, we showed glimpses of it last year against St Kilda at the G.
And what is going to happen if the Dogs lsoe against Melbourne ?
Well considering this is talking about mongrel returning to the dogs as long as we are hard at it, it will still be relevant unlike your post.
I watched the replay a couple of nights ago and to me it appeared as though the boys had more confidence in their physical strength and size. They weren't afraid to bump, tackle, harrass and niggle the opposition. During that third quarter the pressure and tackling was relentless.
Cooney was a perfect example, even though he didn't have his most productive game he was bumping, pushing, and niggling Tigger players at will. Same can be said about Gia, Hahn, Morgan etc. We were prepared to get in there faces and be proactive with our minds and bodies.
I loved it when everyone hated us. I want those days back!
grif did a nice hit and dump on someone (kane johnson?) in the last quarter. Johnson was looking to kick into the f50 and was being corralled to the boundary line by grif. Just as he was about to kick, grif rushed him and swung a roundhosue straight arm into his guts, disguised as a tackle/spoiling attempt. not only did johnson kick it out on the full, but he was stuffed for about 2 minutes :D
You really think the boys are arrogant? Perhaps in the way they played they showed a bit of physical arrogance.....but definately not in their demenor...
the only person who was bring arrogant was brown when he limply waved his girly finger after kicking.....a point
and Wallace, who on SEN the next morning, after being pumped by 115, claimed it was all his work that had the dogs where they are..........what an arrogant self obsessed ego........he's exactly the reason we didn't we premierships in 97 and 98.........he was too busy taking the credit.......when it was the players who got us up..........then his ego went to all new levels in 00' in that game against essendon when we were the only team to beat em..........everyone lourded Wallace, and he lapped it up.............made us play a crud brand of footy for the 2 years that followed........arrogant....
And we pumped him........realllllll gooood
Don't worry, Wallace was still banging on about his creation of the Western Bulldogs side of today on White Line Fever last night. Just had to mention the recruitment of Eagleton yet again. Infuriating. He will not let it go and then wonders why Bulldog supporters still think poorly of him. I have not heard Eade take credit for Sydney's win last season or Pagan mention the Kangaroos ad nauseum.
Anyway, it was great to see all the boys work so hard last Friday night regardless of what the opposition were doing/thinking. Let's hope they keep up that intensity. Love those fierce tackles.
H Dolphin
7 Apr 2006, 08:55
...There was a moment in the game where it really stood out that our defensive pressure has really stepped up, it was in the last quarter aznd we were already up by 100 points, Richmond took the ball into the forward line, only to be mauled by three of our defenders....
That struck me, too, dogupya. I'm not big on off the ball nastiness, a la Brisbane, but I love it when our blokes show the fearless desperation and uncompromising attack on the ball demonstrated in that incident.
bulldogrob
7 Apr 2006, 19:47
And what is going to happen if the Dogs lsoe against Melbourne ?
******** off Aaron, i know your a doggie hater. Bumbers are going to be a average side this year and you cant handle it. :D :D :D
alwaysadog
7 Apr 2006, 22:43
One of the things I have enjoyed about our magnificent opening round performance have been the signs that the Dogs are once again showing a bit of that old fashopned mongrel we were once famous for.
Our fierce attack on the ball, our relentless pressure on the opposition ball carrier, the ferocious tackling etc. It was a sight to see.
I enjoyed hearing young Ryan Griffen's comments about the Tigers giving up and arguing amonst each other. And I loved the way Adam Morgan embarrassed Darren Gaspar.
None of this was coacky or arrogant. I'm sure Rocket won't allow any of that to creep in. But it looked like a sign of confidence. Confident Doggies teams have always had a bit of mongrel in them and that can only add further menace to our bite in 2006.
While I agree with the sentiments the conceptualisation is all wrong. The Bulldog is a registered pedigree and the performance against the Tigers was all pedigreed class. The Bulldog breed is also noted for its aggression and tenacity. I would say rather than mongrel we showed a return to the true characteristics of the breed.
Maybe Libba, Jose et al were lead astray, in that they were encouraged to play a mongrel style. We now play like thoroughbreads and don't put up with the lesser breeds trying to drag us back to their level. I thought we showed much classier controlled aggression as befits our pedigree.
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
7 Apr 2006, 22:47
You really think the boys are arrogant? Perhaps in the way they played they showed a bit of physical arrogance.....but definately not in their demenor...
the only person who was bring arrogant was brown when he limply waved his girly finger after kicking.....a point
and Wallace, who on SEN the next morning, after being pumped by 115, claimed it was all his work that had the dogs where they are..........what an arrogant self obsessed ego........he's exactly the reason we didn't we premierships in 97 and 98.........he was too busy taking the credit.......when it was the players who got us up..........then his ego went to all new levels in 00' in that game against essendon when we were the only team to beat em..........everyone lourded Wallace, and he lapped it up.............made us play a crud brand of footy for the 2 years that followed........arrogant....
And we pumped him........realllllll gooood
Agree with your sentiments Rodogs, havent seen any signs of arrogance, just confidence, and after the way Wallace and Brown left us, that game was a beautiful tonic and hopefully has further added to the self belief of this group.
I had well and truly got over Terry leaving, however his chest puffing this week in the light of their flogging- Re his comments about putting the bulk of our team together has rubbed me the wrong way. He certainly had little faith in them when he walked out. Now they've given his boys a touch up, he is in a round about way claiming some responsibility for the Dogs team.
If he is going to claim that he can also claim responsiblity for the 2 year set back he gave these same guys psychologically with his departing comments " I can't take this playing group any further."
Dog Town
8 Apr 2006, 00:59
It all started last year with a much better effort from our players when they were not in possesion of the ball as well as an improved attack on the footy.They very slowly got better and better at it last year and IMO the major factor in us storming home was that we just monstering sides for the contested ball and giving them no room to move when they actually managed to win the footy.We will hurt sides enough as it is with our pace and foot skills but if we get the ball on the turnover then it is almost a certain shot on goal.
There are a few factors behind the turn around but I think Eade needs to take alot of credit.Every training report you read mentions some form of physical contest.Players absolutely hate doing this sort of thing at training because it takes them out of there comfort zone but the more you do it then the better you get at it.People think tackling and the ability to win the ball in close is all about how hard a player is but there is atually quite a bit of skill and method in it.The players being bigger and obviously helps but you can tell the players have improved there actual skills in these areas.
You will find over the next year or two that the general public will tend to associate our free wheeling style of footy with softness regardless of how the guys actually play so it will pay to keep an eye on how they are actually going in terms of stats so as not to be sucked in by the hype.Port Adelaide copped this during there 3 or 4 years up the top but they were actually right up there for hard ball gets and those sort of things.
MeestaNob
8 Apr 2006, 13:53
"I can't take this playing group any further."
I want to see the cheer squad put this on a yellow and black banner for round 16.
I'll pay to see it happen!
ErnieSigley
9 Apr 2006, 09:47
I want to see the cheer squad put this on a yellow and black banner for round 16.
I'll pay to see it happen!
Its harder to get our cheer squad putting something witty on banner than getting Wallace to stop talking about himself.