View Full Version : Bulldogs v Crows - Player and Game Thread
Let's try and keep the discussions to one thread.
Well, 24 points down now and looking absolutely dreadful.
Why bother dropping McGuinness if you bring Cameron Wight in for him? They are both as useless as each other.
Lucky I wrote us off and through a plastic box at the TV when we were down by 30, but it is back to thirteen points.
I have attacked Cooney before, but he's been very good today. Four goals.
Libba_39
19 Aug 2006, 17:08
Bulldogs 1 pt in front at 3/4 time.
Now comes the big test.
.M a t t.
19 Aug 2006, 17:36
Coon dog and Scooter great today.
I'll eat all my words, Wight was actually pretty good to end with.
Best game Cooney has ever played, better than the game against Brissy last year.
Scotty West, 45 disposals! Superstar. Rohan Smith two absolutely VITAL goals, showing why he is so important to our club and why he should play next year.
Robbo made up for his early misses and really turned it around, Brad Johnson was brilliant as per usual.
Finals pretty much in the bag now you'd think, BRING THEM ON!
And also, how much do we underrate Matty Boyd?
Chicago1
19 Aug 2006, 17:47
Wow! I never would have picked us to win after what I read about last week's performance. Great win - locks up a Finals appearance for sure! Damn Gerard Whateley. He went for the Doggies and I didn't. Said he thought the Dogs had one more big match left in them. If only I could see the team in action. Looks like our last round match against Essendon is being shown here live on satellite. Luckily I have someone in Michigan taping the matches for me.
Boy, am I glad I stayed up to watch the scoreboard!
Monkster
19 Aug 2006, 17:52
And also, how much do we underrate Matty Boyd?
Alot. Boyd is to us what West is to other supporters (.ie doesn't seem to be rated and does a lot of things that appear to go unnoticed)
Had 29 touches, 20 of those handballs.
People say Cross is the next Scott West, but I certainly see a lot of similarities with Matty Boyd and Scott West.
Libba_39
19 Aug 2006, 18:05
Our best win of the year. Looked like we were gone early in the 3rd quarter, but a magnificent fightback.
I'm still in shock! Cooney, West, Cross, Boyd and Johnson sensational.
DOG GOD
19 Aug 2006, 18:10
yeah i thought boyd really stood up in the 2nd half. Birs to me seems like he's carrying an injury (obviously no one to replace him).
West and Cross were brilliant in the contests. Gilbee sensational from hb.
Wight played a good 2nd half and addison showed he's got a cool head under pressure. Good to see Cam set up a few goals, and his pressure and tackling was really good.
Big will did well when street went off after the 50 metre penalty.
Even Power did some good things up forward.
Dry Rot
19 Aug 2006, 18:14
And also, how much do we underrate Matty Boyd?
Eade doesn't.
And also, how much do we underrate Matty Boyd?
I warned you this would happen. :) Some of us never underrated him.
What about that fearless mark in the last quarter?
whythelongface
19 Aug 2006, 18:54
Boydy is starting to really show his worth to this team - he would have to be close to most improved this year.
What a great performance - everyone pitched in and really worked hard to win that game.
Obviously Westy was outstanding with his 45 posis, whilst Cooney had a gem of a game.
I like the look of Minson at FF when resting - although not the greatest mark at least he makes a contest that allows us the opportunity to crumb.
Dry Rot
19 Aug 2006, 19:00
Did McMahon mostly play down back or in the midfield today?
Go_Dogs
19 Aug 2006, 19:02
Alot. Boyd is to us what West is to other supporters (.ie doesn't seem to be rated and does a lot of things that appear to go unnoticed)
Thankyou!
People have asked lately why he's been getting votes in The Ching. His contested ball efforts are first rate, he's tough as they come and can play anywhere. Very versatile.
Go_Dogs
19 Aug 2006, 19:03
Did McMahon mostly play down back or in the midfield today?
Mainly thru the back half - his game was outstanding although he'll be greatly over looked. His running in the first half was crucial to keep us in the contest he set up about every play that we scored off. Very good game. Played forward for a while also - rotating with Cooney, and in the middle as well.
DOG GOD
19 Aug 2006, 19:03
Did McMahon mostly play down back or in the midfield today?
mcmahon started in the back half but ended the game up forward. Was playing hf when he put the dogs back in front.
bullish23
19 Aug 2006, 19:06
A few have stated that Minson was ok. Danny Frawley gave him worst on the ground on Triple M.
Go_Dogs
19 Aug 2006, 19:07
He didn't see much of the ball but he did ok with his tap work and created the contest a few times in the forward line. - Minson
I thought Minson probably was worst on ground when he was up forward, but his ruckwork late in third and fourth quarters was very good. He was the reason we got so many of the clearances then.
firstdogonthemoon
19 Aug 2006, 19:11
Wow! I never would have picked us to win after what I read about last week's performance. Great win - locks up a Finals appearance for sure! Damn Gerard Whateley. He went for the Doggies and I didn't. Said he thought the Dogs had one more big match left in them. If only I could see the team in action. Looks like our last round match against Essendon is being shown here live on satellite. Luckily I have someone in Michigan taping the matches for me.
Boy, am I glad I stayed up to watch the scoreboard!
Ye of continuing little faith. I heard Whately and I heard your good self. You might need to spend some time in the reserves to get your pro-dogs form back.
ErnieSigley
19 Aug 2006, 20:26
A few have stated that Minson was ok. Danny Frawley gave him worst on the ground on Triple M.
He is a peanut, no wonder he was a dud coach.
When Minson was off and Street was on in the last quarter Adelaide came back. Minson back on and we got the last goals.
ErnieSigley
19 Aug 2006, 20:30
I thought Minson probably was worst on ground when he was up forward, but his ruckwork late in third and fourth quarters was very good. He was the reason we got so many of the clearances then.
You are right about the clearances.
I beleive Minson protected our small forwards and made a contest when the ball came down.
Peter Street was woeful at some ruck contests. Faulkner bagged last week for a unnecessary 50m penalty, has Street copped the same this week?
Go_Dogs
19 Aug 2006, 20:37
Street's was pretty disappointing as well...the discipline today lacked at times, lots of players taking eyes of the ball running back into a contest giving away the free and silly things like that...
gohardorgohome
19 Aug 2006, 21:12
Well, 24 points down now and looking absolutely dreadful.
Why bother dropping McGuinness if you bring Cameron Wight in for him? They are both as useless as each other.
Well havent you lived up to your name. Wight has a lot more promise than Kmac. If we have not Tom Williams why not let him be our developing Tall Backman.
gohardorgohome
19 Aug 2006, 21:20
Funny thing about this game is that I went with my 5 year old boy and 8 year old Girl.
My Boy loses concentraction after the first quarter and a half and my Girl shows no interest. They were fighting and being a real pain in the backside at the start of the third quarter. After the Crows got to 30 points up I said to myself that I might leave early in the last to avoid the traffic. I have never done this in 32 years of going to the doggies.
I thought the better of this, stayed on and enjoyed the last quarter more than any other game that I had been to for ages. My young bloke started to get into it which was great. This year I have converted him from following the empire of evil (Essendon) that his mum follows.
Just proves that you should never leave early.
Go Doggies
By the way it was great to see all of the african people at the game for the day. I hope this sways them into being true blue doggies fans. I am sure a few of those kids will end up being great footy players in the future.
Who cares if minson was given worst on ground!
Do people still want to trade Ray? He was good today
Cam Faulkner was fantastic in last few minutes.
Sam power has the turning circle of a mac truck!
All in all a fantastic result. Im elated!!
OldSchool
19 Aug 2006, 21:46
Well, 24 points down now and looking absolutely dreadful.
Why bother dropping McGuinness if you bring Cameron Wight in for him? They are both as useless as each other.
:D This isn't the first time you have jumped on and written us off before we have rebounded in a big way is it? :D
Great win
OldSchool
19 Aug 2006, 21:49
Peter Street was woeful at some ruck contests. Faulkner bagged last week for a unnecessary 50m penalty, has Street copped the same this week?
If we had lost he would have copped it given how savage some can be with a few players. He was really upset after he made that mistake and Eade had a quiet word with him.
scooter600x
19 Aug 2006, 21:53
If we had lost he would have copped it given how savage some can be with a few players. He was really upset after he made that mistake and Eade had a quiet word with him.
I thought I recognised a pattern today.
Street in the ruck - Adelaide get the clearances and kick goals.
Minson in the ruck - Dogs get the clearances and kick goals.
Besides the 50 he gave away, it was his opponent 2 minutes earlier who kicked the goal to get them close.
OldSchool
19 Aug 2006, 22:04
I thought I recognised a pattern today.
Street in the ruck - Adelaide get the clearances and kick goals.
Minson in the ruck - Dogs get the clearances and kick goals.
Besides the 50 he gave away, it was his opponent 2 minutes earlier who kicked the goal to get them close.
I don't think Minson was fit enough to ruck much more than he did today and he was ordinary up forward. Agree that when he went into the ruck things really started to click.
gridlocked
19 Aug 2006, 22:11
I thought I recognised a pattern today.
Street in the ruck - Adelaide get the clearances and kick goals.
Minson in the ruck - Dogs get the clearances and kick goals.
Besides the 50 he gave away, it was his opponent 2 minutes earlier who kicked the goal to get them close.
I too noticed this pattern. At one stage I was screaming at the TV to get Minson back into the ruck.
However, as OS suggested Minson still isnt fit enough and we do need Street to ruck for periods of the game. Lets hope he can lift his game a notch.
Dry Rot
19 Aug 2006, 22:53
My young bloke started to get into it which was great. This year I have converted him from following the empire of evil (Essendon) that his mum follows.
Well done, but now it is time to work on the evil mother.
Drawing on the Inquisition, we need to send Head Inquisitor Father Brian Harris to visit her....
gohardorgohome
19 Aug 2006, 22:59
Well done, but now it is time to work on the evil mother.
Drawing on the Inquisition, we need to send Head Inquisitor Father Brian Harris to visit her....
These are the words as typed by the evil mother
"THAT IS SOOO NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!"
I will keep on working on it though......
gohardorgohome
19 Aug 2006, 23:08
By the way I forgot to mention...how good was Jordan McMahon today. That guy is really starting to be a factor in things when we play well. If I were an opposition coach he would be one to watch.
OldSchool
19 Aug 2006, 23:12
By the way I forgot to mention...how good was Jordan McMahon today. That guy is really starting to be a factor in things when we play well. If I were an opposition coach he would be one to watch.
He did some sensational things today. One or two errors but much like Cooney he has some match winning abilities.
Dry Rot
19 Aug 2006, 23:22
These are the words as typed by the evil mother
"THAT IS SOOO NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!"
I will keep on working on it though......
Has she met Father Brian Harris and looked into those empty pitiless eyes?
:D This isn't the first time you have jumped on and written us off before we have rebounded in a big way is it? :D
Great win
Short answer, no.
But I didn't really write us off, although my television control was feeling a little worse for wear after we went down by five goals. ;)
OldSchool
20 Aug 2006, 00:45
Short answer, no.
But I didn't really write us off, although my television control was feeling a little worse for wear after we went down by five goals. ;)
Do you think waiting for a bit longer might display a bit more faith with the boys? ;)
gohardorgohome
20 Aug 2006, 00:54
Has she met Father Brian Harris and looked into those empty pitiless eyes?
Not yet...I reallly should drag her along to wade in the shallows at Willy Beach 2morrow morning to meet the great man.
But it is my only time i can set aside for a hit of golf all week.
Maybe I will set a trap and disguise a shopping trip to highpoint, and make a detour to the Whitten Oval for training over the next week or so. That say I may be able to excourcise (pardon the spelling) her from her sins.
Chicago1
20 Aug 2006, 01:56
Ye of continuing little faith. I heard Whately and I heard your good self. You might need to spend some time in the reserves to get your pro-dogs form back.
Hey, even the Age's Black Dog picked Adelaide! I usually tip with my head, not my heart. After last week's debacle I never would have thought we'd get up against Adelaide. It doesn't make sense. That's what's great about footy! I was tempted to tip Whateley's Cats against Sydney. Damn. I didn't.
So are you going to e-mail or ring 774ABC Melbourne to convince them to fly me out for the Finals? ;)
I too noticed this pattern. At one stage I was screaming at the TV to get Minson back into the ruck.
Scooter was offering similar, quiet advice to anyone within earshot.:)
Captain Sensible
20 Aug 2006, 10:18
Scooter was offering similar, quiet advice to anyone within earshot.:)
I reckon people a few suburbs away would have us at the end.
I think I may have dropped the magic word in front of all our kids when we were discussing the Street 50.:o
Benno From Berwick
20 Aug 2006, 10:24
A few have stated that Minson was ok. Danny Frawley gave him worst on the ground on Triple M.
Danny Frawley? Who cares what he says. I think he is overrated.
Dog Town
20 Aug 2006, 13:26
Did McMahon mostly play down back or in the midfield today?Rotated between FF and midfield with Cooney for most of the day.
Hard to know what to make of Cooney yesterday.Obviously he was brilliant but its hard to know whats going on with his groin.One thing is certain and that is that it is the hardest he has ever worked in a game of footy.Not sure if its because his groin allowed him to or he has been bludging as most of us originally suspected.If you look at his game his defensive pressure probably got him an extra 7 or 8 touches just by putting him in the area of the ball when it got turned over.At this stage he is probably the difference between us being able to win a final or not.He needs to keep that work ethic up.
Faulkner spent time down back which gives him another position I suppose.Not sure you would want him on anyone too slippery but he did ok yesterday just through his desperation.
Interesting that Craig started with Goodwin on West again.Goodwin gave westy a touch up in round 5 so for westy to turn the tables and end up with 3 or 4 opponents was fantastic.They went for the hard tag on Cross to start with and wanted to back Goodwin in to beat West but West playing so well put that out the window.
I think the MCG is a place where our lack of a CHF really stands out.I dont think genuine CHF is much of an issue at other grounds but the deep pockets at the G means its almost an extra kick to get to goal especially if you go wide.Wasn't as big a problem yesterday.
Captain Sensible
20 Aug 2006, 14:17
Faulkner spent time down back which gives him another position I suppose.Not sure you would want him on anyone too slippery but he did ok yesterday just through his desperation.
Faulkner spent almost every match practice session, and thats pretty much all the players did between january and the first game, in the back pocket. I cant remember who he played on-each player played almost exclusivly on one player, Cam Wight would have followed Chris Grant home some days I reckon, but one of the other training tragics here will know. Matty Robbins maybe?
Dog Town
20 Aug 2006, 20:38
Faulkner spent almost every match practice session, and thats pretty much all the players did between january and the first game, in the back pocket. I cant remember who he played on-each player played almost exclusivly on one player, Cam Wight would have followed Chris Grant home some days I reckon, but one of the other training tragics here will know. Matty Robbins maybe?Yeah I remember the reports.It was Robbins and apparently he got touched up a few times.His desperation when on an elusive type will keep him in the contest.If he is on an explosive lead and mark type he will generally struggle IMO.
Raw Toast
20 Aug 2006, 23:43
Yeah I remember te contesthe reports.It was Robbins and aprently he got touched up a few times.His desperation when on an elusive type will keep him in the contest.If he is on an explosive lead and mark type he will generally struggle IMO.
Yeah it was Robbins, but while he touched up Faulkner a few times, Faulkner also returned the compliment quite a few times as well. I remember Eade saying he was pleased Faulkner had matched up well with Robbins and beaten him almost as many times as Robbins had won the contests.
Seemed like Faulkner was on Welsh for the last part of the game which seemed pretty risky to me, but Cam did fairly well I reckon, though Welsh had that snap on his left v late in the game. I think Eade is pretty keen to find a place for Faulkner, and while he didn't get it too much yesterday, he did a couple of crucial things. Seemed much more attuned to the pace of the game, and his pass to Johnson late in the 3rd quarter was an excellent quick kick.
Good to see Wight given a key defensive job. Still needs to work on his disposal but he showed a bit more composure and made some excellent spoils.
Power sheparded through two goals (Griffen's as well as McMahon's), and his hands created a few opportunities. He backed his kicking and vision in a bit more which was good to see, even though one kick almost turned it over.
Boyd was super-impressive as well - he made so many crucial contributions. He'll start being targeted if he soon if he keeps this standard up.
Good to see Ray finally spot someone (Jonno?) up with a tricky left-foot kick...
Hargrave seemed to be running forward a lot more this game, which was very pleasing. I reckon the addition of Wight to the backline will help free him up, and that we're much more potent when he's giving some drive.
West has played some extraordinary games this year, and Cross seems to have got better the longer this season has gone on.
I don't think McMahon is that far away from dominating a whole match. I love it when he's skimming the ball into our forward 50.
Adelaide have got a bit of pace, but we really took them on a few times, with players like McMahon, Ray, Griffen, Cooney and Boyd all breaking them open at times. Johnson running away from McLoud was a fantastic site.
Great to see us playing with fierce intensity again, if we can keep that up I reckon we can trouble anyone.
And finally, I've bagged Smith a bit this year, but he was one of the people who stood up and won the match for us. Looks like he's learning a bit more to give off to the right options, but also showed why Eade's kept the faith with him, and also how damaging he can be at any one moment (a bit like his last quarter against the Aints in 2004). I'm v happy to give him a Mea Culpa.
Do you think waiting for a bit longer might display a bit more faith with the boys? ;)
Hey, it wasn't reeeally writing them off.
I said they were playing dreadful, and they were.
And upon watching the game again today, Cameron Wight was maybe just passable, needs to stop these handballs to people in a worse position which happened a few times.:o
John Gent
21 Aug 2006, 16:52
And upon watching the game again today, Cameron Wight was maybe just passable, needs to stop these handballs to people in a worse position which happened a few times.:o
Agreed. As someone mentioned earlier - composure is not his long suit. That is a dangerous failing when playing in the backline.
Who was on Goodwin in the last quarter?
And why wasn't he tagged?