View Full Version : Still Proud
I just wanted to say that I know we lost, i know we were 6 goals up, but **** it, as shattered as i am about losing, i am proud that the Doggies played their guts out today.
I know there will be people who will have a go (maybe) at the guys for not getting over the line, and i know it's disapointing being in a position and not winning.
I don't think it's a skill thing, i'm convinced it's a mental thing, that we just don't know how to win. We just don't have the killer last quarter instinct that we had in the late 90's. It will come however. We have some great players out there, it will come.
I'm proud tho. They gave there all and didn't quit, and no matter how disapointed at the result i am, i am still proud.
brother fish
31 May 2003, 18:32
Agree - it's mental, mental, mental.
Does anyone know if the team work with a sports psychologist - it'd be pretty shocking for a professional sports outfit if they didn't .... still just wondering.
And yes, absolutely gutted at the end -but after smiths goal I really thought there was hope (and it showed their spirit), maybe that's why i was so gutted.
dancingdoggie17
31 May 2003, 18:42
im gonna cry. Although im still sorta proud and not as devastated as last week, im still upset we couldn't win.
Gnome Murphy
31 May 2003, 19:23
Dimmma you l
To attribute the 9 game-losing streak to the 'mental' state of the players is a misnomer. The reason why we are having a poor season is due to a number of factors. Firstly, we have had a number of injuries. Secondly, we've have had some bad luck and teams have pipped us at the finish line. We also have a very young and inexperienced team. Another reason may be the quality of the coach. But ultimately, the poor management of the club over the past 5 years has hindered our on field progress. By not creating enough revenue and suffering a number of financial blows due to mismanagement it has consequently resulted in us being restricted to a 95% salary cap and a drip feed from the AFL. It was inevitable that it would have an impact on the playing field. Terry Wallace saw it, and jumped ship.
Unequal finances causes for it to be impossible to compete on the same level as other clubs. The English Premier League is a prime example. Being restricted to 95% of the salary cap has resulted in our playing list to lack depth, talent and experience. They argue down at the Whitten Oval that their plan is based around "breeding young players" for the future. I don't disagree with this vision, but is their really much point, if we lose the players when they are at their peak (and therefore demanding high salaries). This could well happen at the end of the season. i.e Darcy, Brown and Murphy.
Whether the club is being run better is unknown, we won't know how effective Cameron Rose has been for another 6 months or so. The announcement of WorkSafe as a sponsor is a good sign. Do we have a ball or shorts sponsor? I know they go to great lengths to get a good press rap and David Smorgon does it well. Recent history will tell us that it may not be a true indication of reality. The Docklands and Bernard Saundry examples springs to mind.
dancingdoggie17
31 May 2003, 19:32
Originally posted by JG.
. ultimately, the poor management of the club over the past 5 years has hindered our on field progress.
Yeah Smorgo's handball to a north player really lost it for us today.
brother fish
31 May 2003, 19:39
JG - think your post would have been better suited to another thread... maybe 'normal jg thread'
Putting down this loss (which is what was being talked about) to a mental thing - is almost certainly no misnomer.
Watching the game (only on tv admittedly) but the body language of the players had the - no confidence - it's happening again thing. And if this isn't mental I don't know what is.
The last 5 yr history (and i've only been here 18mnths so don't know the ins and outs) may have impacted on lots of things over the last 5 yrs, but TODAY we were 38 pts up and then lost... as the self belief drained away.
It is mental.
Isdogisgood
31 May 2003, 21:29
Good call PC.
Anyone that doesn't think the players are just as disappointed by the loss, and aren't giving everything they have, should have listened to Bubba on the radio after the game.
Commiserations Doggies, your boys put up a great effort for most of the game. I reckon the confidence thing is very real and I got a feeling once we got close that your lads were thinking about letting another one slip. Just a matter of getting over that line and breaking the streak, once you do I am sure the wins will come.
Great news on your new sponsors by the way, but Bowden has got to lose that Beckham hairdo. ;)
Moomba
As a point, i wasn't attributing the 9 games we've lost to a 'mental' problem, just saying that in the last couple of weeks, we have looked to not know how to win.
Thanks for the kind words Moomba - You're guys showed a lot to take the accendancy and go on with it. Was a great "shoot out" today.
Archer_11
31 May 2003, 22:56
Commiserations guys. What I saw out there today for 2 and a half quarters was a side that could take it up to any team in the comp. Once the consistency piece is there a lot of teams will be in trouble.
Bulldog1954
31 May 2003, 22:59
Originally posted by moomba
Great news on your new sponsors by the way, but Bowden has got to lose that Beckham hairdo. ;)
Moomba
Then we have nothing at all to laugh about
Bulldog1954
31 May 2003, 23:54
Originally posted by dancingdoggie17
Yeah Smorgo's handball to a north player really lost it for us today.
Well said
footyman
1 Jun 2003, 00:51
Originally posted by -PC28-
We have some great players out there, it will come.
I'm proud tho. They gave there all and didn't quit, and no matter how disapointed at the result i am, i am still proud.
Good points PC. Except for the Fremantle game, everytime the Western Bulldogs have gone out onto the ground this year they have tried bloody hard and it has only been for small patches where opposition sides have banged a few goals on quickly that has cost the Doggies a few wins.
This year there have been 6 losses by less than 20 points. And you could be hardly disappointed with a loss to Brisbane at the Gabba by five goals.
The win will come eventually. They play their attacking style of footy for most of the game and look very good.
I only saw the game hundreds of kilometres away on TV.
I agree with the "mental" line pushed here, but I reckon something is being overlooked which happened before that kicked in.
IMO basic skill errors undid us first, NB we missed many goals when we had the ascendency.
In the end, I take nothing away from North given their number of posters in the last quarter.
SonOfScray
1 Jun 2003, 10:37
Absolutley right Dry Rot, we kicked 7.5 to Norfs 3.4 at one stage in the game and not too long after missed about 4 shots in a row, two failed to even register a score. Morrell went bang, bang and bang and I think just about everyone saw the writing on the wall. Once agin the fella's played very well and looked like worldbeaters for the majority of the game but just couldn't keep the run on or start it up again once the Roos got the ascendency.
When things start going awry the players revert to the old style game, proabably due to a lack of confidence in our ability to win the aerial contests up the ground (need Bandy back!) In yesterday's situation we just had to believe and keep playing with confidence like Norf did in that last.
Was a really shattering loss and they players won't be happy with it, they need to step up and just push past this lack of belief.
dancingdoggie17
1 Jun 2003, 13:00
Originally posted by moomba
Bowden has got to lose that Beckham hairdo. ;)
Or maybe Beckham should lose that Bowden hairdo! :p
NorthBhoy
1 Jun 2003, 13:42
Last thing you want to hear I am sure, but I genuinely felt for your footy club yesterday.
It is confidence. When the skill level, and more importantly poise, is lost in 15 minutes, it can be nothing other than a mental issue. Blokes don't forget how to play footy in half a quarter. All it will take is a win when a team challenges you late in a game, and the belief that you can stop a run on will grow.
Bowden is a weird player IMO. He looks to be doing everything in slow mo, and his brain is slow to click on occasions, but he has alot of time.
I had a great time watching Murphy V Wells, and more impressively, Watson V McCmahon. Those two are going to have massive battles on the wing for 10 years.
Bad luck fine Dogs' people.
As usual, our team's put on another epic. Always quality games between our clubs.
Can't add a heap more to what everyone has already said. Stick with them though. It will turn around. You have too many good players for it not to. They just need to learn how to win again, because it certainly isn't a talent or work ethic issue from what i could see.
Had a quick chat to your coach, who was parked near my car in the under ground car park. He was a very devistated individual, but a very good bloke all the same. I dont think you can blame him soley for all of this.
Best wishes for the rest of the year guys.
Contra Mundum
1 Jun 2003, 17:50
Doggies fans sorry to intrude on your board but I would just like to say what a champion club you have. I would rather sit with Doggies fans anyday than any other mob. Bad luck on the loss against the rooboys - you will get through this period - your players have heart and commitment and your supporters have faith - your boys will break through soon!
bulldogs1
1 Jun 2003, 17:57
Thanks, Mark, and other North Melbourne supporters (I refuse to call them the corporate AFL-approved "Kangaroos" on principle) for the supportive posts.
I can't speak for the other Doggies supporters, Mark, but I will say that the closeness of the two suburbs geographically is one reason for the cameraderie, but I really think it is the empathy between these supporters, players and administration borne of struggle for acceptance in these days of fiscal greed. (I'm trying to set a record for longest recorded sentence).
Good luck to North Melbourne and yourselves for the rest of the year. Hope you make the finals again.
Westy_Boy
1 Jun 2003, 18:22
Originally posted by JG.
The reason why we are having a poor season is due to a number of factors. Firstly, we have had a number of injuries. Secondly, we've have had some bad luck and teams have pipped us at the finish line. We also have a very young and inexperienced team. Another reason may be the quality of the coach. But ultimately, the poor management of the club over the past 5 years has hindered our on field progress.
Unequal finances causes for it to be impossible to compete on the same level as other clubs. The English Premier League is a prime example. Being restricted to 95% of the salary cap has resulted in our playing list to lack depth, talent and experience.
Agree with the first few reasons, but disagree on the 95% thing. We only managed to get to 95% of the cap this year through the players accepting pay cuts - otherwise we'd be at, or even over 100% of the cap: i.e. the actual talent/experience/depth of the list hasn't been effected by the restriction. You could argue that a pay cut may have had an effect on the players' mindset, but I don't think more money would have given Harro a right foot or made Kretiuk not sling Harding to the ground.
PS: There's another two sponsors on the way, which considering the 1-9 start, is a phenomenal effort by Smorgo and the Bulldogs admin. Agree? :)
Fossie 32
2 Jun 2003, 00:19
Thanks to you North guys for your words. Not taking anything away from North's performance, but what was it, 20 goals 4 at one stage? Sheesh! What's up with that?
At least the last 3 weeks have been a major improvement on the Freo game. I think we are improving each week since then.
The extrordinary thing about this victory was that in all our other wins the opposition has played poorly for most of the game and we happen to overcome thier deficiencies. This time you guys opened up too much space in the second half and allowed our game to pick up speed unlike our new 'fustrating over possesion gameplan' ...leading into the game I always knew this was a tough game to get over..the Bulldogs have alot of fine runners...probably the best mosquito fleet going around but lack the BIG AGGRESSIVE MONSTER to take charge up forward.
I was with two Doggie mates who think your team's position could be a blessing in disguise...priority picks !!!
Competitive but not up to it is better than getting flogged severly is how they see it.
Keep your heads up Doggie fans....you deserve better. Feel proud and stick with the guys.
To all the North supporters thanks for comments and for being humble in victory.
You have some tough games coming up in the next four weeks as you strive for yet another finals campaign.
We are playing for Pride as the Thread topic states and hopefully Scott Clayton can pick up some gun youngsters in the draft with the high picks.