Autopsy Dogs season ends with dire loss to Freo

[BigFloppa]

It was pretty predictable I thought. The only top 8 team we could best this year wad GWS because they're just our bunnies for some reason. We were just miles off the best sides this year. That's okay. A 14 win season isn't bad - it's something we can build on going into next year. We were never going deep in September - this wasn't the 2016 side who were always better than their 15 wins suggested. A game of finals experience might have benefited some of the young guys but its not really a big deal. I like our hopes for next year if we can figure out how to defend over the offseason.

 

[JTCWBFC]

After the early part of the year we’ve been very lucky. We couldn’t make finals with a tiny injury list. Unlikely to happen again. That’s a concern for the list depth.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

The recruiting needs to focus on defenders, the whole pre needs to focus on defensive structures plans. The forward line will be an excitement machine with Sam, Croft, Astro, Cody and Arty.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Being somewhat fair to our lot, if we had Weightman, Treloar and JUH generally available during the year we would have won the extra game or two.

Having those three out all year with Bont and Darcy missing long stints meant there was a lot of well paid firepower out of the side.

Unfortunately of the three only Weightman is likely to be a factor in the future.

Yes, but we still massively underperformed this year. It was a complete failure. Some 9th places are a team that's played out of its skin, our is a team that has failed. Dismally. Hope we get roasted.

Get out of Ugle Hagan's contract and throw a Hail Mary offer at Butters and/or a gun back.

 

[Doggies_13]

Key defender
Lockdown small/medium defender
Defensive midfielder

And new defensive structures and system or don’t bother turning up next season.

Forward line is stacked with Weightman to come back and another preseason into Dolan.

 

[Al dente]

Bont was enormous. Couldn’t have asked for more from him. Libba did as much as could be expected at his age. West was unbelievable. He’s an absolute Rottweiler in the forward line. Croft backed up the Eagles game and looks a lock for 26.

Plenty of others disappointing. Needed more from Richards. Lobb struggled, looked like those hits to the ribs he took a few weeks back might be still bothering him. No-shows from a lot of lesser lights when their moments arrived.

The super high press was exposed again, and again, and again. Freo kicking long to at least defensive point of the square, but usually wing edge of the centre square. Their half backs and mids hit the contest at speed and work the ball out the back, where we have zero sweepers and only one on ones and acres of space. Contrast that with Freo who at times would have three sweepers pushing back behind our attacking line as soon as we won it back, forcing us to stop and prop.

this "we have zero sweepers"
why?

 

[TheScriptorWL]

Had to stew in my rage for a while before writing this.

What a cluster**** this club is! Stubborn coach, pea hearted players( Not West or Bonty). Backline a complete afterthought in regards to list management.

This game opened my eyes in so many ways. We're not a serious side, we look good on offense but can't be arsed running the other way.

That Mount Everest high press we do STILL leaves us vulnerable. We play it like we have Elite HB/FB l. We don't!

L.Jones should have played, at least we'd have experienced leadership down that end. Treloar also should have played, But that was only in hindsight.

Have mlre things to say, but I can't quite find the words for them.

So heartbroken man! We should be much closer than we are. Recruiting needs to kick into overdrive from next week.

 

[Dogs Rule]

Had to stew in my rage for a while before writing this.

What a cluster**** this club is! Stubborn coach, pea hearted players( Not West or Bonty). Backline a complete afterthought in regards to list management.

This game opened my eyes in so many ways. We're not a serious side, we look good on offense but can't be arsed running the other way.

That Mount Everest high press we do STILL leaves us vulnerable. We play it like we have Elite HB/FB l. We don't!

L.Jones should have played, at least we'd have experienced leadership down that end. Treloar also should have played, But that was only in hindsight.

Have mlre things to say, but I can't quite find the words for them.

So heartbroken man! We should be much closer than we are. Recruiting needs to kick into overdrive from next week.

Personally if you were the CEO you would tell Bevo to STFU this off season and let Sammy take charge, lay out of needs and just go and get them and if he doesn't like it he can p*** off and coach Melbourne.

 

[Hobdog]

If you’re a prospective defensive recruit, why would you want to come to the dogs to be hung out to dry by our midfield and overall terrible structure?

 

[BrisDog]

It was pretty predictable I thought. The only top 8 team we could best this year wad GWS because they're just our bunnies for some reason. We were just miles off the best sides this year. That's okay. A 14 win season isn't bad - it's something we can build on going into next year. We were never going deep in September - this wasn't the 2016 side who were always better than their 15 wins suggested. A game of finals experience might have benefited some of the young guys but its not really a big deal. I like our hopes for next year if we can figure out how to defend over the offseason.

BigFloppa - a well considered summary and one I shared with my old man in the second half.

It is not the end of the world and one needs a complete team (eg Morris and M Boyd in the back half) to really compete in the finals.

There are more bright lights that emerged this year such as Darcy, Croft, Freijah etc etc than busts. More emerging talents than I expected.

Priority One - get JUH off the books and use his salary to find a key defender.

 

[Cookie]

This just proves Beveridge's utter contempt for defence. His philosophy has always been to outscore the opponent. His team selection is atrocious, and his match day decisions are dumbfounding. He has never had an answer to stop being heavily scored against.
The club needs a fresh approach. The club needs a new coach as we are, once again, making up the numbers by stagnation.

 

[adammonerz]

Based on this game West is the only player on that list worthy enough to get the captaincy after Bont retires, only bloke out there who worked his ass off to try and stem momentum and get us back in it. He also is so team orientated saw him in the defence trying his hardest to tackle and chase and even intercept on occasion. Something a few of our mids need to look at

 

[Sentinel]

Lazily letting a ball roll over for a behind at the end of the first quarter really set the tone for the 2nd. You wouldnt excuse that in an under 14s game.

 

[X_box_X]

It would be interesting to see how we'd go with a different coach. I don't know if we'd be better or worse off, but it's an interesting thought due to our current list.

I can't think of another team in the league that would have as much intrigue as us based on how we'd perform with a different coach. Carlton perhaps, but even then I'd still think we're a more fascinating proposition.

 

[X_box_X]

Lazily letting a ball roll over for a behind at the end of the first quarter really set the tone for the 2nd. You wouldnt excuse that in an under 14s game.

100%

I thought we were cooked after that.

 

[BOMBERBLITZ]

Go dons aye?

All the boys should get on the fizz the next few days. And if there is some miracle on Wednesday night? At least they would’ve changed things up.

I have just Fed Ex’d a shit tonne of Peptides to Windy Hill.

An Essendon win would be just about the most unexpected and exceedingly humorous thing I've ever seen in five decades of following footy. Come on, Bombers. Do it for the LOLs.

Love watching the Doggies. Had Bont, English and Darcy in my SC team!

Your destiny was in your own hands today against a competitive Freo.

For the love of God please don't think Essendon is a chance on Wednesday night...

Would dearly love an upset, but we're playing a bunch of VFL kids...

Good luck in 2026!

 

[Johnny_Dogg4]

I feel like mal atm , I don’t know what to say

 

[GreatSouthWest]

Nothing has changed for years defensively, but continues to not be addressed, absolute joke. Sign a Key Defender, and sort out the bottom 6 of the starting 22 once & for all. McNeil is a joke, Jones showed more in one half then McNeil has his whole career

West had 17 disposals, 10 tackles, 6 score involvements and 2 goals.

McNeil had 4 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 score involvement and 0 goals.

Playing the exact same position.

Anyone who thinks McNeil is an AFL footballer needs to be committed.

Reasonable list of Bev favorites over the journey, but this bloke is on the podium with a medal.

 

[fanchic]

West with 73 F50 ground ball get, AFL record. 39 goals too he hast to be in AA contention.

 

[hutchy31]

Silver Linings - Some games you just ‘know’ as a doggies supporter:


View attachment 2406026

Yeah, I had a decent chunk on it as well. Never been so pissed off to win a few hundred bucks.

Also multied it with Saints line/over and hawks line/over so got a big collect coming if hawks win in a high scoring game. Lions kicking points like they’re bulldogs but picking up now.

 

[adammonerz]

If anyone wants an indicator on how Bevo is coping he started his press conference talking about our game with the metaphor of the north and south pole

 

[hutchy31]

Add to that the best player in the game and you start to think Cornes is right.

Makes me furious. Really angry and fed up.

I mean, Cornes is not right because we don’t have the best list in the comp - there are a couple of glaring holes in it. But the top end should have us playing finals.

If Cornes was actually analysing it he’d attack the defensive approach - that’s what’s killing us, and Bevo does nothing to fix it.

Plus it wouldn’t matter if we did have the best list in the comp. Bevo and the MC would still pick a few VFL plodders anyway.

 

[Pocket Terrace]

It’s the predictability of the goals conceded that makes it hard to watch.

We are not a hard team to play against. The same weaknesses were exploited.

JJ plays every week in our back 6 and we are surprised at our inability to defend 1v1.

 

[DiamondDogs8]

If anyone wants an indicator on how Bevo is coping he started his press conference talking about our game with the metaphor of the north and south pole

Because our defenders freeze in transition?

Only way he could make the metaphor relevant

 

[adammonerz]

Something about how the north pole is that we have started 38 players this year or something

Have no idea what the south pole is supposed to be, bet it made sense in his head just like his defensive gameplan