What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 4

[TiAn_]

One problem we face is we don’t have enough actual defenders in our defence. We have Jones, Richards and a rapidly aging Duryea. JJ, Dale and Daniel aren’t good defensively. O’Donnell isn’t anything yet. Gardner tries but he’s a poor defender if it’s any scenario other than spoiling a pack. Keath has no impact at ground level.

When the ball goes inside D50 and we concede horrible clustereff goals you can feel the momentum lurch against us. It’s an an absolute shambles down there at times, particularly during some of those oppo run ons.

We could do with Williams down there but he’s played on a wing now. Crozier would be useful too, but he’s in the dog house. Khamis I thought had potential but we scrapped that. No idea if Cleary could offer something at AFL level as we don’t play him. And we’ve spent more time training Raak forward than defence so no idea if he’ll ever be an option.
If we can recruit a wingman and move Williams back to defence that would help. But we still need another key defender and a couple of half backs that can actually… defend.

 

[Mojorisin]

One problem we face is we don’t have enough actual defenders in our defence. We have Jones, Richards and a rapidly aging Duryea. JJ, Dale and Daniel aren’t good defensively. O’Donnell isn’t anything yet. Gardner tries but he’s a poor defender if it’s any scenario other than spoiling a pack. Keath has no impact at ground level.

When the ball goes inside D50 and we concede horrible clustereff goals you can feel the momentum lurch against us. It’s an an absolute shambles down there at times, particularly during some of those oppo run ons.

We could do with Williams down there but he’s played on a wing now. Crozier would be useful too, but he’s in the dog house. Khamis I thought had potential but we scrapped that. No idea if Cleary could offer something at AFL level as we don’t play him. And we’ve spent more time training Raak forward than defence so no idea if he’ll ever be an option.
If we can recruit a wingman and move Williams back to defence that would help. But we still need another key defender and a couple of half backs that can actually… defend.

Fortunately we have Baker and Gallagher preforming well at VFL level so I think it's likely we see Williams roll back to defence atleast for this week.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I still maintain that if you can’t, over several years, develop a team who is somewhat hard to score against, it’s purely system & poor coaching. You don’t need to be a bont level talent to put yourself in the right positions defensively. All good, well drilled teams are very much one soldier out one soldier in.

The fact we haven’t even able to do it with the 50+ odd players that have been on the list over the last several years, well that’s not a personnel issue.

We are fundamentally flawed. The fact this isn’t even being flagged as an issue internally is well, unsettling

Richmond were a great example. One look at their three premiership sides, and you'd think, "How the hell did this team win three flags?" They were not exactly filled with star players across the lines. They won them because they had a really good system, and the players worked hard and played for each other.

We don't need Bont x 10 indeed. I have said it a few times, our goal scoring accuracy has been down the bottom 5 or 6 teams almost every year under Bevo. Not expecting us to finish in the top 6 regularly either. What I am expecting is IMPROVEMENT. Small stuff like that is inexcusable to have not ever improved to a more consistent level in almost a WHOLE decade.

Which is why I am not expecting much improvement in other areas either. For a team that supposedly trained all off-season to work on our defensive deficiencies, yet still struggle to stop runs of goals. Makes me wonder, do we just not have the skill levels and foot speed? Are the players just lazy? Or are the coaches getting the game style wrong? I think its a touch of all three. But definitely the latter more so. Not sure whether we are playing the right game style to suit our strengths and expose our weaknesses less.

Also a Bevo fan, but even I wonder if his messages have become stale. Even line Coaches like Smith have been around for so long, and has had close to worst performing defence the last 3 years under his watch (2021 we made the final, but the midfield protected the defence who ranked low one on one, and we scored well). Though I blame list management and poor recruiting for leaving key areas neglected for to long. A few on here have also questioned Grants influence on some decisions as well. Some have wondered why we have not invested in specialists to fix certain issues, like Hawks did pre three peat? And if we are being stingy with our soft cap? Apparently we had a big internal review last offseason. Which netted zero changes that we know of. Except for getting a senior assistant in Lade.

Our midfield has already shown signs of regression in the last couple of seasons, in some key stats and general ball use. Maybe we are already too late and have wasted this current crop? I suppose we have 10 years to find the next Bont, Libbas and Macraes to feed our talented young forward line. But we will probably waste this once in our lifetime talented forward line as well.

 

[NBates]

Bevo broken hand



Now if only he had hit the magnets & game plan area

 

[doggies ftw]

Bevo broken hand

View attachment 1744271

Now if only he had hit the magnets & game plan area

Sounds like he could use a well paid, 4 year holiday on the Goldy…

 

[dogwatch]

Bevo broken hand

View attachment 1744271

Now if only he had hit the magnets & game plan area

Inaccuracy is still killing us!

 

[Del203211]

Channeling an inner Clarko.

 

[Bulldogs85]

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has been forced to undergo surgery after getting so frustrated during last Thursday night’s loss to Sydney he broke his hand punching a whiteboard.

The incident occurred at halftime when the Bulldogs were trailing by three points, having given up a 19-point quarter-time lead.

Seven reports Beveridge punched the team whiteboard in the SCG rooms, right in front of the players.
His hand was then noticeably swollen through the rest of the night, including while in the coaches’ box.

Luke Beveridge injured his hand on Thursday night.Source: FOX SPORTS


Beveridge had a procedure to fix his hand at a hospital upon his return to Melbourne.

Fittingly the Bulldogs’ theme for last week’s game was boxing-related.

The loss was the fifth in seven games for Beveridge’s side, putting them seventh on the ladder, but just a win and percentage out of 13th.

 

[Del203211]

What a man

 

[NBates]

What a man

 

[Randomthoughts]

Bevo broken hand

View attachment 1744271

Now if only he had hit the magnets & game plan area

Bevos reaction to the Tim to WC news he received at h/t

 

[Bulldogs85]

Article on AFL website

MITCH Wallis knows first-hand just how traumatic road accidents can be. In the first half of his final season in the AFL, his family's world was left shattered by the tragic death of his mother-in-law, just days before his wife gave birth to their second child.

A week that was scheduled to be packed full of joy and excitement instantly became horrific when Katie Clemmens was hit by a car and passed away three days before her daughter Emily delivered William in late April.

Now more than 12 months on from the accident that drastically altered their lives, the pain hasn't subsided but the former Western Bulldogs favourite son is using the harrowing experience to spread an important message.
The 30-year-old is the ambassador for the fourth annual TAC and AFL Victoria Road Safety Round, which will see thousands of players across country and suburban football and netball leagues wearing blue armbands this weekend to not only honour all the lives impacted by road trauma, but importantly promote road safety.

After spending his first 12 years out of school calling the Whitten Oval home, where he wore the red, white and blue on 162 occasions, Wallis has returned to play for his alma mater in the Victorian Amateur Football Association and will be wearing a blue armband alongside his younger brother Josh when they represent St Kevin's Old Boys on Saturday.
There are many layers to every tragedy and ours is no different to others. We were at a point where we were this family and William's grandmother, my mother-in-law, Emily's mother, was going to be an integral part of William being introduced to the world and the caring for him, especially in the early stages of his development," Wallis told AFL.com.au.

"For such an incident to occur, you can never explain the trauma and the severity of the tragedy in our eyes. Then to go on and try and pour the energy that we had left into William was such a challenge, but something that we are very proud of the way our family responded to make sure he was brought into a very loving, caring environment, even though we were all hurting and bleeding from the tragedy."
Wallis was forced to deal with plenty of adversity during his time in the AFL. The son of former Footscray captain Steve Wallis missed out on playing a role in the Western Bulldogs' first premiership in 62 years after he suffered a horrific broken leg months before the club went on that fairytale September run.

Things didn't end in the AFL as he would have wished – they rarely do – but Wallis' professional challenges became an afterthought last year following the accident and the need to get on with raising Charlotte and William and supporting his wife and wider family through the unimaginable pain they endured last year.

"I talk about perspective a lot. It is one of those moments in time where you reflect upon what's most important in your life. Footy was a distant memory and distant in terms of importance when you have such a tragedy in your life," Wallis said.
"The way we dealt with it was we just poured energy into our son and into our daughter. They deserve to be loved and cared for. It was as much a distraction as a purpose for staying afloat and not falling into that rabbit hole of worrying about anything else but just giving them as much love as we could.

"That was not just Emily and I, but our whole family. William was a coping mechanism for us, someone we just wanted to make sure was surrounded by love. That was the reason why we got through such a horrific period."
North Melbourne interim coach [PLAYERCARD]Brett Ratten[/PLAYERCARD] lost his son Cooper to an accident in 2015 and was the face of TAC and AFL Victoria Road Safety Round last year, while Richmond great [PLAYERCARD]Bachar Houli[/PLAYERCARD] has also been a voice for the cause in the past.

Now it is Wallis' time to stand up and make a difference, in a year where 165 people have been tragically killed on Victorian roads, which is a 28 per cent increase on the same time last year. More than 1000 clubs around the state will wear the bespoke armband.

"Road safety is important to the whole state and the wider nation. To have conversations about driving safe on the roads is important because we are an example of someone who was the victim of a circumstance," he said.
"The more conversations, the more reminders that you can give your mates, give your family about concentrating on the road, making sure you're in a fit state to drive, the less accidents will occur.

"The road toll is at really high mark, and one is too many. We all have someone to drive safely for. One is too many. If my story can give context to how much effect a tragedy can have, if it provides a platform for people to reflect and have more conversations, I feel like I'm doing justice to a really poor situation that we experienced."

The Western Bulldogs Football Club and Victoria Police showed up in their droves to show their support at Katie's funeral last year. Now Wallis is showing up to support a cause very close to his heart.

 

[St 07]

Incredible stuff by Wally and Treloar, genuinely awesome stuff.

But when will we step up to advocate for the australian whiteboards suffering physical and emotional abuse

 

[Bulldogs85]

Sen Article

Luke Beveridge says there are no concerns over his emotions and he remains in “total control” despite breaking his hand in a bizarre incident last Thursday.

With his side down by three points at half-time of Round 18, Beveridge struck the whiteboard in emphasizing a point. But as Channel 7 first revealed, the Bulldogs coach broke his hand in the incident, with the whiteboard mounted to a brick wall at the SCG.
Beveridge, who is known for coaching on the edge, has history in a similar area after an outburst at a journalist following Round 1 last year sparked concerns over his mental state.

But just as he did on that occasion, Beveridge moved to reassure fans that he’s loving leading the Dogs late in his ninth season at the helm.

“I was just a bit unlucky, the angle and even the way it happened. It’s just unusual obviously,” he told reporters about the break.
“We all need to be self starters, but sometimes you need the coach to be a little bit animated. It was just purely an accident more than anything.

“If you’re worried about me emotionally, no need. I’m totally in control and as much as we’ve got our challenges at this times, I’m really enjoying the fact there’s a strong belief and resolve and really looking forward to the challenge against Essendon.”

The Dogs went on to lose to the Swans in a heart-stopping two-point defeat, a result that sees Beveridge’s side vulnerable in the top eight.

Playing another finals contender in Essendon on Friday night to start Round 19, the Dogs are looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

 

[maddog37]

Break out the hatchets.

 

[Unorth]

When you have to make an announcement to the media that you remain in “total control” of your emotions, it has probably reached the point where you are not in fact in total control.

When this isn’t even the first time you’ve had to do this…

I do know in a sports this stuff happens. LeBron James broke his hand once doing essentially the same thing in the NBA finals! But Bevo in recent years has looked like he’s totally lost his shit and it’s sad.

 

[ossie_21]

“If you’re worried about me emotionally, no need. I’m totally in control and as much as we’ve got our challenges at this times, I’m really enjoying the fact there’s a strong belief and resolve and really looking forward to the challenge against Essendon.”

Denial has entered the chat

 

[yebach]

Denial has entered the chat

It's been there for a while.

 

[Dogman 1]

One problem we face is we don’t have enough actual defenders in our defence. We have Jones, Richards and a rapidly aging Duryea. JJ, Dale and Daniel aren’t good defensively. O’Donnell isn’t anything yet. Gardner tries but he’s a poor defender if it’s any scenario other than spoiling a pack. Keath has no impact at ground level.

When the ball goes inside D50 and we concede horrible clustereff goals you can feel the momentum lurch against us. It’s an an absolute shambles down there at times, particularly during some of those oppo run ons.

We could do with Williams down there but he’s played on a wing now. Crozier would be useful too, but he’s in the dog house. Khamis I thought had potential but we scrapped that. No idea if Cleary could offer something at AFL level as we don’t play him. And we’ve spent more time training Raak forward than defence so no idea if he’ll ever be an option.
If we can recruit a wingman and move Williams back to defence that would help. But we still need another key defender and a couple of half backs that can actually… defend.

One problem we do have down back is that everyone flies to spoil and no one stays down. That's why teams get so many goals against us out the back.

 

[Freshwater]

One problem we do have down back is that everyone flies to spoil and no one stays down. That's why teams get so many goals against us out the back.

That looks like our forward line too. The amount of times Weightman is flying against our talls whilst crumbs go begging does my head in.

 

[TedDougChris]

One problem we do have down back is that everyone flies to spoil and no one stays down. That's why teams get so many goals against us out the back.

That looks like our forward line too. The amount of times Weightman is flying against our talls whilst crumbs go begging does my head in.

It’s almost like we have no defensive or forward structure or plan !!!!!!!

 

[geoffjennings79]

It’s almost like we have no defensive or forward structure or plan !!!!!!!

Maybe that IS the plan??!!

 

[Next Waiting]

Incredible stuff by Wally and Treloar, genuinely awesome stuff.

But when will we step up to advocate for the australian whiteboards suffering physical and emotional abuse

It was a foreign whiteboard on a work visa taking a job that an Australian whiteboard could have done.

 

[NBates]

I think he's written a book....I suppose you could on this topic ;-)

Mick McGuane: What has gone wrong at the Western Bulldogs as club eyes another wasted year​

The Bulldogs have lost five of their past seven matches in what shapes as another wasted season. Mick McGuane turns the blowtorch on what has gone wrong at Whitten Oval.

Mick McGuane

July 20, 2023 - 3:16PM

How can the Western Bulldogs be taken seriously?
Chances are they will play finals football this year, thanks to a favourable run home.
Luke Beveridge’s team still has games to come against bottom-10 sides in Greater Western Sydney, Richmond, Hawthorn and West Coast in the final six weeks, which they should be winning.
However, the Bulldogs’ record against top-eight sides this season leaves a lot to be desired.
From seven matches against fellow finals contenders, the Bulldogs have won just one.
That was a 14-point win over Brisbane at Marvel Stadium way back in round 3.
Given that record, rival September-bound sides aren’t exactly shaking in their boots about what the Bulldogs could do to them come finals.
So what has gone wrong at Whitten Oval this year?

This hasn’t been the season many expected from the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

THE MIDFIELD

The Bulldogs’ key strength also looks like their Achilles heel at the moment.
Their much-lauded midfield brigade is finding plenty of the footy, but it isn’t getting bang for buck for its clearance dominance.
Since round 12, the Bulldogs have logged 54 more clearances than their opposition, which ranks third in the competition.
However, over the same period the Dogs rank 14th for points from clearances differential with -38 points.
Too often, the Bulldogs onballers appear to collapse space off the contest.
There must be a focus put on formation rather than possession, because some players look like they are constantly chasing stats rather than playing their roles in the defensive set-up.
That might explain why Jack Macrae has been moved to half-forward and wing roles more often this year.
His centre bounce attendances have dropped from 64 per cent last year to 34 per cent this year, with the reason appearing to be that he is not conforming to his role within the team’s defensive structure.
Do Macrae and the other Bulldogs’ midfielders – with the exception of [PLAYERCARD]Marcus Bontempelli[/PLAYERCARD] – have the humility to sacrifice their egos and play their part in a strong team defence?

Jack Macrae has played less time on ball this year. Picture: Michael Klein

In a copycat industry, the lack of players the Bulldogs have used through the midfield this year also stands out.
Geelong had 20 different midfielders attend centre bounces last season on its way to a premiership.
The Bulldogs have used only seven players at centre bounces this season – Bontempelli (371 attendances), Tom Liberatore (337), [PLAYERCARD]Adam Treloar[/PLAYERCARD] (265), Macrae (154), [PLAYERCARD]Bailey Smith[/PLAYERCARD] (120), [PLAYERCARD]Caleb Daniel[/PLAYERCARD] (104) and [PLAYERCARD]Toby McLean[/PLAYERCARD] (2).
There aren’t the leg-driving midfielders that other clubs have in this group and there appears to be a reluctance to develop the next generation of players in that area of the ground.
Why can’t [PLAYERCARD]Rhylee West[/PLAYERCARD] get a look in as a midfielder?
Why not look to evolve [PLAYERCARD]Cody Weightman[/PLAYERCARD]’s game and give him some centre bounce exposure? Is 22-year-old Riley Garcia ready for midfield minutes and is he going to become a depth midfielder beyond this season?
Losing [PLAYERCARD]Josh Dunkley[/PLAYERCARD] and Lachie Hunter during the trade period last year has hurt the Bulldogs significantly.
Dunkley’s hardness and Hunter’s width and shape off the contest is sorely missed.
This current onball brigade are fast becoming a victim of their own success.
It’s time to share the load more than they currently do.

THE FRONT HALF
It’s not just the Bulldogs’ midfield that is not defensively strong enough.
The Dogs aren’t winning enough of the ball back in their front half.
They rank ninth in the competition for forward-half intercepts – an area which must improve if they want to be a strong territory team on the back of clearance dominance.
The ease at which the ball often exits the Bulldogs’ forward line is also hurting the side at the other end of the ground.
The Bulldogs can’t stop opposition back-to-front ball movement and have coughed up an average of 40 points a game from opposition defensive-50 chains against top-eight teams this year.
Offensively, Beveridge’s team has kicked 11 goals or less in 10 matches this season.
Those kind of scores are unlikely to win you a final in September when the best teams in the competition like Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane can all pile on quick goals.
Having key targets [PLAYERCARD]Aaron Naughton[/PLAYERCARD] and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan lead to different areas could help.
Too often, the pair run tram-track leads up the same side of the ground rather than one cutting away from the other to provide the ball carrier with two different options.

[PLAYERCARD]Bailey Dale[/PLAYERCARD] doesn’t like close attention and the rest of the competition knows that. Picture: Michael Klein

THE BACK HALF
If you’re not brave, you’re not going to win many games against the top sides.
The Bulldogs regularly play safe coming out of defensive 50 and it is not working for them.
They rank 17th in the competition for corridor use exiting defensive 50 and consequently sit 16th for converting defensive-50 chains to inside-50s.
Yes, the Dogs might be trying to protect an undersized – and currently depleted – defence.
But you also need to give your forwards a chance to kick a winning score if you want to win games.
With the ball users they have across half-back – including [PLAYERCARD]Bailey Dale[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Ed Richards[/PLAYERCARD] and [PLAYERCARD]Caleb Daniel[/PLAYERCARD] (who needs to return there permanently) – the Bulldogs should not be constantly going as wide as they are.
Opposition sides have worked out that they can get to Dale, too.
If I was coaching Essendon this week, I’d be sending [PLAYERCARD]Matt Guelfi[/PLAYERCARD] to Dale as a defensive forward because such moves rattle him.
Dale hates having his space denied and as a consequence he starts thinking more about attacking the game rather than defending it.
The loss of key defender [PLAYERCARD]Liam Jones[/PLAYERCARD] to a broken arm over the past three weeks shouldn’t go understated, either.
But where is the next soldier to step in?
Does Bailey Williams sacrifice his wing role and become a part of the Bulldogs backline again?

The recruitment of [PLAYERCARD]Rory Lobb[/PLAYERCARD] has not worked. Picture: Michael Klein

THE LIST
At the start of the year, Glenn McFarlane and I rated every list in the competition.
The Bulldogs came out in fifth spot – but maybe we got that wrong.
This is a side that is too reliant on too few.
The top-end talent is great, but it quickly drops away.
If Bontempelli has a bad night or Liberatore doesn’t get his hands dirty, who is the next player to go into the middle and step up?
You have to question the decisions made by the club during the trade and draft period last year.
They lost two pre-eminent midfielders in inside onballer Dunkley and outside runner Hunter.
On the flip side, the Dogs added two bookends in forward-ruckman [PLAYERCARD]Rory Lobb[/PLAYERCARD] and key defender Jones, and used their first draft pick on another key defender in Jedd Busslinger.
Jones looks a good short-term fix down back, but signing Lobb to a four-year deal has not worked so far.
Lobb was dropped to the VFL last weekend after having little impact across the year. He is averaging just 9.2 disposals, 2.6 marks and 0.9 goals at AFL level.
Why didn’t the Dogs instead look to bolster a midfield group which is ageing and lacking depth?
Liberatore is 31, Treloar is 30, Macrae is 29 next month and Bontempelli turns 28 in November.

The one young gun who is part of the regular midfield mix is 22-year-old [PLAYERCARD]Bailey Smith[/PLAYERCARD], and there is speculation he is unhappy, with some suggestions he be traded at the end of the year.
The Bulldogs simply can’t let that happen.
Smith needs to start at the first centre bounce against Essendon on Friday night and be given a role working on and off Bombers captain Zach Merrett.
His form has been down this year, but the Bulldogs need his speed through the midfield and Beveridge must back him in to rediscover his best football.
So why not give Smith a challenge and use Merrett as a competitive starting point at the start of the game?

THE LEADERSHIP
It seemed a touch hasty when the Bulldogs extended Beveridge’s contract for a further two seasons just before Christmas last year.
Why the hurry when he still had a year to run on his current contract?
Any premiership coach has credits in the bank – and rightfully so – but some of the inconsistencies that have been displayed by the Bulldogs over recent seasons have been worrying.
Even Beveridge himself is clearly frustrated, evidenced by news that he broke his hand when he punched a whiteboard during halftime in last week’s loss to Sydney.
The Dogs never seem to know what their best team looks like.
They have played 35 players already this year, and some of the week-to-week selection decisions are puzzling.
James O’Donnell looks like a future talent, but was he really ready to make his AFL debut earlier this year after 35 days at the club?

Does Luke Beveridge have too many ‘yes’ men around him at the Bulldogs? Picture: Michael Klein

Lachlan McNeil, Robbie McComb, [PLAYERCARD]Oskar Baker[/PLAYERCARD] and Ryan Gardiner appear to be among other favourites of the coach and also get games when their form perhaps doesn’t warrant them.
I wonder whether Beveridge is too stubborn and if he has surrounded himself with ‘yes’ men, which has left him as the judge, jury and executioner.
In any match committee, strong debate is very healthy for your environment as long as whatever is said in match committee stays there when you leave there.
Without being on the inside, it is hard to know exactly what goes on at the Bulldogs’ weekly match committee meetings.
You can only hope that Beveridge is being challenged in the right way to get the best out of everybody.
If that is not happening, it needs to start now.
If id doesn’t, 2023 will once again be a wasted year and that would not sit comfortably with the club’s highly-respected captain Bontemepelli.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I think he's written a book....I suppose you could on this topic ;-)

Mick McGuane: What has gone wrong at the Western Bulldogs as club eyes another wasted year​

The Bulldogs have lost five of their past seven matches in what shapes as another wasted season. Mick McGuane turns the blowtorch on what has gone wrong at Whitten Oval.

Mick McGuane

July 20, 2023 - 3:16PM

How can the Western Bulldogs be taken seriously?
Chances are they will play finals football this year, thanks to a favourable run home.
Luke Beveridge’s team still has games to come against bottom-10 sides in Greater Western Sydney, Richmond, Hawthorn and West Coast in the final six weeks, which they should be winning.
However, the Bulldogs’ record against top-eight sides this season leaves a lot to be desired.
From seven matches against fellow finals contenders, the Bulldogs have won just one.
That was a 14-point win over Brisbane at Marvel Stadium way back in round 3.
Given that record, rival September-bound sides aren’t exactly shaking in their boots about what the Bulldogs could do to them come finals.
So what has gone wrong at Whitten Oval this year?

This hasn’t been the season many expected from the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

THE MIDFIELD

The Bulldogs’ key strength also looks like their Achilles heel at the moment.
Their much-lauded midfield brigade is finding plenty of the footy, but it isn’t getting bang for buck for its clearance dominance.
Since round 12, the Bulldogs have logged 54 more clearances than their opposition, which ranks third in the competition.
However, over the same period the Dogs rank 14th for points from clearances differential with -38 points.
Too often, the Bulldogs onballers appear to collapse space off the contest.
There must be a focus put on formation rather than possession, because some players look like they are constantly chasing stats rather than playing their roles in the defensive set-up.
That might explain why Jack Macrae has been moved to half-forward and wing roles more often this year.
His centre bounce attendances have dropped from 64 per cent last year to 34 per cent this year, with the reason appearing to be that he is not conforming to his role within the team’s defensive structure.
Do Macrae and the other Bulldogs’ midfielders – with the exception of Marcus Bontempelli – have the humility to sacrifice their egos and play their part in a strong team defence?

Jack Macrae has played less time on ball this year. Picture: Michael Klein

In a copycat industry, the lack of players the Bulldogs have used through the midfield this year also stands out.
Geelong had 20 different midfielders attend centre bounces last season on its way to a premiership.
The Bulldogs have used only seven players at centre bounces this season – Bontempelli (371 attendances), Tom Liberatore (337), Adam Treloar (265), Macrae (154), Bailey Smith (120), Caleb Daniel (104) and Toby McLean (2).
There aren’t the leg-driving midfielders that other clubs have in this group and there appears to be a reluctance to develop the next generation of players in that area of the ground.
Why can’t Rhylee West get a look in as a midfielder?
Why not look to evolve Cody Weightman’s game and give him some centre bounce exposure? Is 22-year-old Riley Garcia ready for midfield minutes and is he going to become a depth midfielder beyond this season?
Losing Josh Dunkley and Lachie Hunter during the trade period last year has hurt the Bulldogs significantly.
Dunkley’s hardness and Hunter’s width and shape off the contest is sorely missed.
This current onball brigade are fast becoming a victim of their own success.
It’s time to share the load more than they currently do.

THE FRONT HALF
It’s not just the Bulldogs’ midfield that is not defensively strong enough.
The Dogs aren’t winning enough of the ball back in their front half.
They rank ninth in the competition for forward-half intercepts – an area which must improve if they want to be a strong territory team on the back of clearance dominance.
The ease at which the ball often exits the Bulldogs’ forward line is also hurting the side at the other end of the ground.
The Bulldogs can’t stop opposition back-to-front ball movement and have coughed up an average of 40 points a game from opposition defensive-50 chains against top-eight teams this year.
Offensively, Beveridge’s team has kicked 11 goals or less in 10 matches this season.
Those kind of scores are unlikely to win you a final in September when the best teams in the competition like Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Brisbane can all pile on quick goals.
Having key targets Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan lead to different areas could help.
Too often, the pair run tram-track leads up the same side of the ground rather than one cutting away from the other to provide the ball carrier with two different options.

Bailey Dale doesn’t like close attention and the rest of the competition knows that. Picture: Michael Klein

THE BACK HALF
If you’re not brave, you’re not going to win many games against the top sides.
The Bulldogs regularly play safe coming out of defensive 50 and it is not working for them.
They rank 17th in the competition for corridor use exiting defensive 50 and consequently sit 16th for converting defensive-50 chains to inside-50s.
Yes, the Dogs might be trying to protect an undersized – and currently depleted – defence.
But you also need to give your forwards a chance to kick a winning score if you want to win games.
With the ball users they have across half-back – including Bailey Dale, Ed Richards and Caleb Daniel (who needs to return there permanently) – the Bulldogs should not be constantly going as wide as they are.
Opposition sides have worked out that they can get to Dale, too.
If I was coaching Essendon this week, I’d be sending Matt Guelfi to Dale as a defensive forward because such moves rattle him.
Dale hates having his space denied and as a consequence he starts thinking more about attacking the game rather than defending it.
The loss of key defender Liam Jones to a broken arm over the past three weeks shouldn’t go understated, either.
But where is the next soldier to step in?
Does Bailey Williams sacrifice his wing role and become a part of the Bulldogs backline again?

The recruitment of Rory Lobb has not worked. Picture: Michael Klein

THE LIST
At the start of the year, Glenn McFarlane and I rated every list in the competition.
The Bulldogs came out in fifth spot – but maybe we got that wrong.
This is a side that is too reliant on too few.
The top-end talent is great, but it quickly drops away.
If Bontempelli has a bad night or Liberatore doesn’t get his hands dirty, who is the next player to go into the middle and step up?
You have to question the decisions made by the club during the trade and draft period last year.
They lost two pre-eminent midfielders in inside onballer Dunkley and outside runner Hunter.
On the flip side, the Dogs added two bookends in forward-ruckman Rory Lobb and key defender Jones, and used their first draft pick on another key defender in Jedd Busslinger.
Jones looks a good short-term fix down back, but signing Lobb to a four-year deal has not worked so far.
Lobb was dropped to the VFL last weekend after having little impact across the year. He is averaging just 9.2 disposals, 2.6 marks and 0.9 goals at AFL level.
Why didn’t the Dogs instead look to bolster a midfield group which is ageing and lacking depth?
Liberatore is 31, Treloar is 30, Macrae is 29 next month and Bontempelli turns 28 in November.

The one young gun who is part of the regular midfield mix is 22-year-old Bailey Smith, and there is speculation he is unhappy, with some suggestions he be traded at the end of the year.
The Bulldogs simply can’t let that happen.
Smith needs to start at the first centre bounce against Essendon on Friday night and be given a role working on and off Bombers captain Zach Merrett.
His form has been down this year, but the Bulldogs need his speed through the midfield and Beveridge must back him in to rediscover his best football.
So why not give Smith a challenge and use Merrett as a competitive starting point at the start of the game?

THE LEADERSHIP
It seemed a touch hasty when the Bulldogs extended Beveridge’s contract for a further two seasons just before Christmas last year.
Why the hurry when he still had a year to run on his current contract?
Any premiership coach has credits in the bank – and rightfully so – but some of the inconsistencies that have been displayed by the Bulldogs over recent seasons have been worrying.
Even Beveridge himself is clearly frustrated, evidenced by news that he broke his hand when he punched a whiteboard during halftime in last week’s loss to Sydney.
The Dogs never seem to know what their best team looks like.
They have played 35 players already this year, and some of the week-to-week selection decisions are puzzling.
James O’Donnell looks like a future talent, but was he really ready to make his AFL debut earlier this year after 35 days at the club?

Does Luke Beveridge have too many ‘yes’ men around him at the Bulldogs? Picture: Michael Klein

Lachlan McNeil, Robbie McComb, Oskar Baker and Ryan Gardiner appear to be among other favourites of the coach and also get games when their form perhaps doesn’t warrant them.
I wonder whether Beveridge is too stubborn and if he has surrounded himself with ‘yes’ men, which has left him as the judge, jury and executioner.
In any match committee, strong debate is very healthy for your environment as long as whatever is said in match committee stays there when you leave there.
Without being on the inside, it is hard to know exactly what goes on at the Bulldogs’ weekly match committee meetings.
You can only hope that Beveridge is being challenged in the right way to get the best out of everybody.
If that is not happening, it needs to start now.
If id doesn’t, 2023 will once again be a wasted year and that would not sit comfortably with the club’s highly-respected captain Bontemepelli.

Probably the best assessment of us, amongst all the other media drivel out there. Has pin pointed our issues with how we play, use of players, list management etc. Nailed it all in my opinion.