Autopsy AFL 2026 Round 7 - Dogs v Swans Thurs April 23rd 7:30pm AEST (Marvel)

[The Slitherin' Snake]

I hadnt heard of that rule before. That you have to jump.

Heard of front on contact in a marking contest?

 

[Dazb86]

Gotta admit, I didn't understand the glaze the Doggies got this year. They finished outside the finals last year (albeit in a close ladder), but the footy public seemed so ready to endorse them as a top team, without seeing runs on the board. Defo a media darling. St Kilda in the same camp after spending like drunken sailors in the off season.

We all know Bont is amazing & Richards is a very very good footballer... but for mine... Darcy was anointed as the next big thing before he had done a lot. However the best 23 falls away pretty badly in terms of quality, which has been shown by the inability to cover these recent injuries. Losing Jamarra and Smith really stuffed the momentum they had a few years back.

I can't see them recovering to play a meaningful part this season.

We weren't being pumped prior to the season starting at all. We were expected to drop a bit if anything.

We then got pumped up because of away wins in Brisbane & Adelaide and belting GWS at Marvel. In hindsight maybe the Lions and Crows just aren't travelling that well but they were the premiers + ladder leaders last year so it looked good at the time.

It then completely fell apart the moment English went down. We just do not have a back up for him on the list. Darcy was the guy that should have been rucking thw moment he went down.

We've subsequently lost our entire spine and have guys hobbling through pain in the midfield.

The side is completely cooked compared to 4 weeks ago.

 

[CarnTheScray]

The fact you even mentioned Naughton is pretty disingenuous considering the game was well and truly over by the time he got injured. His injury had nothing to do with the result.

Something something Hannebery not getting a free cost us the flag something something.

 

[CarnTheScray]

We were first to the ball and got rewarded mate.

So was Easton wood.

 

[DeathlyAccurate]

Entertaining read, fellas. Enjoyed that!

 

[CarnTheScray]

Melbourne media get sucked in by the Bulldogs every year.

Incredible how a supporter base can make so many false statements.

The only reason swans fans cannot claim they were robbed of their last 2 grand finals is because the margins weren’t even within 6 goals.

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

They can't be serious can they?

“The bright side is there are no signs of concussion, but we’ll have to report in once we get something more definitive from a scan.”

 

[Wolfgang West]

Gotta admit, I didn't understand the glaze the Doggies got this year. They finished outside the finals last year (albeit in a close ladder), but the footy public seemed so ready to endorse them as a top team, without seeing runs on the board. Defo a media darling. St Kilda in the same camp after spending like drunken sailors in the off season.

We all know Bont is amazing & Richards is a very very good footballer... but for mine... Darcy was anointed as the next big thing before he had done a lot. However the best 23 falls away pretty badly in terms of quality, which has been shown by the inability to cover these recent injuries. Losing Jamarra and Smith really stuffed the momentum they had a few years back.

I can't see them recovering to play a meaningful part this season.

Exhibit A Of the collective.

 

[docko911]

The swans player who looks like Heeney sprints back and makes front on contact and tunnels Naughton which is blatantly obvious to see. Unless I’m missing something (didn’t watch the game) the umpires did not pay Naughton a free kick. The AFL also won’t suspend the Sydney player despite his contact causing injury. Yet we copped the pushing a player in a marking contest suspension last year.

Going back with the flight and not contesting the ball but making contact is one of the most dangerous things on a footy field. The AFL need to wisen the **** up instead of spending all their time worrying about turning the sport into netball.

 

[Xtreme]

The swans player who looks like Heeney sprints back and makes front on contact and tunnels Naughton which is blatantly obvious to see. Unless I’m missing something (didn’t watch the game) the umpires did not pay Naughton a free kick. The AFL also won’t suspend the Sydney player despite his contact causing injury. Yet we copped the pushing a player in a marking contest suspension last year.

Going back with the flight and not contesting the ball but making contact is one of the most dangerous things on a footy field. The AFL need to wisen the **** up instead of spending all their time worrying about turning the sport into netball.

Certain teams are immune (cough cough cough) to suspensions!

 

[Osho]

Mighty Swans.
Watch out everyone.

Everyone!

 

[Orange crush]

Lots of sooking about injuries in this thread ....

 

[Bald]

Ladies and gentlemen, every club has a Doggy, they are not us, we are not them.

Injuries have brought the club to have a similar age demographic to West Coast/Richmond/Essendon and we are playing like that. The players that we do have with experience are pretty hampered themselves and would likely not be playing if the toll wasn't as extreme as it is.

With that said, that's not a whinge, that's the reality of the situation, we'll be right.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

That was probably one of the most one-sided games I've seen for a while - esp the second half. The Bullies were absolutely "bullied" by Sydney. Sydney's run, esp from defence was unstoppable.

 

[MadMaxx]

Wonder how Hawthorn would go missing their entire spine. It's not just. "Some injuries".

Maybe people should not comment when they have absolutely no idea so they don't look so stupid

Probably pretty badly, but I like to think we wouldnt get blown away.

I think you missed the point of my post.. That the Dogs were put up on a pedestal without actually doing much in the last 24 months. The point I was (trying to) make was that the media and the footy loving public for some reason had endorsed your team as the next riser... All on the back of the best player in the comp (Yes, he is IMO) and a few rising stars.

But I think your list, in particular the top 23 is a bit too thin to make a real impact on the ladder in 2026, and that the injuries had exposed you badly.

You know the old adage, Flags are not won with the Top 6 players, but the quality of the bottom 6 in the team.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I did tip the Swans last night but when Naughton went down it felt quite hollow. I hope he is OK.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Darcy.

In terms of importance, Sydney can cover them for a period .... again, we have our entire spine out. We have no tall players left and Bont, Richards and Treloar at a minimum are clearly playing injured.

As much as I like Darce, he does need to put on some serious size. And maybe grow out a beard/mo.

 

[CarnTheScray]

I think you missed the point of my post.. That the Dogs were put up on a pedestal without actually doing much in the last 24 months. The point I was (trying to) make was that the media and the footy loving public for some reason had endorsed your team as the next riser

Can we get a few links to some examples from the preseason?

 

[Orange crush]

Ladies and gentlemen, every club has a Doggy, they are not us, we are not them.

Injuries have brought the club to have a similar age demographic to West Coast/Richmond/Essendon and we are playing like that. The players that we do have with experience are pretty hampered themselves and would likely not be playing if the toll wasn't as extreme as it is.

With that said, that's not a whinge, that's the reality of the situation, we'll be right.

That’s fair …. Gws been dealing with it all year as well

 

[MF]

Certain teams are immune (cough cough cough) to suspensions!

We were the most suspended team in the league just last year

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Geniune 100+ point thrashing disguised as 66 points because of Swans wastefulness

Doggies just have too many injuries to overcome.

I still think they make the top 10 (gross saying that) and get a shot but dont think it amounts too much. This year a bit about planning for the next from here .

 

[RAPPA]

no one underestimates the value and effect of Heeney and Gulden. Their omissions are significant BUT Sydney has the depth to cover them. Again, they are a better team with both playing, but their absence does not expose the team.

Dogs, on the other hand, have copped injuries to all parts of the ground and those players are not as easily replaceable with available depth. Their backline depth was always a concern and is exposed by the absences; even more so against the height of Sydney’s KPF.

Key injuries expose depth and have a flow on effect to structure.

Both teams at full strength would have been a helluva lot more entertaining and closer.

 

[Faysals Swans]

no one underestimates the value and effect of Heeney and Gulden. Their omissions are significant BUT Sydney has the depth to cover them. Again, they are a better team with both playing, but their absence does not expose the team.

Dogs, on the other hand, have copped injuries to all parts of the ground and those players are not as easily replaceable with available depth. Their backline depth was always a concern and is exposed by the absences; even more so against the height of Sydney’s KPF.

Key injuries expose depth and have a flow on effect to structure.

Both teams at full strength would have been a helluva lot more entertaining and closer.

I agree. Both teams at full strength would be a closer game, probably the swans by 65 points

 

[The Slitherin' Snake]

As much as we can bang on about injuries (which is valid), the Dogs have completely abandoned the defensive style from the first 3 games. The last few weeks have looked more like 2025 defense than the flood with desperate pressure from the start of the season.

 

[Wolfgang West]

We were the most suspended team in the league just last year

Talking off the top of his head again. He sees the name Sydney and the keypad starts typing itself.