Autopsy Crows too good for Dogs (109-98)

[Proffessor]

We’ve seen the same thing every season since 2016 with 2021 being the exception.

It’s hard to get excited or hopeful after losing the same games in the same way year after year.

That is the lot of a Bulldog supporter in the AFL.

We are not one of the big clubs that get the rub of the green in our favour.
We are typically swimming against the tide, and that is OK as long as you realise it and don't give in.

The season is like a marathon, and there is still plenty of road ahead for us to gather our strength for a charge before the end.

Harmes should be back next week. Jones will hopefully come back in soon to help strengthen our defence. The umpires will somehow get the memo that they need to provide greater protection to Darcy from all the illegal interference. Etcetera.

Plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

 

[Proffessor]

That wasn't hard fought at all. We applied little pressure and tackled like kids. Lack of 2 way running and defending by our mids and fwds. The ned margin flattered us. It's losing the same way every time.

Sorry, there's very little to optimistic about.

Agree that we didn't play anywhere near our best.

Yet we still only went down by 11 points and were finishing stronger than our opponents.

That in itself is reason for optimism.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Agree that we didn't play anywhere near our best.

Yet we still only went down by 11 points and were finishing stronger than our opponents.

That in itself is reason for optimism.

We had a 9 day break compared to their 6.

 

[Munnez]

Agree that we didn't play anywhere near our best.

Yet we still only went down by 11 points and were finishing stronger than our opponents.

That in itself is reason for optimism.

To be fair that was to be expected that we finish better as Crows were down 2x Rotations

 

[Doggy]

To be fair that was to be expected that we finish better as Crows were down 2x Rotations

1. They used the sub, they had 3 on the bench, not 2.

 

[Doggy]

We had a 9 day break compared to their 6.

At what point does that not really matter? 6 days should be fine. The longer period beyond that isn't always an advantage

 

[Proffessor]

To be fair that was to be expected that we finish better as Crows were down 2x Rotations

So, excuses are ok for the Crows but not for us?

Do we get to bring up all the crappy umpiring decisions that went against us?
Do we get to bring up the key players that we had missing?

At the end of the day we lost, fine, but in weighing up the implications of that loss we need to be fair.
A lot of people seem happy to ignore the mitigating factors against us.

Personally, I see more scope for improvement for us than I see for the Crows.

Unfortunately, we now have a big challenge ahead in just making the finals, but if we react correctly to the loss then we should hopefully improve as a result of it.

Our young guys got another taste of a high pressure game. A good learning experience.
Our MC got to see who did and didn't stand up under the pressure, more learning.

If this experience helps us improve our defensive set up going forward, then there could be some important gain associated with the pain.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Yeah let me guess,

“If Thilthorpe played for a Vic club he’d get more recognition. Vic bias!! Poor little us are conspired against by Victoria!!!”

Nauseating.

Bet they’re still whining (like that ****wit bogan meathead Ricciuto) about Troy Parnell too.

They are very insecure the Crows, whenever there is a thread about certain players they always try to insert an Adelaide player into the conversation.

Probably from having the AFL engineering their first premiership, able to play another final after losing the first one, Libba’s goal not paid etc.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

We got to see them go head to head yesterday. It is what it is.

Yep, and we will see you at Ballarat next year.

 

[Zeno The Great]

Been plenty of footage on all of the footy shows today showing how bad our tackling was and how open our back half was on any turnover or loss of clearance. The ease with which they could enter their f50 was embarrassing. We need to change structurally firstly but also have a more defensive outfit with our personnel even if that means sacrificing some scoring. It's crystal clear a team with our defensive profile can't get near a flag.

Oliver G do U have numbers for broken tackles yesterday and how we fare in comparison to the rest of the comp for the year?

 

[perro_loco]

Percentage of One-on-One Contests Lost (Defenders)

View attachment 2366798

Source: Wheelo

That is a damning statistic.

 

[_Cerberus_]

Why do people keep saying Naughton has to go back? He kicked 5 and was awesome yesterday. You don’t move a bloke who can do that and put him in a position he hasn’t played since 2018.

The problem with Naughton for most of the year, was he being the only tall forward. Which means double teamed each week. Darcys return is why he has returned to form on the scoreboard. Move Naughton to the backline, then suddenly it is Darcy who is double teamed each week, removing our aerial threat one again. We need both there to help each other.

 

[Maverick Dog]

So, excuses are ok for the Crows but not for us?

Do we get to bring up all the crappy umpiring decisions that went against us?
Do we get to bring up the key players that we had missing?

At the end of the day we lost, fine, but in weighing up the implications of that loss we need to be fair.
A lot of people seem happy to ignore the mitigating factors against us.

Personally, I see more scope for improvement for us than I see for the Crows.

Unfortunately, we now have a big challenge ahead in just making the finals, but if we react correctly to the loss then we should hopefully improve as a result of it.

Our young guys got another taste of a high pressure game. A good learning experience.
Our MC got to see who did and didn't stand up under the pressure, more learning.

If this experience helps us improve our defensive set up going forward, then there could be some important gain associated with the pain.

With umpiring there are swings and roundabouts. I concede the last couple of seasons we appear to be on the wrong side of the ledger. However between 15 - 22 I had never in 40 plus years experienced such a consistent favourable run by the umps. The 16 finals series we had a good run. If I was a giants supporter I would always point out the JJ clear 50 not paid.
Every other previous prelim we were on the wrong side.

Crows were the better team and deserved the win. There defensive structure across the ground is superior and it is not talent based, it is system, unfortunately the only time our defence has been strong under Bevo is 15/16.

 

[CarnTheScray]

I’d say the game was lost at selection (bringing in no talls against their forward line) but the truth is we just don’t have the cattle. Yes we have things you’d argue are the fault of the coaches such as defending the ground in transition and congesting their forward line etc but when it came to a lot of things, it just came down to us not having enough players that could impact the game.

Look at our forward line compared to Adelaide’s, we have relied on one to two heroes all season to carry it, Darcy and now Naughton. The rest would not get a game in any other top 8 sides forward line, I’ve seen enough to make that conclusion. Yes we have Weightman and JUH out but we still have 1-2 players in there when they are all fit that contribute little.

Backline has the same issue. We haven’t had a lock down key back in forever. We tried to turn Keath into one which was understandable but he still had the occasional bag kicked on him (aided by the opposition almost always having an extremely open forward like going forward, the opposite of our situation). Too many players back there that cannot do basic things.

 

[maddog37]

If we can please stop handballing when we are in the clear and running forward I will be happier.

The forwards prefer the kick to come asap. Having to lead and then stop turnaround and lead again must be bloody frustrating.

We have the tall targets. Use them.

If we didn’t stuff up 6 unnecessary short handballs that led to goals I would be shocked.

Feels like some arrogance has crept in.

I posted this after the North game.

Felt like we were getting ahead of ourselves. All running to get the cheap handball forward of the ball. No focus on defending.

Surprisingly we got cut up by a decent team.

Time for an honesty meeting and for our team to face some hard truths.

 

[grassman75]

At what point does that not really matter? 6 days should be fine. The longer period beyond that isn't always an advantage

We always play better with consistency.

 

[Bulldog in Kiev]

Too many all rounders in the team and not enough specialist role players IMO. Flexibility is great, but give me a specialist small forward or a small lockdown defender over rotating 5-6 mids or all rounders every week.
I really think its right heat is coming on the system and selections this week, conventional wisdom clearly indicated we had to bring 1 of Jones, Buss or Buku in to combat Thilthorpe, Fogarty and Walker but instead we rolled with OD, Lobb and Coffield. Good article from Jay Clark in the tackle this week on the above.

Personally my view is we dont have the cattle to play the way the system is set up and the system itself is not working as I never see us scoring so easily due to the opposition system leaving 2-3 of our forwards with 10-20 metres from an opponent as regularly as we seem to gift easy goals- no matter if it is Norf or crows.

 

[grassman75]

The problem with Naughton for most of the year, was he being the only tall forward. Which means double teamed each week. Darcys return is why he has returned to form on the scoreboard. Move Naughton to the backline, then suddenly it is Darcy who is double teamed each week, removing our aerial threat one again. We need both there to help each other.

Imagine JUH got his shit together

 

[Hobdog]

Firstly, no, my numbers are right and you’re wrong. Secondly, how are you measuring Brody Mihocek’s allegedly superior creativity?

Vibe

 

[Hobdog]

Agree that we didn't play anywhere near our best.

Yet we still only went down by 11 points and were finishing stronger than our opponents.

That in itself is reason for optimism.

I feel like our best is only able to come out consistently against the lesser teams where the pressure isn’t as high

 

[Sentinel]

We lost a hard-fought game where we played below our best against a top side that I think played pretty close to their best, by just 11 points.

Frequently playing below our best in big games is probably a big reason why so many are frustrated.

 

[CarnTheScray]

If it happens every game against a top 8 side, is it really below our best?

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Kane is a plodder, but hes bang on here.

Also that's an arrogant-esque banner the Cheer squad made. And I'm not throwing shots here, expecting us to be meek, buy it JuJusreclarifies how much more the supporter base expected.

Errrr...Where does that leave the imbeciles call from just last week that the list was stacked and destined for the top 4?

It's amusing to poke fun at his inconstancies and obvious biases.

But to take anything he says as serious analysis is beyond a joke.

 

[CarnTheScray]

Kane is a plodder, but hes bang on here.

Also that's an arrogant-esque banner the Cheer squad made. And I'm not throwing shots here, expecting us to be meek, buy it JuJusreclarifies how much more the supporter base expected.

Would rather listen to the Black Eyed Peas than listen to this newest Kane soundbite.

 

[Dogs 13]

Would rather listen to the Black Eyed Peas than listen to this newest Kane soundbite.

And I saw Fergy open for The Police at the MCG and even her by herself is preferable to KC.