Review Dogs flog the modern day ‘Fitzroy-like’ putridity.

[threenewpadlocks]

4.8 from 42 inside 50s. Think we defended ok. Wasn’t much to defend against. Let’s see how we go against Amiss, Voss and Treacy with the footy coming in from Young, Serong and Brayshaw.

We defended okay but we "only" won by 73 points (I say only) on xScore with us being +4 points and them -19 points (they still had 15 shots on goal, even if it was a below-average 3.2 expected points per shot).

The pre-game betting line was about 71 or 72 points. Bookmakers know to adjust for motivational factors late in season when clearly one team has nothing to play for when away, and while West Coast came out with a bit of intensity to start the match and start the 2nd half, they clearly were going through the motions more than if it was a R1 or R2 game or whatever.

Only 10 matches in 10 years have had a bigger bookie odds pre-game margin.

I'm not saying we played badly or anything, and if we were a statistical top 2-3 team or whatever that all of the stats model power rankings have us as, we didn't drop anything. But at the same time I'm not sure we can think of the team to be any better than what we thought before the game. Some players played well. Some players played poorly in the context of an easy an opposition and as any expectation of a big win as any team might have been.

 

[Doggstats]

Couple of negatives - a few of the lads trying to do too much, such as Garcia and Cleary.

Cleary seems to get caught HTB fairly often which is a bit of a worry come finals when the pressure goes up to %110.

Is he trying to do too much or is he struggling with the pace of AFL? Because if he's getting caught twice vs basically a VFL side in WC how's he going to handle the rabid pressure of a final?

We're now $1.31 to beat Freo($3.50) next week, Freo also shot out to $67 for the flag, we're $21 with GC.

 

[Munnez]

Shithouse opponent but loved Busslinger’s game today. I’ve been one of his bigger critics but I’ve really appreciated his role at AFL level a lot more than what he was doing in the VFL.

Been more accountable for his man, and had more support to clean up after him when he kills a ball in a contest so can focus more on spoiling/negating his opponent.

Also thought JOD was fantastic. Again though, shit opponent. Next week will be a huge test given how dominant Treacy and Voss can be when they’re on

JOD & Buss have the potential to be our 10 year KPD duo just need to invest games into them now. Road will be bumpy but worth the wait IMO

 

[stefoid]

I know I’m going to be torched for this….

Croft the young talent wow.

But whether I have him added to our forward line structure right now I’m not sure. I felt it resulted in our KPFs getting in each others way too often. All good against a hapless eagles but in finals games (which starts in 7 days time) I’m not sure.

High risk would be to continue with the 3 tall forward setup going forward. Only from a structure perspective. Feels like it would take 15+ games at senior level for the trio to gel.

Bevs presser said cant drop Croft based on his form today, and will reassess after freo game

 

[VL3OJ]

Cleary seems to get caught HTB fairly often which is a bit of a worry come finals when the pressure goes up to %110.

Is he trying to do too much or is he struggling with the pace of AFL? Because if he's getting caught twice vs basically a VFL side in WC how's he going to handle the rabid pressure of a final?

We're now $1.31 to beat Freo($3.50) next week, Freo also shot out to $67 for the flag, we're $21 with GC.

The odds are irrelevant and could be an extremely low pool and/or some muppet has bet big. It all depends on the day and if we can beat teams in the top eight.

 

[Werewolf]

Question for the history buffs - what’s our highest ever final H&A percentage? I’m thinking 140% would have to go close?

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The odds are irrelevant and could be an extremely low pool and/or some muppet has bet big. It all depends on the day and if we can beat teams in the top eight.

Bookmakers setting opening lines for AFL is absolutely not on the basis of "muppets having a big bet".

They're predicting the result of the game on the basis on the ratings of each team.

We're such big favourites because we carry about a 11-point home ground advantage over Fremantle. We're a 20-point favourite at that odds so that we're a 9-point favourite at a neutral venue over Freo is I think entirely reasonable given the relative form of each team, such as a 6-point away win over Port, and a 57-point home loss to Brisbane that Fremantle have.

 

[VL3OJ]

At the game today and could hear the players talking. West Coast talked a lot more than we do and in a positive manner. The other interesting thing I saw was that it was equal each way for time in the forward line so how can four goals take that long to get or is that fact totally incorrect?

Croft was the stand out for the day with the crowd around the wing shouting "Crofty..Crofty" I loved everything he did, he got beaten once by the WC back line and beaten once by Astro (It looked like a goal to me). The rest of it was pretty mundane.

WC spent three hours on a plane to get here, three hours to get back just to come up with just four goals. Couldn't they just work from home for this one?

Let's hope Fremantle phone it in next week.

 

[adogsfan5]

Just watched Croftys first pluck a few times. He’s got it. I can just see it. What a fwd line we’ve got for the next 5-10 years hey.

 

[lachy]

It's always enjoyable to demolish teams but throw in West Coast's woeful kicking for goal and I'm not sure we necessarily learnt anything or hold a higher opinion of the team than we did before the game.

You seriously think this was possible given the opposition that has won 1 game all year??

Best we could do is a large win, expose a younger player and no significant injuries and all of this was achieved.

Next week is an early final

 

[Eastdog]

Went along to Marvel.

It went as I expected. A comprehensive win in the end and never really troubled by the Eagles.

A lot contributors today that played their part in the win. Jordan Croft had a very good debut. 2 goals in your first AFL game aren't bad at all.

We have the bigger game now next Sunday against Fremantle to determine if we will feature in finals this season and have a chance.

 

[Doggy]

4.8 from 42 inside 50s. Think we defended ok. Wasn’t much to defend against. Let’s see how we go against Amiss, Voss and Treacy with the footy coming in from Young, Serong and Brayshaw.

Amiss. Lol.

Has talent but only gets you so far. He has more talent than Voss but Voss isn't a squib.

 

[perro_loco]

Crowfty was brilliant in his first game. He should be selected next week, based on his performance today. Does this mean we will not need JUH? I would play Treloar as a sub in place of McNeil. No VDM please Bevo. Way out of form for next week. Great game coming. Hope we can make finals. Go DOGS!!!

 

[Doggies7]

Just watched Croftys first pluck a few times. He’s got it. I can just see it. What a fwd line we’ve got for the next 5-10 years hey.

He looked really good early, loved the hard Naughty-like chasing when the ball was exiting fwd 50 also, that type of running is why he was preferred to Buku today.

Another pre-season, add to the frame and get a bit more confidence and coaching in this 3rd tall role and he can really have a nice impact for us next season. Will really make the inevitable JUH pill easier to swallow, adding a fit Cody helps this also...

 

[dogwatch]

View attachment 2398397

It's disturbing that the only time we finished the H&A season with a higher percentage ... we missed the finals.

 

[adogsfan5]

Amiss. Lol.

Has talent but only gets you so far. He has more talent than Voss but Voss isn't a squib.

We say that.. but he is be a spud that’ll somehow pop up and kick 4…

 

[adogsfan5]

Best game for Busslinger so far?

 

[Pencil case]

Best game for Busslinger so far?

Was very happy with Busslinger and JOD today, haven’t had this caliber of young KPD for a long time.

 

[Doggy]

We say that.. but he is be a spud that’ll somehow pop up and kick 4…

Zero worries about him.

Voss and Treacy are actual worries.

Funny thing, is if we tagged Serong (we won't), they wouldn't even get it down there at all.

 

[bobs head soup]

Was very happy with Busslinger and JOD today, haven’t had this caliber of young KPD for a long time.

Our young talls generally are looking pretty damn healthy, especially considering Croft's highly promising debut.

He could easily end up proving to be best used as a defender/swingman after a couple more preseasons.

A young spine of Naughton (25), Darcy (22), JOD (22), Buss (21) and Croft (20) is an amazing starting point for our future.

 

[bobs head soup]

It's disturbing that the only time we finished the H&A season with a higher percentage ... we missed the finals.

That table is accurate up to last week, this year's % is higher than 1953 now (and our highest ever).

I'll take the glass half full approach and note that our 3 130+% years were 1953, 2021 and 2025.

So, history says we should be playing in a GF either this year or next.

I'd take that.

 

[TiAn_]

If anyone wants an insight from this game, it’s that the Eagles scored 4.3 of their 4.8 from our turnovers. We’re still a huge risk of a good team getting a match winning return from pressuring us into turnovers that we can’t defend.

 

[doggie dog]

Also another West

And a Cooney

 

[doggie dog]

Cleary seems to get caught HTB fairly often which is a bit of a worry come finals when the pressure goes up to %110.

Is he trying to do too much or is he struggling with the pace of AFL? Because if he's getting caught twice vs basically a VFL side in WC how's he going to handle the rabid pressure of a final?

We're now $1.31 to beat Freo($3.50) next week, Freo also shot out to $67 for the flag, we're $21 with GC.

Watching Cleary, I think he is gaining confidence and taking the game on.

 

[Wetdog]

It's disturbing that the only time we finished the H&A season with a higher percentage ... we missed the finals.

True…

But I’m happy for future to repeat itself if we get the same result next year as we did in 54.