Next weeks game bigger than a final

[lachy]

Losses in the last 2 weeks are much more than a reality check.

A loss and we could go from top 2 all year to outside the top 4.

Psychologically this has the potential to set this group back permanently.

Resting players before ensuring the double chances was arrogant at best. Not picking a properly balanced team has not helped.

This week's game against Port is as important as a final. Win and we are guaranteed top 4. Lose and likely we face a knock out final week one which if we lose could set us back years.

Whilst selection is important, a home and away game could now be one of the most important in a generation of footballers at our club.



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[footy75]

Yep Bulldogs finals campaign begins now.

 

[Libba39]

Sorry, but to say next week's game is as big as a final is a big overstatement.

 

[lachy]

Sorry, but to say next week's game is as big as a final is a big overstatement.

Why?

Lose and likely lose the double chance severely reducing any chance of winning given that since this format of the 8 only 1 team has won the premiership outside the top 4.

Explain how it is not when the result has the same ramifications as the first week of finals.

Also Explain how it would not scar this group of players if we lose, drop out of the top 4 and we lose our only final for the third year in a row from the position we are in.

How is it not as big as a final?

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[BallaratBulldog]

Agree but team selection will show how serious we are.

 

[bullet11]

Just my thoughts, from this week we need the same structure from the start of the season where we were 9-1
2kpd 3kpf and a ruckman sweet/Martin English as backup.

play English as only ruckman and it will end up like last two weeks and last two years out in first week of September.

we need sweet in ruck or Martin just to compete in ruck to get on top in midfield I’m more confident with naughts English Marra and flea in forward half.

Correct me if I’m wrong we have lost only 1 game with a Martin/English/sweet combo this year?

need Gardner yes I said it Gardner and Keath in backline it worked against Geelong port (Brisbane)earlier in the year.

i would even play schache as a Bruce replacement like for like we have enough smalls to cover as it is.

finals pressure we need talls to compete for the long kicks up the ground we play short and we will not score.

 

[bullet11]

So in short we looked unbeatable when we had 2 ruckman we had structure when English is solo ruck we look vulnerable with no structure sample of first 10 weeks. Yes we’ve had injuries I get it but last 10 weeks with 1 ruck we’re just over 50% win loss again just my thoughts and my opinion thanks

 

[Dog 36]

The opening statement is not far off.
A loss and 4th spot is gone a win and it can quickly galvanise a group that seems to be bereft of confidence, mentally tired and physically tired.

I really hope I’m wrong here but I just can’t see us winning. We have looked flat the last 2 weeks and have lacked the intensity required and the work ethic to win the game on top of some strange selections.

As others have noted Bev mid week presser was concerning especially when he was short with answers and made a detour to make sure the press was ok mentally etc with lockdowns. He was flat seemed distracted with other things on his mind.
Have these lockdowns finally got to the playing group and coaches maybe not them as individuals but family etc etc.?

We needed to find a way to win one of our last two games and didn’t and I can’t see us doing it vs Port as they are on the way up and could be playing for a home final.

A win vs Port will galvanise the group and we will be in with a shot to win it as if we get our act together we are as good as anyone.

Go Dogs especially this week.

 

[JTCWBFC]

I’m usually pretty optimistic the day after a loss that we can turn it around.

But yesterday was so bad.

I don’t know if this group has the mental fortitude to turn it around this quickly.

They look cooked.

If we fall from 1st to 5th and lose another final staff simply have to be given the chop.

With this list it’s just not good enough.

 

[adogsfan5]

We’ve had an amazing season and for most have looked a top 4 side. Pretty simple, lose next week and we don’t deserve to go far. Confident we can turn it around though.

My issue with yesterday is that we would have lost to any side in the league. North would have smashed us, which was concerning.

A big week in terms of selection.

 

[Libba39]

Why?

Lose and likely lose the double chance severely reducing any chance of winning given that since this format of the 8 only 1 team has won the premiership outside the top 4.

Explain how it is not when the result has the same ramifications as the first week of finals.

Also Explain how it would not scar this group of players if we lose, drop out of the top 4 and we lose our only final for the third year in a row from the position we are in.

How is it not as big as a final?

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A final is simply a final. No matter how similar the implications its a whole different ballgame.

In 2016 we had the potential to finish 2nd if results went totally our way, but ended up losing to Freo and dropping to 7th.

 

[SayerTheCreator]

If:

We lock down the last 2 minutes properly and Rohan doesn’t hit that shot after the siren, and

We don’t slam the ball into the post 7 times against Essendon,

Then:

We’re a game clear on top of the ladder.

It’s an incredibly tight season but teams like Port are overachieving. We need to sort out a few things and put the pressure on rather than be on the receiving end of it.

 

[grassman75]

If:

We lock down the last 2 minutes properly and Rohan doesn’t hit that shot after the siren, and

We don’t slam the ball into the post 7 times against Essendon,

Then:

We’re a game clear on top of the ladder.

It’s an incredibly tight season but teams like Port are overachieving. We need to sort out a few things and put the pressure on rather than be on the receiving end of it.

If Young doesn't shit the bed and VDM kicks through the ball in front of goal in the opening minutes yesterday a completely different tone is set.

It certainly is a game of inches

 

[Del165892]

If we drop out of the top four this whole season has been for nothing. If we made top four and went out in straight sets I could live with that, because it would at least be an improvement on the last four years. But if we enter the finals in the bottom half of the eight again I don't think I could accept that. Its just too much of a choke from where we were. It will be 10x more painful than the Geelong loss. I'm sick of seeing the same shit every year. I'd rather see us bottoming out and rebuilding than watch us limping into finals every year for a first week exit. Its just the worst state of existence for a team to be in. Either have a crack or fix the ****ing list. If that means trading out some of our A grade mids and rebuilding around Jamarra, Naughton, Darcy etc then I could get behind that. Its pretty obvious now that we aren't getting anywhere with this list in its current state. I'm not writing off Bevo as a coach yet but if he can't get us up emotionally for this game then I'll begin to have serious doubts about him. Tactically I think he's very good but its also his job to get the team in the right headspace and we weren't there at all yesterday. Unfortunately we are still likely to lose this match either way but it would be nice to see us have a go.

 

[Doggy]

Could you all stop with the negative bullshit

The whole club has been very poor the last two weeks but it can be turned around.

It's not a fait accompli that we will lose to Port and then go out first week of the finals

This place has been toxic lately. We don't need this bullshit during lockdown in a pandemic

Lighten the **** up

 

[The Inbetweener]

Could you all stop with the negative bullshit

The whole club has been very poor the last two weeks but it can be turned around.

It's not a fait accompli that we will lose to Port and then go out first week of the finals

This place has been toxic lately. We don't need this bullshit during lockdown in a pandemic

Lighten the fu** up

People are allowed to vent and you are generally one of the most negative posters on here.

 

[fpm84]

You guys won’t lose to Port. Bookmark it.

 

[Doggy]

People are allowed to vent and you are generally one of the most negative posters on here.

Yeah, far from it..

Vent about the game but then pick yourselves up..

This "never going to win again" bullshit while we are in lockdown and predicted to be for some time ... we need some positivity not sky is falling crap

And what about those hoping we lose two in a row to "end it all". Ffs that is pathetic

 

[The Inbetweener]

Yeah, far from it..

Vent about the game but then pick yourselves up..

This "never going to win again" bullshit while we are in lovkdown and predicted to be for some time ... we need some positivity not sky is falling crap

If you can’t understand why people are frustrated that two weeks ago we were flag favs and now the odds are we miss top four, I’d be surprised.

you also have no concept of what people are going through in their personal lives that contribute to their moods.

People can feel how they want to feel and it’s inappropriate for anyone else to tell them otherwise.

 

[Doggy]

If you can’t understand why people are frustrated that two weeks ago we were flag favs and now the odds are we miss top four, I’d be surprised.

you also have no concept of what people are going through in their personal lives that contribute to their moods.

People can feel how they want to feel and it’s inappropriate for anyone else to tell them otherwise.

Who doesn't understand that a week in football is a long time. Let alone 2? It's been ridiculously frustrating and everyone has the right to vent

I feel you are being deliberately obtuse though.

I'd wager that I'm going through probably some of the heaviest shit and I'd put my house on that. And no I'm not going to elaborate to a football forum.

Venting about yesterday and last week is different to acting like a child and hoping the team loses next week and an elimination final to teach the club a lesson. Grow up

 

[The Inbetweener]

Who doesn't understand that a week in football is a long time. Let alone 2? It's been ridiculously frustrating and everyone has the right to vent

I feel you are being deliberately obtuse though.

I'd wager that I'm going through probably some of the heaviest sh*t and I'd put my house on that. And no I'm not going to elaborate to a football forum.

Venting about yesterday and last week is different to acting like a child and hoping the team loses next week and an elimination final to teach the club a lesson. Grow up

Can you point out where I said I hope the team lose next week and then go out in an elimination final?

You are telling people how they should feel and I’m pointing out people can feel how they want.

if people can shake it off that’s great for them but others need to vent and should be able to do so.

 

[Doggy]

Can you point out where I said I hope the team lose next week and then go out in an elimination final?

You are telling people how they should feel and I’m pointing out people can feel how they want.

if people can shake it off that’s great for them but others need to vent and should be able to do so.

Nice to know you can cherry pick from my posts. I didn't say you were hoping that, others certainly are.

You're sprouting the no hope shit though

 

[The Inbetweener]

Nice to know you can cherry pick from my posts. I didn't say you were hoping that, others certainly are.

You're sprouting the no hope sh*t though

I’m def not saying no hope, but odds are Port will start favs against us and Brisbane v Eagles, so 5th is more likely than not and I’m extremely frustrated by that.

I envy people who can shake it off and be positive, but I can’t immediately after a game and think people should be able to express that.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

I think we are pretty much shot to much playing around with selection even allowing for injury, the Martin punt was always a big call given age and injury. I think there were others getable. About 20 point differential (or we lose by 10 and the lions win by 10) is the magic number to keep 4th on percentage.

If we finish 5th we would have some chance against the Bombers but do not see us beating GWS.

 

[Al dente]

Just my thoughts, from this week we need the same structure from the start of the season where we were 9-1
2kpd 3kpf and a ruckman sweet/Martin English as backup.

play English as only ruckman and it will end up like last two weeks and last two years out in first week of September.

we need sweet in ruck or Martin just to compete in ruck to get on top in midfield I’m more confident with naughts English Marra and flea in forward half.

Correct me if I’m wrong we have lost only 1 game with a Martin/English/sweet combo this year?

need Gardner yes I said it Gardner and Keath in backline it worked against Geelong port (Brisbane)earlier in the year.

i would even play schache as a Bruce replacement like for like we have enough smalls to cover as it is.

finals pressure we need talls to compete for the long kicks up the ground we play short and we will not score.

agree,

we will know at selection this week, if another ruckman isnt selected then we are cooked