Oh well, Doggie supporters.....

[Chicago1]

..... there's always NEXT year! Gosh, I've been saying that since 1977!


Western Bulldogs - Premiers 2002!
(I live in hope!)

 

[Waltzing Woof Biscuit]

Yeah C1. But it just aint good enough. Today we were thrashed by a team who will battle to make the finals. I watched the Richmond-Collingwood game last week. The Pies were awful, as was the entire game as a spectacle. I thought that we would surely give a good account of ourselves today. To be steamrolled by Collingwood is - sorry guys - bl*ody shameful. Not quite the dark, old days of '96, but we are sure on a slippery slope to oblivion if today's effort is any indication.

I'm no Robert Walls fan, but gee, did he sum it up well on 3AW when he said that at least seven Bulldog players should not be playing senior footy for us next year - if we are a remote chance of moulding ourselves into a premiership contender. If we are to be honest, our list needs a huge overhaul. I couldn't give a bugger about finishing last next year if it paves the way for long-term success. Scraping into the eight sux big time, especially when you get belted my some cocky interstate team. Being a middle-of-the-road pretender doesn't necessarily force the team to make hard decisions about personnel, and it certainly disadvantages the team come draft time.

Let me say, I admire the Bulldog administration greatly. We have, at some stage, erred in our recruiting policy. Wallace concedes this, but rightly observes that we are now on the right track. But let me also back Terry up with regards to his comments so chillingly recorded on the Year Of The Dog documentary. If I sense a contentment with damn mediocrity, them I'm gonna spew up!!!!!!!! And if we don't win a premiership before I cark it, I'm going to come back as a blo*dy poltergeist and haunt the lot of yers. SO BEWARE THE SPOOKY BISCUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON GUYS. "DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[K9-54]

Originally posted by Waltzing Woof Biscuit
Robert Walls ... said that at least seven Bulldog players should not be playing senior footy for us next year

Pretty much agree with him on that too WWB (which is unusual when it comes to his comments about us).

But I don't think the result would necessarily be a spell down the bottom of 96 proportions. When you consider who the seven are (and my list would be a little longer when you include a couple who weren't in today), then you may conclude as I have that their contributions this year have been very small. I don't necessarily think we could be much worse playing others in their place.

And after today, I would be playing Bowden, Hargraves, Gilbee, Hahn, Fuller and Alvey for the next 3. Plus I'd give McMahon another one and possibly Birss too. Nothing to lose now so let's see what they've all got.

 

[bulldogs1]

Which players, though?

I tend to agree, fellas, but since you brought it up K9-54, which seven or so would be on your list to go? Just interested.

Before anyone says it, I still think Huddo and Libba should be there. So, there's my 2 cents worth.

 

[Jawest]

Well i too also think its time to let the kids play, thats right what is there to loose?

7 people to go, Libba, bartlet, garlic, huddo, and maybe to trade, curley, cox, dimma( I like the last 3 but, need to give some to gain some).

I just have a gut feeling that there are going to big things at the bulldogs this year, not necessarily good things.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Yep, I agree. We need to cull some players. I love Bartlett and his aggression at the ball, but how long can you survive getting two or three kicks a game? Romero doesnt have the skills too play league footy. If Huddo isnt kicking goals then he is only getting in peoples way.

And while were on the topic WHY was Patrick Bowden effectively dropped for Bartlett? You will never convince me that was the right call at the selection table.

Our season was pretty much finished after the Carlton game. Thats when we started blooding the kids.

I have said before that our top six are still young enough to let us develop youngsters and benefit from them playing well. It is almost the last roll of the dice for us. Lets do it.



BTW does any else sense that the problems in our club run deeper than just on the field? I dont know if there is anything sinister going on, our boys just dont seem to be a happy bunch at the moment.

 

[Jawest]

Totally agree localyokel, I think that something is happening off the field. Not the same doggies as previous years, just in the passion and the never say die attidude. Seems to have disappeared.

Everyone seems to say that it is the private lives of people, but it seems that they are bring their private problems onto the field.

 

[bulldogs1]

Not wishing to fan the flames, but a 'source close to the club' suggested that a certain coach of a high profile western suburbs AFL team is going WEST, not necessarily to Fremantle. A few other factors about this individual cannot be repeated here, but rather unsavoury. Give the benefit of the doubt, sure, but the boys certainly seem distracted at the moment, so I wonder if personal problems are behind much of the trouble at Doggieland.

Originally posted by Jawest
Totally agree localyokel, I think that something is happening off the field. Not the same doggies as previous years, just in the passion and the never say die attidude. Seems to have disappeared.

Everyone seems to say that it is the private lives of people, but it seems that they are bring their private problems onto the field.

 

[K9-54]

Re: Which players, though?

Originally posted by bulldogs1
I tend to agree, fellas, but since you brought it up K9-54, which seven or so would be on your list to go? Just interested.

Before anyone says it, I still think Huddo and Libba should be there. So, there's my 2 cents worth.

Well here's my list:

Delist:
Bartlett - good desire, shame about the ability

Retire:
Romero - good service for a number of years, but now too slow, poor disposal

Probably should retire:
Libba - a legend - worth his spot this year but the time has come
Huddo - I'm a Huddo fan, I think he's been great value, but like Libba, the poor games will only become more frequent if they keep going

Trade:
Cox - he should be a good player but simply hasn't done enough - maybe he needs a new environment to fire up
Dooley - I wish he had been given more opportunity but it's clear he doesn't fit into the plans so why keep him (and why would he want to stay) - someone else will want him
Ellis - should be much better than he has proven to be - let another club try to get it out of him - it isn't working here
All of these players should be tradeable as they are young enough and certainly have the ability to be much better than they have produced for us. I would wish them well but trade them.

Try to trade:
Garlick - some very good games and plenty of ordinary ones - not consistent enough if we want to be a force
Contessa - he's just too slow and ordinary disposal
Dimma - as per Garlick and add unreliable disposal, but compensates to a degree with undeniable passion and endeavour
Hunter - good in 2000 but very ordinary this year in my opinion - manages to pick up disposals but rarely by actually beating his man one on one

So there's 11 names. Probably too many in one hit but it would depend on the trading outcome. Don't want to leave gaping height or experience holes but I don't believe that these players have contributed much to our wins this year (with the exception of Libba and occasionally Huddo). If we are to be a top side, I can't see it being through improvement in these players so why not get some new ones.

I also note that I have 7 players in the trade or try to trade categories. There is no way we will be able to trade any more than say 3 or 4 at best I believe (it's just too hard to agree a deal for something worth doing). So some of the to trade list may end up being delisted if that's the only way to make space for new blood.

What about any of the other players? If the deal was right, there would be few off limits. But I think it is unlikely the right deal could be struck that satisfies everyone. But if I was to give some examples based on other discussions here, I wouldn't do Tarrent - West but I would do Everitt - Smith. All of us will have different views on this though so it's hard for the club to ever satisfy everyone all the time.

One last point - I actually feel like a bit of a traitor discussing these things. I wouldn't have given these views last week. It's only because we are pretty much out of it now and that Plough has stated that this process is now taking place that makes me feel that it's ok to discuss now. I hate seeing any player leave the club. They have all made a contribution and I always feel that I owe them the courtesy of not being too critical. They have all tried their best. But player turn-over is a fact of life and if we are overly sentimental or compassionate we won't improve.

A bit more than my 2 cents worth, but given you asked, I thought I would try to explain properly.

PS: I just realised I forgot about Kretiuk - he should probably be in the retire category - I much prefer the backline with him in it but I just can't see him getting or staying fit enough now.