AFL Autopsy Round 7: Taken for a walk by the Dogs. Again

[GUMBLETRON]

First up the Dogs are either very good or very poor. We always get the very good version for some reason.

It's suspiciously like the good Essendon showing up against teams that don't put on serious midfield pressure. Just luck I suppose!

 

[ant555]

Langford was actually drafted to play half forward / half back. Was converted to midfield because we lacked big bodied players. BC AD hasn't recruited a genuine inside mid.
Fantaisia is hardly a fail. Was a 40 goal small forward before he racked up a few injuries. Fair call.
Naming players like Geulfi is irrelevant. He was pick 67. Pick 67 is more often than not a fail. Ok, then delist and move on.
One thing Dodoro does do is draft flankers. He has too much Sheedy banging around in his head thinking he can turn these players into something else. This is my point, stop recruiting players to turn them into something else, recruit players that excel in their positions that they have had success in.
As others have mentioned he does not coach or develop them. That is on the coaching staff. I get that, but you can only develop and coach a player so much. So would a player like Heppell vs a player like Laverde, they are in the same coaching environment, the same development programme, yet are miles apart from a performance point of view... Why? Because you can only get so much out of person. Do you think the same time, effort and resource has gone into both players? Now the coaches may have fully succeeded with Laverde but he has reached his ceiling as a player. IMO that's on AD, he has brought in the the product for the coaches to work with. Like a lambo vs a Commodore, I feel like we have too many Commodores on our list.

Again, just my opinion.

Starting with Laverde. Why is he so far behind. Simple. The bloke has had 2 or 3 injuries every year since he has been with us. Until now Heppell has not. Secondly Heppel was a better player picked earlier in a stronger draft.

I am no Dodoro defender and I have no issues with him being questioned. I have just highlighted a few areas that where not factual. Does not change the fact that his spot should be looked at. I have been part of the bottom rungs of recruiting at another AFL club in the past and watched a crap load of under 18 footy. It annoys me that Dodoro can nail a good pick or two most years but also get too cute in drafting these flankers to fill other roles rather than just drafting a vanilla type who can play the position.

 

[ant555]

It's suspiciously like the good Essendon showing up against teams that don't put on serious midfield pressure. Just luck I suppose!

The reason can be anything. It happens. The point is we need to stop it happening.

 

[freddy mercury]

Saw that coming from a week ago. Just accept that we're no good.

 

[yodellinhank]

A lot of blokes must have thought they were still on the team bus tonight. Passengers everywhere.

Sounds like the bus didn't take off, maybe they were waiting for North to scab a lift

 

[Squeaky]

- Umpiring was shithouse in the first half. Set them up for the win completely. I legitimately don't remember the last time we got the rub of the green from those campaigners.

1993!
The umpiring was ridiculous but our standard of footy was ridiculouser! (Sic)
Very predictable result.
The ump who paid HTB vs Merrett with Wallis laying on this back after riding him to the ground should be charged with a crime!!

 

[yodellinhank]

I didn't see the game, in fact i havent yet checked the scores, but it sounds pretty bad.

How many years are left on Rutten's contract? Does this year count toward it or is he on one of those free pass years we're so fond of? Do we have to keep him on to mentor the next coach to be, and does worsfold teach him how to be a mentor?

 

[Lindsay_Gilbee]

Hey. I posted something similar on our board but I want some of your opinions on it. These are the heights of both teams best four midfielders imo.

Shiel - 182cm
McGrath - 178cm
Merrett - 180cm
Smith - 174cm

Bontempelli - 193cm
Macrae - 191cm
Dunkley - 190cm
Smith - 185cm

That has to be a major concern for you guys, doesn’t it? Why doesn’t Dodoro seem to draft big midfielders? I don’t think I’ve been worried about losing a centre clearance since Bev took over.

How do you fix it? I know pre draft Langford was meant to be that player. Just think it’s big in modern footy to have atleast one big midfielder.

 

[eth-dog]

Hey. I posted something similar on our board but I want some of your opinions on it. These are the heights of both teams best four midfielders imo.

Shiel - 182cm
McGrath - 178cm
Merrett - 180cm
Smith - 174cm

Bontempelli - 193cm
Macrae - 191cm
Dunkley - 190cm
Smith - 185cm

That has to be a major concern for you guys, doesn’t it? Why doesn’t Dodoro seem to draft big midfielders? I don’t think I’ve been worried about losing a centre clearance since Bev took over.

How do you fix it? I know pre draft Langford was meant to be that player. Just think it’s big in modern footy to have atleast one big midfielder.

Doesn't help that when he does draft one (Hibberd) he plays on a wing

 

[BrunoV]

English is terrifying.

He's basically a cross between Gawn and Grundy. He has Gawn's high game with Grundy's ground level ability.

He's an introverted character and the physical stuff isn't totally natural. Hopefully it's all part of the growth for him. It's the only thing holding him back.

The sky's the limit.

 

[CBombers17]

Speaking of recruiting - from Dogs board

"Our first picks at the last four drafts: Cody Weightman, Bailey Smith, Aaron Naughton, Tim English. We've done pretty well I think"

Hard to disagree. Bailey Smith is a ripper and English who showed signs all last year is already starting to dominate games. Great one two combo addition to any midfield.

 

[sameolds33]

Langford was actually drafted to play half forward / half back. Was converted to midfield because we lacked big bodied players. BC AD hasn't recruited a genuine inside mid.
Fantaisia is hardly a fail. Was a 40 goal small forward before he racked up a few injuries. Fair call.
Naming players like Geulfi is irrelevant. He was pick 67. Pick 67 is more often than not a fail. Ok, then delist and move on.
One thing Dodoro does do is draft flankers. He has too much Sheedy banging around in his head thinking he can turn these players into something else. This is my point, stop recruiting players to turn them into something else, recruit players that excel in their positions that they have had success in.
As others have mentioned he does not coach or develop them. That is on the coaching staff. I get that, but you can only develop and coach a player so much. So would a player like Heppell vs a player like Laverde, they are in the same coaching environment, the same development programme, yet are miles apart from a performance point of view... Why? Because you can only get so much out of person. Do you think the same time, effort and resource has gone into both players? Now the coaches may have fully succeeded with Laverde but he has reached his ceiling as a player. IMO that's on AD, he has brought in the the product for the coaches to work with. Like a lambo vs a Commodore, I feel like we have too many Commodores on our list.

Again, just my opinion.

The draft is a market. You pick the best available player at your pick for the position you need. The two don't necessarily go together. If all the big-bodied mids (or ruck or other specialist position you need) are gone then you pick the player you think will provide the widest range. Hence flankers. The impact of losing picks in the saga cannot be over-estimated.

Glad I missed the game last night.

 

[Mr_McBoogerBalls]

The ump who paid HTB vs Merrett with Wallis laying on this back after riding him to the ground should be charged with a crime!!

Normally I keep myself composed when watching the footy at home. That call pissed me right off.

The umpiring in general was deplorable. Laverde tackled Johannisen in a frickin' headlock and they didn't even pay it as well.

 

[SherbertLemon]

I think we heavily overrate some of our players.

But I think our list has a lot of potential

 

[andleanback]

Speaking of recruiting - from Dogs board

"Our first picks at the last four drafts: Cody Weightman, Bailey Smith, Aaron Naughton, Tim English. We've done pretty well I think"

Hard to disagree. Bailey Smith is a ripper and English who showed signs all last year is already starting to dominate games. Great one two combo addition to any midfield.

Stringer, Macrae both top 10 2012, bont in ‘13 and Dunkley at #25 in 2015. Dogs have one of the best recruiting departments in the league. Rarely miss on a top 30 selection.

 

[SherbertLemon]

Don’t you just hate that insecure feeling during a game when you just know they’re going to capitulate?

It’s like when any team puts on some pressure we go to water

 

[Mr_McBoogerBalls]

It’s like when any team puts on some pressure we go to water

Injuries to key players and size difference between our midfield would be contributing factors there I reckon.

 

[citizen-erased]

Didnt really pay attention to what felt inevitable
Spent the night with a few glasses of aberlour and spotify with the game on mute in the background

From what i can tell, same old issue with us. Opposition ran and competed harder and we went to water cos the run and gun style failed us

Still dont have the mental edge.

 

[Maxabillions]

I don’t get how we suddenly forget how to apply pressure when we’ve been doing to great effect the last few weeks. Is it a fitness thing? Sack Murphy?

 

[yodellinhank]

I don’t get how we suddenly forget how to apply pressure when we’ve been doing to great effect the last few weeks. Is it a fitness thing? Sack Murphy?

Sure, that goes without saying. At some point those at the top need to be made responsible for all these poor decisions. I'd be sacking Tanner's replacement.

 

[rumply]

Hey. I posted something similar on our board but I want some of your opinions on it. These are the heights of both teams best four midfielders imo.

Shiel - 182cm
McGrath - 178cm
Merrett - 180cm
Smith - 174cm

Bontempelli - 193cm
Macrae - 191cm
Dunkley - 190cm
Smith - 185cm

That has to be a major concern for you guys, doesn’t it? Why doesn’t Dodoro seem to draft big midfielders? I don’t think I’ve been worried about losing a centre clearance since Bev took over.

How do you fix it? I know pre draft Langford was meant to be that player. Just think it’s big in modern footy to have atleast one big midfielder.

There's a stark difference when you present it like that. Essendon circa 2020 - Short & fat...

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Hey. I posted something similar on our board but I want some of your opinions on it. These are the heights of both teams best four midfielders imo.

Shiel - 182cm
McGrath - 178cm
Merrett - 180cm
Smith - 174cm

Bontempelli - 193cm
Macrae - 191cm
Dunkley - 190cm
Smith - 185cm

That has to be a major concern for you guys, doesn’t it? Why doesn’t Dodoro seem to draft big midfielders? I don’t think I’ve been worried about losing a centre clearance since Bev took over.

How do you fix it? I know pre draft Langford was meant to be that player. Just think it’s big in modern footy to have atleast one big midfielder.

This is a good point and one I've been annoyed at for a long time. Our mids, whilst good players, are all skinny kids, basically. Bar maybe Heppell. Shiel is a good size but only 182cm~.

I was watching ANZAC Day 2018 or 19 and this one passage of play stood out to me. Just a random ball-up on the wing with the usual suspects around the contest. McGrath is in front and Tay Adams is behind him. With one MINOR nudge, McGrath went absolutely flying and out of the contest. Tay Adams wins the clearance with ease. Good luck doing that to Cripps or Cunnington. But with our mids, they're so susceptible to being ragdolled by those bigger bodies.

 

[Burzum]

Stringer, Macrae both top 10 2012, bont in ‘13 and Dunkley at #25 in 2015. Dogs have one of the best recruiting departments in the league. Rarely miss on a top 30 selection.

god i wish that was us

 

[Mr Bultitude]

Normally I get on with my weekend after a loss, but this one still stings. Will be filthy well into the week I suspect. I think the variable factor is I let myself expect the same effort and intent that I've seen the last few rounds...

 

[Red Black and Blue]

It’s a tough game to get angry at. It was obvious from before the half there were no moves we could make to change the game in our favour. Can’t draft Elite inside mids or key forwards mid game.