What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 2

[TheBont]

gees i thought everything else was pretty spot on.

 

[Struggle]

Roughead Dickson Hunter Redpath and Jong untouchables over McLean and Dahl? Lol

 

[Bemoreboyddog]

Untouchable is such a silly concept. If Gold Coast came to us and said we'll give you Lynch, May and our first rounder for Bontempelli, you'd take it.

Everyone is gettable at a certain price.

That being said, we should be reasonably active at the trade table this year. I'd steer clear of Lobbe and Rockliff myself (I like Rocky, just think our kids are out of form and will turn it around) but the rest IMO certainly have merit. Whitfield is intriguing. Adds much needed class to our midfield and wouldn't cost as much as a Kelly would.

 

[ScragCity]

Untouchable is such a silly concept. If Gold Coast came to us and said we'll give you Lynch, May and our first rounder for Bontempelli, you'd take it.

Everyone is gettable at a certain price.

That being said, we should be reasonably active at the trade table this year. I'd steer clear of Lobbe and Rockliff myself (I like Rocky, just think our kids are out of form and will turn it around) but the rest IMO certainly have merit. Whitfield is intriguing. Adds much needed class to our midfield and wouldn't cost as much as a Kelly would.

I'm not just saying this to be contrarian but I honestly would not take that. Is it a fair trade? Yes, obviously. It's overs for any player, including Bont. But Bont is already a club legend and what he means to fans is vital. He sells memberships. He's more than just what he does on the field, he's a brand and we worship him. What he brings to the club is intangible and what he represents is profound. He is the face of this generation of Bulldogs and that's honestly invaluable. I mostly agree about the idea of players being untouchable as bullshit, but I think Bont is the exception. I'm not saying the list managers would agree with my stance either, but I wouldn't trade him for anything on this Earth.

 

[Mutt]

I'm not just saying this to be contrarian but I honestly would not take that. Is it a fair trade? Yes, obviously. It's overs for any player, including Bont. But Bont is already a club legend and what he means to fans is vital. He sells memberships. He's more than just what he does on the field, he's a brand and we worship him. What he brings to the club is intangible and what he represents is profound. He is the face of this generation of Bulldogs and that's honestly invaluable. I mostly agree about the idea of players being untouchable as bullshit, but I think Bont is the exception. I'm not saying the list managers would agree with my stance either, but I wouldn't trade him for anything on this Earth.

Bont is our 'Franchise Player' and, as such, is probably the only truly untouchable player on our list.

 

[Ant_]

Stopped reading when he referred to Roughead as a defender

From memory his analysis from last year was half baked and mentioned Ayce Cordy

 

[hutchy31]

Doesn't say anything. A bunch of hypotheticals that will never happen just like the rest of his list 'analyses'

Gary Buckenara analyses Western Bulldogs’ needs and potential off-season targets
Gary Buckenara, Herald Sun
29 minutes ago

THERE has been a lot of talk around the Bulldogs and premiership hangovers this year but their struggles this season ultimately illustrate just how hard it is to stay at the top.

The Bulldogs have been the hunted this season — every club wants to beat the premiership team so each week you need to play at 100 per cent or you’ll get knocked off.

BAROMETER: STRINGER HAMMY BLOW

AFL DAILY: TODAY’S FOOTY NEWS

Luke Beveridge’s team is learning what teams like Hawthorn have been putting up with year after year after year. There is no easy game. Every club comes at you and you need to wear them down until you get on top.

All that puts extra pressure on players, not just physically but mentally as well.

Overall, I still think the list is pretty well balanced. They work for one another, are well coached and while not as star-studded as other sides, they play a passionate brand of footy and all players just play their roles.

What they need is back-up for their talls — defence, forward and ruck.

Tim English isn’t a hardened AFL player yet and needs support. Picture: Getty Images
The Dogs actually have a few developing talls on the list already behind players in the first 22 like Kieran Collins, Tim English and Lewis Young so what they might actually need are experienced bodies.

Fletcher Roberts is still young and so is Zaine Cordy and both those guys have been in and out of the side this year because they’re still developing. But is there pressure for spots in that area? Same goes for the ruck with Tom Campbell? They’ve had to play English but he isn’t ready for AFL footy just yet.

The Bulldogs need a genuine ruckman as they have been the club most affected by the removal of the third-man up so they can get their stoppage game going again because that was their real strength.

Bringing in a recognised ruckman will give them their structure back by sending Jordan Roughead to centre halfback, Tom Boyd to full forward and Jack Redpath there as well with one of those being the relief ruckman.

The other area that needs bolstering is across halfback. Bob Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Matthew Boyd as well most likely — they are two players who have filled that rebound defender role for years and will leave a massive hole.

THE JAKE STRINGER QUESTION

What do the Dogs do with Jake Stringer? I would consider trading him.

He has been horribly out of form and was dropped last year. He hasn’t reached the heights and potential he showed earlier last year and the year before — he has stalled a bit. I like Jake, I reckon he’s a very good player but he has been a bit up and down.

There would be interest from rival clubs and you have to consider all options. But before you did anything the club would need to be confident it could a) cover him and b) add a player that will be important for the team whether it’s structure-wise or just add more top talent to the list.

Jake Lever would be handy at the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images
WHO THE BULLDOGS SHOULD TARGET

The Dogs tried to get Matthew Lobbe from Port Adelaide a few years back and they should be in the market for him again this year to fill that ruck position. He isn’t getting a game at Port and he needs to be the No.1 ruckman, so Whitten Oval would be a great fit for him.

Lobbe’s teammate Jasper Pittard would be an ideal get to come in as a ready-made replacement for Murphy and Boyd. He is a class player — quick and uses it well, which fits in with the Bulldogs’ style. Even better he’s a free agent.

Across at West Lakes Adelaide’s Jake Lever is of interest if we believe the recent media reports. He would definitely add to that key position depth I wrote about earlier and be a walk-up start. His intercept marking is outstanding, he uses the ball well and if they can get a ruckman as well, having Lever, Roughead and Marcus Adams as the three talls down back would really shore it up.

Could Lachie Whitfield be lured out of the Giants? Picture: Getty Images
GWS midfielder Lachie Whitfield would also help them a great deal with his outside game — pace and good ball use. He’d complement the likes of Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis and the guys that win the hard ball.

Tom Rockliff would be an interesting target. Liberatore has struggled this year and Wallis is just coming back from a serious injury, so having another big body in there, who is a clearance specialist, would make that midfield mix even more dangerous. He also suits their style.

The other player the Dogs would talk to is Eric Mackenzie from West Coast. He has played of late for the Eagles but before that was really out of favour and might jump at the chance to move to a club like that Dogs who can offer him regular senior games. If the Dogs miss out on Lever he’d be a good option.




BUCKY’S UNTOUCHABLES

Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis, Lachie Hunter, Jake Stringer*, Easton Wood, Jack Macrae, Tom Boyd, Jordan Roughead, Tory Dickson, Jason Johannisen, Jack Redpath, Liam Picken, Lin Jong, Tim English, Kieran Collins.

*The Dogs would want to keep him but if they received a good offer, you’d look at it.

So just to summarise:

• Play Roughead - our best ruck - at centre half back.
• Trade Stringer (maybe).
• Get in Lobbe (a one dimensional ruck), Rockliff (a one-dimensional inside player), Pittard (no longer a need with JJ resigned and two or three other half backs developing), and McKenzie (who looks like he's aging rapidly). And Lever if we can get him.

Jesus Christ, this guy would look wacky even on the trade and list management thread of recent times.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Untouchable is such a silly concept. If Gold Coast came to us and said we'll give you Lynch, May and our first rounder for Bontempelli, you'd take it.

Everyone is gettable at a certain price.

That being said, we should be reasonably active at the trade table this year. I'd steer clear of Lobbe and Rockliff myself (I like Rocky, just think our kids are out of form and will turn it around) but the rest IMO certainly have merit. Whitfield is intriguing. Adds much needed class to our midfield and wouldn't cost as much as a Kelly would.

They're not gettable if the players don't agree.

 

[BRWB]

Untouchable is such a silly concept. If Gold Coast came to us and said we'll give you Lynch, May and our first rounder for Bontempelli, you'd take it.

Everyone is gettable at a certain price.

That being said, we should be reasonably active at the trade table this year. I'd steer clear of Lobbe and Rockliff myself (I like Rocky, just think our kids are out of form and will turn it around) but the rest IMO certainly have merit. Whitfield is intriguing. Adds much needed class to our midfield and wouldn't cost as much as a Kelly would.

I like the comment that Whitfield would 'complement' Libba.

 

[ScragCity]

So just to summarise:

• Play Roughead - our best ruck - at centre half back.
• Trade Stringer (maybe).
• Get in Lobbe (a one dimensional ruck), Rockliff (a one-dimensional inside player), Pittard (no longer a need with JJ resigned and two or three other half backs developing), and McKenzie (who looks like he's aging rapidly). And Lever if we can get him.

Jesus Christ, this guy would look wacky even on the trade and list management thread of recent times.

What a ******* rubbish article. I hope he's not getting paid to write that.

 

[Sharkey66]

Pretty much ignores that libba is on the list.
WE need another big body inside mid, ignoring the fact we already have Dunkley and got rid of one is Stevens last year.
Sounds like he had a quick skim of our threads and made some s**t up.

 

[Dav1d]

I'm shocked that he said to trade Stringer, it should be obvious that we have a lack of scoring options, especially when we don't know what's going to happen with Crameri.

I would agree that we could use some more skilled outside midfielders, but everything else is ridiculous.

 

[Dav1d]

What a ******* rubbish article. I hope he's not getting paid to write that.

Used to be Hawthorns list manager.

He rated Collins as a top 3 pick, so I'm not surprised to see him list him as an untouchable

 

[BulldogJake]

Bont is our 'Franchise Player' and, as such, is probably the only truly untouchable player on our list.

100% agreed. Sets the example on and off ground and we should pay him whatever he asks. Future captain in 3-5 years time (after wood imo) and is our best player and one of the best players in the competition.

Once he signs a multil-Million contract hopefully he invests it in cutting off his man bun. It's affecting his goal kicking this season.

 

[Metal]

Lin Jong is an untouchable!

 

[SCRAY72]

Bucky has been smoking the wacky tobacky. Absolute rubbish analysis.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Just for balance...

He does regular articles about club lists and they are all well wide of the mark. So much So, that I see that he writes it and I make a point of not reading.

It's not that he doesn't know our list. He doesn't know club lists.

 

[ThirdLegUp]

Just for balance...

He does regular articles about club lists and they are all well wide of the mark. So much So, that I see that he writes it and I make a point of not reading.

It's not that he doesn't know our list. He doesn't know club lists.

LOL "For Balance" would be a positive thing about the article. Your post would be referred to as a "Final Nail"!

 

[Ant_]

LOL "For Balance" would be a positive thing about the article. Your post would be referred to as a "Final Nail"!

Ha , HBG is a glass is half full kind of guy.

 

[Olde 54]

Isn't Bucks involved with a non-existent VFL club nowadays? Nuff said.

 

[Pugz89]

Cal Twomey has done a write-up about each club's recruiting staff. - http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-19/who-makes-the-calls-on-your-clubs-recruits

More finances for the Dogs' recruiting department in the past few years changed their philosophy to make each scout a specialist in certain areas. Having been short-staffed before then, the club found gaps were exposed in its coverage of players at AFL and junior level. But that has been tightened now, with Jason McCartney heading the department as list manager, and Dan Fisher working as the Bulldogs' pro scout. Simon Dalrymple, whose selection of Marcus Bontempelli at No.4 in the 2013 draft shaped their run to last year's premiership, is the recruiting manager, with a team of four full-timers beneath him. Jamie Downs (South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory) and Wayne McCraw (Victoria, NSW and Queensland) are the Dogs' leading recruiting officers for their respective zones, while Dave Weston is the organiser of the recruiting team. He collects all the GPS numbers and Champion Data statistics, maintains prospects' fitness and psychological profiling and plans for key events through the year. In a newer role, David Newton manages the Bulldogs' Next Generation Academy, seeing him identify possible prospects in the club's specified areas. They have 10 part-time staff.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

That's interesting. All those experienced full-time staff, combing the country, having the advantage of the latest technology to constantly monitor likely lads, make our amateur observations and "let's move heaven and earth to get ...." look a bit .

 

[Freshwater]

Did anyone hear James Brayshaw yesterday on MMM say "the Bontempellis, the Pretraccas, they never get to good clubs" ? He was saying that the Kangaroos are this wonderful club that never 'bottoms out!' I was flicking through the stations driving to the hardware shop when I heard this drivel and jealousy. We hardly 'bottomed out', we got pick 4, chose wisely and went back up the ladder. This is the same guy who last year didn't rate Bont and was quickly put back in his place by all the others in the box at the time. Dunstall and Judd if I can remember. Between him and Barrett their jealousy is oozing out of them.

 

[King Harold]

Did anyone hear James Brayshaw yesterday on MMM say "the Bontempellis, the Pretraccas, they never get to good clubs" ? He was saying that the Kangaroos are this wonderful club that never 'bottoms out!' I was flicking through the stations driving to the hardware shop when I heard this drivel and jealousy. We hardly 'bottomed out', we got pick 4, chose wisely and went back up the ladder. This is the same guy who last year didn't rate Bont and was quickly put back in his place by all the others in the box at the time. Dunstall and Judd if I can remember. Between him and Barrett their jealousy is oozing out of them.

Surely he didn't say that ? That's down right Trumpish !

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Did anyone hear James Brayshaw yesterday on MMM say "the Bontempellis, the Pretraccas, they never get to good clubs" ? He was saying that the Kangaroos are this wonderful club that never 'bottoms out!' I was flicking through the stations driving to the hardware shop when I heard this drivel and jealousy. We hardly 'bottomed out', we got pick 4, chose wisely and went back up the ladder. This is the same guy who last year didn't rate Bont and was quickly put back in his place by all the others in the box at the time. Dunstall and Judd if I can remember. Between him and Barrett their jealousy is oozing out of them.

I literally just finished posting about him in another thread. He's the worst, bar none.