Comments on: Western Bulldogs 2009 Season Report

By: Geelong Cats 2009 Season Report | Expert AFL Tips, Games & DreamTeam reviews along with featured AFL articles.

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:54:45 +0000

[...] Hawks. Essendon Bombers finished 8th then we had Carlton, Brisbane, Adelaide, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs then St Kilda and Geelong who won the 2009 premiership. Gary Ablett jnr finally wins a brownlow [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:41:00 +0000

We need to get more out of Griffen, Gia even Cooney- though I suspect all 3 played the season with injuries.
You have to congratulate the guys that played in defence this year. Hargrave, Morris and Lake not the most talented but definitely the most underrated.
Next year the competition will be hotter than ever- Adel, Carl, Bris, Haw will be on a mission- luck (keeping everyone fit) plays a big part of it.

By: Deano

Deano — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:51:02 +0000

Good Season from the boys, just a couple of things from me
1. The Dogs had a goal to behinds differential of +79 which was the best in the comp by 10 goals, plus we hit the post more then any other team in history so the radar is pretty good, Our accuracy was only an issue against the other top4 teams(and the eagles but the less said about that day the better!!!) so perhaps we need to look at refining our goalkicking skill under intense pressure.
2. After the debacle of which was the first quarter of the QF against the Cats the Dogs conceded an average of 15 points per quarter over their last 11 quarters of footy(and in the heat of what has been a pressure packed finals series). To put this in perspective the St.Kilda side which is statistically the best defensive side of all time conceded 16 points a quarter throughout the H&A Season. It is this defensive mindset that the Dogs need to carry through to next season. It has been widely proven that it is defense that wins you premierships…
3. In ’08 the Dogs learnt what it took to make a prelim, in ’09 they have learned what it takes to make a GF, In ’10 the only thing that can stop them from going even further is themselves. If this group can hold on to what they are feeling now and carry it through to next season then they will be very, very hard to beat.

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:45:32 +0000

Well they have a KPP forward who will give players like Cordy, Roughead & Grant even more time to step up and like you say if Hall can become a foil and another option, it will give your forward line even more potency and I would say maybe even the best forward line next to Hawthorns in the competition.

One down side is that next year its a win or break season. You will have three of the four or five oldest guys in the competition in Aker, Johnno & Hall only out shined by Richo.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:11:02 +0000

no worries lol….

i think that Hall would be a handy addition to our team as long as he doesn’t become our only target up forward, one of our strengths is that we always hit up different players, Hall needs to become just another option up forward (and a the main option in bombed in big pack contests) but the dogs cannot afford to make him the only option.

and if we do get Hall (which seems an almost certainty), honestly the only two weaknesses i think we would have, is our inaccuracy at goals….and players not giving a 100% and being a team player, guys like griffen even akermanis (if they continue on) need to give 100% and play to their potential more often than not…

i hope Aker and Johnno go on, Eagleton as much as i admire him, it might be time to move on and let a young guy like reid or even addison take over

minson is improving every year and Cordy and roughead are on the way and will hopefully fill the 2nd ruckman/ forward role in the coming years, i think the dogs are similar to the geelong side a couple of years back. give it a year or two and they may well be just as good as the cats are now
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net =-.

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:59:09 +0000

Thanks for that addition Mike, I will add that when I get some time to update the original post!

I think the Dogs will be a better side with Hall, they have a young enough side to push for finals and not worry about this year being the last un-compromised draft.

Apart from a KPP forward can anyone else see any weakness in the side? I cannot, maybe the ruck with Minson still a bit player and Hudson ageing but Cordy & Roughead are ruckman first and forwards second, so that looks ok.
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By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:28:18 +0000

Just to correct the “Trade Bait/Goodbyes”

Paul O’Shea, Cameron Wight and Wayde Skipper have all been advised they will not be retained, and the dogs will look to trade them

also interesting to note that Barry Hall “apparently” has been offered a 2 year deal with the dogs, the story as published on AFL website below

http://www.afl.com.au/news/blogarticle/tabid/8123/newsid/85253/default.aspx
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net =-.