In the next few weeks until the start of the 2010 season on 25th March 2010 we will review in depth every 16 clubs. Starting off with Fremantle and now we look at the Bulldogs who by many are favourite to play in the first Grand Final for 50 odd years.
Barry Hall may not be the typical saviour to many but just maybe he is the missing piece for the Bulldogs in season 2010.
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, we will give their full season 2010 predictions like we did last year. If you would like to review a team or something else, please contact us.
What happened last year
When there is less then 2 minutes to play in the Prelim and you are one straight kick away from making an elusive GF, playing against a team which lost only two games for the year then you know that you have had a very, very good season.
Despite some dodgy calls from the men in yellow the Dogs, in the end, only had themselves to blame for missing out on that last Saturday in September. 2 goals 5 when the game was up for grabs in the first quarter and 3 goals 4 after halftime, whilst their opponents kicked 6 straight, was what ultimately led to the Doggies painful demise.
Elite sports teams and sports people take their chances when the opportunity presents itself. This is all that stands between the Bulldogs and the end of a very, very long journey.
What needs to happen
Over summer I picked up a copy of Andre Agassi’s “Open” which provided a fascinating insight into the mind of a man who won 8 tennis ‘majors’. He described the difference between he and Pete Sampras as being the ability to win the big points and being able to close out the match. He mentioned that if Pete was ever serving for the match then it was as good as over. ‘A cold blooded killer’ was the term he used and it really is true, the greats of any sport have that ‘killer instinct’. Tiger has it, Federer has it, Jordan had it, the Hawks of the 80′s, Eagles of the early 90′s, Lions of the early 00′s and Cats of the last few years have had it in spades as well.
The ability to lift when you are challenged and knock them out when you get your chance is what elevates the greats from the also rans.
It is time for the Doggies to drop the excuses and shrug off the tag of ‘everybody’s second team’ and become cold blooded killers. Johnson, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Gilbee and Higgins all missed gettable chances during the finals that would have put the Dogs a step closer to the big one. This has to change. Anything less then a GF berth will be seen as a failed season.
Likely Finish: Top Two
Players To Watch
Callan Ward: His insatiable appetite for the contest is matched by his unbridled courage and enthusiasm. With sharp skills, an accute sense of the goals and most importantly a strong will to learn and improve this guy strengthens an already elite midfield.
Andrejs Everitt: By all reports he has lifted his intensity and focus off the track and hopefully this turns things around for him on the track. With his size and athleticism he could one day play the Adam Goodes floating midfield/forward role and do it very well. If he can have a breakout season this year then mark the Dogs down as Grand Finallists.
Need To Improve
Robert Murphy: 16 possies and 9 marks in the ’09 Prelim and 23 possies and 16 marks in the ’08 Prelim as a lead up CHF should have been enough of the footy to create the chances for the Dogs to progress. For a man of his skill he has butchered the football in the Dogs’ two biggest games of the last two seasons. Leg problems have been blamed but when your team relies on precision kicking and you can’t kick properly then you are a liability and letting your teammates down by even being out there.
Josh Hill: Went missing in the finals series and dropped his head in the ‘two’s’ the following week which ended his ’09 campaign. Is super talented and a wonderful contested mark. The presence of Barry Hall should help him enormously but he still needs to apply himself at all times.
Bench Warmers
Tom Williams: Will never be right body wise and lacks footy smarts when he is out there. Another wasted top 10 pick from the Doggies.
Tim Callan: His teammates love him but his skill and decision making in tight games is crucial and more often than not he gets it wrong.
The Burning Questions
- Can the Doggies improve enough to go past the Saints and Cats and finally take that last step?
- Will the teams below them in Coll, Adel and Bris find enough improvement to go past them?
- Will Barry Hall be a help or hindrance?
- Do Johnno and Aker have enough left in the tank to display their magic come September?
- Will the youngsters be good enough to step up if they get some serious injury concerns?
What do you think of the Doggies for season 2010? Will they make the Grand Final? Or will it be another wasted year with hope, promise, then frustration after another good year yet failing to make the Grand Final? Let us know….
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
To be honest I do not know if the Dogs can improve to go past the Saints and or the Cats but I reckon Geelong will decrease as they have a slower start and I doubt St Kilda can have another season like 2009. So top two is a real possibility….
I think for one more season yes but apart from that? No, the good thing with Hall coming in is that it takes the pressure of Johnno and Aker who are on their last legs imo.
What im interested in Deano, is what happens in 2011? Aker, Johno and a few others will most likely retire or be moved on so are their players left who can keep them in the finals?
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Hi,
What’s your email.
Just want to get in contact with you about writing some articles
Cheers
Liam
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March 3rd, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Honestly mate there is a feeling out there that the window of opportunity is closing for the Dogs but my gut tells me that it will be open for quite a while longer yet.
The core group of Gia, Murphy, Boyd, Cross, Lake, Morris, Hargrave, Gilbee, Hahn still have at least 4 years left.
Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Harbrow, Hill, Minson, Ward and Picken are all under 25.
The x factor will come from the young group of talls we have coming through. Grant is 20, a top 5 draft pick and a remarkable athlete. Williams is 23, was late to play AFL and was picked between Buddy and Jordan Lewis. Liam Jones has just turned 19, played schoolboy footy last year and was ultra impressive against Lake in intra club match, can mark it. Jordan Roughead is 19, was more then competetive against NicNat at U/18 level, stands 200cm and 92kg and by all reports is still growing. Ayce Cordy is 19, is very raw but exciting and athletic and was considered by some as a top5 selection (we got him at 14 under F/S).
If a couple or all of these guys can come through then the Dogs will have a solid spine for the next 10 years. When you consider that at the end of this year when teams are struggling for decent draft picks because of GC17 the dogs will get two guys who would have been top 25 picks last year in Liberatore and Wallis then the future looks bright for this year, next year and beyond.
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March 4th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Apart from Cooney, Higgins, Lake, Hargrave and Gilbee those players you have mentioned have not taken that next step up, so why I think the ‘window’ will close is because when Aker, Johno, Hall and Eagleton retire (which will be in the near future) will that be the start of the rebuilding stage?
I do agree that you have a good future with the talls of Cordy, Grant & Roughead.
btw I see you mention Liberatore & Wallis, when are you recruiting them and what type of players are they? I guess Libba jnr wont be a Key position player.. and will ‘the father and son bidding rule’ effect you picking them up as a low pick?
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March 4th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
You are a harsh man Jerm…
Boyd and Morris are All Australians, Cross is a B&F winner, Gia is up there with the best Goal Assist men in the league. Not taken the next step???? very, very harsh.
Harbrow was in the short list for AA last year whilst Ward, Picken and Hill are very, very good youngsters and Griffen was our best player in the finals last year.
Re Libba and Wally Jnr’s:
Thomas Liberatore
181cm/68kg
Liberatore currently is one of the best in-and-under midfielders at junior level. He played for Vic Metro at the 2008 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships and also played three matches for calder at the end of the 2008 season. In 2009 he played 13 matches in the TAC cup which included a premiership. Despite missing nine games he won 38 more hardball-gets than any other cannons player and 28 more clearances, highlighting his elite inside work. His averages of 24 disposals including 18 effective, 13 contested possesions, seven clearances and six tackles per match were all in the elite bracket.
FREAKO: Averaged six tackles and seven clearances in his junior career so far. remind you of anyone?
Mitch Wallis
183cm/71kg
He was an elite ball winner for Calder in the TAC Cup last season, averaging 26 disposals – the most of any player not eligible for the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. His averages for disposals, disposal efficiency, uncontested possesions, clearances and inside 50s were all elite. He had a purple patch during the season when he racked up 99 disposals in three matches, including 38 and 17 contested possesions against Sandringham in Round 18.
FREAKO: Absolute ball magnet. Will be a popular fantasy pick in 2011.
Info courtesy of the AFL Prospectus’ guide to the top 25 youngsters of the 2010 TAC Cup.
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March 5th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Maybe I am harsh but Bob raises a few good points. The best players are the older players week in and week out, if you looked at the Hawks in 2008, Crawford was a similar age and he added a lot but he was not the best player week in and week out, he played a lesser (but still important role). You look at the Eagles in 2006, Banfield was the same, vitally important but not the best player week in and week out.
For you guys, Cross, Griffen etc are all good players but at the moment they look like ‘bit players’ where Aker, Eagleton, Johno & Hall are almost the most important players in the squad. That imo is the only worrying problem with the Dogs. Although in saying that Hargraves, Lake, Boyd and Cooney have imo taken that step up.
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March 5th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Sorry, last year was our chance and we blew it. I look at teams like Adel, Ess, Coll, Carl and see they will be getting a lot better in the next 2-3 years whilst really we only have 4-5 players at most who will continue to improve.
Last year our leading goal scorers were all the wrong side of 30. It will be a long season for those guys.
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March 6th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@Bob – that’s the spirit mate, we have one of the best squads going around, older players, younger players and those inbetween and that is the attitude you have…two thumbs up for you buddy.
@Jerm – why do i get the feeling you are trying to bait me???
2009 Top 5 in our B&F
1.Boyd
2.Cross
3.Morris
4.Johnson
5.Lake
2008 Top 5 in our B&F
1.Cross
2.Cooney
3.Boyd
4.Morris
5.Giansiracusa
As you can see not an Eagleton, Akermanis or Hall in sight, please try to remember that fact and opinion are two very seperate things…
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March 8th, 2010 at 8:47 am
@Deano bit hard for Hall to win a B&F when he is playing for the Swans
I get what your saying but Aker, Eagleton & Johno have the game breaking ability where they can lift the team, do something brilliant (more Aker & Johno) and help win the game. Gia, Cooney and Murphy have the ability and have done it occasionally but they have yet done it regularly.
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March 7th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Wow what a surprise…Jermayn is being EXTREMELY critical of the bulldogs…where have i seen this before…hmmm…oh yes thats right my entire life…
Don’t worry about it Deano because the fact is that the Bulldogs are in the premiership window now…generally the window is 3-4 years…Essendon 99, 00, 01…Brisbane 01, 02, 03, 04…Geelong 07, 08, 09 & more than likely 10. even go back into the nineties and Hawks, West Coast even Adelaide were up and about for 3-4 years. Last year was our first I think, in 08 we were over acheivers and very inexperienced. so that means 09, 10, 11 & maybe 12.
And like you said we have a good mixture of players, i agree that this is our best chance at a flag, Aker, Eagleton and Johnno may not be around next year…but we still have a chance with them not around.
The stupidest thing i have read in this blog is that with them gone we will need to rebuild…are you a complete idiot? How will we need to rebuild next year or even the year after? We have a solid defense (Williams would help alot) A very good to brilliant midfield (especially with Griffen seeming to be stepping up and Higgins in for a big few years) the only spot where we will lose out is the forward line/wings with Hall, Johhno, Aker and Eagleton gone, but as you mentioned we have other players in the wings who will be able to fill those gaps, and lets not forget you can actually recruit other current players to help replace departed players.
Also I believe Murphy does need to improve a bit, but the difference with him this year is he has had a full pre season and that makes a giant difference.
Ant @Bob…Collingwood are a nothing team as long as they have Malthouse and refuse to address the gaps in their team, Carlton have no forward line really…and Essendon are where the dogs were about 4 years ago. Adelaide are probably the only team out of those who will be a threat in the next year or two. And in case you didn’t know, our top 4 goal scorers were all on the right side of 30, and 15 of our players all were in double figures
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March 8th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
“@Deano bit hard for Hall to win a B&F when he is playing for the Swans”
Exactly, hence my surprise when you mentioned him being, along with Eagleton, Aker and Johnno, the most important players at our club and that they are the best players week in and week out. Bit hard to be one of the most important players at our club and in the best week in week out when he hasn’t played a meaningful game yet!!!
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March 8th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Deano and Mike- hope you guys are right, Aker and Johnson were so good last year and Gia, Griffen, Minson, Hahn all frustrate the hell out of me- so much talent but haven’t made the step up.
Last season was the most heartbreaking thing I saw all year- we had the best team, best coach, best captain but do you think we could do it when it counts? Instead we let a heap of has-been big heads (Geelong) take the flag. The 2009 Geelong would been annihilated if they had to play the 2007 Geelong.
Sorry I saw this happen in 1997-8. 1999 was supposed to be our year then Essendon and Brisbane came along to make sure no one got in look in or the next half a decade.
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March 9th, 2010 at 11:03 am
@Bob I agree, Griffen, Minson and Hahn frustrated me at times but i wouldnt agree about Gia. Last year he consistently kicked goals and had goal assists. He isn’t an overly flashy player (granted he does have talent) and I agree he could work harder but i think his contributions week in week out are more than suffcient. Griffen looks good, i watched all the NAB cup games so far and he is showing some real signs that he is much improved on the last few years, he is working harder than ever (might have something to do with the comments Rocket made about this year being do or die for him and basically saying if he doesn’t preform he won’t be kept)
I disagree somewhat that we were the best team, on paper possibly, but (and it pains me to say this) we were lacking a player in the forward line who could stand up, take a contested mark and win a game for us when we were in dire straits. We now have Hall who showed he can do exactly that (vs Port Power NAB Cup semi-final)
And we should have been in the grand final last year, and maybe could have even won it, but i think this year the team has more finals experience, more depth, more confidence and it is more of a complete team than last year.
And i remember 97-98 even though i was young, and it broke my heart but this year the only teams i think that are in contention are: The Dogs, Geelong, St Kilda and maybe Collingwood (who generally choke), and Adelaide (who have an injury list bigger than Sam Newman’s head). And we have proven we can beat 3 out of those four teams, and this year we will be able to beat St Kilda as well. And if Reiwoldt takes another dive someone should shoot him!
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March 9th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Did you see the dive by Griffen on Friday night? If he didnt get sighted for that, there is no way Riewoldt will EVER get sighted for his dives.
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March 9th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@BOB – I remember those years like they were yesterday. We rose up from second last in ’96 to be the best team in it in ’97. We blew that chance.
In ’98 we were again the best team in it (with north) but were spent mentally and physically by the time September came around. We had to play Rohan Smith on Robran in the prelim who duly kicked 6 or 7 when the year previous Ellis had held him virtually kickless.
In ’99 we were once again probably the best side in it but unfortunate circumstances got us. We copped a shocking storm for the first final against WCE which reduced the game to an absolute scrapfest with them coming out on top by less then a kick. In week two we had to travel to Brisbane (despite finishing top4, this does not happen now…)and face the team that was about to do some awesome things a few years down the track and got beaten. North went on to win that flag and the only time we played them that season we absolutely belted them.
So yeah you are right this sort of thing has happened in the past but i can honestly say that this is the best group of Bulldogs i have seen in my 30 years and the toughest. Remember North made 7 consecutive Prelims in the 90′s for two flags. If we make the next 10 Prelims and only snatch one flag i will die a happy man.
The more times we put ourselves in the right spot the more chance we have of reaching the ultimate destination.
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Re: Minson, Griffen, Gia and Hahn
Hahn is the size of a midfielder and has kicked 72 goals and laid 167 tackles in the last two seasons, what more could you want from him???
Minson is 23 and it is widely regarded that ruckmen don’t hit their straps until about this age. He has been forced to play a makeshift full forward role when he is clearly a ruckman and that is all. You won’t see the best of him until Hudson retires. Remember how frustrating Luke Darcy was until Scotty Wynd retired?
Griffen is still only 23…Judging from his finals performances last year and the way he has started this year he is ready to go.
Gia kicks goals and sets them up better then anyone in the comp. ’nuff said
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March 9th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
@Jermayn I will concede that he did act but if you watch the replay you will see clearly that he was held and it was a clear free kick. The difference between that and Riewoldt is that there was no free kick to begin with, he completely created one
@Deano…Hahn has the tendencey to go missing sometimes when he is really needed, that’s why he frustrates me
Minson is generally all over the place, don’t get me wrong i’m one of his biggest fans, but i agree with what you said about his age, hopefully this year and next will be a breakout.
Griffen honestly apart from say a couple of games last year and the nab cup this year has been fairly useless. But like i said above, he looks like he is working hard…let’s hope he continues that well into the season…
and I already stated that I think that there is definately nothing wrong with him…but like all the dogs players this year he needs to work hard and maintain that through the season.
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March 9th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Nah sorry Mike, I cannot say how you think the free kick to Griffen was there, it was blatantly an act but to me it just goes to show why this ‘new rule’ is a joke. There is no way you can police it, I think it was staging yet you do not and I am sure some Saints supporters think Riewoldt did not act…
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March 9th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
ok Jermayn seeing you seem to know it all, go and look at the AFL highlights on the website, the 25th minute and watch the replay, Griffen is tackled from behind (being pulled back), if you freeze it, the ball has come out, it is clearly on the ground but Dominic Cassisi still has hold of Griffen’s are and therefore continuing to be pulled back, Cassisi lets go, Griffen continues to fall back and then throws up his arms to emphasize the fact he was being held without it. A bit of acting but guess what? it was a free kick, and the commentator even said he held on a fraction too long…
And in regards to the Reiwoldt free kick, if you actually go back and watch it you can see clearly that Brian Lake runs off Kosi, bumps Reiwoldt (which by the way happens all the time in Footy) Reiwoldt takes the impact, stays on his feet for a second and then crumples to the ground. Was it a free kick? no it was a clear BLATANT dive.
Like i said, Griffen is guilty of some acting or emphasizing a soft free kick, Reiwoldt on the other hand is guilty of acting and creating a free kick
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March 10th, 2010 at 7:57 am
acting is acting….
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March 9th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Sorry i should add that Griffen continues to fall back because of a little thing called gravity no so much him deliberately falling over
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March 12th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Thaks Mike,
I mention those guys because they are the key to us improving. I can’t see Lake, Morris, Hargrave playing any better than did last year (they don’t need to) and Johnno, Aker, Eagleton will probably play more in bursts from now given they will cop more injuries.
The four mentioned all had big wraps after their first season and are now in the better than average category- they keep their places because the put in the occasional spectacular performance.
Are they going to be premiership players- maybe but they have only a year or two to reach their full potential.
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March 12th, 2010 at 9:16 am
PS I think what jermayn is saying is that the umps wouldn’t have clue what happened and decide on what the think happened. I wouldn’t be defending Griffen.
Guys like Riewaldt and Lloyd who spend half their careers falling over only end up shooting themselves in the foot- the ump’s know they are going to cop it if they give them a free and they become marked men as far as the crowd is concerned. You didn’t see Lockett or Ablett staging, they knew they were good enough without help (though I never saw many defenders scragging them to be fair!).
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March 13th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
im not an acker fan whats with his hair and beard…now that needs improving…
i think doggies will b a driving force this year n could even take home a premiership if they can keep the raging bulldog hall undercontrol and get by without too many major injuries
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March 14th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Great result for the Doggies last night. Hall is not going to kick 7 every week, but he provides a much different focus up forward and straighten the midfield up.
I’m coming late to this discussion, but @ Jermayn:
blatantly an act but to me it just goes to show why this ‘new rule’ is a joke.
You might not remember, but in the discussion after the ‘new rule’ was announced, I suggested it would never apply to marking or contested ball situations (on AussieRulesBlog and on Kick2Kick). The video accompanying the AFL’s announcement clearly showed that ‘diving’, or exaggerating an illegal contact were NOT within the scope of the interpretation. If, on the other hand, a player exaggerates a legal contact with the intent of ‘milking’ a free kick (whether the ball is in proximity or not), these new santions will come into play. So, save yourself angst and don’t hang by your thumbs waiting for forwards exaggerating a touch in the back to be sanctioned — it’s just not going to happen under the current rules/interpretations.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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March 14th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
@AussieRulesBlog – I understand what your saying but was not Griffen (using your words) exaggerating a legal contact with the intent of ‘milking’ a free kick (whether the ball is in proximity or not). It should not matter if its a marking or contested ball situation.
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March 15th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
@ Jermayn: As Mike noted above, he was held when he DIDN’T HAVE POSSESSION — in the umpire’s assessment — therefore IT’S an illegal contact and he’s free to GIVE THE UMPS A SHOW. I’m not arguing that this is MORALLY right, just that it’s how the incident will be seen by the umpires and MRP. If you’re looking for moral rectitude, you’re watching the wrong sport — try chess or tiddlywinks.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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March 16th, 2010 at 8:48 am
But if he did not extend the arms and show his hold, would he have gotten a free kick? I would say no, it was the stage that got him the free kick and changed the umpires reaction from play on to a free kick.
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Jermayn, unless you’re the umpire, standing at ground level rather than watching through the sometimes deceptive lens of a TV telephoto, you don’t know. Griffen ‘may’ have attracted the umpire’s attention, but the illegal hold had to be there too. It’s not a failure of the new rule.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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March 17th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Again like an argument we have had before, are you wanting umpires to pay free kicks that they “may have” seen? Should it not be that ONLY the obvious/ clearly (see the whole situation) seen incidents that they pay the free kick for.
If there is a shadow of doubt, leave it & play on.
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March 17th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Jermayn, I agree 100% that umpires musn’t be guessing or assuming. But you don’t KNOW that the umpire in this instance wasn’t already looking at Griffen. Equally, you don’t KNOW that the umpire wasn’t looking a few degrees away, saw a movement in his peripheral vision and then focussed on Griffen.
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..The comedy of errors rolls on
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