In the next few weeks until the start of the 2009 season on 26th March 2009 we will review in depth every 16 clubs starting in no specific order, we now introduce Western Bulldogs.
After Kick2Kick reviews each club, the writers will give their full season 2009 predictions. If you would like to review a team, please contact us.
Mitch Hahns toughness & goal kicking is much needed for the Bulldogs
What Happened Last Year
The best thing that happened to the Dogs in season ’08 was getting smashed by the Hawks in week one of the finals. It was the wake up call they needed and snapped them out of the notion that they could simply turn their form on and off like a tap. The Dogs burst out of the blocks in ’08 losing only one match in the first 15 rounds before a last quarter thumping from the Cats dented their confidence and form.
They stumbled into the top 4 and played like a deer stuck in the headlights against the rampaging Hawthorn. So often Bulldogs teams have packed it in when the pressure gets too much but they were able to rebound and hold tight against the battle hardened Swans before putting in their best performance of the season against the Cats in the Prelim. They held Geelong to only 23 scoring shots; there lowest since their Round 9 debacle against the Pies, and had more than enough chances to take the game right down to the wire.
The New Season
It is this defensive mindset that the Dogs need to carry into the 2009 season. The last time a Premiership side conceded more than 2000 points in a home and away season was the ‘Roos in 1999. It is no secret that a solid defence is the key to a flag and the Dogs have conceded 2000 points plus every year since, oddly enough, 1999. The Bulldogs midfield was super last season and improved in the contested ball area greatly. Their attack was ranked second behind only the Cats.
The Western Bulldogs are not that far off the top 2 teams in Hawthorn and Geelong. They have two bull at a gate Ruckmen who contest all day, a super classy, polished and skilled midfield as well as an efficient and balanced attack. (6 players contributed more than 30 goals in ’08) If they can show the kind of defensive effort that they displayed in the last two weeks of the finals then they will again figure until deep into September.
Likely Finish: Top 4
Players to Watch
Shaun Higgins – After a ripping pre-season Higgins looks set to explode into the midfield this season. Sublime skills, lethal around goal and an excellent decision maker. Higgins has all the attributes to be a future captain.
Dylan Addison - Drafted in the same year as Higgins. He looks to have sharpened up his skills as well as adding to his frame. Is strong and brave and barring injury he will nail down a permanent spot in the back six.
Ryan Griffen a super skillful player but needs to go to the next level and add some hardness to his play
Need to Improve
Brian Lake – Best and Fairest in 2007, extremely disappointing in 2008. He is the best one on one, contested marking Full Back in the comp. He is however, the worst at covering a lead. He is so often caught napping, especially in the first quarter of games. If he can lift his concentration and intensity levels the Dogs defence; and therefore entire side, will improve
Ryan Griffen – The missing link in the midfield. His run and carry is breathtaking but the hardness and defensive side of his game is lacking. If he can take his game to the next level the Dogs will have the perfect midfield balance; the hardness and contested ball skills of Cross and Boyd, the explosiveness and skill of Cooney and Griffen and the emergence of young Higgins who has the potential to do it all. With the passing of his Father over summer as a spur, he should be looking to push himself towards the Best and Fairest award.
List Cloggers
Wade Skipper - This guy has had more chances then my liver when i was 18. He has stayed on the list purely because of his height. With the emergence of Grant, Cordy and Roughead on the horizon it is now or never.
Cameron Wight - Will start third in line for CHB given Tiller’s form in the finals and Williams being the first option. Has been at the club longer than both those boys so is starting from a long way back and I just don’t think he has what it takes to go past them.
Your Views
What do you think of the Bulldogs in season 2009? Did they recruit well? Are they a chance for the top four and will they challenge for a Grand Final spot?
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March 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I guess we have to agree to disagree about the balanced attack Deano as I fully believe you need a big man to contest when the going gets tough. I do like Girra and Murphy down there but imagine how much better they would be if they had a gorilla down there???
Everyone seems to be talking up Shaun Higgins this year, talk about pressure. Even heard one person talk about him as a young Cousins
lets hope he does not completely follow in his footsteps.
Enjoyed your review Deano and I have to say that I agree with most of what you write. However with the emergence of Carlton, it may be a bit harder to finish top four…
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March 7th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
A season Review in March? Wow!!! Do you have a time machine? While most are doing PREVIEWS this time of year, you are reviewing already! Ballsy move, dude!
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..AFL Poll of the Week – Should the AFL change rules to stop Ugly/Zoning Footy?
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March 9th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Yes guess I probably should use the word Preview instead..
Thanks for the correction
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March 9th, 2009 at 8:59 am
“Even heard one person talk about him as a young Cousins
lets hope he does not completely follow in his footsteps.”
What I actually wrote was that Higgins reminded me of Cousins in the way he moved and kicked. That aside, isn’t it about time to give Cousins a chance to redeem himself?, cut him some Christian slack?
aussierulesblogs last blog post..The Bowden Rule . . .
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March 9th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Ouch AussieRulesBlog, yes you are right that Cousins does need to cop some slack from me.
I think if Higgins can be half the man Cousins has become (Premiership player, Captain, Brownlow, AA 4+ times, F&B 3+ times, Rising Star), The Doggies would be happy. I like his heart the best..
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March 11th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
i read with interest jermayn that you think the Dogs don’t have a balanced attack yet you think Carlton will push for top4. Last Season Carlton’s leading goalkicker after Fev was Betts with 25. The Dogs seventh highest goal scorer was Cooney with 23. The Blues had only 5 guys kick over 15 goals for the season while the Dogs had 12. Is that not balnced enough for you? Everyone contributes. The Blues will need to find at least three or four other consistent avenues to goal before they can be rated a top 4 chance. As has been discussed before, while they may have a super key position forward he cannot carry them to a flag off his own back.
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March 12th, 2009 at 8:46 am
My Carlton preview actually states excatly what you have said (in a round about way) where I state that if Carlton want to make the top four (or top 6) they need to find other avenues for goals through Cloke, Simpson, Yarren, Judd etc as Fevola cannot be expected to do it all by himself.
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March 19th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I think the bulldogs will benefit from having a tall forward/marking option down in the forward half to really give the smaller guys an even better chance,
I disagree that Brian Lake needsdrastic improvement, he just needs help, Morris and Lake/Harris have been holding down the backline for too long with other backmen coming and going, the bulldogs need another key backman to be consistently there to lend a hand, Hargrave is helpful but not a key player,and Tim Callan is also a very handy player to have around
i also think that Lake should maybe be tried up forward, afterall thats what he was recruited as, only later was he turned into a defenceman.
Bulldogs have a great chance at the premiership this year but i still think one major flaw with them (and most teams) is that their star players aren’t made to really earn their spot, especially when they have a few quiet games,
i say drop them and bring in a player whos hungry for some game time…that’ll make them work for their position
also watch for Callan Ward this year, showed some real promise last year and could be a big player in the future…
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March 19th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@SunCity_Royal – Lake and Morris just need to accept their defensive roles, you really only need two key defenders and the doggies have them in Lake and Morris. I do think Morris can be exposed too much by his size though.
btw good to see an old reader coming back for the new season SunCity_Royal…
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March 19th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
lake was best and fairest in ’07 and didn’t make top 10 in ’08. he needs to improve. he could be AA full back if he stayed switched on but he gets caught napping too much and it has nothing to do with the help around him.
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March 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yes he does need improvement but not drastic imporvement like i previoulsy stated. but it is true that when players around you are not consistently there or aren’t helping out as much it makes it difficult to stay focused. i know for a fact, having been a defneder for 10 years, that when a team-mate isn’t staying on his man, it unsettles you especially when that player is getting free alot and you have to cover him as well as your own player, yes he does get caught napping alot but he also does a fantastic job at one on ones and pack contests.
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March 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
you see the thing is, in 2007 the Dogs finished bottom four and had a massive amount of goals kicked on them and Lake managed to win the best and fairest and had a super season, last season our ruck division, midfield pressure and backline improved so he had more help then he has ever had. the time has come for him to be switched on from the first minute, be the leader of the backline and turn himself into an All Australian full back which he is more then capable of.
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