Pre season Rodney Eade was told a Grand Final is a pass mark, maybe it was taken out of context but what was said was said and for once in the AFL, they kept to their word as Rodney was told he was not going to get another contract for next year.
Adam Cooney is a Brownlow medallist & his best is electrifying but his knee is a worry and the question is can he return to his best? I doubt it...
However it was obvious before half way through the season that this Dogs side was not the same as the one who had played in the last three Preliminarys. Loosing Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave and Barry Hall to long term injuries did not help but to only have won three games to round 12 is embarrassing and it did not save Eade’s job.
10 kids got games into them and they unearthed a few crackers in the two ‘kids of a gun’, Dahlhaus and Tutt. These kids have potential and while most people hate listening to Jason Akermanis but he is right that this squad has holes in it and their game plan/ style needs major work. Of the clubs with no coach, I would say the Dogs have the worst list next to St Kilda and would be last on my list to coach at – at least St Kilda has money.
With no Hudson, Hall, Morris for 2012 and Harris maybe never coming back to his duel All Australian best they have major issues with their lack of key position players. Grant and Liam Jones are not forwards that defenders will loose sleep over and Roughead is still raw but looks better suited in the ruck. The usual suspects in Boyd, Cross and Griffen still have years in front of them but the next level of players have not stepped up.
EDIT: As this was published, news filtered through that Brendan McCartney will be named as the new coach. I think this is a smart move as he has a good coaching history with Essendon and Geelong but expect a few years down at the bottom unless they can pull a West Coast…
Season 2011 Snap Shot
Trade Bait
The extra draft pick for Callan Ward will be helpful next year but for this year I cannot see anyone who any club could target. Brian Lake is an obvious target but seeing his huge salary and dodgy body what club will seriously pick him up? Josh Hill was close to going last year but with another poor year the Dogs will be lucky to get a box of chocolates for him.
September 19th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Hi Jermayn,
Fair comments there. the problem is the deficiency in the 21-25 yo group. Harbow and Ward are off chasingthe $$$ and Higgins injury-prone. There will be nobody to step up to cover the significant losses that are occurring among the older group.
Among the younger group they have recruited well. problem is they will not be ready for 2-3 years. Tutt, Dalhaus, Libba, Wallis, Schofield (why did not WCE get him), Howard, Wood, Jones, Roughead, Cordy are all looking like 150-200 game players.
September 19th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Forgot to add- word is that Lake will be back but Cooney unlikely to be a consistent performer. Big decisions for the new coach.
September 20th, 2011 at 9:15 am
@Bob, The reason you do not have the 21-25 year old players is because you where chasing a premiership and you traded and drafted more senior players (plus Ward and Harbow going to GWS & GC).
The reason WCE did not pick Schofield is because:
1) they have enough running wingers/ back flankers and
2) They did not have a pick past #29 in last years draft.
Is it time then to trade Cooney?
September 20th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
@Jermayn,
St K, Geel and Coll will have exactly the same problem with a hole in their mid aged list over the next 4-5 years.
Didyou know that if taken in 2012 the Ward priority pick comes straight after the first round pick. If the Bulldogs finish bottom four that pick becomes vastly more valuable.
I would not be surpised to see th new coach off load Lake, Cooney, Hargrave, Gilbee quickly in anticipation of getting back up in 3-4 years. The draft rules make it just too attractive to load up on young players and cop some poor seasons (and lots of high picks). Finishing mid table is the worst of all worlds at the moment.
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@Bob, St Kilda yes! Geelong and Collingwood not as much imo. Both have enough talent not to bottom out totally…
Sounds like a rebuild.. I thought the team was going for a refresh of the list?