Western Bulldogs: From A Bark To A Whimper…

The Western Bulldogs have been a team on the rise over the last few years and 2008 was shaping up to be a better year than even the long suffering Bulldogs fans could have imagined.  The Bulldogs had effectively sewn up a top four spot not long after the halfway point of the season.  The Bulldogs were playing an irresitable brand of football, consisting of teamwork, speed and sublime skills.  But then, as happened in 2007, the wheels began to fall off.

The Bulldogs entered the finals with the double chance, but on the back of a 2-7 record to finish up the home and away season.  Many attributed their loss of form to psychological reasons after Geelong handed them a 10 goal defeat after what was a close and promising match for three quarters, but this explanation seems a little far fetched considering the Bulldogs similar loss of form in the last half of the 2007 season.

Friday the 5th of September saw the Dogs take on the Hawks in the Qualifying Final.  Hawthorn ran out comfortable winners, with Lance Franklin putting on a show and the Hawthorn midfield making the Bulldogs look second rate.  Whilst Hawthorn were understandable favourites – despite being downed by the Dogs earlier in the year – it was the manner in which the Bulldogs were despatched that has Bulldog fans and the football world at large asking questions.

Daniel Cross amassed an amazing 39 disposals in what was a superb individual effort.  Cross got down back to help out a besieged backline and was the only Bulldog player who looked to have any effect around the stoppages.  Ryan Griffen also impressed, being one of the rare Bulldog players who not only looked likely of breaking a tackle, but was prepared to try and make something happen with some run and carry.  As for the rest?  Well, that’s where the microscope is being directed.

Brad Johnson was virtually missing in action in a game where leaders needed to stand up.  With all due respect to Johnson, who has been an incredible player throughout his career, he had an ordinary outing on Friday night.  Rodney Eade obviously got some match-ups wrong; Akermanis on Rioli and the undersized Morris on Franklin being the two most noticeable.  Such errors in judgement are acceptable and forgivable, so long as they are corrected in a timely fashion.  Unfortunately, this is where Rocket Eade failed.

The damage had already been done, with the Hawks cruising out to a seven goal lead before Lake was moved onto Franklin and Akermanis was pushed forward.  It was too late to win the match though; and the moves and rotations from that point on proved to be nothing more than damage control.

It isn’t the loss to Hawthorn which has Bulldogs fans up in arms, it’s the deficiencies that haven’t been adequately addressed that become all so visible when such losses and such prolonged lapses in form occur.  It has been common knowledge that the Bulldogs have been lacking in genuine key position players for several years now.  Whilst these deficiencies have been hidden and compensated for somewhat with the Bulldogs run and gun style of play, it’s become obvious that it is almost impossible to maintain that level of intensity and skill throughout an entire season.  Most importantly, a team’s lack of key position players is often – if not always – exploited during the high pressure atmosphere of finals football.

Some can say that the Bulldogs have been unlucky in this regard, with key position prospects such as Tim Walsh proving to be a bust, as well as injury hampering the likes of the promising Tom Williams.  To correct this lack of key forwards, the Bulldogs obtained ex-Crow Scott Welsh during the off season in an attempt to add another target.  Whilst Welsh looked to be flying earlier in the year, he has been largely ineffectual once the going got tough for the Dogs.  This was exemplified on Friday night, where Welsh amassed only 10 disposals, none of which were in dangerous or scoring positions.

The Dogs have some fantastic talent in their team, with the likes of Cross, Griffen and Cooney in their midfield, but their spine is severely lacking.  When the chips are down, a forward line consisting of Welsh, Hahn and Minson is not going to win a match for you.  Genuine key position forwards can make their own fortunes and in turn steer the fortunes of their side, where as mid-sized or make shift forwards are shut down easier in today’s game and rely heavily on the work of others further up ground to have a substantial impact on the match.

List woes aside, that does not explain the lack of fortitude and heart that was on display Friday night.  I lost count of how many times Bulldogs players panicked and fumbled, not to mention the absurd decision making that took place, as players dished off to team mates who were flat footed and under pressure.  To the neutral observer, it just looked as if aside from Cross and Griffen, no other player wanted to take responsibility.  Farren Ray and Eagleton were beyond disappointing and quite frankly got shown up on the big stage; whilst Cooney – despite a 26 possession and 2 goal game – had little impact when it mattered.

The Bulldogs take on Sydney this coming Friday night, staring down the barrel of a straight sets exit.  The Bulldogs have tested the resolve of their supporters over the last two months, but they still have an opportunity to redeem themselves by bouncing back against the Swans.  Whilst some Bulldog fans may take solace in the improvement the Dogs have shown since last year, at the very least they should be expecting one finals victory out of this campaign; if only to restore some confidence amongst the side and to reward the faith of the supporters.

If the Dogs repeat last weeks effort against Sydney, then I dare say the spotlight will be shone on a few players, making for an interesting off-season in the western suburbs.

- The 10th Letter