5 Things We Learned - Round 1
Okay, so Friday night’s game didn’t exactly go the way we planned or even close to it. It was quite an underwhelming performance from a side many expect to be the biggest threat to last season’s top four and to rock the way we did, especially after exiting from last year’s finals series, was incredibly disappointing. It is just the one game but you don’t want to be chasing tail too much in a shortened season and we know it is important to start the season off the right way and that was just a kick in the guts. Hopefully the real Bulldogs we’ve come to see return to our TV screens when they (eventually, hopefully) take on Carlton in Round 2.
1. Why What Happened, Happened?
Last season the Bulldogs were the best side in the competition for transitioning the ball from defensive 50 to attacking 50, averaging 34 points per game. But that figure on Friday night against Collingwood was only seven points. Clearly the Magpies were able to halt our run and gun game style and have us produce a very stagnant game with no fluency at all with only one player able to top 300 metres gained for the match. That lone Bulldog was Bailey Williams with 332.
The Magpies pressure in the second half dropped off a little bit but when the game was there to be won, they hit the ground running and had a club record pressure rating of 219 points. After being eliminated from the 2019 AFL Finals series in such a fashion, it is quite a concern that a top four contender and premiership threat was able to deal with us in such a way.
Unlike most of his teammates, Bailey Williams was one player capable of generating run-and-carry on Friday. Source: Getty Images
2. Interesting Selections
When many Bulldogs supporters cast their eyes on the team sheet on Thursday night, it seemed quite obvious that we had gone taller than usual as we named Lewis Young and Ryan Gardiner after showing some interesting signs in the JLT Series against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide.
On the deck at Marvel Stadium where speed is the king and considering the Magpies play a quick brand of footy courtesy of the fleet footed small crafty forwards, it didn’t bode well.
I know many have mentioned the inclusion of Toby McLean, Ed Richards and Josh Schache as much as they would’ve had more of an impact then their replacements, it wouldn’t have made too much of a difference as one side was expecting to play on Friday night and the other was still wondering what hit them.
3. We Still Have A Problem In The Ruck
We all know Tim English is a very talented and promising player but it evident to see he has a huge problem when it comes to playing against the physical giants of the game. Admittedly, Brodie Grundy is a top two ruckman in the game but it was a disappointing effort considering his elimination final last season against the GWS Giants where he more then held his own against the very physical Shane Mumford.
For the third time in as many games against Collingwood, Brodie Grundy was best on ground and will most likely collect the three Brownlow votes in a dominant display. The ruck hasn’t exactly been a position of strength for quite some time at the Kennel and although English has plenty of skill and is sound by foot, he definitely needs to use his body frame in a more aggressive manner and start asserting himself at the contest. Adding a few more kilograms the preseason is a step in the right direction but there is still much more to learn.
It was a tough night for the developing ruckman but English was able to put together a better second half and by full time he had 10 pressure acts, two contested marks and four intercept possessions.
4. The Midfield Disaster
The 2019 All Australian line-up featured two much loved Bulldogs in captain Marcus Bontempelli and Jackson Macrae, while Josh Dunkley also found himself selected in the 40 Man All Australian Square after a stunning breakout season where he averaged 31.9 disposals from Round Seven until the end of the season.
For a side that is heavily reliant on its midfield to hold sway of the game and protect its undersized defensive six from being overwhelmed, it was quite a shock to see their colours lowered like that. It all starts in the middle and when a side loses the clearances by 13 and the centre clearances 15-5, there was little chance of respite for the back six as the Pies were able to waltz their way into their forward 50 allowing them to take 14 marks inside 50.
Part of the famed midfield trio, new skipper Marcus Bontempelli couldn't get anything right on Friday. Source: Getty Images
5. Focus On The Positives
Despite the shellacking, there were a few positives if you look really, really hard!
It was a strong performance by Bailey Smith as the second-year player gathered a team high 23 possessions, seven tackles, three score involvements and 24 pressure acts, while new recruit Alex Keath put in an admirable performance in an under siege defence recording 15 possessions, nine marks (three contested), five intercept possessions and 291 metres gained.
Bailey Williams too was another who could hold his head high as he looks to regain his spot in the best 22, notching 17 disposals and looking assured with ball in hand, coping with the pressure and intensity Collingwood’s forward line displayed (10 tackles inside Forward 50). Was one of the Dogs five goal kickers on a poor night.
Shout out also should go to Ben Cavarra who made his debut and looked good in patches. Cavarra has been the premier small forward in the VFL for a number of years and the team at the Salty Bulldog are very excited to see what he has to offer at AFL level. Welcome to the “First Kick, First Goal” club!