5 Things We Learned - Round 10
Plenty of effort yet little reward. We did a lot right against Port Adelaide but that sadly is the worst part of it because we’ve seen a replay of this game several times throughout the past decade and especially in recent seasons.
It was a frustrating game to say the least and I know I can speak for everyone when I say I am sick to death of us not putting teams away after controlling large portions of the game only for a small lead to turn into a match winning deficit rather quickly.
The pleasing thing was seeing the fight we expect from the Bulldogs and that is one thing we can’t look down upon but until this part of our game is rectified we won’t be a true threat which is big shame considering some of the weapons we possess.
Source: AAP/PA Images
1. Naughton Must Remain A Forward.
Last year like many fans I was surprised at the decision to throw Aaron Naughton forward and questioned the logic, "He's a key defender! What is this madness!"
What transpired was our most impressive season by a young key forward since Christ Grant in 1990 and first tall forward to kick more than 30 goals in a season since Barry Hall’s 55 majors in 2011.
On top of that, Naughton led the league during the regular season for contested marks (53) and was our first key position player bar Dale Morris to take over 100 marks in a season since Brian Lake’s 160 in 2012.
When you consider what his best attributes are and how they are best utilised, it is as a centre half forward and as that bail out option own the line. Now consider what we are lacking, connectivity between forwards and midfielders, the confidence to deliver the ball directly inside 50 instead of looking towards the pockets to create another stoppage and the ability to prevent intercept marks up forward.
The goals and structure Naughton provides certainly is fantastic but I think it’s more the fact what those attributes allow us to do across the ground as they cause a chain reaction not only in aggressive ball movement and the essential linkman between the two 50 metre arcs but drawing defenders out of their zones to man him up.
When you also factor our lack of a legitimate small pressure forward to help lock the ball in, it makes Naughton’s contested marking even more important. Playing down back might make him a better footballer, but in attack he is our most important piece of the puzzle.
We have an Aaron Naughton type missing hole at the moment. Source: Getty Images
2.So near yet so far
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs went down in what was an honourable loss to Port Adelaide who sat on top of the ladder but that doesn’t make it less frustrating as we probably should have taken the four points.
We aren’t a bad side at all and for the most part even with our faults we will to fight our way through regardless of win or loss but there has to be something that breathes some genuine life into this season.
Over the past two games we have been taught a lesson in efficiency, transition from defence to attack and the ability to withstand extended pressure over the four quarters. Ultimately these are the types of games that separate the challengers from the also-rans and disappointingly we once again came up short.
3. That Third Quarter
After such a promising, but ultimately frustrating first half, the question was whether our statistics would reflect on the scoreboard or whether lack of conversion in front of goal and creation of scoring chances would come back to haunt us as play restarted. Unfortunately it was the latter as the Power kicked four unanswered goals to turn a three point deficit into a 23 point lead.
Throughout the course of the game we had an average of 197 Pressure Rating points compared to Port's 213, but there was an evident drop off our opening half (-30) highlighting that we weren’t able to sustain it. Unfortunately with the lack of reward from our 25 first half forward 50 entries it forces us to exert more pressure to compensate for such problems.
Across the first, second and fourth quarters we notched up 36 Inside 50 entries, conceding 18 but in the fabled "Premiership Quarter" the tables were turned with a 3-17 result and a loss of contested ball (26-37) were major factors in the loss with Port converting 41% of its 17 entries into scores.
We can ask the question as to what in God’s name was Bontempelli doing lining up at centre half forward instead of being a part of the centre square combination to arrest the momentum shift but our other players needed to pick up the slack.
4. Are We Too Reliant On Midfield Dominance
Sometimes ones biggest strength can also be its biggest weakness. The midfield is an extremely important component in a game of Aussie Rules but compared to other side’s the Dogs are probably the most reliant on it to not just only win games, but to keep them in them as well. Many others and I have mentioned that having a few more natural forwards in the line-up would be a sight for sore eyes but it is more than just having certain personnel selected if they aren't utilised for those purposes.
With a core group of Marcus Bontempelli, Jackson Macrae and Josh Dunkley it does make sense to build around that strength and when it comes off the results speak for themselves, but when their influence is neutralised, it causes a chain reaction which limits the effectiveness of areas on the ground which rely on that dominance, both offensively and defensively.
We need to find ways to once again compliment that strength or rely less on it and look at increasing the importance on other parts of the game.
Stoppages and contested ball are what we build off but when you’re only scoring 22 points from those major strengths as seen on Monday night, it isn’t good enough and when a turnover occurs like Jason Johannisen’s before half time, it gets put under the microscope immensely but that shouldn’t be the case.
What should be under the microscope is the apparent strength not getting the job done. That turnover looks bad for sure but it wouldn’t look as costly if we were four or five goals up like we should have been.
There is no right or wrong way to play the game but there are certainly ways to make it look easier. But how do we do both?
5. Josh Bruce
On Monday night Bruce was for the most part double if not triple teamed with little aerial support across the 12 times he was targeted inside 50 during the game. It is quite a concern the sole tall target in a forward line which is currently bereft of natural forwards (through form or injuries or non selection), making it rather predictable as to where the ball is going to be delivered.
This hasn’t been a one off case this year as Bruce has been targeted 77 times inside 50, a long way ahead of our second and third options in Mitch Wallis (34) and Bailey Dale (21).
That statistic is an indictment in two ways, firstly why is it so hard to play a second key tall up front, whether that’s Josh Schache (13 times targeted in two games)or Zaine Cordy being thrown forward (with Trengove playing full back); and secondly what does it say about those who weren’t picked despite this problem?
Is it because the options aren’t available, aren’t up to it or that they don’t fit in with the current game plan?
Again having certain personnel in Aaron Naughton, Josh Schache and Bailey Dale absent for different reasons no doubt is one of the factors as to why Bruce has struggled this year.
Bruce’s confidence seems shot at the moment after playing a sacrificial role for the betterment of the game plan and adding to its strength but we have played a huge part in bringing it down by not supporting him structurally.
We all know that Bruce is a very capable footballer and certainly has a presence but you can see it is starting to frustrate him; especially the way we manoeuvre the ball with quick chain handballs, which results in slow ball movement and more time for players to drop back defensively forcing Bruce to constantly readjust his leading patterns.
Bruce isn’t in the best of form and we certainly expected a fair bit more but for the love of God help the man out as he is on a hiding to nothing. What is it with us having no idea how to utilise a key position player seriously when every other club seems to.
Will we see both the Josh's line up once again in the near future? Source: Getty Images