5 Things We Learned - Round 15

The Western Bulldogs have opened up a four-point gap on the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide after demolishing the West Coast Eagles to the tune of 55 points at Perth Stadium, 13.20 98 to 6.7 43 in a workmanlike performance where all 22 players did their role and contributed to the victory. It was such a cohesive and comprehensive win that you could see that the Dogs weren't ever really losing that game from the outset.

Although the margin was 55 points come full time, I felt that even with five rushed behinds in our total, we left a few more goals out on the ground and the margin arguably should have been closer to 100 points than 50. The scoreboard flattered West Coast and it was only poor kicking for goal in the first half that prevented the game from being a blowout as early as the first quarter.

Imagine thinking that when playing the Eagles in Perth.... wow.

The only sour point in the game was another shoulder injury to key defender Ryan Gardner, who might have his critics but he was steadily consolidating his place in the best 22. Hopefully, it isn't a long stint on the sidelines for him this time.

The Western Bulldogs celebrate their second victory of the Eagles this season, the first time they have beaten them twice in the home and away season since 1997. Source: AFL Photos.

1) Where The Match Was Won

We emphatically out hunted the Eagles at ground level, delivering plenty of desire, ferocity and intent over the four quarters but it was in the first term where it seemed like we were on a mission that set the tone.

Much was made of the Eagle's five inclusions with two of those in Tim Kelly and Luke Shuey set to bolster their midfield but that was where the discussions ended as the Dogs midfield obliterated its high caliber opponents not only on the inside but the outside as well.

Although the margin was just 13 points at quarter-time, there were plenty of signs that there were bigger things to come throughout the course of the game as the Dogs lead the contested ball in the first quarter (52-34) which set the tone for a physical encounter but one where we would wear down an exhausted Eagles outfit come the end of the game.

To emphasise just how much we were able to dictate terms and control the flow of the game we had pushed that advantage to +30 in contested ball (151-121) and had won the clearance count 44-29 after a 16-8 burst in the first quarter.

The interesting part was the duel between the top four clearance players for either side and the difference between the work rate to attend contest to contest and support one's teammates on the outside as well.

For the Bulldogs, Bontempelli, Liberatore, Macrae, and Smith combined for 31 clearances as well as 58 and 60 contested and uncontested possessions. In comparison for the Eagles, Naitanui, Shuey, Sheed, and Yeo combined for 21 clearances and 50 and 32 contested and uncontested possessions.

With West Coast's midfielders sitting off the contest we took the opposite approach, playing rather tight in the tardis as coach Luke Beveridge would say but it was not only our ability to win the clearance but to make your opponents accountable as well and if you're giving players like Bontempelli, Liberatore, Macrae, and Smith a chance on the outside they will make you pay dearly.

The Bulldogs too kicked a massive 67 points (9.13) from turnovers and to do this with our pressure rating deemed poor (169) across the four quarters says we switched on offensively and it is becoming second nature in our group to not only play a back half brand but have a forward half brand as well.

The Bulldogs also were the number one ranked team for halting defensive 50 to forward 50 transition the Eagles were the competitions worst in moving the ball from such zones and we definitely displayed that on Sunday afternoon as we set up beautifully across the ground, shifting our zone at ease as the Eagles weren't all that aggressive with their ball movement, barely playing through the corridor which played right into our hands.

Because of this we effectively forced them to play the game inside their own defensive half, effectively allowing them to take 50 marks down back and this resulted in a conservative and timid approach (WCE - 107 short kicks to 54 long kicks) to the challenge we laid before them.

This was evident with the Dogs forcing the Eagles to take a large chunk of their marks in their defensive 50, while their four biggest ball winners were all defenders in Rotham (23), Barrass (22), Shepphard (24) and Hurn (26). In comparison our top four major ball winners in Macrae (32), Smith (31), Bontempelli (29) and Hunter (27) were all midfielders who had a day out.

2) The Response

Traveling to face West Coast in Western Australia generally hasn't been a successful flight over the years.

The trip across the Nullabor used to be a rather daunting task and a game where many Bulldogs fans would hope to not see our team be on the receiving end of a shellacking.

Even with the improvement the Bulldogs have shown in recent seasons in interstate trips, we have won just one of the past five clashes between the two clubs, losing four games by a combined total of 200 points (margins: 77, 8, 54, and 61). The sole victory of course though was the Bulldogs' famous 2016 Elimination Final victory.

To come to Perth and win once in a season, let alone twice is a huge result and it speaks volumes of how much maturity and mental fortitude the team has when facing adversity and to respond in such fashion after last weeks cruel loss highlights a very special group that we are lucky to be witnessing.

Many other sides would be demoralised following a heartbreaking loss or feel the pinch after not capitalising on its dominance throughout the early stages of a game but there is just something different to this Western Bulldogs outfit in 2021 where you can go into any game and simply trust them and by God, it is beautiful to see it unfold.

After spending a week in quarantine in Perth you could see the boys venting out their frustration that had manifested over the previous week on a full-strength West Coast and the effort that was shown in the first quarter was rewarded in the final term where we blew them apart in the last quarter with six goals and made an apparent contender look second rate and a few tiers below us for most of the game.

Not only that, we kept them to their lowest score at Perth Stadium and delivered the biggest loss in Western Australia during Adam Simpson's tenure as coach, with the 2016 Elimination Final the second biggest (47 points).

Some people might say us not having to deal with a pro-West Coast crowd was telling and it probably did assist us in one way or another but it can't divert the credit and the attention the Dogs deserved following their powerful and resilient performance in enemy territory.

You have to give a huge round of applause not just to the playing group, but the entire coaching staff for keeping the players focused, composed, and filled with the confidence required to get the job done.

This win shows how resilient and mentally tough the Western Bulldogs are and that they're not just a team filled with 22 footballers but they are a united family as well.

There was plenty of bark and bite on display on Sunday against the West Coast Eagles. Source: AFL Photos

3) Has Bailey Smith Found His Mojo Again?

It was a welcome return to form for Bailey Smith against the Eagles, after what has been a strange season from him, to say the least, especially after what we have come to expect from the man with the flowing mullet.

31 disposals; 14 of those contested, 2.2 on the scoreboard, five marks, six clearances, 525 metres gained, five tackles, and nine score involvements is more than a handy day at the office and it was great to see Smith display the confidence and strut he has shown since his debut in round one 2019.

A lot of this return to form can be attributed to his 17 centre bounce attendances; his highest for quite some time, where he is at the source of the contest and able to focus mostly on the ball instead of having his attention spanned across structure and accountability.

Of course, things may be a bit different when Dunkley and Treloar return to the lineup in the coming weeks which could once again push "Baz" back to the wing but perhaps he will be better prepared for the outside role on this occasion.

For his efforts against the Eagles, Smith was awarded eight coaches' votes (four from Beveridge and Simpson) for his game in the west and you have to ask the question is it worth giving him a few more midfield minutes?

Bailey Smith's hair was in full flow on Sunday afternoon against the West Coast Eagles. Source: AFL Photos.

4) Is There A Worrying Trend?

I was reading an article about our victory against West Coast and it had a small bit of discussion about our inaccuracy against the Eagles at Perth Stadium. Fortunately our goal kicking didnt come back to bite us against the West Coast Eagles but Sunday's game was the fourth consecutive of registering more behinds than goals but is there an potential problem brewing?

We all love to discuss our goal kicking accuracy so lets take a look at it.

In the first 10 games of the season we scored 150.133 (53%), averaging 15 goals and 13.3 behinds per game and had more goals than behinds on seven occasions but our most recent four games has seen us register 46.58. Admittedly there have been 15 rushed behinds in that time and if removed it becomes 46.43 which is a tick below 52%.

This 1% difference isn't a huge discrepancy to how we have actually gone over the course of the season (195.191 - 50.6%) but the only real difference is the average of goals per week which is sliding downwards for 11.5 goals and 10.75 behinds in this stretch. We probably need a longer stretch of games to determine whether this is the exception to the rule we have showed this year or something more but it is something to ponder nonetheless.

5) The Mid-Year Rundown

After completing the first third of the season with a 6-1 record, the Dogs have moved through the middle stage of the season battling indifferent form, injuries, two trips to Perth, hotel quarantine, a drive down the Princes Freeway, and a game at the Portress that is Adelaide Oval and yet have come away with a 5-2 record.

Just think about it.

We are a kick after the siren from being top of the ladder and with the friendliest part of our fixture to come we have the perfect opportunity to not only consolidate a top-four position but a top-two spot as well. If there was a time for us to crumble it would have been in this stretch as many other top eight sides had made up ground (Geelong and Brisbane) or had held ground (Melbourne, Sydney, and Port) in their push for Finals football while we have played four top-eight contenders but instead we have come out stronger for the challenge. To have held our position at the pointy end of the ladder; especially in such a tightly contested top eight, is extremely important

It is clear for everyone to see, we are anything but pretenders whether you believe it or not.

Beware of the Western Bulldogs in September.