5 Things We Learned - Round 3

The Western Bulldogs have made it a 3-0 start to their season for the first time since 2009 where they made the preliminary final after returning to the Good Friday game following a bewildering three year absence. Many expected the Bulldogs to win and to win comfortably, what many did not expect was the magnitude of the comfort as we piled on 20 of the last 22 goals of the game.

Of course, a much bigger test comes this week when we host the Brisbane Lions who have got on the board in season 2021 at Mars Stadium, Ballarat in what will be our second legitimate test for our premiership credentials.

1) WHERE THE GAME WAS WON

When you win a game by 128 points it can be hard to figure out the exact moment where the four premiership points were well on the way as there would be quite a few but if one had to pin point the period that turned the game it would have to be that triple goal burst in the middle stages of the second quarter.

Across the opening two rounds no side has struggled more during second quarters than North Melbourne, having been outscored by 72 points which is the worst differential in the league.

In comparison our differential for second terms before Friday night was six points in the green.

Three goals. Six scoring shots. 21 points. In nine minutes. It doesn't sound like a lot in the context of the 128 margin but when you consider that Nick Larkey's overturned goal could have brought the margin back to single digits at the 11 minute mark, it became something of a sliding doors moment and opened the gateway to destruction.

We might have kicked 16 more goals after half time but it was those three goals halfway through the second term to Lipinksi, Bruce and Treloar (his first as a Bulldog) that broke the Kangaroos back.

2) WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS FIREPOWER

Josh Bruce might not kick 10 every week or probably ever again but the combination of having three talls in the forward line as well as a dangerous mix of medium sized forwards will stretch majority of defences, especially when many of them are such strong threats above their head.

Even though we had indifferent form with many of our attacking options we still finished the regular season as the sixth highest scoring side in the competition and in the final five rounds we ranked first for points for and scores per inside fifty (as was the case in 2019).

The tricky part is extrapolating that across the length of a whole season and not just half a dozen games where we hit peak form. We have started the year in a very positive manner registering the second highest number of goals across the competition (49, only Sydney have more with 54) and as of round three we are one of only three teams who have scored above 300 points (336) and the sole side who has conceded less than 200 points (185).

With many forwards waiting their turn in the VFL in, namely Ben Cavarra (15 goals in five games), Josh Schache (10 in five) and last year’s number one draft pick in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (11 in four and half quarters), it bodes extremely well that we have many players raring to go when called upon.

Our Twin Towers in Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce have combined for 21 goals this season from just three rounds. Source: Getty Images

3) THE ROOS WILL NOT BE THE ONLY SIDE THE BULLDOGS PUT TO THE SWORD THIS YEAR

In full flight, the Western Bulldogs are arguably the most watchable team in the league, as they are filled with a host of stars and talented up and comers in the line-up and play an exhilarating brand of football.

Annoyingly over the past few years we’ve rarely seen the Bulldogs put a team to the sword (bar Essendon) when on top and generally have coasted to a four to six goal win when it could have been so much more. This is evident with only five of our 44 wins since 2017 being greater than 50 points.

With the display on Friday night, that probably won’t be the case this season as we seem like a team on a vengeful mission to atone for the underachievement of the past few years. Forget the fact that North Melbourne are in rebuild mode, these are either the types of games we have dropped or have cost us considerable percentage in the past.

Premiership contenders have that ruthless touch and arrogance no matter who they’re playing, teasing the opposition before breaking them in two by slamming on three or four goals in quick succession before they’ve even had time to blink and it is something that has been lacking at the club post 2016, whether that be destroying sides or holding firm in the face of adversary.

Even across our 2019 and 2020 seasons there were still moments through out the season where we would portray ourselves as Dr Jekylle and Mr Hyde but perhaps that might not be the case this year.

Clearly belting North Melbourne doesn’t make us flag contenders by any means but it will help us towards a push for finals footy as percentage will once again be a major factor in determining the final positions of the top eight come September. It was extremely pleasing to see us put the foot on the gas and take full advantage of the situation laid before us.

4) THE TRIPLE BAILEY THREAT

I’ve spoken about two of the Bailey’s so why not make it a hattrick?

After a breakout back end of the 2019 AFL season that saw him kick 20 goals in the final seven games of the year, much was expected of Bailey Dale in 2020 but that rich vein of form deserted him in the first half of the season and found the going much harder to regain his spot.

I still think it is hilarious that one of our best shots at goal has now found himself along the half back line but it perhaps has given Dale a new lease of life and even resurrected his career.

Dale backed up last week’s team high eight interceptions possessions against West Coast with six more this week, the equal third most intercept possessions alongside Taylor Duryea and Alex Keath.

On top of that, Dale also had six score involvements, which was the highest of any defender across the game and he has recently played down back, he showed has lost none of clinical finishing in front of goal, sneaking forward in the final quarter to slot two goals.

This season Dale is rated above average in disposals (18.7), kicks (10.7), effective kicks (8.3), metres gained (300.1) and elite in contested possessions (7.0), intercept possessions (6.7) and ground ball gets (4.7) for general defenders. Some of those figures in all seriousness I never thought I’d ever see but it is a credit to the coaching staff and Dale for putting it together thus far.

The real question where will he find himself in a few weeks time when Hayden Crozier returns to the line-up.

Has Bailey Dale revived his career? The team at The Salty Bulldog think so! Source: Getty Images

5) What to do with JJ?

By all accounts, Jason Johannisen's form throughout the practice games and preseason has been solid at best which is far cry from what he is capable of.

Unselected in round one, the unused medical sub in round two, it was round three that saw Johannisen return to the Bulldogs line up against North Melbourne.

While many flourished, Johannisen did not have to do much heavy lifting in the 128 point victory, registering 15 disposals, 363 metres gained, 11 kicks, 12 uncontested possessions and four inside 50s, as he alternated his time between both 50 metre arcs (67% defensive, 33% forward). It was a handy but unspectacular return from the one time Norm Smith medallist who also found himself absent from the second preseason practice match.

Even with Anthony Scott and Bailey Dale being moved forward during the final term after spending most of the game down back, Johannisen still did not find himself in his customary position at half back.

We know his best football is played behind the ball but with a host of players vying for spots there, Hunter, Treloar, Smith and Lipinski rotating on the wings as well as several others snapping their heals to get into the side, it begs the question of how do we not only fit him in but utilise him properly as before.