5 Things We Learned - Semi Final

In what was one of the most remarkable finals ever played, the Western Bulldogs held on for a thrilling victory over the Brisbane Lions by one point, 11.13.79 to 11.12.78 in front of a packed house of 36470 people at the Gabba last Saturday night. It was the sixth-highest attended game at the venue and the third-highest for a final.

At the conclusion of round 23, the Dogs were knocked out of the top four by a solitary point from Lincoln McCarthy's boot at the Gabba so it was rather fitting that a sole point which came off the boot of Laitham "Clutch' Vandermeer in the final minute was the winning margin at the same venue at the final siren of the First Semi-Final.

If I was a neutral supporter I would be saying that it was a pity there had to be a loser but I'm not neutral and I'm still ecstatic over the thrilling victory.

The Western Bulldogs celebrate post-game after their hectic one-point victory over the Brisbane Lions. Source: AFL Photos.

1) Where The Match Was Won?

Coming into last Saturday night's encounter Brisbane had gone 14-0 when they have lead at three-quarter time this year. It is a rather intimidating statistic but finals are a different ball game and as much as history can help predict the future, when you have two very even sides the result will always be a flip of the coin.

That said it appeared a fair chance that figure could have become 15-0 after they lead by 10 points at the start of the final quarter.

A key factor in the win was the burst to start the last quarter which saw us erase that 10 point deficit and turn it into an eight-point lead and what set the tone was no doubt our intensity and desire but it didn't only come from the three quick goals but our

With a preliminary final at stake, the Dogs leaped into action, and within 15 minutes into the final quarter we had already laid 11 tackles alone after only tallying only 11 in the third quarter all together which went for 34 minutes.

The 24 tackles we laid in the last quarter equated to 37.5% of the 64 we inflicted on the Lions throughout the game and it just shows how desperate we were when the game was on the line.

The second factor in the incredible win was the positional switch that saw Tim English move from key rotating key forward/ruckman to being the sole ruckman for majority of the second half.

There has been plenty of discussion regarding Tim English and the ruck role with much of his best football coming when he has played in the forward line but it was his ability to nullify Oscar McInerney after halftime that proved significant.

English recorded 16 of his 22 hitouts came in the second half, with a very impressive seven of those to the advantage of his teammates but what came of it was a huge swing in momentum in the clearance department. Prior to his introduction, the Dogs had conceded 26 points from stoppages in quarters one and two and Brisbane were well on track to crush their season average of 39 points - the best in the league - from that source, but only three more points were added to that tally after halftime.

That isn't to say that English didn't feature in the ruck in the first half (43%) but he more than doubled his time in the ruck after halftime featuring 88% of his time on the ground in this position.

As well as that, defensively we held up despite the barrage of inside 50, allowing the leagues highest scoring side in the home and away season (97 per game) to just the 27 shots on goal (40%) and only the 11 goals.

Holding that forward line which featured four players who had kicked 29 or more goals for the season prior to our game was no easy task as the Lions held an imposing 13-1 record when they have kicked 90+ points this year. On the other end of the scale they went 2-7 when kicking less than 90.

In the first quarter, I was worried that the game seemed to be heading towards a shootout but we were able to wrestle the momentum in the second quarter kicking three goals to one which ultimately proved crucial.

Tim English's second half was a massive factor in our win over the Brisbane Lions. Source: AFL Photos.

2) The "Doc" Delivers Again

We all know just how dangerous Charlie Cameron is but let me break it down for you to show just how important he is to the Brisbane Lions chances each week.

From the start of 2019 to the lead up of the 2021 First Semi-Final, Cameron has kicked 133 goals in 46 wins (average of 2.8) but just the 27 goals in 20 defeats (1.35) in the lead up to the First Semi-Final.

After seeing Cameron slam three quick goals in succession in the first quarter on Easton Wood, there no doubt were a few nerves pinched thinking "here we go again" but a change was made and it had a huge impact on the remainder of the game.

We have spoken about this man many times before but Taylor Duryea no doubt has become the go-to guy when it comes to locking down on an opponent so it was very fitting that the play that kept our season alive came against Cameron, as six years earlier it was he who had sent us packing in an Elimination Final against Adelaide at the MCG.

Duryea was brought in to add some stability in the post-Murphy and Boyd era down back but little did we know we would also find someone just as dependable down back as Dale Morris.

I still have no idea why Hawthorn let him go but once again all I can say is thank you Hawthorn Football Club for Taylor Duryea. One of our best-ever trade acquisitions and the reward could be priceless.

3) Anytime. Anywhere

Alex Keath last week mentioned that the Club had embraced the motto of "Anytime. Anywhere" as it approached its third consecutive finals series but it is clear to see that this mantra has been in full effect throughout the season with the Club having its most successful season in terms of wins away from Victoria.

2020 was an indifferent year for many reasons but clearly, this year the Dogs have been able to adapt to these challenges and have become warriors on the road as they have racked up a lot of frequent flyers points

Just to show you how difficult it has been to win at the Gabba in recent seasons, the Brisbane Lions have built a 28-2 record in the Home and Away season since 2019. On top of that history was against us as Brisbane have been victorious in 13 of their 16 Gabba finals in their history.

We have been victorious in round six in Canberra, round nine in Adelaide, in rounds 12 and 15 in Perth, round 18 on the Gold Coast, the Elimination Final in Launceston, and the Semi in Brisbane with the only mishap coming in round 22 against Hawthorn in Launceston, leaving us with a 7-1 record this year.

All that stands between us and the 2021 AFL Grand Final is a preliminary final against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, a venue where were recorded a 19-point win earlier this season in round nine against that very opponent...

Hopefully, there is at least one more trip across the country this season with the preliminary final in Adelaide before we potentially fly across to Perth for the Grand Final.

In this COVID era, there is not much that can be done other than to take it in one's stride and get on with the job and that is something we can say definitely has been engrained into the character of the team.

Cede Nullis!

4) "Baz" Is Rolled Gold

It was an almighty performance from the free flowing mullet haired talent that is Bailey Smith.

27 disposals; which included 19 kicks, three goals (career high), nine inside 50s (one short of equalling his career best), eight score involvements (equal 3rd for the Dogs), 548 metres gained and 17 pressure acts.

Of course there were some kicks into the forward 50 which saw me furious to no end but there were also some absolutely strange ones that made me leap for joy such as that floater which somehow made the distance and held its line from 30 metres out or his left foot drop punt from the pocket.

It might not have been Smith's best game for the Bulldogs but it was his most important and his nine crucial disposals in the final quarter will take quite the beating.

Although it ultimately wasn't the games final goal, the very fact Smith had the audicatity to pull off the goal which put us infront by six points in the closing stages of the game speaks volumes of his confidence and belief in himself and that he wants to be the man of the moment.

There is a reason why first round draft selections are held in such esteem and that is why that they should only be traded for the absolute top tier of talents in the AFL landscape.

Bailey Smith's last quarter was simply sublime and one of the main reasons we feature in the third week of the 2021 AFL Finals. Source: AFL Photos.

5) Where To From Here?

And the race for the 2021 AFL Premiership is down to four teams and we are left with the team that defeated us by two points in round 23 in the Port Adelaide Football Club.

If the Western Bulldogs are to progress to their fourth Grand Final, and first since 2016, we are going to have to win three consecutive interstate games which is something that hasn't been done before.

Under the current Top Eight system, consecutive away finals victories have only been achieved once: in 2019 when GWS defeated Brisbane at the Gabba in a semi-final and Collingwood at the MCG in a preliminary final. Both wins were under a goal.

Other teams have come close to doing it, including Port in 2013 and 2014; and West Coast and Adelaide both did it in the 90s under different finals systems.

For this week's game, Port might be well-rested, have the home ground advantage, come in with strong form and have history on their side but that doesn't mean we have a free hit this Saturday night.

There is a fair bit of pressure on Port to deliver on last year's preliminary final exit while we are battle-hardened in these moments and should have no fear of the Power and what they'll throw at us. We are a different side that looked bereft of confidence in round 23 and were running on fumes. It's time to finish what we started and bring the heat once more.