A Preseason Preview 2006- Part 8 of 16 - Bulldogs

[pahoffm]

Bulldogs
One thing bothers me with the Bulldogs. Every year they go into seasons short on key forwards. Every year at draft time they pick some fantastic midfielders, but ignore junior key forwards until the periphery of the draft. No doubting the likes of Ray, Cooney, Griffen and others, but the Bullie have always had very good midfielders but have continually ignored their key forward posts. This year, again they go into a new season with a 34yo Grant as their major option in front of goal.
Rodney Eade, Chris Bond & Leon Cameron continue as coaches for another year. Recently retired Sean Wellman joins in as an assistant. Their player list is as follows:

Chris Grant 193 99 34 vet
Rohan Smith 184 80 33 vet
Brett Montgomery 180 83 33
Scott West 178 80 32
Luke Darcy 197 100 31 vet
Brad Johnson 182 85 30
Matthew Robbins 178 87 29
Nathan Eagleton 179 81 27
Peter Street 211 105 26
Ryan Hargrave 190 87 25
Mitch Hahn 188 96 25
Lindsay Gilbee 180 80 25
Adam Morgan 195 96 24
Brian Harris 194 100 24
Robert Murphy 186 82 24
Daniel Giansiracusa 182 80 24
Wayde Skipper 193 91 23
Tom Davidson 192 87 23 rookies
Kieran McGuinness 190 88 23
Dale Morris 190 86 23
Sam Power 189 85 23
Daniel Cross 187 82 23
Jordan McMahon 185 80 23
Matthew Boyd 184 85 23
Shane Birss 183 80 23
Cameron er 179 81 22
Cameron Wight 200 93 21
Will Minson 198 103 21
Tim Walsh 196 92 21
Brad Murphy 189 83 21
Tom Williams 196 94 20
Travis Baird 193 83 20 new
Ryan Griffen 187 85 20
Farren Ray 186 81 20
Adam Cooney 186 85 20
Jesse Wells 195 95 19
Michael West 195 86 19 new
Stephen Tiller 191 81 19
Damien McCormack 182 73 19
Dylan Addison 186 73 18 new
Shaun Higgins 184 79 18 new

41 players on the Bullies list, including 3 vets, 4 newies & 1 rookie only. Sad but good to know that there are worse clubs off than us. The list looks fairly well balanced for height, with the bulk of the list about at or under 25-26yo, with just a handful of oldies at the top.
A look at their taller players shows that 44% of the list is 190cm or above, which looks fine. But Grant is the only one whose ratio of goals over games is equal to or above 1. Michael West from Qld is desperately needed. Hopefully his knee holds up.

Now let's see how their list breaks up into a spread.
Twilight = 28+yo
Prime = 25-27yo
Development = 22-24yo
Junior = 18-21yo

<180 Small Runners
Twilight: S.West 32, Robbins 29
Prime: Eagleton 27
Development: er 22
Junior: 0

180-184 Smaller Mediums
Twilight: Smith 33, Montgomery 33, Johnson 30
Prime: Gilbee 25
Development: Giansiracusa 24, Boyd 23, Birss 23
Junior: McCormack 19, Higgins 18

185-189 Taller Mediums
Twilight: 0
Prime: Hahn 25
Development: R.Murphy 24, Power 23, Cross 23, McMahon 23
Junior: B.Murphy 21, Griffen 20, Ray 20, Cooney 20, Addison 18

190-194 Mobile Key Position
Twilight: Grant 34
Prime: Hargrave 25
Development: Harris 24, Skipper 23, Davidson 23, McGuinness 23, Morris 23
Junior: Baird 20, Tiller 19

195-199 Key Position/ Ruck
Twilight: Darcy 31
Prime: 0
Development: Morgan 24
Junior: Minson 21, Walsh 21, Williams 20, Wells 19, M.West 19

200+ Ruck
Twilight: 0
Prime: Street 26
Development: 0
Junior: Wight 21

So, they have plenty of depth and youth in their medium runners & mobile kpps. They will still rely heavily on 32yo Scott West for inside clearances, and 34yo Chris Grant as their target in front of goals.

Their coverage of positions is as follows:
B: Birss 23 Harris 24 Morris 23
Giansiracusa 24 Baird 20 McGuiness 23



HB: Gilbee 25 Morgan 24 Montgomery 33
Power 23 Hargrave 25 Smith 33
                Wells 19


C: R.Murphy 24 West 32 Griffen 20
Davidson 23 McCormack 19 Tiller 19
B.Murphy 21


HF: Johnson 30 Skipper 23 McMahon 23
Ray 20 Walsh 21 Cooney 20
Addison 18

F: Darcy 31 Grant 34 Robbins 29
Williams 20 McDougall 23 Faulkner 22
West 19

R: Street 26 Hahn 25 Akermanis 27
Minson 21 Cross 23     Eagleton 27
Wight 21 Higgins 18

So the Bulldogs will confront the same problems as last year. Their experienced midfielders will slow down even more, their younger midfielders will begin to takeover the main midfield positions. They will rotate their older midfielders in order to be able to kick enough goals in a game. And they'll rotate their junior kpps hoping that these may kick goals on any one day.
The Bullie will be thereabouts again, probably just outside the finals. Considering the club battles to be on the field every year, that's an excellent effort.

 

[Scoop]

I have to say it, I am not on the Bulldogs bandwagon. Don't think they are going no where but I don't think this will be the year they make the leap into top four or even top six.

Reasons being;

1) A lot of guys had there best years and improved by miles last year and they just missed the finals.
Hard to see the likes of Gilbee, Murphy, Boys, Jordan Mc having better 2006 then 2005. Where will the improvement come form this year?

2) There forward options seem limited without Darcy.

3) West, Smith, Johnson cannot continue to carry this side, there performacnes will wilt and begin to tail off.

4) Very talented young midlfield of Conney, Ray, Griffen. But can they all clikc and step up a level in the same year, very doubtfull.

5) CHF and CHB are major issues. I think Robert Murphy will play the Ryan O'Keefe CHF role but there KPP's are in the same shape as Richmonds. Not good.

6) Luke Darcy,- DUNZO for 2006, Tim Walsh DUNZO 2006, Tom Williams DUNZO for a 3 months.
That is a massive long term injury list considering we haven't played a game yet. If one of the key mids goes down for gett about it.

7) They cannot surpirse sides anymore, every one knows what there game plan is and have a whole year to combat it.

8) The weight of expecatations is on them, they are the flavour of month side for 2006. Every one is sayingthe will makethe leap.

9) The Bulldogs are headed in the right direction not doubt about it but 2006 they will finsih 9th to 12.

I think 2007 they will make the leap.

 

[mk33]

I have to agree with Scoop on the Doggies, they can make the 8 but already things are going wrong and last year a lot of players had career best years, can they back it up again.

Tall forward its a problem, Chris Grant is in his last season, maybe Skipper or Brad Murphy stands up for the Doggies. The next level is better Brad Johnson and Robert Murphy are fantastic players and both could kick 40 goals and with Robbins who is capable of 20 goals, there is 100 goals the Doggies need.

Midfielder is talented and on the rise, the Doggies will be hoping they reach the same level as last year. Cooney will be a star and Griffen will be his support act in future years. A lot will depend on how well Hahn, Giansiracusa, Boyd, ray, Higgins, Birss, Cross come back this year and if West continues his high level.
Street and Minson are handy ruckman at this stage at best but Minson will continue to improve.

Defence is a problem with lack of talls in Baird, Hargrave, McGuinness, Morgan and Harris. the run from defence is good though in Gilbee, Smith, McMahon and Mundy.

Overall will finish probably outside 8

players to watch
Croos and Griffen with Cooney as starting midfield

on the decline

need more from Power, Morgan and McgUiness.

 

[booga]

Anyone thinking differently about the Dogs now?

 

[Scoop]

Still feel the same way, they beat a bunch of witches hats on Friday nite.

 

[pahoffm]

Anyone thinking differently about the Dogs now?

Not at this stage. One round doesn't make a full season., and any club will have trouble keeping up that intensity for a full season.

Ask me again round 12.

 

[Tigers of Old]

One things for certain they won't be taking home a wooden spoon as some suggested. Big improvers.

 

[marella jube]

Anyone else notice the amount of behinds they deliberately conceded (v Melb) to enable a quick return to play as opposed to taking their chances at winning a more contested stoppage ?