Inside Western Bulldogs’ defensive plan to silence rampant Hawks in elimination final
Most footy fans have loved Hawthorn’s fun goal celebrations this year — but the Bulldogs have seen enough. Two of their defenders detail how they’ll stop a ‘Hokball’ onslaught.
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The Dogs defence has seen enough of those celebrations.
You know the ones.
Right after one of their many goals, when the bubbly young Hawks pull out poses and movements nobody understands but them.
The verve of those young forwards in brown and gold has become a running theme this season as Sam Mitchell’s men climbed the ladder, but the Western Bulldogs want it to end.
TOP 40 UNDER 24: HOW MANY DOGS, HAWKS MADE THE CUT?
“I’m old and grumpy. I would like to see no celebrations, that means we have done a bloody good job,” lockdown Dog Taylor Duryea said.
“They are having fun, you can’t begrudge anyone from having fun. That’s not the way I would go about it just because that is not me as a person. If it connects the group through celebrations and they get around each other, power to them.
“I would like to see no celebrations, that means we have had a good game and we are on to next week.”
Duryea’s backline mate Bailey Dale agreed that Hawks revelry needs to end.
“Hopefully they don’t kick too many goals so they don’t get to celebrate,” he said.
“That is what they do and it gets them going so good on them. Hopefully we don’t let it get down there too many times and give them too many opportunities.
“Obviously we have got some really good players down there. They are really crafty and if you give them a sniff they are going to kick goals.”
The unheralded Hawks have not only won over fans, even some barracking against them, with their youthful flair.
Mitchell and forwards coach Adrian Hickmott have curated a forward half that is deadly and could decide Friday’s blockbuster elimination final.
Once delisted, Dylan Moore won All-Australian honours with 38 goals in the home-and-away season, workhorse Connor Macdonald booted 26, Collingwood cast-off Jack Ginnivan 25, supersub Luke Breust 20 and the ‘Wizard’ Nick Watson bagged 18.
The Hawthorn forward line has been on a rampage to close out the season, scoring over 80 points in each of their last seven games and hitting triple figures in five of those, with an average score of 119.9 in that run.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell discusses Hok-Ball!
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 3, 2024
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The Bulldogs ended the season with the best defence in the league, only allowing 75.5 points per game.
Duryea will play deep in defence on Friday night, usually alongside talls Liam Jones and Rory Lobb, to allow Dale and former Hawk Lachie Bramble to attack from higher.
“We back our system in, our high guys will stay high and I will stay deeper and we just play like that,” Duryea said.
“It is the easiest way to not get caught out when you have a team with a lot of smaller, quicker guys to remain in a position you play well.”
Hokball is alive at the 'G! 💪#AFLBluesHawkspic.twitter.com/Gt4tdQzaOp
— AFL (@AFL) August 11, 2024
Not always following a man opens the Bulldogs up to leaving gaps for the hard-running Hawks to fill when attacking in waves.
That means communication and handovers will be key, but that is easier said than done when playing in front of a full MCG.
“It’s obviously going to be pretty loud so there is going to be a lot of finger pointing and not a lot of listening so hopefully we can set ourselves up,” Dale said.
As for which one of the zippy forwards Dale will be most happy to hand over to Duryea, he joked the All-Australian Moore would gladly be passed off.
“Dylan Moore has been going pretty well … they are all quality players,” he said.
“’Doc’ (Duryea) has been great for our group, he is obviously very experienced and has played in a lot of finals. He really sets me and ‘Brambs’ up from that middle layer and his communication is great and then there is obviously ‘Jonesy’ behind him.”
Duryea has definitely seen plenty in his 213 AFL games.
The Dogs veteran played in two flags for the Hawks and is one of nine players who will be out there on Friday night who played in Hawthorn’s last final, back in 2018.
Duryea also played in the 2016 MCG semi final between the Dogs and Hawks, which was Mitchell’s final game as a player for Hawthorn.
The veteran left-footer happily admitted he has kept a far closer eye on Hawthorn than other opposing sides as they shot up the ladder this year.
“I’m happy for my mates who have made finals and had a really good back two thirds of the season,” he said.
“I think sometimes our record can either flatter or deceive but their 0-5 start, they were probably going better than 0-5.
“They are a team on the improve and you can see that the way they finished with such momentum and I always knew a team under Sam Mitchell is not going to be at the bottom for a long time. He is probably the smartest person I have come across in footy, or definitely one of.
“It’s funny the way things shake out. I haven’t really thought about the last time I played in a final at the ‘G was with them. My last two MCG finals were losses for Hawthorn, hopefully I can break that run.”
Originally published as Inside Western Bulldogs’ defensive plan to silence rampant Hawks in elimination final
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