Mick Malthouse: The Bulldogs’ big issues and how they can fix them

Last week’s loss to the Demons highlighted cracks in the Bulldogs’ armour. And one issue in particular needs to be addressed by September, writes Mick Malthouse.

So once again the AFL is affected by the Covid monster.

Some states handle it better than others. Unfortunately, 10 Victorian-based teams are going to be adversely affected.

The question is, how will teams respond again to the potential of hubs? How will they cope with not knowing until late each week where their next game is going to be played?

It builds a lot of uncertainty, particularly for the coaches as they do their homework on an opponent and how to handle certain grounds and crowds.

Throw in injuries, form and mental scars from last year, and it’s a nightmare.

But we do know, that like the states and territories, certain teams will handle the crisis very well, and other teams poorly.

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Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli after last week’s loss to the Demons. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

In Round 1 last year, when crowds were banned, the Western Bulldogs were well beaten by Collingwood. I had concerns, then, about newly appointed captain Marcus Bontempelli, who worried about everyone and everything else except his own game.

But he proved himself to be a fine captain, leading the Bulldogs to the finals.

His leadership will go to further heights if he can drag the Dogs up from last week’s defeat, through pandemic-affected games, and deep into the finals.

Not too many picked Melbourne against the Bulldogs last week. The 28-point loss highlighted a couple of cracks in the Dogs’ armour, which are certainly not insurmountable, but nonetheless need to be addressed if they are to continue as a front runner for the flag.

I have seen questions asked about the Dogs’ ability to kick a winning score.

In their two losses, they have kicked a combined total of 114 points (55 v Richmond, 59 v Melbourne). But it wasn’t a lynch on the scoreboard necessarily, more that the opposition scored enough to win (Richmond 77, Melbourne 87.)

So I see it as a lack of opportunity rather than a lack of class.

The Demons hampered the Dogs’ forward line scoring ability by effectively occupying the Bulldogs’ back six.

By staying forward of the ball, the Melbourne forwards forced the Dogs’ backs to play on their man, denying any player to be freed up and arresting all of the proactive run and ball use off the backline that usually comes from Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel.

This in turn culled any clean delivery into the Bulldogs’ forward line.

This is a forerunner for the what the Dogs can expect against the top sides in the second half of the season.

The Bulldogs need more support for Alex Keath, right, in defence says Mick Malthouse. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

Nothing has been done since last season to address the Dogs’ backline issues, which is where they encounter most of their strife.

They lack a support tall for Alex Keath. The Dogs have tried Ryan Gardner and Zaine Cordy - Cordy probably being more reliable than Gardner.

But when the big opposition forwards are on the prowl — think Eric Hipwood, Joe Daniher and Daniel McStay; Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins; Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall; Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch and Callum Coleman-Jones; Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen; Tom McDonald and Ben Brown — trying to stop them becomes the Achilles heel of the Western Bulldogs, and these are the teams they’ll need to beat to win this year’s premiership.

A number of players have arrived at AFL clubs as key-forwards, and then developed their game as key backs. The Dogs have to look within their club for someone to fill a key role in their backline.

For me, Josh Schache is a standout player in this instance. He is currently a failed forward, but he has all the attributes to be considered for a defender’s role. A first-round pick (Brisbane Lions in 2015) the 201cm, 94kg, 23-year-old is very much worth consideration.

If he fires as a key defender - centre half-back - it will alleviate one huge problem at the Whitten Oval.

Paddy Ryder marks in last year’s elimination final. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

In last year’s elimination final loss to St Kilda — 10.7 (67) to 9.10 (64) — Max King, Paddy Ryder and Tim Membrey kicked six of the Saints’ 10 goals between them. The Dogs had nine players who kicked one each. So the argument there is, was it the forward line that let them down or the backs who couldn’t contain St Kilda’s forwards?

I am not privy to the Dogs’ selection process but one would suspect that by the end of the year Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will be tried. He is a recognised goalkicker, an excitement machine. As coach Luke Beveridge has said, he lacks intensity, but that will only get better by playing at the highest level. It’s worth a shot.

So too, Mitch Wallis.

While he appears a distant pick, and he has certainly fallen out of favour given that he hasn’t made the travelling party of 27 to Perth, he could have a massive bearing on the shape of the forward line because of his toughness and flexibility.

Things can change rapidly if the scoreboard doesn’t tick over the right way in the next few games and, at least, the Bulldogs have options.

Is Josh Schache the answer in defence? Picture: Michael Klein

Adam Treloar and Stefan Martin have more than made up for any deficiency through the midfield from last year. The Dogs will miss Treloar in the next few weeks and have missed Martin in the past few. They both make a vast difference to the dynamics of the team by allowing Tim English to go forward.

English in the forward line automatically helps Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce by alleviating some of the pressure and stretching the opposition’s defence.

The absence of the injured Josh Dunkley has also hurt the Dogs.

The Dogs will be snarling after last week’s loss and I expect them to bounce back against the Dockers on Sunday — one of the few games this season to be played in front of a sellout crowd.

Fremantle at home is always a major encounter. It has been hit hard with injury and is still a young club, but Justin Longmuir is a very proactive coach and gets the best out of his players.

On Sunday, though, the Dockers won’t have the midfield mix to go with a Bulldogs side with wounded pride, fighting to get back into top spot.