Western Bulldogs are 6-4 at the bye rounds in 2017 but their best is yet to come
THE Western Bulldogs are 6-4 and yet to fully hit their straps in 2017. But SAM LANDSBERGER gets the feeling the Dogs are preparing to make their move. Plus Robbo, Cooney, stats stars
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THE Western Bulldogs are like that cheesy slogan printed on T-shirts across South-East Asia — “Same same, but different”.
There are new ingredients, but the flavour hasn’t changed. They are 6-4, hard to score against, struggle to score lethally themselves and ferocious at the contest.
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They rank 12th for attack and second for defence. This time last year they were 7-3, sitting 10th in attack and first in defence.
Last year they waded through their own medical remake of ER, seeming to lose a star to injury a week.
This year they lost Jordan Roughead and Tory Dickson (pre-season), Dale Morris (Round 1), Travis Cloke (Round 4), Jake Stringer and Josh Dunkley (Round 7) and Bob Murphy and Clay Smith last week.
Last year it forced Luke Beveridge to spin the magnets, hesitant to compromise his frenetic style.
This year Beveridge said his team was evolving with a different mix.
“What our perfect balance is one week will not be the right one the next, I guarantee you,” Beveridge said in April.
“We might play out of our skins next week, and I can guarantee you it won’t be the same team in Round 22.”
Last year the Dogs were blown away just once, losing only one game by more than 25 points. This year that is yet to happen.
Last year Geelong — led by Patrick Dangerfield — was the premier’s kryptonite, the Cats the only team to kick 100 points and beat the Dogs, doing it twice.
This year the Cats are the only team to score 100 points against the Dogs, Beveridge still searching for his first win against Chris Scott.
In the past two years Beveridge has been bold — if not brutal — at selection, dropping Stringer, Jack Macrae, Stewart Crameri and Tom Boyd to the VFL.
This year premiership heroes Shane Biggs, Caleb Daniel, Toby McLean and the headline act Tom Liberatore have played multiple games for Footscray.
Last year it worked, Stringer returning for the finals and Boyd erupting on the big stage.
Last year that Boyd-Roughead ruck partnership with a smaller attack proved the perfect chemistry.
On Saturday that same set-up produced the first four-quarter performance since the Grand Final, with Stringer kicking five goals as Cloke and Jack Redpath were omitted.
Beveridge said the week off was a time to reflect.
“(We’ll) think about the work we’ve put in, how it sets us up for the back end of the year and come back full of energy to try and string some wins together,” he said.
Last year the Dogs returned from the bye with a famous win against Sydney at the SCG, kickstarting the road to glory.
This year they again return from the bye against Sydney at the SCG, on Thursday night.
Before the Saints’ win the Dogs had coughed and spluttered along like a tractor. But you get the feeling they are about to get rolling, with their best still to come.
ROBBO SAYS:
THIS year they are 6-4. This time last year they were 7-3. Can they go again? Of course they can because we know their game stands up in finals. Numbers suggest not much has changed, but there are areas that need tweaking. Libba will get back in. Don’t know about Matty Boyd. And think the likes of Jong, Dale and Williams are better footballers this year. Lost their four games by 16, two, eight and 23 points and haven’t had a functional forward line, so still upside. My pick for the flag.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DOGS ...
MONEY MAN
Marcus Bontempelli. How is this bloke only 21? The most influential Bulldog, and history says he only needs 20 disposals and a goal to snare Brownlow votes — which he’s done nine times. Should become the club’s 11th Brownlow Medallist and is almost ready to be captain.
STOCKS RISING
Marcus Adams. Entered with question marks after that nasty foot injury, reported homesickness and a Round 1 snub. But he’s swiftly voided Joel Hamling’s departure and looks a long-term star at full-back. Generated an impressive 11 shots at goal when swung forward for two and a half games.
RALLY TIME
Matthew Boyd. Form and fitness have begun to fail the former captain, who was recontracted in October after an All-Australian and premiership season. Boyd needs another 11 games to reach 300, but cool-headed kid Bailey Williams looks a real rival for his place in the best 22.
TRADE FORECAST
GOING, GOING?
All eyes are on Jason Johannisen. The out-of-contract Norm Smith medallist has taken his game to a new level this season, and with half-back weapons all the rage he deserves to be richly compensated. Would be a tough call to leave his premiership friends, but the speculation hasn’t distracted him.
COMING?
The Dogs made a big play for Essendon’s Michael Hurley last season, and with Dale Morris ageing is another key defender on the hit list? Gold Coast captain Steven May is the best available, but he’s looking more likely to stay put. The list focus is surely on retention given Stringer, Dahlhaus, Libba, Wallis, Macrae and Dahlhaus are all out of contract next year — and thus far Jason McCartney has a golden record.
ADAM COONEY’S TAKE
“You will come to a place where the streets are not marked,
Libba’s impact has lightened,
Clokey’s left in the dark,
a place you could sprain your elbow or chin,
oh by the way, you’re our ruckman now, Lin”
Bevo’s a different coach. highlighted by his Dr Seuss speech during the pre-season. The Dogs have had their fair share of injury and form struggles so far this season, but Beveridge’s ingenuity has them sitting just out of the top four. With players coming back from injury and form building, expect a huge finish to the season. Back-to-back a definite reality.
THE BULLDOGS IN 2017
4th on the ladder, 6 wins 4 losses, 108.4%
MATCHES SO FAR ...
Rd1 WON — Collingwood by 14 points
Rd2 WON — Sydney by 23 points
Rd3 LOST — Fremantle by 16 points
Rd4 WON — North Melbourne BEAT
Rd5 WON — Brisbane by 32 points
Rd6 LOST — GWS by 2 points
Rd7 WON — Richmond by 5 points
Rd8 LOST — West Coast by 8 points
Rd9 LOST — Geelong by 23 points
Rd10 WON — St Kilda by 40 points
THE RUN HOME
Rd12 Sydney (SCG)
Rd13 Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)
Rd14 North Melbourne (Etihad Stadium)
Rd15 West Coast (Etihad Stadium)
Rd16 Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)
Rd17 Carlton (MCG)
Rd18 Gold Coast (Cazaly’s Stadium)
Rd19 Essendon (Etihad Stadium)
Rd20 Brisbane (Gabba)
Rd21 GWS (Etihad Stadium)
Rd22 Port Adelaide (Eureka Stadium)
Rd23 Hawthorn (Etihad Stadium)
LEADERS OF THE PACK
SUPERCOACH POINTS (Ave)
Marcus Bontempelli 113
Jack Macrae 102
Luke Dahlhaus 99
Jason Johannisen 91
Tom Liberatore 85
DISPOSALS (Ave)
Luke Dahlhaus 27.3
Jack Macrae 25.9
Jason Johannisen 25.3
Marcus Bontempelli 23.8
Caleb Daniel 22.8
KICK RATING (Ave)
Shane Biggs +6.7%
Jason Johannisen +6.7%
Matthew Suckling +6.6%
Fletcher Roberts +6.2%
Toby McLean +5.7%
CONTESTED POSSESSIONS (Ave)
Marcus Bontempelli 12.6
Tom Liberatore 11.2
Luke Dahlhaus 10.6
Jack Macrae 10.2
Lin Jong 9
UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS (Ave)
Jason Johannisen 18.1
Robert Murphy 17.2
Luke Dahlhaus 16.9
Matthew Boyd 16.1
Caleb Daniel 16
METRES GAINED (Ave)
Jason Johannisen 508m
Robert Murphy 449m
Matthew Suckling 446m
Marcus Bontempelli 385m
Matthew Boyd 338m
INTERCEPT POSSESSIONS (Ave)
Easton Wood 6.9
Marcus Adams 6.3
Matthew Boyd 5.3
Shane Biggs 5.2
Zaine Cordy 5
GOALS
Jake Stringer 19
Marcus Bontempelli 12
Lachie Hunter 8
Liam Picken 7
Clay Smith 7
SCORE INVOLVEMENTS (Ave)
Jake Stringer 7.8
Luke Dahlhaus 7.7
Marcus Bontempelli 7.3
Liam Picken 6.7
Jack Macrae 6.3
PRESSURE POINTS (Ave)
Tom Liberatore 72.6
Marcus Bontempelli 56.6
Jack Macrae 51.9
Clay Smith 45.6
Luke Dahlhaus 43.1
Source: CHAMPION DATA
FINALS ANALYSIS
Odds for eight: $1.15
Odds for flag: $7.50
Top four is the target and matches against West Coast (Etihad) and Port Adelaide (Ballarat) will be critical. The Dogs must also rediscover their mojo on the road, with all four losses this season coming out of Melbourne.
Odds: TAB
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