Game Thread - Sydney V Dogs

[573v30]

Mathews would make a better forward target and goal kicker than both Playfair and Bolton.

But Mathews doesn't like to kick forward.

[Melbournehammer]

i think barlow was pretty good today. bird has been improving but still struggles with the pace of the game. just disappointing that we can't win these games at the moment

[ScottH]

But Mathews doesn't like to kick forward.

LOL, True, but that is only outside the F50.

[Melbournehammer]

to make people feel better is anyone listening to melbourne v fremantle ?

[Melbournehammer]

dockers were 51 points up just before 1/2 time and 32 points up at 3/4 time and are losing by 10 points - they are just the most pathetic club

[TheGrimReaper]

to make people feel better is anyone listening to melbourne v fremantle ?

I fell off my chair, when a mate told me Melbourne is in front.

[573v30]

dockers were 51 points up just before 1/2 time and 32 points up at 3/4 time and are losing by 10 points - they are just the most pathetic club

A bit of a consolation that both WA sides are worse than the Swans. However, I tipped both Sydney and Freo to win and it doesn't look like a good Sunday for me.

[Zlatorog]

But Mathews doesn't like to kick forward.

I think his point was that Ben is more accurate kick at goal than those two, which I believe is true.

[573v30]

I think his point was that Ben is more accurate kick at goal than those two, which I believe is true.

I know, but what are the chances that Mathews is going to play as a forward?

[Margie]

Just home. The Bulldogs looked faster, fitter, more skillful and more prepared to take risks. Our negativity really showed when we started kicking backwards.

Tadhg seems to have lost some pace. Bird, in my opinion, still has a long way to go. Spida handy at times but has basically only played 2 hours of football since last year. Playfair has played even less - he takes a good mark but his kicking is a bit dodgy (he's not alone there).

LRT had an ordinary game - he needs to get re-acquainted with the role of playing in defence after being stand-in ruckman for a while.

I'm not convinced about Mattner yet. He seems a bit soft and slow with his decision making (again, not alone there).

Matthews has been a fine servant for the club and I understand he's great with the younger guys, but his time at this level is probably over.

Adam Goodes was several notches above anyone else, ROK did okay and Moore and Jack continue to impress.

Let's hope Fossie is the next back and Malceski ASAP.

Very frustrating game and way too many wasted opportunities in front of goal. Another one we could have won.

The forward structure still looks very fragile.

[ScottH]

The forward structure still looks very fragile.

Very polite comment, given our failings in front of the big sticks.

[Alison]

Just back from the game.

Few observations:

No one is leading or presenting up the ground when we are trying to run it out of our defence - that is why the players are stopping and starting - no one to kick to!

From the backline
- thought Teddy was probably our best player down back
- Leo killed Welsh today. Welsh could not get a kick. Leo had a great first half - great disposal
- Thought Murphy really had the better of Craig Bolton
- Mattner had a shocking first half but was trying all day.
- Tadgh was ok - not back to his best running yet
- Bevo - did not really see him at all

Midfielders
- Thought Kirky was average today
- Jude Bolton was average
- Jolly was average
Actually the whole midfield was quite average apart from Goodes

Forward line
- Playfair showed a lot of promise
- Micky showed that if we can get the ball in quickly and him one-on-one he is a great chance
- O'Keefe worked hard but would like to see him playing more inside 50
- Amon worked hard as did Moore

Another game you could probably say if we had of kicked straight we probably would have won!!!

[Margie]

Very polite comment, given our failings in front of the big sticks.

Okay, pathetic! How accurate are the Bulldogs players with their kicks on goal?

[Mike_B]

My take on the game - hugely disappointing effort. Another case of wasted opportunities.

Skills and decision making were atrocious - both by hand and foot. The other thing that struck me today is how little effort we put in when we have the ball. We will have taken a mark on HB, and then when looking for the next option up the ground, our players jog and make half arsed attempts at making a lead. Contrast this with the Dogs who would have players sprint 50m to make a lead and be 5-7m free meaning an uncontested mark is straight forward. With us not working hard enough, we don't get into the uncontested situation. And the ultimate irony is that Nick Davis is accused of not working hard enough. Reeks of double standards to me!

On the upside, Jack was fantastic early (although he did drift out of the game later), Moore keeps showing there's something there, Goodes is getting better.

On the downside, Mathews is a joke and how he got a game is beyond me. O'Keefe's confidence around goals is shot to pieces. Mattner has no awareness and sense of when to get rid of the ball, and overall we play risk averse football until its too late.

On the I don't know side, we had a damn good opportunity to win today, as we have in 3 of the 4 games we haven't won. So we're there and thereabouts....but at the same time....we haven't got the 4 points, and that's what ultimately counts...

[SCGonasunnyday]

The boys really tried hard today, they really, really wanted to win. Usually when we lose we don't turn up, but today was one of those lovely days at the SCG where we did actually turn up and had a pretty solid 1st quarter.

In the end, their skills were fantastic and their kicking at goal very, very good.

I loved Playfair, isn't it great to have recruited another tough player who can't kick so Buchanan, Ablett, Bolton J, Kirk, Bevan, LRT and Brennan don't get lonely.