Match Day Rnd. 2. Western Bulldogs V Sydney Swans. 7.50 pm Etihad Stadium.

[Joel Ridge]

Well said. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Hodge is a turd of the highest order. Just look at his recent seasons - apart from all the usual cheap shots, we had the big ticket items of the thuggish attack on Swallow, the post incident, and off the field the drink driving. if Joel values virtue and decency as much as he suggests then Hodge is the last player he should have any time for.

The Hawks from that era play unsociable football. Look at Jordan Lewis and the intimidation that he is bringing to the Demons. He is transitioning the Demons from a ski lodge outfit to an unsosiable team.

Zak Jones is the only player looking to impose an unsociable element to the Swans.

[mcs]

Remember that us & the Hawks legally tackled the 'Brave dogs' 170 times and ZERO frees.

#perfectteamdogs

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That remains one of the most damning and ridiculous statistics one will ever see about the #bravedoggies

[56-14]

Remember that us & the Hawks legally tackled the 'Brave dogs' 170 times and ZERO frees.

#perfectteamdogs

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If a player legally tackles another player, of cause there shouldn't be a free kick against the tackler.

MCS - what's damning & ridiculous about this stat.?

[WauchopeAnalyst]

If a player legally tackles another player, of cause there shouldn't be a free kick against the tackler.

MCS - what's damning & ridiculous about this stat.?

No frees. None. Zero HTB Frees or incorrect disposal.

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[bloodspirit]

If a player legally tackles another player, of cause there shouldn't be a free kick against the tackler.

MCS - what's damning & ridiculous about this stat.?

What's ridiculous and damning is that out of 170 tackles the Swans and Hawks didn't win one free kick for the Dogs holding the ball or incorrect disposal. However, kudos to the Dogs. This stat can't damn them, only the umpires.

[dimelb]

Kennedy has been the best value pick in AFL history. Second round trade and look at the value. Hodge was pick 1 and should have been a star, which he was.

From the moment I saw Kennedy playing for the Swans I thought of him as an upgrade to Brett Kirk. Stronger, better overhead, better kick. Not sure Kennedy as a leader can motivate like Kirk.

My favourite memory of Hodge is his attempt to run through LRT in the 2012 GF.

[bloodspirit]

'Noise of affirmation': WA crowds' ump influence - M.afl.com.au

Sound familiar? Sounds exactly like what we're banging on about. This is quickly becoming a very important issue that I think deserves further investigation and attention. Richardson nails the explanation: there are a lot of grey areas (rules open to subjective interpretation) and it's the non-calls that are the killers. If further research shows this is a wider problem, as we suspect, they'll need to think about what to do about it including extra umpire training to address this specific issue.

[Dosser]

Ok. I probably won't be popular here for saying this but i will say it anyway.
First of all, i was frustrated and furious on Friday night by the treatment that we got from the umps and felt ripped off. However, i have just finished watching the replay of the first half and a couple of things stand out.
1. Hanners. All is not lost as he was trying hard, but his timing was way off. This is purely a form issue and will fix itself as he runs into form.
2. Umpiring. So far (first half) the umpiring has been ok. There have been a lot of frees missed on both sides (lots of dogs throws but we also tackled players without the ball, etc) so that is pretty much equal. The big discrepancy so far has been the free kick count, but i can put it almost entirely down to the manic tackling by the dogs. Every time we get the ball their tackles stick and we get swamped. Once upon a time we used to do that but now they have taken that crown off us. This is why they get a lopsided tackle count against most teams and we can complain all we like but those frees were pretty much there. I know that the second half produced some absolute shocking decisions but this was the first half. I now have a new appreciation for the doggies efforts and see that they deserved it.
3. Fox was better than i thought.
4. Newman's kicking is sensational and comparisons to Esky at his best are not off the mark. I was very pleasantly surprised.
5. Not sure what Parker is up to but i remember he had a good last quarter so maybe he is running back into form as well.
6. I love Aliir as he reminds me so much of Leo Barry with his pinball runs out of the back line.
7. I have never been convinced of Hewett but now he is in the middle i can see what others have been talking about. He had a great half.
All is not lost and we are slowly getting it together. It should be a great ride this year.

[goswannies]

6. I love Aliir as he reminds me so much of Leo Barry with his pinball runs out of the back line.

I am far more comfortable watching AA running out of defence even at this stage of his career than I was with Leo at any stage of his career. The only thing that saved Leo from being run down was that opposition players got so damn dizzy watching him pinball around the backline that they couldn't focus properly. But dang could Leo mark!

[Hotpotato]

I am far more comfortable watching AA running out of defence even at this stage of his career than I was with Leo at any stage of his career. The only thing that saved Leo from being run down was that opposition players got so damn dizzy watching him pinball around the backline that they couldn't focus properly. But dang could Leo mark!

Ha ha .....
That will make Leo laugh in his boring job today !

[Auntie.Gerald]

I've been judgmental of Newman re his capacity to potentially defend against smalls / fast players at an AFL level and his tendency to sit behind to set up play more then run and carry when playing ressies

This still maybe a weakness but he being a left footer and having a massive advantage to drift down the left to hit buddy's fav area to receive the ball could be very very important . A left footer has such a great advantage on this side of the field and without Rampe we needed him

I'd prefer laids not in the team in exchange for an attacking defender and that maybe Newman and or Edwards or when Rampe comes back who knows ??

I felt that the Dogs really had us covered with their backline counter attack on Friday and we must arrest this issue by having equal speed and skill from our backline. Look at the cricket score GWS put on again on the weekend with their superior fast backline countering

Ironically Mills looked as slow as anyone in our backline when defending on Friday

Not just speed but slow anticipation

But overall saw some positive signs on Friday from the young guys and newbies

[ScottH]

I am far more comfortable watching AA running out of defence even at this stage of his career than I was with Leo at any stage of his career. The only thing that saved Leo from being run down was that opposition players got so damn dizzy watching him pinball around the backline that they couldn't focus properly. But dang could Leo mark!

Yeh, Aliir at least runs with a purpose. Leo ran like he was on drugs. Even he didn't know where he was going.

And Dosser I forgot about Hewett. He did look pretty good in the middle in the second half. He is another with some elusive skills that are highly valuable in tight games.

[dimelb]

... I felt that the Dogs really had us covered with their backline counter attack on Friday and we must arrest this issue by having equal speed and skill from our backline. Look at the cricket score GWS put on again on the weekend with their superior fast backline countering ...

We need speed, determination and hard tackling from a couple of the forwards. We are seriously missing Papley.

[dimelb]

Greg Baum is on the case:

Western Bulldogs in fast lane on the freeway

And we're not the only ones waiting for feedback:

Sydney coach John Longmire awaits feedback on free-kick woes

[111431]

I've been judgmental of Newman re his capacity to potentially defend against smalls / fast players at an AFL level and his tendency to sit behind to set up play more then run and carry when playing ressies

This still maybe a weakness but he being a left footer and having a massive advantage to drift down the left to hit buddy's fav area to receive the ball could be very very important . A left footer has such a great advantage on this side of the field and without Rampe we needed him

I'd prefer laids not in the team in exchange for an attacking defender and that maybe Newman and or Edwards or when Rampe comes back who knows ??

I felt that the Dogs really had us covered with their backline counter attack on Friday and we must arrest this issue by having equal speed and skill from our backline. Look at the cricket score GWS put on again on the weekend with their superior fast backline countering

Ironically Mills looked as slow as anyone in our backline when defending on Friday

Not just speed but slow anticipation

But overall saw some positive signs on Friday from the young guys and newbies

Agree with your observation re Mills - looked very slow