Rd 3 vs Western Bulldogs @ Marvel - Match Thread

[troyjones2525]

We were well beaten on the night and deserved to lose. We comprehensively lost the contested ball and they were really sharp with their disposal, while we kept turning the ball over. I think the rest between games differential was the killer and expected us to lose this game. We have a few things to clean up and get back to the kind of winning football we know we can play.

Spot on Ludwig. We were poor for most of the night. Yes the umpiring was atrocious but so was our skill errors and several efforts in our forward line where we just stood there and watched them mark the ball... (I'm looking at you Wicks).

We need this longer break to hopefully reset and get back to playing our brand.

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[dejavoodoo44]

Frees since 2016 Bulldogs v Swans.
2022: 31-14.
2021: 29-16.
2020: 16-13.
2019: 22-22.
2018: 29-16.
2017: 31-17. 13-22.
2016: 17-16. 20-8.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i think it is fair to say that the AFL will certainly not want teams to zone the middle like the Dogs did all game.

If that happens and the bus is parked across the middle of the field every kick in and or exit then AFL will become a very very boring game to watch.

It worked tonight impressively for the Dogs and we couldnt handle the chess game and mirror when needed

[stevoswan]

Sam Naismith on twitter: "If I tweet about the umpires, is it 50?"

@@@@in' funny......

[i'm-uninformed2]

So, the positives: our defence was very good given what they had coming in at them. Blakey exceptional. Campbell a very good second half.

Our mids largely yuk.

Horse interesting at post match presser. Asked about umpiring. Didn’t want to buy into it. Which is sometimes his way, but he had a “don’t get me fined” edge to him.

[Faunac8]

Thanks Neil, you are always a calm voice of reason.

An individual opinion much like every one else on here.
If anyone genuinely believes a lopsided free kick count has no actual impact on a team I suggest you check out the looks on the Swans players faces after some of the more contentious decisions. 3 or 4 of those a game can be absorbed when it’s 17-3* over a period of play it’s debilitating.
Yes we lost and probably deserved to but I can not dismiss the impact the umpires had on the game tonight.

[dejavoodoo44]

Watching the Front Bar was improving my mood, but now they've got Liam Picken on to reminisce about the 2016 GF. FFS!

[mcs]

All I'll say is my ticker is glad I missed that game and had other things keeping me occupied. Saw about 2 minutes of the second quarter in between engagements and that was enough for me ha - it was putrid. But we obviously improved a bit in the second half and by the sounds of it had our chances to win it at the end.

While it sounds like we were far from our best tonight, and have some work to do against teams that adapt their tactics like the Dogs did today, it sounds like we fought back well - which is good signs for a great season to come. And we do know we won't get reamed like that every week by the umpires.

In that sense - we shouldn't be surprised. Hasn't changed from 2016 when this same old crap happens when playing the Fairypuppies. They are the absolute darlings of the yellow brigade.

I agree to some degree with NeilFWS about the free kick count - it is an inaccurate measure of the impact of umpiring anyway, because it doesn't pick up calls not made. And that is where I think the Dogs get a huge ride consistently from umpires. They get away with a huge amount of stuff - throws in particular, plenty of diving too, that other teams don't. Maybe their just better at disguising it, and I strongly suspect they train specifically to maximise the frees they get and indeed avoid (Its beyond a sample size now imho of it being down to 'luck' that they keep getting such a lovely ride from the umpires).

Alas, its not a game I'll be going out of my way to watch over the next week, but a good reality check and kick up the bum for the team. Sounds like our skills tonight were really poor, which is inexcusable in perfect footy conditions under the roof. I'm less concerned by the fact the dogs were able to effectively counter our strengths - that will happen. And indeed it is part of what has to 'click' yet for the team - the ability to see what the opposition is doing and find a way to counter it. That will come in time.

The combined free kick count was 18-3 in the second & third quarters. An entire half of footy and one team only gives away
3 free kicks. Quite an achievement. Really enjoyed hearing the Footscray Cheer Squad in the commentary room too.

Surely their second best effort ever after the day that should not be mentioned - where they didn't conceded a free kick for was it just over half a game of football (or was it almost 3 quarters)....

[MattW]

Watching the Front Bar was improving my mood, but now they've got Liam Picken on to reminisce about the 2016 GF. FFS!

Travis Head's hitting doing the job for me.

[mcs]

Sam Naismith on twitter: "If I tweet about the umpires, is it 50?"

@@@@in' funny......

Someone will be getting a please explain from the Whitten Oval on Monday.... oh I mean AFL Umpires HQ.

Suspect he will be in a little bit of trouble for that comment. He may not care.

[Adelaide Swan]

Sam Naismith on twitter: "If I tweet about the umpires, is it 50?"

@@@@in' funny......

He's not wrong tbf.

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[neilfws]

If anyone genuinely believes a lopsided free kick count has no actual impact on a team I suggest you check out the looks on the Swans players faces after some of the more contentious decisions.

I do not believe that it has no impact. I just think that as a statistic, it gets far more attention than its influence merits.

[MattW]

Frees since 2016 Bulldogs v Swans.
2022: 31-14.
2021: 29-16.
2020: 16-13.
2019: 22-22.
2018: 29-16.
2017: 31-17. 13-22.
2016: 17-16. 20-8.

The anodyne FTV commentary was a bit galling also. Guileless presentation rather than calling the game.

[longmile]

I do not believe that it has no impact. I just think that as a statistic, it gets far more attention than its influence merits.

It's influential enough to rob us of a premiership

[i'm-uninformed2]

I do not believe that it has no impact. I just think that as a statistic, it gets far more attention than its influence merits.

Fwiw, I’d usually agree. But what we saw tonight was beyond ridiculous, like a certain game in 16