The Bulldogs’ basic mistakes could cost them a real chance this season. On the weekend you look at crucial stages such as when Will Minson goes against every team rule in the book and hits one back into a dangerous part of the ground to Sam Mitchell. They’ve got to play the percentages in the game on those instances where forwards are expected to come up and put pressure on. Then there’s Ryan Griffen not playing the game out on the siren and blocking Xavier Ellis. It’s got nothing to do with their talent, but it’s more the attention to detail in the close games that is really hurting them. A side like St Kilda doesn’t make those mistakes because it is too professional and the Dogs have to get their basic structural things right.
Thursday night footy
I liked it. To get a 35,000 strong crowd against a non-Victorian side without Brendan Fevola playing was a really good turn up. I’m not sure it will become a permanent week-to-week occurrence but there is room in the fixture to have it occasionally. The ratings were enormous for Channel 10. I prefer it to Monday night footy and it would have been even bigger if Fev and Jonathan Brown weren’t out injured. Last week was scheduled to coincide with school holidays and that might be the best way to do it for now.
Finding touch
Players often have extended periods of time out with injury and when they come back there is an expectation that they’ll just be fine and be just like the way they were before. Daniel Merrett is back in the side for the Brisbane Lions and has had a few games back but he just doesn’t have the touch. He hasn’t got the game sense or the awareness of someone who has played all season. He is playing like someone who needs a few games to find his way. In general, players will need a few games back before they are back playing at their best. Very few players can play well first up. That is why Adelaide and Hawthorn are improving, because players are getting some continuity in their performance.
Carlton’s ruck stocks
Matthew Keruzer’s knee injury has opened up doors for Sam Jacobs and Shaun Hampson. Jacobs in particular stood up very well on Thursday night against the Lions. They’ve got some really good depth in their ruck stocks. Robbie Warnock is pushing for selection too. The shame is that you can see these guys can do the job in the ruck and I would have loved to see Kreuzer push forward. He is obviously going to be the best ruckman in their side but he might have been able to get more ground time as a forward. Given their excitement around their small forwards Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran it would be great if he could have been in there. When he does come back I think the Blues should bring him back as a key forward.
Early predictions
Occasionally coaches make statements that they live to regret and I think John Worsfold might be starting to regret saying that the Eagles won’t finish on the bottom. They find themselves in that exact situation with just eight weeks to go. The signs aren’t great. They look like a side that hasn’t got a lot of imagination in the way they play. Apart from Nic Naitanui there is not a heap of young talent coming through. There isn’t a huge group that I can see providing excitement. I’d say they are looking at finishing last and that will put enormous pressure on the coach.
The Hawks
They’ve won seven games in a row now and they’re starting to get all their key players out on the park. They’ve now got enough games under their belt to perform at the level we all knew they could play at. We’ve seen some real up side in Shaun Burgoyne who is getting continuity in his game. In a couple of weeks he will have even more confidence in his body to play 40 per cent better than he is now. Brad Sewell has missed a fair chunk of footy and he has momentum behind him now. The Hawks are a side that is starting to live up to expectations and if they can come away from the next three weeks with at least two wins they will be a serious factor come finals time.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
