We’re four points and percentage adrift of fourth place and with the next four games against The Eagles, Roos, Crows and Cats, teams all struggling to find consistent form, and all out of the eight, we may just get there.
Either way, if we win at least 3 of those four games we should be well cemented in the top eight, by the end of round 12, the half way mark of the Season.
But enough four-casting of what might happen in the future, what about what actually happened in last weekend’s game against the Swans?
As predicted the Bulldogs ability to consistently win the ball out of midfield, was the key factor in determining the outcome of the game.
Westy, Johnno, Garlo, Big Darce and Browny were once again dominant clearing the ball out of centre a total of 22 times to Sydney’s 11. With the SCG being such a small ground, once you’re out of the centre you’re virtually inside your forward 50 already, and with an inform Paul Hudson lurking there you’re bound to kick goals more often than not.
(Did the 50 metre arcs look incredibly undersized to anyone else? I would have said they were 40 metres max, but maybe that’s how they look o TV.)
However, even with this dominance the Bulldogs found it hard to shake a determined Sydney who refused to lie down and die. The Swans mounted a threatening charge early in the final quarter, reducing what at three quarter time looked like becoming a considerable Bulldogs victory to one of less than four goals.
Once again the Bulldogs problems seemed to lie in the fact that although they themselves scored heavily, they could not stop the opposition from doing the same. Even though Sydney was well beaten out of the centre they still managed to drive the ball into their fifty almost as many times as the Bulldogs did.
For the Bulldogs to mount that charge on the top four they must start to shut down opposition teams. The Bulldogs defence must start to bury forward lines, in order both to build percentage and to provide a steady platform for the in form forward line to build on.
One player who seems determined to do just that is Matthew Robbins. Fresh from producing a desperate smother against the Dees, he brought down a Sydney forward, streaming into goal with an exceedingly Libba- like tackle. He came from nowhere (well from out of frame on the TV anyway) and launched himself at his opponent, forcing a turn over which saw the ball head into the Bulldogs forward 50 in a matter of seconds. His improvement this year continues apace, and his courage, and willingness to put his body on the line, can no longer be questioned.
Mitch Hahn continued to make progress in the back line, building on his impressive third quarter against the Dees, with another respectable performance.
However, none of the Bulldogs returning players. Libba, Crofty and Curley managed to set the world on fire. Although they will all be better for having a run. In Curley’s case that was all he had. Spending very little time on the ground and unfortunately gathering no possessions.
With those three up and running again the Bulldogs will head to Perth this week looking to make it three in a row. Here’s hoping they do.
Bulldogs: 2.3 8.7 15.9 18.14 122
Sydney: 3.3 8.7 10.9 15.11 101
Goals: Hudson 5, Johnson 3, Cox 2, Garlick 2, Bartlett 1, Ellis 1, Grant 1, Robbins 1, Smith 1, West 1
Best: Johnno, West, Brown, Robbo, Huddo Garlo and Big Darce – congrats to Coxy on notching up his 50th game.
