Let's just get a coach who doesn't need a list of 22 A Graders to be successful.

do not have one player aged 28 or older who I consider to be in their best 10 players, except for Ed Curnow

Jacob Weitering, Liam Jones, Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Harry McKay, Curnow, Jack Silvagni and Matthew Kennedy gave their all most of the time, but the rest were found wanting.

Buckenara didn't rate Walsh as an A Grader. Not sure he's seen too many Carlton games.

To be fair the AFLPA only rated him the second best player in the league.

Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy believes Luke Beveridge’s “fanatical” obsession with his players being able to kick on both feet is one of the reasons behind the Dogs’ miraculous win on Saturday night.

The men from Footscray were able to storm home in the final quarter to win by a solitary point over the Lions at the Gabba, keeping themselves in the premiership hunt.


Bailey Smith was the hero for the Bulldogs, kicking a miraculous goal from the pocket on his opposite foot in the dying minutes that was crucial in securing the win.

Murphy believes the reason Smith was able to kick the goal was due to his coach’s insistence to learn to kick with both feet.

“Luke Beveridge, he’s fanatical about players being able to kick on both sides,” he said on SEN Drive.

“To get you out of trouble and to save time, you need it."

And he's an AA. Not too many B graders get an AA guernsey.

I think Buckenara is saying that Walsh is not old enough to rate, but that is stupid logic because he is already one of the best in the league.

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Yeah, I'm intrigued as well about how we're going to structure this. I suspect Kemp is a lock to keep developing in defence. With his package of height and athleticism, he's too talented to not be in the side. Thankfully he's one of those guys who should be able to match up on smaller guys. And if we keep Marchbank and he can actually stay fit, I think he's another lock to be played in defence. He's been out of the team too long to be playing him in some other more experimental role.

But with Weiters, Jones and Plowman all locks as well. It certainly places a squeeze on the small defender role. Pretty sure Saad and Docherty will be prioritised. So perhaps Williams midfield/small forward? Stocker redeployed to midfield?

Gary Buckenara once again demonstrated why he's cleaning out peoples toilets instead of working in the AFL.

This year's first for Gibcus. Only other area we are short (no pun intended) are KPB. By the time Jones retires he will be ready.

List management priorities need to be based on how we think we're gonna play in 2022 and onwards.

With that in mind we need to decide on the following:

What our Ruck situation is going to be -
a) Do we play one ruckman with a tall utility to offer a chop-out?
b) Do we play two genuine rucks?

If a) who is that tall utility player? Do we need to trade one in? Do we think that at this stage in his career De Koning is that player and Pittonet is the no 1 ruckman?
If b) do we need another ruck on the list so that we can play the same style in the VFL, and to provide depth?

This then affects our forward set-up -
Our no. 1 and no. 2 tall forwards are set: McKay & Curnow. We then have either a resting ruckman or a tall utility-type. That's probably enough talls, so where do players like Silvagni & McGovern fit into this set-up?

..if Marchbank can ever withstand afl, I'd play him on a wing.. ..run back hard to fill the space and pop up as a 7th defender.. ....he can also push forward to help slow opposition run out of our F50..

An inform Casboult circa round 1-6 in 2020 was so crucial for us. The best contested mark in the AFL and at 200cm and 105kg could hole his ground in the ruck. Perfect.

If DeKoning could get his timing for marking sorted he'd be great as the 3rd tall/ruck. But, at some stage, DeKoning will be No.1 ruck and it may well be 2022 if he has a huge preseason developing his strength.

Silvagni and Gov wouldn't be needed as 3rd tall if we had a bonafide ruck-forward.

I'm an unabashed fan of 2 genuine rucks who are a threat forward too.

Silvagni is perfect as a big bodies mid imo.

I don't want Silvagni rucking...unless we have no choice due to injury.

I think the ruck position is almost our most pressing. DeKoning is 2-3 years off what we need him to be. He needs to bulk up, get fitter and get a bit of mongrel about him. He needs to have a big pre-season. Pittonet can't jump off the ground. He's not the answer. We need to find a new No 1 ruckman from somewhere. DeKoning can develop in the forward line and relieve ruck.

And he's an AA. Not too many B graders get an AA guernsey.

I think Buckenara is saying that Walsh is not old enough to rate, but that is stupid logic because he is already one of the best in the league.

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WE need to get that midfield sorted.

Maybe Dow and SPS have a breakthrough year next year, maybe its Setterfield and stocker. Maybe Williams gets super fit over the summer to play the role he was recruited for, but midfield is No. 1 priority.

Gibcus is made for intercept role. Jones is playing intercept because Marchbank is injured and Plowman isn't an intercept mark. I don't know if Gibcus ia a KPD because that's what you're looking for from a FB or CHB imo.

I'd like us to consider Joshua Cripps to develop for Jones' role. He'd still be available in the 2nd round.

I'm a huge fan of players able to kick and handball on both sides, as mush as I am a fan of 2 bonafide ruckmen in a Final, let alone a GF.



https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/09/07/beveridges-fanatical-ethos-that-contributed-to-bulldogs-finals-win/

That's why I'm not a fan of williamson in the backline. Seen him turn to trouble too many times.

Simmo on the other hand could kick accurately on his right foot when needed despite the lack of style.

What a stupid article was that when Walsh had his own category it’s called AAA

Agree on Williamson and throw fisher in as a left foot liability

Scott gave little away as to who was in line to replace the midfielder, however the call will be down to Quinton Narkle, Sam Simpson, Zach Guthrie, Luke Dahlhaus or Shaun Higgins.

I don't think the 3rd tall suits Plowman. He struggles on players his size and above, and he's certainly not an intercept mark.

I prefer Jones and Weiters to be lockdown KPF's. Jones shouldn't leave his man alone to do the intercepting. I know he does it aplomb every now and then, but in Finals, I'd rather Marchbank play that role because of his athleticsim and abilty to intercept, otherwise its Kemp for me whilst Marchy recovers from an ACL....but if Kemp is a big bodied mid...I'm salivating for that day.