Won’t the real Western Bulldogs please stand up

 
Paddy Higgs Roar Pro

By , 30 Apr 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Pro

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Brad Johnson of the Bulldogs leaves the ground dejected after losing the AFL ANZAC Day Round 05 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Carlton Blues at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images

Brad Johnson of the Bulldogs leaves the ground dejected after losing the AFL ANZAC Day Round 05 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Carlton Blues at the Docklands Stadium. Slattery Images

Soon after Round Two, the bookies released their revised markets for the AFL premiership race. Geelong and Hawthorn were hardly surprises at the top of the tree. But many a footy fan was taken aback at the various agencies’ almost unanimous election of Carlton over the Western Bulldogs as the third favourite for the flag.

It provoked plenty of chatter throughout tearooms.

With the benefit of hindsight, at least about one thing, those office wags were right. Carlton, as showed in its losses to Essendon and Sydney, are not the real deal.

Yet.

But those who believed that the Western Bulldogs were the frontrunner to challenge last season’s grand finalists have been proved as wrong as the bookies.

After winning its first three games, Rodney Eade’s side lost to out-of-form duo West Coast and Carlton.

What has gone wrong?

With all the hype on the midfields of Geelong and Carlton, the Bulldogs possess the most underrated onball brigade in the competition. While the term ‘fab four’ is bandied about far too often, Rodney Eade has stars at his disposal in Daniel Cross, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney, and now, Shaun Higgins.

But all the midfield industry and class can’t make up for the Bulldogs’ big drawback: a lack of any marking and goalkicking forward is the real root of the club‘s problem.

Mitch Hahn lends plenty of bustle and forwardline pressure, Brad Johnson’s guile always makes him a threat, and Will Minson gives his all despite his obvious limitations.

It’s not a new problem.

After failing to find the answer with Jade Rawlings, Andrew McDougall and now Scott Welsh, the Bulldogs have focused their recruiting to address the problem.

Sixteen players on their list are over 190cm, but their best forward prospects, Jarrad Grant, and Jarrad Boumann still need time to develop.

Two losses hardly constitute a crisis, at least by Richmond and Fremantle’s standards. But that they desperately need to arrest their form is clear.

It won’t be easy.

As far as important clashes go, a Sunday twilight game with in-form St Kilda is as hard as it comes. A trip to Adelaide in Round Seven is just as unappealing.

No team worth its salt loses three games in succession. The Western Bulldogs consider themselves more than just a bit player in this year’s finals’ race.

Against the Saints, they must prove it.

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