Where to now for the Western Bulldogs?

 
Ben Somerford Columnist

By , 22 Sep 2009 Ben Somerford is a Roar Expert

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Western Bulldogs players leave the MCG after losing the AFL 2nd Qualifying Final to the Geelong Cats

Western Bulldogs players leave the MCG after losing the AFL 2nd Qualifying Final to the Geelong Cats

There’s no doubt the Western Bulldogs made significant improvements as a team in 2009. Yet once again they fell short of a Grand Final berth. It begs the question, where to now for the Dogs?

After a second consecutive Preliminary Final defeat, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade was asked about his club’s future premiership hopes, and ‘Rocket’ was fairly positive about that prospect.

Eade said, “We’ve matured from last year and I’ve no doubt we’ll get better again. I’ve no doubt this group will sting from last night like they stung from last year and there’s alot of improvement left in most of the players.”

The Dogs’ coach is right to be optimistic, as with a bit of luck on Friday evening they might still be alive in the 2009 finals right now.

And despite the immediate pain of losing another Preliminary Final, Dogs’ fans would have been enthused and encouraged by their side’s fight in 2009, especially late in the season.

Defeating Collingwood and Geelong late in the regular season before pushing the Cats and the Saints in the finals, suggests the Dogs can mix it with the best.

And over the course of the season, Eade proved himself one of the best game-day coaches in the AFL, while players like Matthew Boyd and Shaun Higgins took their own games up a few notches each. Indeed, there’s reason for optimism.

But what the club’s 2009 finals failure also highlights is that despite playing well and dominating matches, the Bulldogs lack an efficient forward structure which will kick them the goals to win the big games.

It brings back that argument that the Doggies need a power forward, otherwise they’ll continue to be the bridesmaids.

Indeed, whilst having the Saints on the ropes for long periods on Friday, the Dogs only mustered 7 goals, while down the other end St Kilda’s gun forward Nick Riewoldt won his side the game by booting 4 crucial majors.

The Dogs had the lion share of possession on Friday yet they couldn’t find a reliable avenue to goal. The Saints on the other hand, had Riewoldt and from fewer opportunities he won his side the match. Basically, St Kilda was more efficient.

Eade claimed inaccuracy in front of goal was a major reason for his side’s loss on Friday and it also was a problem in the Dogs’ first final against Geelong. Perhaps his players felt the pressure?

But goalscoring inaccuracy is something which inevitably can go wrong, along with umpiring decisions or injuries or any other little bits of luck which alter a game.

The point though is relying on these things to go your way is an easy excuse.

Eade said after the game, “It wasn’t a lack of a tall forward; it was a lack of ability to kick straight.”

Sure, the Dogs missed a few shots which may have changed the result, but with a better, more efficient forward structure perhaps the result wouldn’t have been open to such chance.

To Eade’s defence, there wasn’t a lot he could do about that last Friday, as the Dogs don’t have a big forward on their list to call upon, but with another draft and trade period beginning soon, the Bullies will have their chance to address that problem.

Barry Hall is a name being thrown about, but the 32-year-old ex-Swan hasn’t been at his best for a long time and struggled since the rule changes involving hands in the back. But the Dogs may believe he’s worth a gamble, especially with their premiership window still open

Another nomadic forward, Scott Welsh, is likely to depart the Dogs, while veterans such as Brad Johnson and Jason Akermanis seem keen to play on and Nathan Eagleton’s finals campaign suggests he should too.

Indeed, the Dogs have plenty going for them and plenty to build on. There’s room for improvement and 23-year-old midfielder Ryan Griffen is a prime example of a player who could increase his game to the benefit of the Bulldogs in 2010.

Whether or not an even-more improved Dogs line-up in 2010 will be good enough to win the premiership without that power forward remains to be seen. Indeed the question is, can the Dogs win a premiership playing the footy they play?

And does Eade, who coached Sydney to a Grand Final loss in 1996, believe it can work, or will he take heed of popular opinion and get himself a power forward?

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