The Western Bulldogs have been the talk of the town this week, but all for the wrong reasons following their thrashing at the hands of the West Coast Eagles.
Brian Lake was dropped to the VFL due to his lacking of match fitness and unprofessionalism at the senior level four weeks ago, and now the Dogs find themselves on the back foot as they attempt to atone last week’s 123-point capitulation to the Eagles in Perth.
The stats in last week’s last quarter were damning: 50 less disposals than the Eagles, 26 less marks, 13 less contested possessions, eight less centre clearances, 12 less inside 50’s and no score on the board.
They had 58 fewer contested possessions than the Eagles (the worst differential in any game this season), had 31 inside 50’s (the club’s worst recorded in any home and away game ever), hit the target with 49 per cent of kicks in the first half, and only one in top-five kick getter had kicking efficiency above 50 per cent (Liam Picken).
The Eagles kicked 17 of the last 18 goals in that game last Sunday and Dogs appeared to have given up, which is one of most disappointing things.
On Monday, Western Bulldogs’ President David Smorgan stated an apology on the club website: “We all apologise to our members and fans. We all share the disappointment and embarrassment of losing a game by 123 points, our fourth worst loss in the club’s history and our worst since 1996.
“We set ambitious targets this year… achieving these targets is the responsibility of everyone at the Western Bulldogs and not the responsibility of any one individual. We are all in this together.”
Expectations were high heading into 2011, but the Bulldogs now appear to be out of the running for the premiership, which is extraordinary considering this is a club who’ve made the past three preliminary finals.
Whether he realises it or not, Smorgan has unwillingly put pressure on coach Rodney Eade to keep his job – a grand final appearance or it’s all over.
The public reaction to Smorgan’s comments on The Footy Show have been that if the Bulldogs don’t achieve that goal, which is now looking more and more unlikely, Eade won’t be at the club next year.
Smorgan again came out on Tuesday and said this regarding Eade: “With 14 rounds to play, I want to re-iterate that we will continue to support and encourage Rodney Eade and the match committee to make whatever changes they feel necessary to ensure we again start playing consistent footy every week and every quarter.”
The next 14 games will decide whether or not Eade remains coach at Whitten Oval. If the Bulldogs fail to make the eight, Eade will not be at the Western Bulldogs next year.
Regardless of what happens in the next 14 weeks, Eade will be involved in football at some capacity next year. He has too much to offer. He can easily get another coaching job, or even in a senior assistant role like Mark Thompson has at Essendon with James Hird. Eade would be the ideal fit as a senior assistant to Michael Voss at the Brisbane Lions.
Let’s face it, the guy can coach – four premierships with Hawthorn as a player, he coached the Sydney Swans to a grand final in just his second year in charge and has been instrumental at the Bulldogs, taking them to the past three preliminary finals.
The success is there, but in year seven at the Dogs, this is likely to be his last.
But with 14 games to go, and facing a tough couple weeks against an in-form Hawthorn and an undefeated Geelong, the signs cannot be good.
The team is lacking spirit, drive and hunger for the contest and too many are just along for the ride.
Names such as Ben Hudson, Will Minson, Lindsay Gilbee, Daniel Giansiracusa, Robert Murphy, Tom Williams and Josh Hill are underperforming and their careers are hanging by a thread.
Lake has already been mentioned but you could also throw in Barry Hall, who at 34, you have to wonder where his future is at after persistent injury concerns this season.
The next 14 weeks could get really ugly if the Dogs continue on the same road they’re on.
Rodney Eade needs to roll the dice, make big calls on some big names and play the kids.
Like St Kilda, it’s time to play the future – Mitch Wallis, Tom Liberatore, Jordan Roughead, Lukas Markovic, Ayce Cordy, Sam Reid, Liam Jones, Callan Ward, Jarrad Grant, Liam Picken and Dylan Addison.
Former Swan Ed Barlow has been in ripping form with Williamstown in the VFL – get him in, along with another former Swan recruit, Patrick Veszpremi.
A lot of work is ahead of this club, pressing times ahead.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Of those teams, North is the only realistic chance to leave Victoria. It could end up in Tasmania, however I doubt it. I would imagine North is more likely to stay in Victoria but play home matches elsewhere as well.
Republican
Guest
Lachlan I agree but re invent them somewhere in Oz where the code is at least appreciated as opposed to somewhere off shore and totally ignorant.
Lachlan
Roar Guru
How long can the AFL afford to keep 10 teams playing out of Victoria? Melbourne North Melbourne Western Bulldogs Richmond Your going to find that the strong teams in Melbourne will get stronger and the weaker teams will get weaker and in the years to come, there will be less and less teams playing out of Victoria and new markets opening.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Josh Hill one of these blokes that will be lucky to play again with the dogs this season: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-forward-josh-hill-at-the-crossroads/story-e6frf9jf-1226069728948 GWS might be an option for him if he's interested in a second chance.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I can't really comment on Cameron. However, regarding Smorgon, I just feel that the pressure would have been there anyway. Eade's contract expires this season, and there is nothing the median loves more than 'coach out of contract talk.'
Republican
Guest
Yep and that's why they are being not so subtly coerced by the governing body to look at off shore revenue options, i.e. NZ. It is ironic that probably one of the most parochially tribal club in Foot es cray may one day be shared by an ignorant and hostile NZ demographic in moving more east than west!
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I'm not so aure that Smorgon put any more pressure on Eade than there otherwise would have been, at least not in media focus terms. Any long term coach whose team slides has the question asked. Sheedy went through the cycle about five times at Essendon, with the question coming up at some point in nearly every contract. Nor do I agree with the headline that the Bulldogs are "in crisis". They are on the slide, having been close but unsuccessful in gaining a flag in recent times. The draft ensures that clubs don't stay at the top forever. The Dogs, like St Kilda will, are payig the price of being near the top without gaining the glory. That's not crisis; its just that at their peak they didn't make the grade and now its time to regroup. Collingwood sopent their years at the bottom, Essendon have done in recent years, they weren't in crisis. West Coast perhaps were, given they hit the bottom early due to Ben Cousins and other issues.
Justin Cooper
Guest
Very good points you make. Personally though, I still think Leon Cameron would be the best man for the job. I think he was going to be the next Western Bulldogs coach after Eade anyway. West has been developing the Melbourne midfield very well, which I believe he has, but I don't think he is ready to take on a senior coaching role. The Dogs won't want a Michael Voss-Brisbane scenario. I wouldn't appoint him just because he's a Bulldog legend, which could be said for Cameron but he's much better prepared having played at Richmond, the Western Bulldogs, been an assistant at the Dogs and now a senior assistant at Hawthorn. The only thing he hasn't done is coached his own team.
Alfred Chan
Expert
I think where the Dogs finish exactly on the ladder will have a huge influence on who they select. If they are still considered contenders next year, Leon Cameron may be the man because there would be small changes but not drastic changes considering the majority of his apprenticeship was under Eade. I would suspect Cameron would have similar coaching etiquette as Eade. Scott West however, has been at Melbourne where he has been overseeing a developing midfield. As the midfeild coach, he has had a hands on approach with Scully, Trengove, McKenzie and Gysberts. They're all playing really good football. In the case that the Bulldogs do go down the rebuilding phase, I think West would be a better fit because he would bring a completely different coaching perspective having never worked alongside Eade. This was one of the reasons Chris Scott beat out Ken Hinkley for the job at Geelong. Hinkley was believed to be 'too similar' to Bomber Thompson.
Justin Cooper
Guest
Scott West is an assistant coach to Dean Bailey at Melbourne, looking after the midfield group. Is highly regarded at Melbourne from inside mail within the club.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
What is Scott West doing these days?
Justin Cooper
Guest
I agree with you, at the start of every season every club president should say something in regards to team improvement and what they're aiming to get out of the season. I believe the Bulldogs' recruiting has let them down - they tried Russell Robertson but didn't get him, but landed Ben Hudson, Scott Welsh and Barry Hall, as you've mentioned. Akermanis, for obvious reasons, didn't work either. I recall questioning the recruitment of the above players during Eade's tenure. Top 10 draft picks Tom Williams and Tim Walsh (now gone) haven't worked, while I still have queries over key position prospects Jarrad Grant and Liam Jones - who according to Akermanis, have very poor endurance. Michael Voss has learnt the hard way at the Brisbane that playing the kids is the way to go, Eade needed to do that rather than top up on ageing recyclables that have given them little. They've also given up high picks to land those players. I don't think Eade will be at Whitten Oval beyond this season either, but he won't be lost to footy. As I said, he will be involved in football in some capacity next year. The reason I think Leon Cameron is the man for the job is that he's a Bulldog great, plus, he's served as an assistant at the Bulldogs under Eade prior to extending that as a senior assistant at Hawthorn under Alastair Clarkson this year. Like Cameron, Scott West is a club great but hasn't served an apprenticeship like Cameron. But West will be high on the club's radar no doubt.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Smorgan did what any good AFL President should do. He assured his fans that they would either improve or make changes that would see the club improve. I know Smorgan hates having that interview replayed because it is often taken out of context but Rocket did everything he could to push for a flag. Recruiting Barry Hall over Fevola looks to be one of the trades of the decade and his job was to win a flag, not rebuild the team. He did that by not playing kids just for the sake of development. He really made them earn their games and consequently it has meant they are in a bad stage if they have to rebuild. Eade will be gone at the end of the year. There's not too much doubt about that but it should put other coaches/presidents on notice. For some coaches, their job descriptions are just "win us a flag". If you can't do it, excuses are pointless and its time for you to move on. That said, I don't believe Leon Cameron will be the man. My money is on Scott West.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Gilbee and Lake shock inclusions in team to take on Hawthorn, last minute replacements for Hargreaves and Moles: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-brian-lake-and-lindsay-gilbee-set-to-play-against-hawthorn/story-e6frf9jf-1226064589127
Justin Cooper
Guest
I agree with you there, I don't think Eade will be at the Western Bulldogs next year. He has a huge task ahead of him, if the next 14 weeks don't produce something extraordinary, he won't be at Whitten Oval. I think Leon Cameron would be the perfect man to take over. I still think Smorgan "unwillingly put pressure" on Rodney Eade with his comments on The Footy Show prior to the 2011 season. Every time Eade has had an interview this season, he has been asked about his future and reference to those comments have been made. The team hasn't been living up to expectations and hasn't been in great form all season so those comments about his future have been made when there's still alot of footy to be played.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Eade is a terrific coach, however the problem is that he can't cross the final hurdle and win a flag. With a Grand Final and three losing preliminary finals he doesn't have enough success at the business end of the business end of the season. That ultimately is what will cost him his job. It's no longer good enough to get near enough, the Bulldogs have had enough success in recent years that they can and do expect the ultimate success. I must say, I don't agree that Smorgon 'unwillingly put pressure' on Eade. What Smorgon said was surely uncontroversial; after three straight preliminary finals, it was time to go further. Whether or not Smorgon made the comment, there would be pressure on Eade anyway, which intensified due to the club's performances. Smorgan just voiced what was obvious. Plus, it's no different to Carlton insisting on a top-four spot for Ratten to keep his job. Carlton may not have publicly stated it, but there would have been as much pressure on Ratten as there is on Eade, if Carlton were losing.