I didn’t renew my Bulldogs membership in 2014. The club was on a short-term venture without adequate planning and decisions to maintain health and competitiveness over the medium term.
I wrote about this passionately in 2016, asking some pertinent questions to the coach in the article ‘A letter to Des Hasler from a confused, frustrated Doggies fan’.
Re-reading that article now, it appears to have been pretty close to the mark in terms of what I predicted.
While this potentially presents me with the opportunity to boast, in another way there is nothing to boast about.
Captain Obvious himself may well have strolled through the front door and made a public announcement, such is the sad future prospects of the club under Hasler.
That is exactly what Hasler has done to our great club: morphed them into the obvious. The stacking of the squad with big and increasingly immobile men, a rigid and defensive gameplan that has been superseded by a more expansive and cavalier approach adopted by other clubs, and a pair of halves devoid of creativity and impotent in attack, have all played a role in the awful performances of 2017.
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The horrific decision-making at the club over the last five years reads like a footballing train wreck, filled with comeuppance, irony and the bizarre.
Releasing Shaun Lane, after his early form suggested the club had their hands on a potential superstar, and the decision to offload Dale Finucane to Melbourne still make me shake my head.
Expectantly, Finucane goes to Melbourne and under the tutelage of Craig Bellamy, blossoms. Lane threatens to do the same.
The decision to part ways with Tim Lafai was also a mistake and Michael Ennis’ magnificent form and more attacking and expansive role at the Sharks shouldn’t be lost on anyone.
Ennis had the right to visit Des with his ring and inform him that he did have the speed, creativity and attacking prowess to win a competition as a starting hooker, despite his age.
While not knowing the ins and outs of all of these decisions, and accepting the fact that some players may have wished to move on, the pattern of letting quality go only to be replaced by mediocrity is apparent.
Certainly in the case of Ennis, Michael Lichaa had been signed and he was lauded as the future.
For years, the club has let players go. Any successful club has that issue, as consistent success leads to players effectively playing their way out of the team. This makes the recruitment and retention decisions critical, and something at which the Bulldogs have failed dismally.
In nearly 40 years of loyal Dogs supportership, Tony Williams was the laziest and most ineffective player I have seen play in the blue and white. I write about that as well in the piece entitled ‘Tony Williams deservingly dropped for un-Bulldog-like behaviour’, not that it was hard to concoct an argument considering his appalling statistics and form.
The only thing that did, was the $600,000 price tag that Des had used to lure him from Manly. Williams was a winger early on and never played the game as a fringe running forward, a role for which he was employed.
Watching Lichaa throw awful dummy-half passes over the first month of the season has been painful. The ball loops, lacking velocity, and puts enormous pressure on the receiver – who, mind you, is limited in talent and options to begin with.
Let’s not even talk about the decision to sign a solid and safe fullback without the attacking flair required to fill one of the most important roles on the field. The ineffectiveness of Will Hopoate in the mysterious ‘spine’ that dominates talk on team structure has only been matched by his absences on Sundays.
I take my kids to church on a weekend and have no religious gripe whatsoever, but how can they lock up such a considerable part of the salary cap in a player who takes no part in Sunday matches? It is laughable.
Josh Morris should have been moved on three to four years ago. Despite excellent defensive efforts in Origin football, he has been on one leg for some time now, and the spark that his brother is hanging on to just isn’t there anymore.
Greg Eastwood should have met the same fate. While a good servant of the club, his mere appearance this year says enough about his form. He looks slovenly, appears slow and his poor defensive reads against the Warriors in Round 3 were blatant.
To say I nearly drove off the road when I heard the news of the offer to Aaron Woods could be the understatement of the year.
Watching his appalling marker defence against the Raiders two weeks back just reminded me why I see him as one of the most overrated players in the game.
Four years of Woods would just about do my head in. I don’t think I could watch.
Once again, I wrote openly about the tough period ahead for the club in October 2016, in ‘Whatever happens to Des, things look grim for the Dogs’.
Whatever is really going on at the club, I hope the people responsible are proud. Proud of the fact that we have finally become just like everybody else. The one thing the Bulldogs always did was remain a little above this nonsense.
Hasler’s reign has seen the squad suffer a slow decline and become an also-ran.
As a writer, I am pleased my articles captured accurately at the time. However, as a supporter it breaks my heart to see the Bulldogs behaving and performing like they don’t care, don’t know how to win, and don’t want to get better.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Woods runs the ball up like a cuddly bear- seen many time the last few weeks how he lopes up and turns as he reaches the 3 or 4 defenders who hold him up and lock up the ball - My wife asks did he have an ambition once of being in the ballet - thinks his lopes up are choreographed.
Bruno C
Roar Rookie
Six weeks ago, I could have written a similar story about my Dragons: poor management, questionable recruitment and persisting with a coach that had achieved little. To paraphrase the well worn saying, a month is a long time in Rugby League. We have come out looking like world-beaters this season, although admittedly, we haven't come up against the likes of the Storm or Broncos yet. That will be the real barometer of how far we have come. For the time being, we aren't calling for the coach's head and the 'Oust Doust' sign is folded away. As a Dragons supporter, I don't waste too much of my energy worrying about what's happening at the Bulldogs, but I think the 'Family Club' has always thrived on the tension - internal and external. I don't know how close to the mark it is, but I have heard that the Doggies don't only want Woods, they want him to bring his mates Teddy, Moses and Brooks with him. If true, that would solve your fullback problem.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
From the 2012 dogs to the current approach, you don't think the style has changed? Really?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I am a member of ANZ stadium godragonsgo so can access most of the dogs home games but also the other sports I am interested in. The suggestion to hand in memberships is a little tongue in cheek. However, I am not sure I could watch a club stupid enough to sign the comical Woods. I didn't renew for a few reasons, one being the direction of the recruitment, not interested in spending my hard earned on a sinking ship and that's what it looked like to me.
MrThick
Guest
To Sean Lets argue your point, Your saying the player ain't at fault here? I went and watched the Doggies play the Broncos in the later rounds of last year, players at that time of the year should be in peak condition especially when the finals were just around the corner. Most of the time the Dogs were walking, no wonder we only lasted one week of the finals. You can't bring up what players used to be like, the Morris boys haven't done anything fantastic for quite so time. Players need to be picked on form, not by who they are.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hey compo...I think the style has changed dramatically but gradually from 2012. I've said this on other posts but I watched a Bulldogs 2012 highlight reel on the weekend on YouTube. While it was a forward based style, everything was done at pace with beautiful interchange of passing at the line. Players like Pritchard, Halatau and Barba regularly making 40 metre busts through the middle off the back of it. Reynolds was awesome linking off the back of the forwards and creating space for Morris and Barba who were setting up tries for one another all over the place. The only thing similar is that we're still playing a forward dominated game. But it's one out, slow and unskilled. There's no space created for or by the backs who ist shovel the ball mindlessly along the line until they run out of room. The style has definitely changed...it's just changed gradually so that we haven't completely noticed. I'd take any changes at the moment. Something proactive and something that puts players on notice. I can't recall the last time Hasler made an unforced change.
Compo
Roar Rookie
as a fellow Doggie supporter, can I ask - with the cattle we have now, what needs to change?? and what HAS changed? is it playing style? I don't think that's changed. is it the players. no , not many newbies.. so really its performance... apparently, somehow, Dessie has 'lost' the respect of the players (?) - as the players didn't turn up last Saturday.. as to the previous lost games they played well but were just missing that last pass/ last play to win those games. surely it didn't JUST happen last week? (the players dissatisfaction with Dessie that is) everyone is gonna have an opinion on whats needs to happen- but really its in the hands of the players themselves ps this is a common scenario ive seen floating around to help the Boys back into winning form...Give Lichaa a break, shift Reynolds to Hooker, move Mbye to 5/8 and BUY/Steal a Half....an old fashioned half...one fellow even suggested Todd Carney...for all his faults...he'd do well in our Team. anyway, thats my rant.
godragonsgo
Guest
I think it is an interesting sign of the times that people who claim to be "fans" of football teams feel the ned to make statements that the club is not heading in the direction they want. In this article the author did not renew his membership as if that was some act of defiance because of what was happening. There are things that I do not like at my club, the Dragons but I have my membership (season tickets) and I turn up each week to get the enjoyment from watching them play. I don't have my membership to make any statements.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hang on. The game against Manly was all of those things but none of the other three games were. The Dogs won one and were within a try of the top two teams in the comp. But yeah, Thursday is all about pride right now.
Marco
Guest
Des on shaky ground surely. They can beat the Broncos with some belief in themselves and a bit of spirit.
jamesb
Guest
I remember a few years ago, the Sharks faithful were disappointed when Lichaa signed with the Dogs. At the time, many thought that Lichaa was the next big thing or a young player to look out for. However, the Sharks, as a straight swap, signed Ennis, who was supposedly on his last legs. And the results: Ennis played great footy and was one of the key linchpins that lead to the Sharks winning their first ever premiership. He retired as a grand final winner, while Lichaa has struggled to make an impact in first grade and is in danger of fading into oblivion. Good 'ol sliding doors.
Sean
Guest
Interesting points but in all honesty I would argue your thoughts on the players are a bit off. The morris twins are both still high quality players, Josh is arguably the best defensive centre in the game and Brett is still a top finisher. Whilst we definitely need to be looking at some replacements in the next year or two they still bring a lot of quality ball with them. Lane - what has he done since leaving the club that suggests superstar? I haven't even seen him play 1st grade, on the other hand Faitala Mariner has proven to be a good get. Eastwood should probably be on the bench these days coming in to spell Kasiano or Mariner The player decisions have not hurt us, what has hurt us is a change in style. Since about the second half of last season our forwards are no longer throwing those passes as they hit the line. If we can get back to that, watch the linebreaks and tries start to flow again.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Rod will play a full 700 minutes and never stop. If youre not gonna use him Barry, cen we ahve him back? PLEEAASSSEEEE.
Noel
Guest
How Rod 'The Bod' Griffin couldn't get a run for the Tigers, I'll never know. I thought the Dogs were spot on in picking him up for a song. Unleash the Bod!
MrThi k
Guest
What about coaching the basics first: defense ( you can't win games if there's no DEFENSE, tackle the man and the ball, DON'T LET THEM OFFLOAD ), quick play the ball and how about forwards the actually run onto the ball instead of standing flat then attempting to gather momentum to do damage ( it's never going to happen ). If you've watched any of the teams we've played they've all have in over us just with those things mentioned, not to mention flair in attack and a good kicking game ( which either of these are non-existant at the Dogs ). Even when the oppositions forwards get tired, their backs come in to give them a breather and run onto the ball at pace. You cannot try and train a team to have a different approach or imagination if you haven't got the FUNDAMENTALS!!!!!!!!
The spectator
Guest
Thats an even bigger headache for the storm.
zim
Guest
"Lane threatens to do the same." After disappearing into the black hole that is the warriors I think he's got a long way to go to get back to his dogs form. I wouldn't be too upset about letting that one go. On the whole Aaron Woods thing. 1 million is absolutely ridiculous. I wouldn't read too much into his lazy marker defence against Canberra though (I'm a raiders fan). He has no help in that Tigers side. At some point you're going to get the shits, get tired and have a lazy moment. Being down by a lot of points with no help will do that.
Greg
Guest
Bellamy won't have that problem, he knows all of his success comes down to having Cameron Smith in his team (terrible record without him at both club and rep level) which is why he'll retire as soon as Smith does.
catcat
Roar Rookie
Hi Stuart, I think this gets to the heart of the problem- recruitment. We just don't have the right mix of players on the field. As much as I actually am a fan of all of our players- they all seem like good blokes - they are not capable as a group of playing at the top4 level (which is where we want to be - right?) Its seems like our team is split between average players and those past their best. Here's hoping 1 or 2 average become great and a career renaissance for the rest!
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
Lets see if they stand up like Bulldogs tomorrow night or play like poooooooooodles. Have they got any pride left? the opening month would suggest they haven't.... The display last weekend was the worst I can recall by any Bulldogs team I have ever seen. It was spineless, gutless and just embarrassing........... Personally, I think the players need to stand up, man up and play HARD footy. Lets see if there is any pride left in that jumper. Until Thursday night!!!!