I have a lot of expectations for the Bulldogs, but then again I do every year, and every time (bar that one year) they tend to let me down.
Which I’ve grown to live with. Each year I hope they win a flag and each year I end up toasting a win against Carlton and even then the Dogs have struggled recently. But this season I want to be realistic, I don’t want to end the finals series drinking cheap beer and watching 2016 highlights until 2 am (although I probably will anyway) so I have set out five reasonable, realistic goals for the Dogs to achieve in 2020.
Anything more is a bonus that I’ll toast with or instead of a Carlton victory.
If you disagree or have anything else to add, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Marcus Bontempelli to kick 30
Bont seems like he can do everything, but one thing he often struggles to do is kick goals, his highest goal tally being 26 which came in his premiership year. It’s not bad for a midfielder (he actually kicked two more goals than Patrick Dangerfield) and last year he kicked 11 which in a shortened season isn’t terrible but wouldn’t it be great to see him spending more time up forward?
With the addition of Adam Treloar and an injury-free Dunkley in the middle, this year we have the perfect opportunity to see just that. 30 goals is just four more than his previous best and would go a long way to making a misfiring forward line more dangerous.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to play at least ten games
Considering he played a practice match in the reserves and didn’t actually set the world on fire, I am a little sceptical about this one. He’s got so much raw potential and his leap is amazing but he has a long way to go, nevertheless, I would love to see him get a go and play as much as possible.
(Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Josh Dunkley in the middle
Dunkley needs to be in the middle, it’s obvious. He’s gone alright in the forward line but he played in the middle in his best year to date. He was back in the middle in the practice match against Melbourne and he looked the goods, it was only a pre-season match but he had 32 disposals going at 78 per cent.
He’ll be better for the run and although he probably doesn’t kick enough, he’ll improve as the season goes on. He’s a big reason as to why the Dogs made finals in 2019 and they’ll need him at his best again in order to do that again and maybe even win a final for once.
Make a semi-final
My heart tells me they will make a grand final but my head tells me to be more realistic and aim a little lower. I’ll settle for winning a final. The Dogs are currently 0-2 in finals since winning the flag in 2016 and although they aren’t in Essendon territory yet (0-5 since 2004), another year without a finals win could cause problems for their only living flag-winning coach going forward.
They have the talent, but they need to get that little monkey off their back.
Beat Collingwood
Fun fact: the Dogs haven’t beaten Collingwood since 2017. Last year they not only lost, they were absolutely flogged. Tim English was belted from end to end in a dominant performance that left the Dogs down by 52 at the final siren. It was a sign of things to come after the Dogs faced the other seven finalists and only managed to beat West Coast.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
This year they need to do better, they need to challenge more of the elite teams and they’ll have their chance in Round 1 next Friday. Since they only face Collingwood once this year, they can’t let this go without a little payback. I’ll be watching eagerly.
These are my ideal goals for the Dogs in 2020, but of course a flag would also be great (I can dream). Have I missed anything, Dogs fans?
Marty Gleason
Roar Guru
Just four more of these goals to go!! :stoked:
Chanon
Guest
Crozier not playing & Wood possibly missing Round 1 , Bevo may debut Khamis in back half not sure if Cordy & JJ will play either, l think Bevo not afraid to give some senior players a long stint in the reserves!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Pies pushed themselves into a corner by back loading Treloar’s contract largely with the ill fated return of Dayne Beams. In the end it was Treloar’s $$$ in the spreadsheet for the next few years that they chose to offload even with still paying for maybe a third of his salary. This is the biggest recruiting splurge on high end youth at the Pies I can remember but as GWS and the Blues have found they can be more a slow burn than an instant explosion.
sven
Roar Rookie
c'mon man after all these years of irrelevance there cant be too much written about the tiges
Steve
Guest
I hope he is to !!!!!!! Great guy , great footballer, underestimated by the pies. Brownlow would be fitting
berrlins
Roar Pro
I did a ladder predictor for this year and had the Eagles finishing third. When they play in the west they're pretty hard to beat. they've got 11 home games this year plus another against Freo as the away team, they shouldn't lose too many of those and they've got away games against potential bottom 4 teams in Adelaide, Sydney and Hawthorn so there's another 3 wins. Last year I think they were really disrupted with the hubs but even with the hubs they still only just missed the top 4.
berrlins
Roar Pro
better have Dusty do an arm as well, if it’s just the knees they’ll stick him in a wheel chair. Dimma takes some personal time week 15, Ivan Maric is elevated to Head coach position in week 16, by week 23 we all realise Ivan Maric can’t coach.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Did you watch "One Night In Brisbane" on Fox Footy last night Yattz? It was hugely entertaining and brought back some great memories. As you would imagine, they focussed on Dusty and especially that last goal he kicked and the symbolism of shrugging Danger into the gutter just before snapping his 4th miraculous goal of the night.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I got you down for one below last year. But you are always dangerous and kryptonite to Cats.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I'm bearish on the Eagles this year - I think they'll struggle to make the 8. Reverting to normal quarters will reduce Nic Nat's dominance and we too have an older list - 5 over 30 but several 28/29 year olds. As they say, the window is closing!
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him in the seniors at all this year. There’s no rush. The number ones in the last few years have clearly been primed physically to hit the ground running; he clearly hasn’t.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Even with Crozier injured we have a plethora of back flankers. I’d love to see Ed Richards have a crack there; let ball come to him, let him read the play and use his speed and skills. Being a leftie is a huge advantage too.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
My main vice is pot-stirring: I just can’t help myself!
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
The Dogs had Roughead and Boyd in the ruck in 2016. Poor old Timmy isn’t naturally big and was thrown in the deep end at a very young age for a ruckman. He looks bigger and stronger this year and was much more capable against Gawn last week. I expect Martin to do most of the work around the ground this year but Timmy will be a very hard match up. This is his year.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
What about your boys?
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Yeah it’s looking very much like a waste of a high draft pick. I suspect he’s one of those blokes who dominated junior footy because of his size but doesn’t have the natural aggression to make in the big time. Imagine Schache with Naughtons willingness for the ball.
DTM
Roar Rookie
My vices these days are limited to Margaret River reds - perfectly legal but I'm afraid you'll have to source your own! WASSy has a biased view of the Dogs (which is fair enough). I'm an Eagles supporter who doesn't like any team based in Victoria. However, I think the Doggies are a real threat this year.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Your on the same stuff as WASS. Can you post me some if it is legal?
DTM
Roar Rookie
So good to see an article on the Roar that is not about Collingwood or Richmond.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Yatz, I'm expecting the Doggies to finish above the Cats - your squad is full of experience but you'll need some youth to carry those old blokes around! 8 guys over 30 compared to just 3 at the Doggies.