Confirmed: ACL for Bruce puts 2022 at risk

Schache is not an option as a forward. He has been tried there and consistently fails at senior level. Anyone with a deeper understanding of the Bulldogs knows that the key to filling the void left by Bruce is Tim English. They need to bring in Jordan Sweet to play first ruck and play English as a forward/2nd ruck. Stef Martin would be ideal but has been battling soft tissue injury most of the year so unlikely to be an option. Schache has shown enough to hold his spot in the backline alongside a returning Alex Keath. Tim English is a much better forward than Ruckman. He crashes packs, mark’s the ball well and it a very good kick for goal and, most importantly, he takes one of the opposition’s best tall backmen. Adversity opens up opportunity and if the Bulldogs make these positional moves I can see them actually getter better, not worse, after Bruce’s 2021 exit.

Pablo my mum & Aunty would swap seats half dozen times as a kid during a footy game it’s bloody entrenched,damn conditioning!

Yeah. Fair comment.

Superstitious? Really? Somewhat of an anomaly. I'd take top spot every time.

Brutal end to a poor weekend, rest up Brucey you've still got some years to go with the Doggies yet. well played from the Dons boys getting around him, you lads are alright.

That was me, amongst others. He was terrible last year, but geez he picked him self up and gave it a good crack. You have to admire that. Bruce is a great clubman - he's the first over to pack someone on the back when they do something good, and he's always second in to fly the flag for his teammates (Libba is always first). He's been very reliable and showed his old work ethic from his St Kilda days this year. He's a big loss.

Credit has to be given to GWS, they stood up when they had too. Next week could be interesting for them, no Toby and Tigers seem to have their confidence back. If they win they are playing finals and deserve to. I agree about the Cats just slightly off against a keen desperate side, always a problem. After we lost Danger, if I was coaching basketball, I would have called a time out. They got a run on and got way too far ahead. We were missing heaps of players and doing things like playing Henry up forward. A hiccup. Hopefully!

He’s been in the system got along time l hope your correct!

Schache going to be a late bloomer. He's shows glimpses of why he was Drafted early. I think people just need to be patient with him. I do believe he's definitely going to make a bigger impact behind the ball. Reminds me a bit of Chris Tarrant.

Nah Schache is doomed up forward he’s in slow motion gets caught best left in backline he has time to reflect he has sublime skills like a Mark Waugh & he averaged 40 if you know where l’m going!

Fourth quarter aside it was a pretty ordinary performance Yattz, the effort and intensity wasn't there, and there was a lot of fumbling, panicking and poor decision making from a lot of players. I could tell very early on that we were off and in for a long night. The kicking for goal was also poor, but we seem to have one of these games every now and then, our shooting for goal hasn't been super consistent this season. But, unlike most Geelong people I'm looking at the Brightside of this loss as; a) we were challenged in new ways i.e the steward tag, meaning we were thought a valuable lesson with time before finals to adapt, and b) it gets ride of any building hubris given the amazing recent run. Not many teams go into finals red hot and just keep rolling on, we all saw how it turned out for Richmond in 2018, you're always susceptible to an ambush if you're the heavy favourite and have been on a crazy run. It also showed us who is ready to contribute in finals, and who is not cut out for it yet (Holmes, Clark), or in need of a rest next week (Close). It's all a matter of perspective, some of us would be wise to remember that. Long as we bounce back strongly next week and lock in top 4, we should be okay. Credit to GWS, they turned up and played a great game and fully deserved their win. I do hope Green is suspended though as that hit on Danger looked intentional, dangerous, and hurt us in game by taking out our most damaging midfielder. What did you think of the performance?

Agreed, by all accounts that is your best next bet structurally, otherwise need Keith back in asap so Shache can swing back forward and try his luck there again. All in all we'll probably be on even tilt injury wise in the finals, as we'll likely be without Duncan, Miers and Touhy ourselves.

What did you think about the game Danger. Couldn’t kick straight and ran out of players to sub. But at home, should be better.

Hope so mate really need Martin fit & firing that way it released English as a marking forward. Pinning my hopes on this scenario otherwise we are doomed

Terrible news, sorry to hear it Chanon, seems it was a bit of a disaster weekend for both our mobs, not only in terms of the result but also injuries, as we also lost Rohan, Touhy and Dangerfield, though I think both Rohan and Danger will only miss a week. Touhy did a hammy so, depending on its severity, he might be gone for good this season :unhappy: either way no time for tears or pity now, we move forward and look to regroup. I still fully expect both our teams to be there at the pointy end in a few weeks time.

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Yep. Know it wasn't you, Guessing that i.y.o. he'll be missed.

No one wants the top spot it’s a avoid at all costs, Melbourne can have it

Yep it wasn’t me l didn’t have those sentiments Plus l wasn’t on roar found this site this year

Hate see ACL's any time of the season, but 3 weeks out from Finals- for a bloke who's closer to the finish than the start is devastating to see.