Western Bulldogs games record-holder Brad Johnson says an alarming flaw in the past fortnight has led to his former side retreating “back into the pack”, with fellow AFL pundits left perplexed by the Bulldogs’ form dip.
Despite comprehensively winning the disposal (+76) and contested possession (+20) counts, a wayward Bulldogs outfit on Saturday night failed to capitalise on its advantage over a depleted Geelong midfield, succumbing to a 23-point defeat in a fast-paced clash at Marvel Stadium.
It was the Bulldogs 21st loss from their past 24 meetings with the Cats, who themselves snapped a three-game losing skid.
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“They (the Cats) have owned the Bulldogs for a long time now and that’s why for me it was a little bit disappointing the Dogs couldn’t clean this one up for that reason,” Johnson told Fox Footy post-game.
“It was an opportunity with the (Geelong) stars out and the stars the Bulldogs had in that this is their push for top four and the last two weeks they’ve let themselves down for that.”
Triple premiership Cat Cameron Mooney said it was a “really disappointing” loss for the Dogs.
“On paper … and going by the game for two and a half to three quarters, they probably should’ve won by four goals. They had their opportunities in front of goal, they missed their opportunities,” he told Fox Footy.
“They had 70-plus more possessions as a team – they do this a lot, the Bulldogs. They flick it around and get a lot of possessions, but what do they do with them? A lot of them are just junk.”
The Dogs kicked 10.15 from 51 inside 50s on Saturday night, including 2.8 in the second half compared to Geelong’s 7.2.
It means the Dogs have now kicked 43.58 from their past four games.
“It’s on ‘Bont’ (Marcus Bontempelli) with his two easy misses, (Tim) English with his easy misses, Bailey Williams with two, (Jamarra) Ugle-Hagan … they had enough senior players that had some opportunities to really hit the scoreboard and separate the game at different stages,” Johnson said of the Bulldogs’ inaccuracy on Saturday night.
“But they were easy misses that Geelong certainly capitalised on going the other way. They kicked the goals that mattered and the Bulldogs didn’t.
“I couldn’t question the Bulldogs’ effort around the ball … But I put it out there (this was a must-win game) because of the position the Cats were in with the stars they had out, the team that the Bulldogs went in with this week and that ability to separate themselves and push for a top-four spot.
Ugle-Hagan runs on to make immediate hit | 00:34
“There was a lot riding on this personally in terms of my assessment of where the Bulldogs could push in 2023. The last two weeks, they’ve brought themselves back into the pack for six to eight (spot on the ladder), instead of jumping the other way and pushing for two to four.
“Unless they can start converting on these easy opportunities, the question marks will always be there … It’s on them (as a player collective) to push each other and challenge each other in this area.”
Mooney said an even bigger concern for the Bulldog was their “poor” inside 50 efficiency and lack of midfield-forward connection.
“We talk about (Tom) Hawkins and (Jeremy) Cameron and the way they can separate and get nice easy marks on the lead (for Geelong). How many times have you actually seen the Bulldogs take nice, easy marks on the lead? This very rarely happens.
“I look at their forward line and I think they don’t work well as a unit. The great forward lines work well as a unit, they help each other out, they block. They work during the week – which I’m sure the Dogs are – but the connection just isn’t right with the mids and the forwards.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said the Bulldogs’ goalkicking was “horrendous” against Geelong.
“They should’ve buried the Suns in the first quarter (in Round 11) and (Saturday) night it was terrible again. (Aaron) Naughton is one of the worst culprits and it’s costing them games of footy,” Lloyd told Channel 9’s The Sunday Footy Show.
Western Bulldogs Press Conference | 06:35
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said inaccuracy was part of the reason behind his side’s loss, but stressed “there were other aspects in the end”.
“They (the Cats) upped the ante in the last quarter and we couldn’t match it. There were some telling opportunities to convert that we didn’t take care of. That’s a bit deflating,” Beveridge said.
“The boys have been pretty good with being able to weather that disappointment and stay in the game, but you can’t keep Geelong at bay for too long if you’re not making the most of those opportunities. That was a big part of it, but we ultimately got beaten by a good side.”
Lloyd said he was particularly frustrated by the constant magnet spinning at the Bulldogs, pointing to prized recruit Rory Lobb starting Saturday’s game on the wing and rookie James O’Donnell playing in the forward line.
“It frustrates me so often with some unpredictable decisions. It’s a great story, O’Donnell, but they say ‘we’ve moved Lobb to a wing so that brings O’Donnell into the forward line’ – I don’t think any position is right there,” Lloyd said.
“O’Donnell doesn’t look ready at this stage – but he’s been persevered with – and Lobb isn’t a wingman.
“They find form, the Western Bulldogs but then some strategic moves are made. It might be what makes him a good coach at times, but I think it’s also a weakness of Luke Beveridge.”