Re: post match dogs
Reply #75 –
The Dishlickers came after our strengths and, being still young in our 'newer' layer of offense and spread, were caught out... but... we adapted and adjusted in the second half and that is a big credit to players and coaches alike. That's a positive sign and a part of our growth, with plenty still to come and needed to advance up the ladder. We're a work in progress and shouldn't be hung, drawn and quartered for mistakes - it's a part of learning.
I posted earlier in the thread that I wasn't at this game, I won't go to icicle nosebleed stadium. I'm only analysing video from the AFL and Kayo.
But I had some mates there, and from a behind the goals vantage point they both tell me Weitering was one of the main reasons after half time for our lift in performance. They said he became far more vocal and assertive after halftime making sure players got to the right spots at the right time. The trouble is most of that early work the cameras never show, it's over and done long before the footy arrives with the cameras following. The blokes that arrive late at the last possible moment and effect the big mark or spoil often get all the kudos, but the very best defenders get the job done before the ball even arrives. You should expect to see this sort of change in young Dean over the next couple of seasons, some fans will think he is going off the boil, when in reality he is getting better at his job, he'll go from winning contested chaos to boring "mise en place".
The people you spoke to might be biased towards what happens at the ends of the ground.
1st quarter. Game was on our terms, but the Doggies hung in there. We had all the play scoring 5.3 to 3.2.
2nd quarter, the doggies started winning the ball out of the middle (at the source). From there, they had the game largely on their terms and had their running game going, because they went a smaller more mobile setup majority of the time. We werent able to get speed on the ball, and it felt like a throw back to the first half of the season in comparison to the last few matches. The Dogs pressed right up, and took the short kick off us and we didnt quite know how to play through it. they scored 4 goals 2, to 1 goal 2 and had stoppage dominance. I was listening to the radio and they picked up on it too.
3rd quarter was an arm wrestle. Lots of end to end stuff. We kicked 4.2, to their 2.4.
4th Quarter was more of the same. They scored 3.2 we scored 2.3.
Ultimately, the scoreboard doesn't really back up any assertion regarding whom really rallied anyone. The mobile setup the dogs went with made us change up our structure, so we pulled pittonet off, moved derkson forward, and then let Dean go roaming up the ground due to a lack of match up.
This was as even a keel game as I have seen, and both teams were able to go end to end frequently with the final kick into 50 being the one that invariably led to the turnover, and then the burn.
I was sitting level 3 on the wing, and could see the game unfold. The Doggies did their homework, and preventing Frankie Evans from distributing into forward 50. They really put the clamps on him getting into the scoring chains, and I think we lacked a bit of creativity as a consequence. Last week he had something remarkable in terms of score involvements (10) with 12 inside 50's. This week only registered 5 score involments with 5 inside 50's (mostly in the 1st quarter).
Ultimately, Weitering will tell you himself, he has had a poor 2026, and if I were to have a conversation with him, I would tell him to worry less about his own game, and let others shine whilst directing traffic, picking up the loose man.
Topic: AFL Rd 23 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel (Read 9814 times)
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