Bulldogs Debate Page

[Micko]

The Brisbane game will tell us if we are genuine contenders. If we put them to the sword I’ll be very confident we can win the comp.

We are looking ridiculously too good. And we have done it much sooner than we should be. We still need some more talent in some positions. But the current players are improving quick enough to justify sticking with them.

If we continue to improve for the next few years we could win more than one comp.

 

[Marki]

Tracey is our fullback. And one of our best players each week. He has the job until somebody much better takes it off him.

Yeah I agree here.
Look, im a fan of Taaffe as he plays eyes-up footy and im usually biased towards him.

But Tracey has been good so far this year and in particular the last 3 games.

He's still a worry on 1 on 1's situations which i am critical of, but right now he's doing his job.

Its Burton who is more rocks than diamonds atm and Friday was a great example. Butchered both tries and im still not convinced he would have made the right decision had he made a 3rd break.... Gray just backed off him and he invariably took the wrong option.

 

[Micko]

I attended the 2004 prelim and GF and thought those were the biggest Bulldogs crowds but Fridays game was easily the highest i have attended.

It looked like a good 55-60k of Bulldogs fans. Usually there are many Souths supporters amd you can see them as their colours are distinct. But this was a sea of blue amd white.

I can only imagine the 2012 GF may have had more given Storm wouldnt have had many there.

2012 GF was a great crowd. Plenty of dogs fans. But a lot were neutral fans.

I wish I could have made it to the game on Friday. I’m in QLD unfortunately. The atmosphere would have been something special

 

[Marki]

2012 GF was a great crowd. Plenty of dogs fans. But a lot were neutral fans.

I wish I could have made it to the game on Friday. I’m in QLD unfortunately. The atmosphere would have been something special

I was actually very surprised it was so lopsided....

I've attended many Good Friday games. This was huge.

The team leaving the hotel and being mobbed was GF-like.

I cannot wait for Vegas 2026. Im torn as i was taking the family to USA for World cup in 2026 but Vegas game is in March....

Can i justify squeezing in a footy weekend in sin city also?

 

[Hounddog]

Tracey is our fullback. And one of our best players each week. He has the job until somebody much better takes it off him.

People have said that the Panthers won 4 comps in a row without an X-Factor player

But IMO Too is X-Factor,..

In spite of a great win against the Rabbits our attack was a bit clunky, we left 3-4 trys out there.

Cirro mentioned this in the Presser, he is on to it.

We have done some work on the attack, still needs more work.

On the right I think Preston running off Sexton with Tracey out the back is better.

The left side was also clunky. Burto just needs to work on combinations with Kiks and Xerri.

These set moves on the edges are stuff we can just rehearse and refine.

I would also like to see an experiment with Hayward (off the bench) playing lock in defence but 5/8 in attack. Allowing Burto to roam around more in attack. Burton is great value supporting up the middle or popping up in unexpected locations.

 

[Hounddog]

Walsh is out and the Broncos have a shorter turn around from a tought game against the Warriors.

On the other hand they will be stinging after 2 straight losses.

Big game for both sides, particularly them.

Good test for both sides, I don't think that the trail match earlier this year is much of a form guide

I'm optimistic, but they will very motivated with good crowd support.

Thie game should be the best test for us this season, defence and fitness can win it for us.

Posession and the ref might make that tougher, I can see them getting a few 50-50s.

With Walsh out, Haas and Staggs are the main dangers, our halves are more of a running threat.

Last season we exploited Marrinier in defence, but at night in Brisbane it isn't always good conditions for a lot of ball movement.

It will be interesting to see how we set up in attack, the last 3-4 games we have really nailed the game plan

 

[Hounddog]

I was actually very surprised it was so lopsided....

I've attended many Good Friday games. This was huge.

The team leaving the hotel and being mobbed was GF-like.

I cannot wait for Vegas 2026. Im torn as i was taking the family to USA for World cup in 2026 but Vegas game is in March....

Can i justify squeezing in a footy weekend in sin city also?

I expected a few more Souths fans, we would have got over 70,000 if they turned up.

This game is very easy to attend the family can attend the Easter Show, usually I went to the game and the wife and daughter stayed at the show. But you can also use the game to break up the show.

 

[Marki]

I expected a few more Souths fans, we would have got over 70,000 if they turned up.

This game is very easy to attend the family can attend the Easter Show, usually I went to the game and the wife and daughter stayed at the show. But you can also use the game to break up the show.

Yep that's what I'd do with my son.
Only problem was that in the last 6 or 7 years, id return back to the show in a not so good mood.

This time i didnt even go to the show. Straight to game and then straight home to get changed amd head to church for Good Friday mass

 

[Micko]

I was actually very surprised it was so lopsided....

I've attended many Good Friday games. This was huge.

The team leaving the hotel and being mobbed was GF-like.

I cannot wait for Vegas 2026. Im torn as i was taking the family to USA for World cup in 2026 but Vegas game is in March....

Can i justify squeezing in a footy weekend in sin city also?

You can. But you have to pay for me to go with you

 

[Dman2025]

Thank God I'm here to witness the Mutch Misses wankfest.... agaunst who???...

 

[Dman2025]

The Brisbane game will tell us if we are genuine contenders. If we put them to the sword I’ll be very confident we can win the comp.

We are looking ridiculously too good. And we have done it much sooner than we should be. We still need some more talent in some positions. But the current players are improving quick enough to justify sticking with them.

If we continue to improve for the next few years we could win more than one comp.

I’ll be happy with a solid win and only conceding a try or two…
You’re right I there’s plenty of room for improvement especially with ball in hand….
I’m not gonna be too harsh on Burto unlike some… 4 weeks out, came back running strong and kicking well…

 

[Dman2025]

You can. But you have to pay for me to go with you

The Mock is loaded and should be shouting us all… Especially after all the shouting we’ve done at him over the past 2 odd decades…

 

[Hounddog]

Thank God I'm here to witness the Mutch Misses wankfest.... agaunst who???...

Tigers were disappointing Douehi at halfback was a gamble.

Tigers might be lacking some depth.

 

[Hounddog]

I’ll be happy with a solid win and only conceding a try or two…
You’re right I there’s plenty of room for improvement especially with ball in hand….
I’m not gonna be too harsh on Burto unlike some… 4 weeks out, came back running strong and kicking well…

Burto chewed though 50% of this seasons quota for unforced errors in in game and we still won.

If we can keep the Broncos to less than 18 points we probably win.

I am interested to see who replaces Walsh and if that is a net benefit.

Walsh is the best in the comp for unforced errors and brain explosions.

We didn't make many mistakes before we got out to the 20-0 lead, we were rock solid at 0-0 and 6-0.

 

[Hounddog]

It has been a while since the opposition has had a run of early posession, Sharks game was set for set for a while. Most other games we were dominant early.

Overall I think we are setting up the season well. A loss to the Broncos will not dent my confidence.

 

[Marki]

Thank God I'm here to witness the Mutch Misses wankfest.... agaunst who???...

You gotta admit though.....first game back and just about earns himself a NSW jersey

 

[Marki]

It has been a while since the opposition has had a run of early posession, Sharks game was set for set for a while. Most other games we were dominant early.

Overall I think we are setting up the season well. A loss to the Broncos will not dent my confidence.

Thats my concern.
Our defence is buying us time to eventually score and then use the scoreboard as a pressure strategy.

But we really need to increase our attacking efficiency as not all games will play out that way.

There will be teams who score first against us through superior skill/play or even luck or misfortune.

Would be interesting to see how we go against other top 4 teams....

The Sharks win was a good one.

 

[Hounddog]

Thats my concern.
Our defence is buying us time to eventually score and then use the scoreboard as a pressure strategy.

But we really need to increase our attacking efficiency as not all games will play out that way.

There will be teams who score first against us through superior skill/play or even luck or misfortune.

Would be interesting to see how we go against other top 4 teams....

The Sharks win was a good one.

Where we are at we need the kind of test that the Broncos will probably give us.

Their forwards can be hard to handle, they have some individual brilliance in the backline and on his day Reynolds can steer a side around better than any other half.

If the Broncos don't set us the test, then we bank 2 easy comp points.

If the Broncos do aim up as I expect, it should be a classic match and I can't confidently predict an outcome.

What I have noticed this season is that we vary the attack depending on the opposition, we have a definite game plan and definite targets.

This game I expect us to run a lot of traffic at Reynolds and test Cobbo under the high ball if it is wet. If it is wet early long kicks from Burto.

IMO this is the best drilled Dogs team I have ever seen and the most consistent.

If we lose it will be because the Broncos want it badly and really put in, their talented players nail some big plays and perhaps because they get a few 50/50s and lucky bounces.

Not being sure about the outcome is what makes sport interesting.

My hunch - we will grind them down, feed on their errors and our defence will keep them to less than 18 points. We can probably score 18 or more.

 

[Hounddog]

Hip drops are mostly accidents, but I don't have a problem with sin bins and suspensions.

Similar for high tackles with reasonable force and a likely genuine HIA.

Refs just need to be careful of players acting, but usually when a player leaves the field, they are not acting.

What players can fo is improve their technique and be more aware of the risks. Accidents are still going to happen, but we want players trying hard to avoid injuring another player.

 

[Hounddog]

Go Dogs!!!