The Age
The Dogs had numerous quality performers, especially a courageous ball-winner Toby McLean, Lachie Hunter and Marcus Bontempelli, but they lacked depth on the night. Poor kicking for goal hardly helped the Dogs' cause.
The pressure applied by both sides in their forward-50 zone was astonishing early, and while the Dogs tried to get their running game going with plenty of handballs, the Crows tended to knock the ball on and kick more
The intensity resulted in numerous turnovers, not from bad play but pressure; the numbers on the ball. Yet, they also produced some outstanding midfield skills.
The Bulldogs confront Carlton (MCG), Gold Coast Suns (Cairns), Essendon (Etihad), Brisbane Lions (Gabba), Greater Western Sydney (Etihad), Port Adelaide (Canberra), and Hawthorn (Etihad).
The season is not over yet, but the Bulldogs need to find something better, and quickly.
- Ashely Porter
Adelaide Now/Herald Sun
The Bulldogs had clearly come to play and had the better of the opening stanza.
With Jack Macrae winning eight contested possessions and three clearances for the term, the Dogs had 10 of the first 13 inside 50s but wasted some early opportunities in front of the sticks.
It took a 50m torpedo bomb off one step from long-kicking defender Matt Suckling to break the visitor’s goal drought.
And when Jack Redpath took advantage of some brilliant play from the talented but erratic Jake Stringer, the Bulldogs had a two-point advantage at the first change.
The lead did not last long.
- Andrew Capel
AFL Media
It's been 20 years since the Bulldogs won a Friday night match interstate (v West Coast at the WACA in 1997). They are now 0-5 on the road in 2017 and have averaged just 59 points interstate.
Those aren't stats the Dogs would enjoy but their woes are about more than just numbers. The Bulldogs showed good signs early on Friday. T
hey played to the slippery conditions better but with key personnel out at either end of the ground, they are in a hole. Down forward they are thin without Travis Cloke and Tom Boyd, and the absence of Bob Murphy and Shane Biggs is being felt down back.
- Kym Morgan
