Griffen tells of Dogs frustration
Bulldogs gun midfielder, Ryan Griffen, has expressed the team’s frustration at Saturday nights three point defeat to Melbourne at the MCG – despite the Dogs barnstorming final term.
“I think it’s really frustrating...the way we played in the first three quarters and then to come out in the last quarter to play the footy we want to play – that’s probably the most frustrating thing,” Griffen told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“We just went back to basics in that last quarter, we got the ball going forward and we started to win the centre clearances and that’s the crucial thing – you win it out of the centre you get it forward and you score.
“I think in that first three quarters we didn’t play team footy.
“We’ve got a young group that we need to get on top of the mental side of the game – if we can get that right it will go along way to winning more games.
Post match Griffen said that Coach Brendan McCartney had rammed home the need to step up as leaders earlier and to really drive the group.
“We really prepared well through the week and set ourselves for a big game – I guess that’s why it’s just so disappointing to come out and play non competitive football in those first three quarters - makes you quite angry and frustrated,” Griffen said.