Western Bulldogs Development Coach Peter German talks to BulldogsTV for the Weekly Wrap after the Bulldogs 70 point loss to Richmond on Sunday.
The good
The Bulldogs ability to work their way back into the game in the second quarter was a positive for German. Richmond came out of the ranks firing, finishing the first quarter with a 25 point lead but the Bulldogs responded with a much more competitive showing in the second and third term. In the second quarter Richmond scored four goals, six behinds to the Bulldogs four goals one behind but the Dogs managed to control the flow of the game for extended periods of the quarter and produce results effectively when driving the ball into their forward 50m .
Watch the BulldogsTV Weekly Wrap on the media player above.
Area for improvement
Contested ball has been a big focus of the Bulldogs this season so to lose the contested possession count 125 to 114 was disappointing according to German. It was also Richmond’s ability to run out the full four quarters and remain strong around the contest that German believed the Bulldogs had to counteract and improve on.
Stat that mattered
The stat that German said exposed the Bulldogs was Richmond’s ability to take 20 marks inside their 50m arc. Despite the Dogs backline being filled with a number of inexperienced players including debutants Lin Jong and Fletcher Roberts and second gamers Jason Johannisen and Michael Talia, he believed that they could not afford to let the opposition take that many marks inside 50 and allow them to hit the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs also came out second best in the clearances with Richmond winning 37 to the Dogs 31.
Player of the day
Clay Smith is German’s nominated player of the day for his ability to step up in the midfield and win the contested ball and lay five tackles. He was also impressed with Smith competing strongly at every contest. Smith collected a career best 20 disposals as well as equalling a career high six marks. He also found four clearances and finished the day with a goal.
