{"id":75694,"date":"2025-07-23T10:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T00:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=75694"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:29:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:29:46","slug":"what-is-going-on-in-footscray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/07\/what-is-going-on-in-footscray\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Going on in Footscray"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*Windhorst fingers* what is going on in Footscray?<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re having a very strange season. Very strange season.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u2018What\u2019s going on in Utah?\u2019 - Brian Windhorst EPIC break down of Jazz\u2019s strange trade | First Take\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-Ps4HarpIJk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>By the premiership metrics, there is not a single better with the footy\/territory team in the AFL.<\/p>\n<p>By the ladder that just looks at your games against the top-9 teams, they\u2019re 1-8 and ahead of only North Melbourne, Essendon and West Coast.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Record against top 9 teams after Round 19 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/24InOVoneU\">pic.twitter.com\/24InOVoneU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Andrew Whelan (@andrew_whelan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/andrew_whelan\/status\/1946883187210371468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Why would the Dogs do that?<\/p>\n<p>Is it as simple as they\u2019re a paper tiger?<\/p>\n<p>They just beat up on bad teams but can\u2019t match it with the top end?<\/p>\n<p>Or is there something deeper afoot?<\/p>\n<p>An autopsy of the numbers and a revisit at the actual game in those eight losses shows that the Bulldogs are the 2025 AFL Mike Tyson.<\/p>\n<p>The Dogs need the game to go their way but struggle if they encounter meaningful resistance.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is that there are a lot more Buster Douglas\u2019 in the AFL than there were in heavyweight division in 1990.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Buster Douglas shocks the world with 10th-round KO of Mike Tyson | ESPN Archives\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rv4ro4D16H0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Beating up on the bad teams is a symptom, but the cause is deeper.<br \/>\nThis is an elite contest and front half team that lives off the territory battle.<\/p>\n<p>At their core they\u2019re this is a classic Bevo-ball footy team and like all Bevo teams it\u2019s about three things: contest, transition, field position.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brisbane by a point after a tough, tight first quarter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Dale: 10 disposals, 309 metres gained<br \/>&#8211; Dunkley: 5 tackles<br \/>&#8211; Liberatore: 7 disposals, 4 clearances<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFLLionsDogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFLLionsDogs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UE4mNoUpNb\">pic.twitter.com\/UE4mNoUpNb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 7AFL (@7AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/7AFL\/status\/1946151675082805464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This team, more than most, exemplifies the platonic ideal of Bevo\u2019s western front, trench warfare attitude.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re top-5 in clearances and contested ball, first in forward 50 ground ball gets, time in forward half, and fourth in tackles inside 50.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re grinders.<\/p>\n<p>More than that, they hurt you.<\/p>\n<p>They lead the league in front half scoring total and are second in front half scoring differential.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">FOUR POINT GAME <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFLLionsDogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFLLionsDogs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xcP74ANXD4\">pic.twitter.com\/xcP74ANXD4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 7AFL (@7AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/7AFL\/status\/1946183190663549109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>When the game is on their terms, like it almost always is against bad teams, they bludgeon you.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jRdZ9RMR2KA&amp;ab_channel=RainyDayBoxing\">It\u2019s Tyson hooks to the liver that left Jesse Ferguson pissing blood for a week.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>But if they can\u2019t play the game on those terms, they\u2019re bad.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t a criticism of Bevo.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, his principles around contest, field position and territory are completely in line with modern footy and they suit this Dogs list.<\/p>\n<p>The issue isn\u2019t the method.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s that the method is the <em>only<\/em> way they can win.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s get specific: The Dogs are the second-best front-half scoring differential team in the AFL.<\/p>\n<p>But they\u2019ve lost that stat in eight games this year and are 1-7 in those games with all losses to current top-eight teams.<\/p>\n<p>In their only other loss (to Fremantle), they won front-half scoring by a goal.<\/p>\n<p>This gets me to my larger point.<\/p>\n<p>The reason the front half game is so important for the Bulldogs is because their defence is so poor.<\/p>\n<p>Their first line of defence is effectively their best and only line of defence.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Unreal kick from McCluggage to open the play up \ud83d\udd25<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFLLionsDogs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFLLionsDogs<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ePjF5xVZLH\">pic.twitter.com\/ePjF5xVZLH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; 7AFL (@7AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/7AFL\/status\/1946171532373319758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The front half game isn\u2019t a feature, it\u2019s the whole car.<\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t win premierships with this defence.<\/p>\n<p>Rory Lobb, James O\u2019Donnell, Liam Jones last week, Jedd Busslinger early in the season do not a good defence make to say nothing of the improving but still not elite Lachie Bramble and Luke Cleary.<\/p>\n<p>Even Bailey Dale, the engine of their transition game, is not an accountable player.<\/p>\n<p>Part of that is structural.<\/p>\n<p>Watching the Dogs, you always notice how they move.<\/p>\n<p>They run in packs, hunting and surging.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always numbers around the ball but rarely ahead of it.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t position players forward of the ball.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, they <em>carry<\/em> the ball forward with waves of support, using overlap handballs and aggressive running.<\/p>\n<p>Once they get it inside 50, those numbers don\u2019t stop.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone follows the ball in, other than the defenders who set up very aggressively. That creates momentum and gives them constant options to chain forward, which helps make them an elite front-half team.<\/p>\n<p>But it comes at a cost.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s like their whole style is modelled on John Wick after his dog died.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s kill or be killed.<\/p>\n<p>Because when that forward surge breaks down, they have nothing behind the ball, which makes them the worst finals contender at defending turnover.<\/p>\n<p>Simply, when the ball goes inside 50 against them, they\u2019re probably dead.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Turnover Game: Round 19<br \/>&#8211; Adelaide take poll position from Collingwood<br \/>&#8211; Brisbane enter the top 3<br \/>&#8211; The way the Dogs defend turnover will go a long way in determining their finishing position <\/p>\n<p>18 of the last 19 premiers have ranked in the top 3 for net score differential <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SwyCtx3TtM\">pic.twitter.com\/SwyCtx3TtM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; James Ives (@JamesIves17) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JamesIves17\/status\/1947081135600894457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>And they\u2019re mostly getting killed by the good teams, who sweat on them around the contests knowing that dump kicks will go to 1v3s for Naughton or Darcy.<\/p>\n<p>The Dogs set up for that, betting on Naughton or Darcy to halve the contests and sometimes, because they\u2019re good players, they do.<\/p>\n<p>But the good teams can win those situations and the ball away, using the Dogs\u2019 aggression against them and expose their average defence.<\/p>\n<p>Brisbane did that really well last week, and so did Adelaide in round 18.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows Highlights | Round 18, 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/T6wzV58kedA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Given their personnel, I\u2019d make that bet too.<\/p>\n<p>You bet on your strengths and try to minimise your weaknesses.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve got a shaky back six, but dominant midfielders like Bontempelli, Liberatore, and Richards, emerging guns in Sanders and Freijah, and small forward firepower in Rhylee West supporting Naughton and Darcy.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is I\u2019d be wrong a lot.<\/p>\n<p>What is going on in Footscray? They\u2019re playing the odds and losing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*Windhorst fingers* what is going on in Footscray? They\u2019re having a very strange season. Very strange season. By the premiership metrics, there is not a single better with the footy\/territory team in the AFL. By the ladder that just looks at your games against the top-9 teams, they\u2019re 1-8 and ahead of only North Melbourne,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":75695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8298,598,344],"tags":[8260],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-75694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-guywholikessport","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-guywholikessport"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"23\/07\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75694"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87758,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75694\/revisions\/87758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75694"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=75694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}