Former Western Bulldogs vice-chairman Susan Albert says the team’s winless start to the AFLW season is unacceptable, with coach Nathan Burke questioning his team’s professionalism as they slump to an 0-5 record.
At mid-season, the Bulldogs are 17th – ahead of GWS, themselves winless – and endured losses to Geelong (48 points) and Melbourne (42 points) before falling to newcomers Hawthorn in round two.
The Western Bulldogs have yet to record a win this season. The Western Bulldogs have yet to record a win this season.
Alberti is an advocate for women’s football and her beloved Bulldogs, but she described the Dogs’ latest 18-point loss to St Kilda in their opener at Whitten Oval last Friday night as an embarrassment.
“It was embarrassing to watch our young ladies last Friday night,” Alberti told this headline.
“They know this performance is unacceptable and have worked hard this week to turn things around… I want the Western Bulldogs AFLW [side] to give everything they can to get the win.”
Alberti wanted to attend the game but had prior commitments with the AFL Masters. He said he loves them but is “disappointed so far.” The Bulldogs’ crash in 2023 comes after they reached the finals last year for the first time since winning the 2018 title. They won seven of their ten home and away matches and finished seventh, although they fell to Collingwood in the elimination final. with five points.
But with just five rounds left in the season, the Dogs can’t even match their efforts from last year.
“That Doesn’t Cut It”
After the latest loss, Burke lashed out at his team’s poor professional standards.
“We’re not good enough. I told the girls we’re not going to make excuses for it because I think there are probably things out of our control that will make us better, Burke, who signed a two-year contract. expansion in 2022 and went from part-time to full-time, said.
Nathan Burke and Captain Ellie Blackburn talk during the defeat of the demons. Nathan Burke and Captain Ellie Blackburn talk during the defeat of the demons.
“Understanding the level of professionalism required now – missing an ice bath or eating the wrong thing doesn’t hurt anymore… I’m not going to point the finger at anyone, it’s widespread. The whole league has raised the bar and we. have to accept that and go with it .
He added that the group is too comfortable on the football field. “They have to find the grunt that Lamby [Kirsty Lamb] and Blackers [Ellie Blackburn] do to fight for every ball here for 72 minutes.
“The gap is too big”
Former AFLW player Kate McCarthy, who is part of the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, said their injury-hit pre-season and youth in the squad affected the performance, but inconsistency hurt them.
“Even though we got that result last year to reach the final, I think we’re still quite a young and developing team, minus the key players [Blackburn and Lamb] … We don’t have that real core. It’s been a long time in this that group. time.”
Amy McDonald, Geelong handball during the first round AFLW match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Geelong, Australia. Amy McDonald (Geelong handballs) during the first round AFLW match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Geelong, Australia.
The Dogs, like fellow founding clubs Carlton and Brisbane, have lost several key players over the years to expansion to rivals, including Katie Brennan and Monique Conti to Richmond, Bonnie Toogood to Essendon and star defenders Libby Birch to Melbourne and Emma Kearney. North Melbourne. However, McCarthy said after reviewing the games this season that they probably should have won three out of five, but they had too many wasted chances and easy goals slipped away late in the games.
“When we’re good, we’re very, very good and we could probably do that with most teams in the competition, like we did with Geelong in a couple of sets… But I think the main thing for us is our . best performance. Compared to our worst performance in games, the margin is just too big.”
McCarthy said footy IQ and in-game tactics are other important growth areas for the Dogs, including knowing when to attack and when to defend their lead. The Bulldogs kicked three goals in quick succession against St Kilda in the second quarter but conceded three big tackles before half-time to surrender their lead.
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“If you’re out for a quarter or 10 minutes in a quarter, the game has evolved to the point where you’re going to be punished for your mistakes,” McCarthy said.
“We went into every game this year feeling like we had a good chance to win. … We just couldn’t execute.”
With the Bulldogs not making the finals this year, McCarthy said the internal goal is to keep improving, especially with younger players thrown into different positions, and gain confidence with some back-to-back wins. There it begins
