AFL news 2023: Western Bulldogs loss to Melbourne, Luke Beveridge, tall forward line, stats, First Crack, David King comments, Rory Lobb


The Western Bulldogs’ tall forward line has been urged to play with an “edge” after a 50-point loss to Melbourne in Round 1.

Buoyed by trading in Rory Lobb in the final stages of last year’s trade period, the Dogs’ balance of tall forwards loomed as one of the key fascinations heading into the 2023 campaign, with promising signs shown in the pre-season.

The mix didn’t make for an effective one on Saturday night, however, with Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan combining for two goals and five behinds while Rory Lobb failed to trouble the scorers.

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Dual North Melbourne premiership player David King told Fox Footy’s First Crack that, while the loss wasn’t “disastrous”, the temperament of most of the Dogs’ tall timbre needed to change.

“I’ve got to say, I don’t know if there’s enough nasty in them,” King said.

“Naughton certainly has it, he brings it in spades, he’s a competitor. I just don’t know with Rory Lobb, has he got enough nasty that when he’s out of position that he can fight and scrap and bring that ball to ground?

“I don’t know about Jamarra, is Jamarra just a nice player? Is he is he a guy that just wants to drift and get involved when he’s on the move and on the lead, or does he have an absolute clunk in him and the steel to take that contested mark where he’s got full run at it?

“I look at what the Demons were able to do with them and they dropped off whenever they want. Then the fight is just not there. Rory Lobb, come back, crash the pack. It’s nice, it’s gentle.”

The stats sheet painted a bleak picture for the Dogs’ attacking 50, which spluttered for most of the night while the Dees did far more damage with their 10 more inside 50s.

“They (the Dogs) had 50 inside 50s and they took only seven marks,” King said.

“The opposition took 12 intercept marks. Lobb was targeted five times with no result, Naughton 12 times – he took three marks inside 50, he was very good – and Jamarra five times for two marks inside 50. I need to see an edge from them.”

Former St Kilda midfielder and two-time All-Australian Leigh Montagna said the Dogs’ midfield brigade also needed to kick inside 50 with more tactical nous.

“I think that Bulldogs midfielders fell into the trap of knowing that they had the tall forwards, ‘lets just bomb it in’,” he said.

“They were hacking the ball in there and making it really difficult. They‘ve got to get that synergy and connection right.”

King agreed, adding: “I want to see them play more like the coach (Luke Beveridge) coaches: with an edge.”

“As soon as they play with that edge, they’ll be a good side, but if they want to play nice footy, they’ll be also-rans.”

Originally published as ‘Fight isn’t there’: Dogs’ tall forwards urged to get ‘nasty’ after meek Dees showing

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