‘Flat track bullies': Western Bulldogs fail latest test against the Crows
The Western Bulldogs came into Saturday's match-up with Adelaide needing to show they could beat a top-eight side if they were to be considered genuine finals contenders, let alone premiership hopes.
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It's fair to say they failed their latest examination, falling to a 16.13 (109) to 15.8 (98) that defender Jason Johannisen labelled 'soft'.
The Dogs came into the match with a 10-6 record, but nine of those victories had come against teams outside the top eight.
All up they had a 1-7 record against teams currently in the finals positions, with a lone victory over GWS to go with defeats to the likes of the Lions, Pies, Suns, Cats and Hawks.
Rather than shy away from the concerning record, the team's cheer squad dived straight off the deep end with its pre-match banner.
'They say we're flat track bullies, we think that's funny,' it said.
'Hey Crows, think you're tough? Give us your lunch money.'
If anyone was doing some bullying at Marvel Stadium, however, it was Matthew Nicks' men, who are emerging as flag fancies themselves after their sixth win from their past seven games.
For the record, that stretch includes wins over Hawthorn and the reigning premier Brisbane.
The teams traded goals in the first term before the Crows took a seven-point lead into quarter-time, gradually building that to a match-winning 27-point edge at the last change.
Johannisen spoke to radio station 3AW after the game and admitted his side didn't apply enough pressure to the opposition.
'Early on they were a bit stronger in the contest than us and scored too easily from our missed tackles and them getting out into space,' he said.
'I thought we fought back pretty well, when we played our brand of footy we did really well and were able to score.
'But unfortunately they scored too easily.'
Asked about coach Luke Beveridge's message after the game, ahead of a Friday night clash with the Lions, Johannisen said: 'The message is probably we were soft today and we've got to move on pretty quickly.
'We've got a six-day break heading up to Brisbane, last year's premiers and playing some good footy.
'So we've got to look at what we can improve on and definitely some contest work and look to challenge Brisbane on Friday night.'
Beveridge echoed those sentiments in his post-match press conference.
'Our biggest disappointment this afternoon was how we started the game, the broken tackles and not using the ball as we'd like to under pressure,' Beveridge said.
'That really put us on the back foot.'
Adding to Adelaide's impressive win, Jordon Butts was subbed out in the second quarter after suffering a collapsed lung, while Brayden Cook was also ruled out early on due to a head clash.
But Riley Thilthorpe stepped up with a career-best six goals, dominating his match-up with a fumbly Sam Darcy.
The Dogs' 21-year-old ruck-forward kicked a brilliant individual goal, but was otherwise quiet, finishing with 2.2 for the day.
That left scores of fans on social media declaring the Dogs just don't stack up with the better sides in the competition.
X account @penguinickx wrote: 'Dogs have beaten no one this season, and remain the most over hyped team in the league.'
Mark Vella called them: 'Fraudsters of the West.'
Dogs fan account Dandy Footy said: 'Supporting the Bulldogs is literal torture. Mediocre year after year, never awful but never great. The ultimate disappointments, forever.'
Account @ChrisSm53350061 tweeted: 'Just another typical dogs performance. Could write the script a month ago. Nowhere near a premiership contender and if you believe that, you're as dumb as the board for extending bevo.'
Another account used those words from the banner when writing: 'Flat track bullies.'
Other fans were keen to highlight the battle between Thilthorpe and Darcy.
While the young Bulldog has been feted in recent weeks as a dominant force of the future, Thilthorpe has been quietly going about his business for a side now sitting third on the ladder with a 12-5 record.
BigNFLfan declared: 'Thilthorpe owns Darcy.'
Sheik Lou wrote: 'Vic media been glazing Darcy for months, meanwhile Thilthorpe has smacked home 6. There's levels to this.'
Dylan S said: 'The Sam Darcy best in comp shouts were just so premature it's not even funny.'
Ragnar added: 'Riley Thilthorpe > Sam Darcy. Yep. I went and said it. The Vic media bang on about this guy being the best player to ever play the game …'
While the Dogs' final aspirations will get another stern test against Brisbane next week, the Crows are scheduled for another high-stakes clash, hosting the Suns at Adelaide Oval in the final match of the round.
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