The Bulldogs, Barry Hall and a confirmation of premiership legitimacy

The Western Bulldogs comprehensively smashed the Saints in last night’s pre-season Grand Final, leading St.Kilda all night, ultimately winning by forty points and definitively confirming that 2010 is indeed the Bulldogs’ best chance yet to win a second club premiership.

Six months ago the Dogs played St.Kilda in a preliminary final with the Saints winning that night thanks predominantly to one of Nick Riewoldt’s most signature performances (18 touches, 11 marks and 4 of his team’s 9 goals), but also in large part to the Dogs’ own inability to take advantage of a match they for the most part controlled but whose opportunities they were simply unable to convert.
Though the Dogs lost twice to the Saints in last year’s home and away season, quite convincingly on both occasions in fact, the Bulldogs were, by the time the finals came around, a far more cohesive and competent unit than what they’d demonstrated for the bulk of the regular season. In that final against the Saints they were able to prevail in most meaningful statistical categories, even registering more tackles than the Saints, an area St.Kilda’s remarkable 22-3 season was unquestionably defined by. However in addition to its tackling, the Bulldogs also topped the Saints by an incredible 57-40 inside 50 count, a statistical discrepancy which last year alone accounted for a 96% win rate. For the Dogs to have lost by a mere seven points it was quite clear they were lacking just one element. A competent key forward to compliment its midfield supremacy. They now have one.

Barry Hall was acquired last October by the Bulldogs for virtually nothing. Though he came to the Dogs with a reputation which toward the end of his glittering Swans career had be spoiled by acts of stupidity, which were mostly violent in their nature, what was never in doubt was Hall’s ability as a footballer, which in his best form was categorised by a physicality and a commitment to a team ethic which in Sydney was mandatory. After all it was Barry Hall who captained the Swans to their remarkable premiership in 2005, and Barry Hall who kicked more than 600 goals while never operating as a traditional full forward and in a team not noted for its silky and precise movement into its forward line. No, the only real question that the Bulldogs and the general football public had and have of Hall was whether the actual part of Barry's head, which truth be told had always looked a little shaky, had in fact completely dislodged sometime over the last couple of years. And though that’s a question that might never be answered, what is clear is that if the pre-season’s anything to go by, Hall has certainly lost none of the playing attributes he was defined and largely applauded for, while the Bulldogs themselves look to have finally found the key forward they've been sorely lacking for so many years. Never more so than in last year’s preliminary final against the Saints.

Throughout the pre-season Hall was nothing short of outstanding for the Bulldogs, looking fit and strong as he kicked 17 goals over three excellent games which culminated in a remarkable seven goal, best on field performance in last night’s Grand Final. To be honest, Hall looked unstoppable.
However just as importantly the Bulldogs over the pre-season looked to have surpassed the Saints in tackling intensity and general defensive pressure, thoroughly dominating the Saints in their cherished tackling count last night (67-46), in addition to tackles made forward of centre (38-19) while once again the Bulldogs midfield was able to take the points, having generated ten more inside 50’s than their opponents, commanding the bulk of possession and looking by and large far quicker while committing fewer skill errors than the Saints who once again had an unhealthy reliance on Nick Riewoldt to perform constant heroics. Something to be fair to the Saint’s captain he’s more often than not capable of.

Understandably it is only the pre-season and it will be another six months until we’ll have any sort of answer as to whether the Dogs are on the verging of claiming their second premiership, or in fact set for another agonising final's exit. However what the pre-season has confirmed is that the Bulldogs most definitely have the appearance of a well oiled machine who’ve quite clearly worked tirelessly on both their fitness and tackling intensity over the pre-season, while they’ve just as importantly proved themselves capable of beating the Saints who’ve had their measure over the last few years. More than anything else however the Bulldogs finally have the power forward they’ve waited so desperately long for. Come September they’ll have all boxes ticked and recourse to no more excuses. They may even have their second premiership.