The Western Bulldogs have an issue in defence.
Their key defenders struggle in one-on-one contests and after five weeks of being able to limit how many Alex Keath and his partners have found themselves in, Richmond was able to take full advantage of it.
Tom Lynch booted 3.5 and could have had an enormous night if not for some early yips. Jack Riewoldt only kicked one, but took seven marks, four inside 50.
Keath has only found himself in 14 contested defensive one-on-ones this year. Easton Wood has been in 11, while no other Bulldog is in double figures.
They have rotated a few key defenders, all of whom have lost at least 50 per cent of those contested one-on-one contests: Zaine Cordy (83%), Lewis Young (50%) and Ryan Gardner (67%).
David King believes the Bulldogs have to address it.
“(Luke) Beveridge can deny it as much as he likes about the back six, he really can. Zaine Cordy looked out of sorts. Every time the ball went in he looked vulnerable,” King told SEN’s Whateley.
“I know you can say they only conceded 77 points, but it was the manner in which they looked so brittle, so quickly.
“That third quarter, the biggest statements are short. Richmond made a 20-minute statement right between the eyes. They made the Dogs’ back six claustrophobic.
“It was like the whole stadium had closed in on them. We’ve got the biggest venue in the world.
“They couldn’t think, they couldn’t move, they seized up, the crowd got involved. It was unreal.”
King would like to see the Dogs try key forward Josh Bruce down back in the next few weeks.
“I think they have to have a look at Josh Bruce down back for a couple of weeks. Just because you don’t know,” King said.
“This has nothing to do with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, I don’t care whether he comes in or not, but he’s the logical replacement if they want to go down that path.
“He’s young, he’s undersized, maybe he’s not ready, he can’t run AFL standard just yet, but have a look at Bruce down back for just a few weeks.
“It might be something you’re forced into in a final anyway. You’ve got to have a look at things just in case. What if Alex Keath gets hurt halfway through a Preliminary Final?”
The Bulldogs take on Carlton this Sunday afternoon and will have to contend with the in-form Harry McKay.
McKay kicked three on the Bulldogs in 2020 and four in 2019.
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