A systematic dismantling: ‘Unmitigated disaster’ exposes Dogs… and opens up burning question on coach

The Western Bulldogs face a lengthy post-mortem examination after their 2024 flag dreams were dashed on Friday night by a stunning Hawthorn effort.

The Bulldogs’ large forwards were expected to benefit from dry conditions at the MCG. However, the Hawks’ quick handball game led to a 37-point win, mirroring the Dogs’ semi-final victory in 2016.

The Dogs had a season-low 326 disposals and were limited to 9.8 (62) points for the game, their second-lowest total.

On Fox Footy, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said that Hawthorn had produced “a systematic dismantling of the Western Bulldogs”.

Garry Lyon, the Melbourne champion, bemoaned the Bulldogs’ inability to move the ball from end to end. According to Champion Data, only 8% of the Dogs’ defensive 50 exits on Friday night resulted in inside 50s, ranking as the ninth-worst return of any club in the last decade.

“When you’ve got Bailey Dale in your back half, Caleb Daniel who can push back and (Adam) Treloar and (Marcus) Bontempelli – that is a damning number right there,” added Lyon.

“All of these ‘worst returns for the year’ on a night when you want to make a good impression. It’s going to be a really difficult offseason.”

Four-time champion Hawk Jordan Lewis told Fox Footy that the Dogs had “too many passengers” on Friday night.

However, Lewis said he was surprised by some of the Bulldogs’ positional and selection decisions at the start of the game.

“You don’t like any surprises from coaches, but it just felt like there were a few tricks that tried to be played,” Lewis explained to Fox Footy.

“Midfielders started at half-back and came through, with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan on the bench…” There were a lot of moving pieces in that first quarter, which I don’t think a player would enjoy.

“When you’re coming into a big final, you want predictability and continuity.”

Jon Ralph, a Herald Sun reporter and Midweek Tackle panelist, called Friday’s loss to Hawthorn “an unmitigated disaster for the Western Bulldogs,” citing coach Luke Beveridge’s “topsy-turvy finals record.”

“He has a flag and a Grand Finale. But despite having ten completed seasons, seven finals campaigns, and only one losing year (8-14), they’ve only won the finals twice in those seven campaigns,” Ralph added.

“What do you do with Luke Beveridge when this list is so star-studded? He’s out of contract in 2025. Do you agree that ‘it’s a missed opportunity, but he’s our man’? The Bulldogs’ board and hierarchy firmly believe that he is their man.

“But will you extend his contract at the beginning of next year? Or will he enter next season, as he did this year, possibly after a sluggish start and under enormous pressure?”

Nathan Buckley, a seven-time All-Australian, believed that the Bulldogs’ bad performances this season were more indicative than their positive ones.

“There were questions around the Bulldogs where they began the year, but they were able to build through the season really well and put some really good form together,” Buckley said Fox Footy following the contest.

“The ‘highlight’ of their season was that they played extremely poorly, so Port Adelaide blasted them, Adelaide smashed them, and they were soundly defeated tonight. Perhaps when they don’t get the contest right, there aren’t enough mechanisms in other aspects of their game to support them.”