“To think that we kept Geelong to only 45 inside 50s but the Bulldogs get 69,our pressure was enormous against Geelong,but really,[on Saturday night] we got out-tackled by about 24,and they won contested possessions by about 11,so they won the ball and they got it back off us.
“It’s unacceptable,and we’ve got to do something about it. We can’t just keep going with this. Players that aren’t performing will have to go back to the twos. We’ve got some players in pretty good form in the reserves and we’ll have to make some changes,because we can’t have that.[The players] were told that post-game.”
A despondent Ratten,at a loss to explain St Kilda’s capitulation,credited the Bulldogs for a tougher display at the coalface. The Bulldogs won the clearance count 44-31 and laid 74 tackles to St Kilda’s 48.
“We just can’t have a performance like that as a footy club. After that,you don’t know where to look. We can’t have that. It’s a tough game,AFL,but you can’t just drop off the face of the earth and have a performance like that,” he said.
“Their ability to strip us,and[for] us not be stronger,tougher and harder in the contest,it’s a credit to them.”
The Bulldogs’ win was somewhat soured by an ankle injury to star recruit Adam Treloar,who was subbed out of the match at half-time with a suspected syndesmosis tear.
“They think it’s a low-grade syndesmosis injury and usually that means you’re out for a number of weeks,” coach Luke Beveridge said post-match.
On a positive note,though,Tim English is expected to make his return for the Dogs’ blockbuster clash with Melbourne next week after missing four games due to lingering concussion symptoms.
“He just hasn’t been himself. We just stepped back and said,‘let us know when you feel on top of things’. He trained really well this week. He’s probably thinking that he should have played.”
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Additionally,Toby McLean will return through the VFL after sustaining damage to his ACL in round 17 last year. Beveridge said McLean’s comeback would provide another source of inspiration to his flag-fancied side.
“That’ll be an emotional lift for everyone again. He’s been on that tumultuous journey of recovery,so that’s going to be important for us,” Beveridge said.
The 2016 premiership coach also applauded the performance of captain Marcus Bontempelli,who continued hisgolden run of form with 26 disposals,four goals,five marks and six tackles.
“He is having a brilliant year. There’s no doubt about it,” Beveridge said.
“Making enormous contributions for the team,Marcus is heading all that up with his influence through his words and his actions and what he’s doing on and off the field.
“Whether there’s new levels of that,maybe,but I’ve been,we’ve all been really thankful for what he’s done over a long period of time and tonight was just another example of how prolific he can be in the encounter. He’s such a big,brawny,fierce athlete,as much as a highly-skilled,courageous footballer.”
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