The ‘massive issue’ holding the Dogs back

WHILE Aaron Naughton is no doubt a star key forward and Tim English is becoming an elite level ruckman, the Dogs’ defence has struggled to nullify the opposition’s key forwards.

In the first four rounds, Melbourne’s Ben Brown kicked three in the season-opener, Carlton’s Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow combined for nine goals in round two and Richmond’s Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt put six together in their 99-61 win on Saturday night.

Although Tim O’Brien was brought over to the club to sure up their defensive stocks, Chad Cornes believes a lack of capable talls is the “massive issue” holding the Dogs back in 2022.

“They’re one and three for that reason [key position stocks],” Cornes said on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.

“They have a massive issue on their list, that is key position stocks.

“Tim English is in the ruck, but there’s nothing behind him at the moment, at times [Marcus] Bontempelli was rucking, what a disaster that is.

“Tim O’Brien comes back in, he didn’t really have an influence, he’s not that big defender, they don’t have a big defender.

“At the other end of the ground, if it’s not Naughton – who kicked 2.3 [against Richmond] but was inaccurate – [Jamarra] Ugle-Hagan was good last week but touched it five times this week.

“Yes, their midfield is great, but the reason they’re one and three is because they’re so low on key position players and it’s an area they just did not address in the trade period.”

The Bulldogs will hope to earn their second win of the season when they face the 1-3 Kangaroos on Good Friday at Marvel Stadium.

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN