Dogs' late rally no compensation

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says he can't draw any positives from his team's barnstorming finish to its nine-point loss to Essendon.

For most of Friday night’s clash at Etihad Stadium, the Bulldogs were below par. And while they waited until time-on in the final term to hit their best form, Eade said the four goals in the final 10 minutes was a reflection on how little his side had toiled in the first 90 minutes of the game.

“I thought they outworked us as well. I thought their work rate was a lot more than ours. Maybe in the end they tired and because we hadn’t worked as hard we had a little left in the tank,” Eade said after the match.

While Jason Akermanis has been prominent off the field in recent weeks, he was quiet against the Bombers on Friday night, racking up just four disposals in the first three quarters before lifting in the purple patch at the end.

Eade admitted it was a poor return from the man who has hogged the headlines over the past nine days.

“He struggled. He wasn’t the only one, he wasn’t an orphan. Except for the last 10 minutes but other than that he didn’t do a lot,” he said.

It was a better display from Barry Hall who kicked five goals but again the Bulldogs coach was not forthcoming with praise.

“His touch wasn’t great. I thought there were four or five marks he could’ve taken that he got pushed off the ball. I didn’t think it was Barry’s best game to be honest,” Eade said.

“I think he’s kicked five but I’ve seen Barry kick two and play better. I think there were parts of his game he’d be disappointed about tonight. I think you’ve got to give Barry credit, at least he persists and hangs in there and I think he got reward for persistence more than actual quality of performance.”

The Bulldogs’ night was marred by poor foot disposal and the Bombers made them pay every time.

“I have to give credit to Essendon, their pressure was good and they played well but we certainly butchered the ball as well from players who a talented - Cooney, Higgins and a few other players who have got skills but made some basic errors and really didn’t give our forwards any opportunity,” he said.

“When we turned it over we got hurt on the rebound which you do against good sides.”