I don't have a problem with Bulldogs chasing all these players and offer them overs to come to their club, because they normally purchase the wrong players, or ignore better options on the open market.
Wade Graham is clearly a better player Trent Hodkinson, and his asking price was reportedly at least $80K less per season then Hodkinsons. Pritchard is a good player also, but as everyone has pointed out, has massive issues with consistency. Is Kevin Moore really a coach that can get him to play to his potential, especially considering a few other coaches has failed before him. Neville Costigan would've gone for a lot less, provides a similar impact to Pritchard, and is definitely more consistent week in week out. Why didn't they make a play for him instead?
Bennett had to make a few recruitment decisions around the same time the Bulldogs had their massive clean out and brought some new players to the club. Bennett signed Weyman and Boyd, while the Bulldogs signed Hannant and Josh Morris. All four of these players are outstanding talents, there is no doubt about that. However, I am pretty sure the Dragons would have paid a lot less than their pair than the Bulldogs did for theres. It seems to me the Bulldogs recruitment management are more concerned with throwing money at established "name" players, rather than players that clearly have all the potential, and are young enough to play to that standard with the right coaching.
Keating was a good signing at a good price, but now they're trying to fit too many players in too many positions:
1. Barba
6. Roberts
7. Hodkinson
9. Ennis
14. Keating
looks great, but Keating is too good to play off the bench. Roberts could switch to centres, but will he be succesful anymore? There's Morris to play centres and Idris (if the 2nd row experiment fails). What is Barba doesn't suceed at fullback? He's gotta be in the 17 somewhere. I just think the Bulldogs make some strange decisions, a lot of which are responsible for their dismal season this year.
