GAME DAY - Round 7

[Whispering_Jack 31,131]

It's been years since I first tasted the beauty of Adelaide Oval during a summertime visit to family when I caught a game of cricket there - one of the tests during the World Series of Cricket years with the Aussie team decimated by the Packer cricket revolution. Adelaide was such a sleepy town then - you had to drive for miles to find an open milk bar to get a loaf of bread and a pint of milk on a Sunday.

I've been back a few times but I won't be there today. I'll be getting my fix of footy via Fox Footy and, as I've explained here, I'm not expecting anything pretty but I do hope that we do stay the course today and over the coming months no matter what.

I was reflecting on this as I watched Carlton's fighting final quarter against Collingwood last night. The Blues kicked eight goals in the last half an hour and many of their fans walked away thinking about the great fightback they'd just seen after their team was restricted to only two goals over the first three quarters.

I would have been more worried about their team's ineptitude during that part of the game when the pressure was on and when the Pies strangled the life out of them with their tight defensive football. The job was done by the final break and the game opened up completely enabling a scoring avalanche but I think it was pretty much irrelevant.

I'm appreciating Paul Roos as a coach even more when I compare him with Malthouse. There are no excuses with him even though we've been hit hard with injuries to key players in important positions which has tested our depth immensely.

I'm still looking forward immensely to what should be another challenging day in Adelaide - especially to seeing Christian Salem and Jay Kennedy-Harris who along with Jack Viney and Dom Tyson should play an important role in our future.

[jazza 1,323]

17 points and moving into forward line as siren sounds.just another victory for the dees.

pedders BOG>

Edited May 2, 2014 by jazza

[FC Melbourne 108]

I really miss footy park and the exciting brand of football we played there....not.

[Gorgoroth 13,184]

How long since we beat the crows in Adelside? Over 10 years isn't it?

Well what ever it was tack another year into it, we won't get close to the crows today.

[Guest]

I think today will be one more step towards respectability but I don't (as a supporter) see us getting the W.
Soon a lot of the jokes and jibes about Melbourne will stop. I saw that on Marngrook before the Sydney game that the tipsters who chose to give a final margin said without blinking that the Swans would win by 10 goals (of course Sheeds was one of those). I thought that was patently ridiculous (I thought they would probably win with a bit in the tank but it wouldn't be a cakewalk).
I think after today, while we won't win, we will continue to be taken more seriously.

[Meggs 598]

I was just discussing the margin with a fellow Dees supporter. You are right that most outside people will pick a 60 - 70 point margin as that has been our standard effort. I am looking forward to seeing a better performance but equally I won't be surprised if we play like we did in Round 2 unfortunately.

[45HG 1,559]

68, 44, 76, 58, 54, 72, 73. No, these are not Michael Clarke's last 7 innings - they're the margins in SA since we last beat the Crows. Bring back Leo!

On the plus side, our one game at Adelaide Oval was only 8 points and would've been a comfortable win if it weren't for the worst umpiring I've ever seen in a professional football match, which I'm sure won't happen today...

For posterity, here's our record against Port (just to give you the full, disgusting picture) 14, 73, 62, 89, 78, 57, 29.

It also shows, I think, how hard it really is to lose by 100 points. And yet we've done that so often!

[deanox 10,045]

In Adelaides wins this year they have scored 136, 137, and 92. In their losses they've scored 70-80.

Interestingly they have the third highest points for and the 5th most points against. In fact they have the 2nd highest combined points for and against (1175 v Hawthorn with 1183). Melbourne has the 8th lowest points against and the lowest combined at 810.

It will be interesting to see if we can dictate terms.

We may not have the fire power or confidence to win, but if we can force the game to be played our way that is the first step in the process to being a successful team.

Keep them to 70-80 points, score 60 ourselves. 2-4 goal loss. I'd consider that progress.

Edited May 2, 2014 by deanox

[deeko 952]

Well Miss Deeko and I did the toad trip from Mildura to Melb last weekend for the game much to her horror (doesnt appreciate the sport).

And today being Deeko's big three zero she has surprised me with some tickets to the game for me and a couple demon supporting mates. Shes driving us. What a keeper

Come on Dees really would love a win as a present!

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

I see this as a close match, with the point of difference being we do not have a single player, or a mature enough team defence, to stifle Dangerfield. I reckon he will tear us apart today and his contribution will be the difference in the win/loss. If we do manage to control him, I think we match up across the ground pretty well.

As far as the Dees go, the issue remains the same. We can possess the ball, we can stay in the game but we cannot create enough goals just yet.

Crows by 20 points.

[McQueen 17,867]

Get ready for the upset of the round. I'm tipping the Dee's to get over the line by a mere 3 points in a thriller.

I'm hoping Salem will start the game and if so I reckon we'll see a rising star nomination today.

Vince BOG.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,288]

Get ready for the upset of the round. I'm tipping the Dee's to get over the line by a mere 3 points in a thriller.

I'm hoping Salem will start the game and if so I reckon we'll see a rising star nomination today.

Vince BOG.

Langdon last night will be close to impossible to beat for this weeks nomination

[dees189227 12,453]

im not sure what to expect today. I think a loss but im not sure by how much. I just hope we get through unscathed and its not a blowout. I hope Bernard has a good game against his former team, better than Daisy went last night I hope.

[chook fowler 19,694]

Certainly Langdon will be hard to beat. Nonetheless Salem looks ready to go and JKH is building. If they have good ones I'll be content

[praha 11,253]

In Adelaides wins this year they have scored 136, 137, and 92. In their losses they've scored 70-80.

Interestingly they have the third highest points for and the 5th most points against. In fact they have the 2nd highest combined points for and against (1175 v Hawthorn with 1183). Melbourne has the 8th lowest points against and the lowest combined at 810.

It will be interesting to see if we can dictate terms.

We may not have the fire power or confidence to win, but if we can force the game to be played our way that is the first step in the process to being a successful team.

Keep them to 70-80 points, score 60 ourselves. 2-4 goal loss. I'd consider that progress.

I'm trying to get over my "losing isn't winning" ideal but I agree: anything less than 4 goals considering the Crows' scoring power will be a big win.

They simply cannot let the Crows get a 4-5 goal headstart. From there it'll either blow out, or won't change much from there. Keep it close from the get-go and they're a chance. Against any team.

[old dee 24,001]

Crows by 9

[deanox 10,045]

I'm trying to get over my "losing isn't winning" ideal but I agree: anything less than 4 goals considering the Crows' scoring power will be a big win.

They simply cannot let the Crows get a 4-5 goal headstart. From there it'll either blow out, or won't change much from there. Keep it close from the get-go and they're a chance. Against any team.

Don't get me wrong, I was pretty disappointed after the saints and suns matches. But I had to remember sitting there over the last two years thinking "all I want is a big effort and a close game and not to be smashed every week". The first step is to be competitive. The second is to be consistent. The third is to win them all, even the ones we shouldn't win.

We are 6 games in, I don't expect too much.

[Meggs 598]

Crows by 9

Goals or points ?

[McQueen 17,867]

I believe Roosy is having coffee with Tex Walker as we speak.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,246]

I wouldn't be surprised if we only go at half rat power today and save ourselves for a winnable game next week vs the Dogs.

9 or 10 goal margin today.

[jazza 1,323]

dropped langdon from my supercoach+great decision to push my team into the bottom 4.

rather confident and a touch overexcited about his game today.

getting that gloating feeling that was going around during the carlton game.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,246]

I believe Roosy is having coffee with Tex Walker as we speak.

Sauce?

And yes I'm the most gullible person on the planet.

[McQueen 17,867]

Langdon last night will be close to impossible to beat for this weeks nomination

And to think I had him on the trade table of my Fantasy team yesterday.

Decided against it and got rid of Chip Frawley instead.

[McQueen 17,867]

Sauce?

And yes I'm the most gullible person on the planet.

Indeed you are, BBP.

[old dee 24,001]

Goals or points ?

I was hoping no one would ask that way i could claim whatever was the closest.

Now I am in a hole.

Unfortunately Goals.