Post Match Discussion - Round 8

[T-34 409]

I'm all for minimal changes and I agree with this and hope that there is any, it will be just for injury cover. Who really is there to bring in?

- Blease. No, finally seemed to get a bit of the pill which is fantastic, his challenge now to back it up.

- Clisby. Probably closest.

- Tappy. No, not fit enough yet

- Toump. Let the kid learn there for a while and get some confidence up

- Strauss. No and always will be a no for me as I just don't think he can play

- Mitchie. No, not fit enough yet

- McKenz. Unfortunately for Jordie we picked up Cross and he's a step above.

- Riley. No, not fit enough yet

- Evans. See Strauss.

I'm not willing to bring someone in half done, whether they have a ripping nickname or not, to have a crack in the ones.

So much to everyone's shock and horror we may see another week of everyones besty in Boo-erns

Don't know if you have been to see any recent Casey games but both Michie and Riley are ready to go, Tappy could do with another game or two.

I think we probably need to replace Burns with someone who can give us something more as he is really struggling, but I trust in those making the decisions now.

[T-34 409]

I'm all for minimal changes and I agree with this and hope that there is any, it will be just for injury cover. Who really is there to bring in?

- Blease. No, finally seemed to get a bit of the pill which is fantastic, his challenge now to back it up.

- Clisby. Probably closest.

- Tappy. No, not fit enough yet

- Toump. Let the kid learn there for a while and get some confidence up

- Strauss. No and always will be a no for me as I just don't think he can play

- Mitchie. No, not fit enough yet

- McKenz. Unfortunately for Jordie we picked up Cross and he's a step above.

- Riley. No, not fit enough yet

- Evans. See Strauss.

I'm not willing to bring someone in half done, whether they have a ripping nickname or not, to have a crack in the ones.

So much to everyone's shock and horror we may see another week of everyones besty in Boo-erns

Don't know if you have been to see any recent Casey games but both Michie and Riley are ready to go, Tappy could do with another game or two.

I think we probably need to replace Burns with someone who can give us something more as he is really struggling, but I trust in those making the decisions now.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,455]

Well personally I think the Doggies deserved their win. It was always shaping as a game that would go right down to the final 10 minutes, and when it did the Dogs took their chances (the soft free didn't help our cause) and we didn't. Unfortunately in these games there's always going to be one loser and last night it had to be us. Two in a row would have been so good, probably the main reason I'm gutted. Doggies fans with me after the game were trotting out the "can't believe we nearly lost to Melbourne" lines... opposition fans are a bit slow to catch on - this is a different team to 2008-13 Melbourne. Opposing sides have to work hard to beat us now.

Individual player thoughts:

Tyson: Wow! Has played good games for us already but last night was something else. Going to be a legit A-grader down the track.

Salem: Can already see he looks comfortable, seems to always be in the right spot, hard-at-it and a good kick. Has earnt a full game next week.

(How absurdly bad does that Josh Kelly article from a few weeks back look now?)

Byrnes: echo the thoughts of most. Waste of space at the minute. Bring Kent back next week.

[Pates 9,536]

For what it's worth, everyone's favourite recruiting journalist, Emma Quayle, gave Watts third best on for the Dees behind Tyson and Cross.

She put Libba and Griffen top two for Footscray.

Can't work that one out, I would say he was serviceable without being a standout. Would've had Tyson and Cross ahead, even throw Viney in as well. I will say this, he did some important pressure acts during the match, that's something I'd very rarely say about him!

After sleeping on it I'm still pretty annoyed that we lost this. Much like the Saints game and to a lesser extent the Gold Coast game we really had our opportunities to make an impact on the match. First half was when we dominated the play but failed to capitalise, and in the final quarter we had golden opportunities to push ahead. I reckon this loss will burn for the players, and so it should.

We let this slip.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,415]

Doggies fans with me after the game were trotting out the "can't believe we nearly lost to Melbourne" lines... opposition fans are a bit slow to catch on - this is a different team to 2008-13 Melbourne. Opposing sides have to work hard to beat us now.

Did you remind them that we beat them last year?

It's like a Bombers supporter on BF last week saying Melbourne actually look like a football team for the first time in 5 years - I reminded him we've beaten the Bombers 3 times in that time.

[Guest]

Did you remind them that we beat them last year?

It's like a Bombers supporter on BF last week saying Melbourne actually look like a football team for the first time in 5 years - I reminded him we've beaten the Bombers 3 times in that time.

To be fair to him, take one look at round 2 last year and you see his point. Plus the game we beat them in 2012 in was a case of them not caring, not us being a good team.

[Slartibartfast 15,761]

This is pretty much spot on.

Our defence deserves plaudits for the year so far, but this was a very poor effort against the league's worst (or maybe second-worst after us) forward line. We showed what we can do last week, but the rebound we created against Adelaide was nowhere to be seen tonight,

In retrospect I think we lost this at selection. If we were going to tag Griffen we should have brought in McKenzie, used him to tag Griffen and left Grimes in the backline.

Grimes was terrific last week in Adelaide in the back half and McKenzie has done good jobs on Griffen before.

Easy to be wise after the event.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I had the biggest Bulldogs nuffies behind me all game yelling "ball" every time a player looked like being tackled.

[JackVineyForPresident 310]

I have been reading from the beginning at some peoples comments post match.

I too am shattered and i dont even know how to feel.

I definitely dont feel angry at the way we played, but im definitely not stoked.

I still love Dom Tyson

[Guest]

I had the biggest Bulldogs nuffies behind me all game yelling "ball" every time a player looked like being tackled.

Did anyone see that gang of bell ends dressed up in op shop clothing who were all pizzed as newts before the opening bounce? They were less conspicuous as the match went on but god they grated on me.

I am finding I am getting into a few more verbal stoushes with the opposition supporters this year. I chronicled my encounter with that muppet in front of me and how it took every ounce of my patience to not head butt him when Crameri kicked that goal. I find this state of affairs better. Before, it was just a case of 'poor old Dees' but now it seems like we are an opponent worth beating.

[Blinkybill 276]

I think the shock tactic of Frawley forward and Howe back worked for a few weeks. Time to move them back in my opinion. It could have made the difference last night.

[Dwight Schrute 16,751]

I thought Howe was really good down back, probably needs to mark rather than spoil at times but he dominates the air making him almost the perfect intercept mark

[Cheap Seats 3,300]

A few mistakes/bad decisions and some bad luck/umpiring cost us

I really enjoyed the game and was bitterly disappointed with the loss. But I took away from the game still loving my club, optimistic about beating the Tigers and proud of the turnout of Dees and the passion at the grond

Go you Demons

[rjay 23,906]

People doubting Watts and his tackling ability tonight are blinded by his ridicule.

Saw him make several ripper, strong tackles which should have less to holding the ball decisions. His intensity has lifted for sure

I really think the defending of Watts is now more out of hope than anything else.

Rusty is spot on. His core strength is poor and he loses the one on one battles so often it's embarrassing.

Yes he made a couple of good tackles and his intensity has gone from zero to existent, but how often does his seeming lack of desire for the ball or the man cost us? It was happening again tonight and it's not good enough at this level.

His strengths get overshadowed by his glaring weaknesses. Tired of watching it. I want 22 desperately hungry players. That's what you need.

He saved 2 goals through strong tackles, the wheel is turning...slowly I know but he did start to show a bit in areas we need him to.

[Guest]

I really enjoyed the game and was bitterly disappointed with the loss. But I took away from the game still loving my club, optimistic about beating the Tigers and proud of the turnout of Dees and the passion at the grond

Go you Demons

We outnumbered them considerably and I haven't seen a Melbourne crowd that fired up since we drew with Collingwood on QB in 2010.

[beelzebub 22,225]

I think it was erroneous to have dropped AG esp as we lamented composure esp in the back.

Bring back the Bean

[rjay 23,906]

Well personally I think the Doggies deserved their win. It was always shaping as a game that would go right down to the final 10 minutes, and when it did the Dogs took their chances (the soft free didn't help our cause) and we didn't. Unfortunately in these games there's always going to be one loser and last night it had to be us. Two in a row would have been so good, probably the main reason I'm gutted. Doggies fans with me after the game were trotting out the "can't believe we nearly lost to Melbourne" lines... opposition fans are a bit slow to catch on - this is a different team to 2008-13 Melbourne. Opposing sides have to work hard to beat us now.

Individual player thoughts:

Tyson: Wow! Has played good games for us already but last night was something else. Going to be a legit A-grader down the track.

Salem: Can already see he looks comfortable, seems to always be in the right spot, hard-at-it and a good kick. Has earnt a full game next week.

(How absurdly bad does that Josh Kelly article from a few weeks back look now?)

Byrnes: echo the thoughts of most. Waste of space at the minute. Bring Kent back next week.

Salem does look good but I thought he got caught out of position a few times last night. That's to be expected with a kid who is yet to play a full game, it's probably time for him to step up now.

Let's see him play a full game.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

agree, get sick of keyboard heroes who never got past OZkick

Someone's got to keep the literacy bar raised, dave.

[JackVineyForPresident 310]

He saved 2 goals through strong tackles, the wheel is turning...slowly I know but he did start to show a bit in areas we need him to.

He was quiet last night in terms of finding the ball.

But he tackled a fair bit and was seen in the middle of packs attacking the contest at times.

This is a step forward

[jnrmac 18,954]

Unlike many MFC supporters, I agreed with the sliding free that Cross gave away for a goal. But Byrnes should have got one in the fwd pocket in the last to put us 8 points (?) up.

I think where your interpretation of this rule is wrong is that Cross got to the ball first. No way should that free have been paid.

[jnrmac 18,954]

Two cost us goals, I was saying the same thing during the game.

I said during the game Howe has to learn when to punch and when to mark. And if you choose to punch then hit it. One of the times he went to punch and or glanced it - the dogs got a goal.

And the biggest problem with Howe is that if he doesn't get it or punch effectively he is out of the contest as he usually ends up on the ground.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Completely disagree, there was a free there, but it should have been against Crameri for blocking Dunns run at the contest. Crameri should also go for his rough conduct headlock on Dunn. That's something that should not be tolerated by the MRP. L. Jones gone for his disgraceful bump. Who was it that hit N. Jones square in the head (no free kick either), you're gone, and there was another punch in the face at some point. I count four dogs rubbed out for their next match.

Any comment Purple/Jumbo?

I noticed some of their players, who were caught with the ball, throwing punches everywhere in a lame attempt to look like they were trying to punch the ball clear. There seems to be an increasing incidence of this and a lot of the punches seem to land on opposition faces.

[beelzebub 22,225]

I loved it when Cooney was caught at one stage ...he literally THREW it up a bit and caught it again...not penalised..ffs

[Sad Dee 12]

I too enjoyed the game. Yeah we lost, but the endeavour was great and that's all that can be asked.

It's certainly got value to keep the same team together and I would not imagine too many changes.

Salem has to get a full game or go back to Casey.

Kent has more upside than Byrnes, but did he play at Casey yesterday?

I'd like to have a look at Riley - but I'm not sure who goes out.

You can't beat class - Tyson has it in spades, When he gets clear and has a shot at goal - he doesn't miss. I'm afraid Matt Jones' misses in the last quarter cost us dearly.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I thought Howe was really good down back, probably needs to mark rather than spoil at times but he dominates the air making him almost the perfect intercept mark

Howey has good hands, much like Grimes and if he tries to mark more often, like grimes does, he would be a much better footballer.