Game Day 6/3/16

[old dee 22,999]

28 minutes ago, iv'a worn smith said:

Geez, you just can't win with some people.  Many decry the NAB Challenge as nothing more than a glorified set of practice matches, which it probably is.  Of course, we don't want injuries, we all want to see how the new guys go -  C Oliver will be a beauty - and we hope that whatever occurs, leads to some real momentum going into the season proper.  Also, none on here know what the objectives are, which of course are set internally.

 

I, for one, feel somewhat satisfied that we have won the 2 Challenge games we've played thus far, regardless of what was put up against us on the park, on any given day, during the NAB.  For the MFC, leading into our season launch, the value and benefits of these wins may well be seen later in the season.

Let's just believe that momentum will build.

Yes to all of the above iv'a

[Its Time for Another 4,058]

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I did a player performance write up last week for every player and il do one for todays game.

I do have mix emotions about this game. It was very sloppy but for some reason I had confidence we would fight back. A good side will punish these younger less experience sides but we are not a good side yet. We are getting there though.

Don't underestimate the doggies though. They will go up a level this year and today showed they have great depth coming through.

Watts: A standout game. His work rate and especially his contested work was a big improvement and like last week continued to chase and harassed. Is this the makings of Brendan McCartney?? The big test is when the real stuff begins but as a high half forward he was really classy and the comparisons to Jack Gunston is spot on if he keeps his form up. 16 dispoasals 10 marks and 3.1

He does look like he's attacking the contest better, but at times still looks lost and not sure where to lead to. I suspect this was the cause of quite a few of our inside 50 licks being bombs instead of low passes to a leading forward. Because there was no leading forward. He also still seems to have difficulty working out how to out muscle competitors who get into a better position under an incoming ball so he has to contest out of position. You see him going up for contests leaning over a competitor with one hand instead of being in position to take a clean grab.

Tyson: Much improved game from last week. disposed the ball well and gave the first option. I was very critical of him last week but today he was good. Also 7 tackles is a good effort and just shows he is doing a lot of grunt work in the clearences. His goal was classy no doubt.

He's still got a lot of work to do on his disposal under pressure and getting rid of the ball faster before being pinged. I'm a bit disappointed not to have seen more improvement in these ares.

Bugg: Showed again today why he will be a good recruit. Played wing and provided grunt and aggression. I'm glad the club hasn't been giving him any tagging roles because he can actually win the ball a lot when given the chance. Good game by Bugg with 22 disposals.

 He came in with a reputation for being a bad kick. He's been proving it. I watched him a bit in Sydney and have to say I think he's already giving more than I expected. Agree with everything else you say about him.

Salem: Was good today and showed his class off a half back. Just feel we need to get the ball in his hands more often so he can give us that drive and precise of a half back. Personally I still feel he needs to be up on a wing then up back but can understand why we need him down back.

He's got a real problem with understanding how to defend a direct opponent. Hrovat was almost unguarded for a lot of the first quarter and a half while Salem repeatedly got caught up field. Has to learn how to run off but also when to get back on his man. Also still has positioning issues. Knowing to stay gold side of his opponent. Otherwise agree with all you say about him.

Michie: Wish they would give this bloke a serious go. Came on with 2 minutes to go in the 3rd term and had 8 disposals for the game. Used the ball well and rarely wasted it. Will be the upgrade for Melksham. Just feel he could add a bit to our side as his last month in 2015 showed his ball winning ability and classy disposal.

Agree

Dunn: Don't know when he went off but hope his groin pulls up well.

Is it just me or has Dunny not been the same player since there was an article about him last year saying how much of a good player he has developed into.

All in all im looking forward to Lumumba coming back next week and Brayshaw Petracca Trengove really ramping up their training because them included would make our side a whole lot better.

Like your work. Have just a couple differences of opinion.

[old dee 22,999]

I was at a gathering yesterday that included a couple of Essendrug supporters.

They are going on the walk to the ground before round 2 game.

Honestly you could not talk to them they have swallowed all the EFC and Hird crap completely.

They firmly believe there is a conspiracy by everyone and anyone to get them.

They seemed incapable of answering WHY?

No one took anything wrong end of story.

After five minutes I gave up and a Pies supporter there whispered to me " Blind Faith"

 

[Vipercrunch 2,818]

Just now, old dee said:

I was at a gathering yesterday that included a couple of Essendrug supporters.

They are going on the walk to the ground before round 2 game.

Honestly you could not talk to them they have swallowed all the EFC and Hird crap completely.

They firmly believe there is a conspiracy by everyone and anyone to get them.

They seemed incapable of answering WHY?

No one took anything wrong end of story.

After five minutes I gave up and a Pies supporter there whispered to me " Blind Faith"

 

Blind loyalty is terrifying.

Luckily most Bomber supporters I know are either very critical of their club or just make jokes about the whole thing.

Plenty of the other type out there, especially on social media.

I hope we are capable of smashing them Round 2.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

44 minutes ago, S_T said:

 

I hope we are capable of smashing them Round 2.

For once i am confident. Over the last few years under Roos where we have occasionally gone in as favourite i have learnt to worry. BUT the relentless attack on the contest and our forward press set-up makes me think lesser teams will crumble against us this year.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

19 hours ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I hate Derwayne because he is so condescending and always pots the weaker team.  But he is silk compared to Tony Shaw who has to be the worst I've ever heard.  It was so obvious from the first bounce that the wind really effected the game but did Tony understand that?  No. Not one mention of it.  No wonder he was such a plonker as a coach.

He's the worst I've ever heard. 

Its hard to judge the wind when the commentators are sitting in the Fox Studio and not even at the ground.

[DubDee 21,299]

still not sure what to make of yesterday.  Great to have won 2 practice games on the trot.

but the Dogs team was a VFL team, they werent just missing 'a few'. maybe 4 guys playing that will be in the 22 for round 1. do you think we would have competed if that was the case for us?  we should have looked a class above. we should have lead comfortably all day.

So overall, despite winning, I am less confident going into round one than I was before this game. you just have to look at how the Pies and GWS are playing. they look organised, highly skilled.

And again - terrible start to the game!  what are the odds of GWS being 3 goals+ up at 1/4 time round 1?  I would put money on it.

it'll be very interesting to see how we go against a near full strength St kilda 

[nutbean 8,837]

19 hours ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I hate Derwayne because he is so condescending and always pots the weaker team.  But he is silk compared to Tony Shaw who has to be the worst I've ever heard.  It was so obvious from the first bounce that the wind really effected the game but did Tony understand that?  No. Not one mention of it.  No wonder he was such a plonker as a coach.

He's the worst I've ever heard. 

Derwayne or Tony Shaw...it's a bit like asking someone which disease you would prefer getting - cholera or typhoid...

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

2 minutes ago, DubDee said:

still not sure what to make of yesterday.  Great to have won 2 practice games on the trot.

but the Dogs team was a VFL team, they werent just missing 'a few'. maybe 4 guys playing that will be in the 22 for round 1. do you think we would have competed if that was the case for us?  we should have looked a class above. we should have lead comfortably all day.

So overall, despite winning, I am less confident going into round one than I was before this game. you just have to look at how the Pies and GWS are playing. they look organised, highly skilled.

And again - terrible start to the game!  what are the odds of GWS being 3 goals+ up at 1/4 time round 1?  I would put money on it.

it'll be very interesting to see how we go against a near full strength St kilda 

to be fair, that is precisely what happened in the 2nd and 4th quarters

[Slartibartfast 16,031]

5 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

23 minutes ago, Grimes Times said:

Its hard to judge the wind when the commentators are sitting in the Fox Studio and not even at the ground.

 

Really?  Didn't realize.  Having said that I could tell the ball was holding up into the wind when Watts had his first shot at goal.

 

[Longsufferingnomore 1,489]

17 minutes ago, DubDee said:

still not sure what to make of yesterday.  Great to have won 2 practice games on the trot.

but the Dogs team was a VFL team, they werent just missing 'a few'. maybe 4 guys playing that will be in the 22 for round 1. do you think we would have competed if that was the case for us?  we should have looked a class above. we should have lead comfortably all day.

So overall, despite winning, I am less confident going into round one than I was before this game. you just have to look at how the Pies and GWS are playing. they look organised, highly skilled.

And again - terrible start to the game!  what are the odds of GWS being 3 goals+ up at 1/4 time round 1?  I would put money on it.

it'll be very interesting to see how we go against a near full strength St kilda 

DD I presume you weren't at the game as the wind early in the game was a 2-3 game advantage. We did miss some early shots as well and if they were kicked we would have gone into the second quarter even with the Dogs. 

[Chewie 73]

Apologies if already posted; quarter by quarter replay:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-03-07/nab-bulldogs-v-demons-q1

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-03-07/nab-bulldogs-v-demons-q2

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-03-07/nab-bulldogs-v-demons-q3

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-03-07/nab-bulldogs-v-demons-q4

And for a bit of light relief:

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/james-hird-academy

Edited March 7, 2016 by Chewie

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

Ok, enough of the rubbish about the doggies having 15 round 1 starters missing from the side.  The doggies have a huge number of second string players who are largely interchangeable.  Claiming that the ones they played yesterday are lesser players than the ones they didn't is a fabrication their fans have cooked up to make themselves feel better about the loss.  The reality is that they were missing six or seven of their best, and that clearly hurt them, but the side they had on the park had better than a dozen players who were regular starters for them last year. 

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

4 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Ok, enough of the rubbish about the doggies having 15 round 1 starters missing from the side.  The doggies have a huge number of second string players who are largely interchangeable.  Claiming that the ones they played yesterday are lesser players than the ones they didn't is a fabrication their fans have cooked up to make themselves feel better about the loss.  The reality is that they were missing six or seven of their best, and that clearly hurt them, but the side they had on the park had better than a dozen players who were regular starters for them last year. 

Oh oh. Now you're in a hole...

Name them?

Andddd go.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

Just now, stevethemanjordan said:

Oh oh. Now you're in a hole...

Name them?

Andddd go.

Lin Jong

Mitch Honeychurch

Tom Liberatore (prior to the knee injury)

Jordan Roughead

Caleb Daniel

Tom Campbell

Jack Redpath

Will Minson

Joel Hamling

Fletcher Roberts

Tom Boyd (not really counting him though, but he did play senior footy)

That's 11 players who played at least a few games of senior footy last year.  May not be a dozen but it's pretty close.

Edit - You can add Nathan Hrovat to that list as well.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Wiseblood

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

That's 11 players who played at least a few games of senior footy last year.  May not be a dozen but it's pretty close.

 

I'm not certain, but I think he may have said 'regular starters'. 

Not sure though.. Can you confirm?

[Wiseblood 24,636]

Just now, stevethemanjordan said:

I'm not certain, but I think he may have said 'regular starters'. 

Not sure though.. Can you confirm?

If you want to argue semantics then go right ahead.

But there is a list of blokes who played their fair share of senior footy last year.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

8 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

If you want to argue semantics then go right ahead.

But there is a list of blokes who played their fair share of senior footy last year.

Semantics?! haha.

The poster said something that was complete [censored]!

How the fark is me asking him to prove what he claimed arguing semantics!?

 

 

Edited March 7, 2016 by stevethemanjordan

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

11 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Oh oh. Now you're in a hole...

Name them?

Andddd go.

Have to go out right now, but this evening I'll not only name them, but I'll provide how many games they played last year. 

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

'A few games' - Wiseblood

'Regular starters' - RM

'Aliens' - STMJ

 

[mo64 5,262]

4 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Ok, enough of the rubbish about the doggies having 15 round 1 starters missing from the side.  The doggies have a huge number of second string players who are largely interchangeable.  Claiming that the ones they played yesterday are lesser players than the ones they didn't is a fabrication their fans have cooked up to make themselves feel better about the loss.  The reality is that they were missing six or seven of their best, and that clearly hurt them, but the side they had on the park had better than a dozen players who were regular starters for them last year. 

The reality is that you are wrong. They were missing the top 15 from their B&F. Which players of the following aren't clearly in their best 22?

Stringer, Bontempelli, Macrea, Wallis, Boyd, Murphy, Dickson, Dahlhaus, Wood, Morris, Johannisen, Picken, Stevens, Hunter, and replace Crameri with Suckling

So now name the dozen players from Saturday who'd get a game ahead of the above? Apart from Libba, 1 of the ruckman (Minson or Campbell), 1 key defender (Hamling or Roughhead) and 1 key forward (Redpath or Boyd), none of the others are remotely challenging the above players for a spot in the best 22.

I'm not slashing my wrists over our performance, but their second stringers moved the ball better than our senior players, which is a worry.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

4 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Have to go out right now, but this evening I'll not only name them, but I'll provide how many games they played last year. 

I'm sitting on the edge of my seat.

Remember.

You did use the words 'better than a dozen' and 'regular starters'.

Cool.

Edited March 7, 2016 by stevethemanjordan

[Gator 16,921]

15 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

Ok, enough of the rubbish about the doggies having 15 round 1 starters missing from the side.  The doggies have a huge number of second string players who are largely interchangeable.  Claiming that the ones they played yesterday are lesser players than the ones they didn't is a fabrication their fans have cooked up to make themselves feel better about the loss.  The reality is that they were missing six or seven of their best, and that clearly hurt them, but the side they had on the park had better than a dozen players who were regular starters for them last year. 

They happened to be the first 15 placegetters in their B&F, including 5 players who made the All Australians squad.

Your assertion is rubbish.

 

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

19 minutes ago, mo64 said:

The reality is that you are wrong. They were missing the top 15 from their B&F. Which players of the following aren't clearly in their best 22?

Stringer, Bontempelli, Macrea, Wallis, Boyd, Murphy, Dickson, Dahlhaus, Wood, Morris, Johannisen, Picken, Stevens, Hunter, and replace Crameri with Suckling

So now name the dozen players from Saturday who'd get a game ahead of the above? Apart from Libba, 1 of the ruckman (Minson or Campbell), 1 key defender (Hamling or Roughhead) and 1 key forward (Redpath or Boyd), none of the others are remotely challenging the above players for a spot in the best 22.

I'm not slashing my wrists over our performance, but their second stringers moved the ball better than our senior players, which is a worry.

How much are they paying Tom Boyd?  While it's debatable as to whether a significant cohort of bullies who lined up yesterday are in the best 22, most are hardly 2nd stringers.  Anyway, I guess we'll never appease the doomsayers.

I don't reckon that the coaching staff would have said, the WB have many missing today, so go out and spank them.  NAB Challenge game.  Do you reckon we had nothing left in the tank?

[mo64 5,262]

Just now, iv'a worn smith said:

How much are they paying Tom Boyd?  While it's debatable as to whether a significant cohort of bullies who lined up yesterday are in the best 22, most are hardly 2nd stringers.  Anyway, I guess we'll never appease the doomsayers.

I don't reckon that the coaching staff would have said, the WB have many missing today, so go out and spank them.  NAB Challenge game.  Do you reckon we had nothing left in the tank?

Based on our performances over the past decade, we're in no position to gauge what's left in the the tank. Passages of play on Saturday resembled some of the crap we dished up in the 2nd half of last season. It's laughable to think that we can just flick the switch, and she'll be right. That's the Saty mentality.

Like I said, Saturday wasn't all doom and gloom, but it does show where we are at.