I can't see if it's been raised anywhere else here, but did people notice that the calendar included with our membership packs included the Nab Cup/Nab Challenge/Wizard Cup/Escort Cup or whatever it's called nowadays pre-season game details?

We play:

Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval

Caaarlton at Princess Park

West Coast at Subiaco

An interesting mix of games, would this be the 3rd year in a row now we've played the Dogs after Craigieburn last year and Ballarat the year before? We beat them in both these games, but now that they're reigning premiers I imagine interest in this game will be massive, will be a full house. The fact that I can walk to this ground is also a very big bonus!

Carlton are one team that we haven't beaten as often as we should in the last few years, and they'll have a fresh set of GWS discards eager to underwhelm again, so let's hope we dispatch them accordingly on their own dungheap.

West Coast may be a good chance to get a win at this ground, as it'll soon be replaced by a shinier newer ground paid for by the taxpayers. We should've got over the line this year over there, still don't know how we lost that game. I'd imagine the club will also schedule a bit of leave for Jesse Hogan around this game. Surfs Up.

The aim would be at bare minimum beat the BlueBaggers, and possibly Wet Toast. 

Good opportunity to see progress, as we couldn't beat any of those teams this year.

20 hours ago, DemonDave said:

I can't see if it's been raised anywhere else here, but did people notice that the calendar included with our membership packs included the Nab Cup/Nab Challenge/Wizard Cup/Escort Cup or whatever it's called nowadays pre-season game details?

We play:

Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval

Caaarlton at Princess Park

West Coast at Subiaco

An interesting mix of games, would this be the 3rd year in a row now we've played the Dogs after Craigieburn last year and Ballarat the year before? We beat them in both these games, but now that they're reigning premiers I imagine interest in this game will be massive, will be a full house. The fact that I can walk to this ground is also a very big bonus!

Carlton are one team that we haven't beaten as often as we should in the last few years, and they'll have a fresh set of GWS discards eager to underwhelm again, so let's hope we dispatch them accordingly on their own dungheap.

West Coast may be a good chance to get a win at this ground, as it'll soon be replaced by a shinier newer ground paid for by the taxpayers. We should've got over the line this year over there, still don't know how we lost that game. I'd imagine the club will also schedule a bit of leave for Jesse Hogan around this game. Surfs Up.

The aim would be at bare minimum beat the BlueBaggers, and possibly Wet Toast. 

DD my calendar says the Carlton game is at Casey Fields???

9 minutes ago, old dee said:

DD my calendar says the Carlton game is at Casey Fields???

So does mine.

How stupid to have any team travel interstate on the eve of the actual season.

The final week of the pre-season should be the clubs from WA, SA, QLD and NSW play their cross-town rivals, while Vic teams play each other.

I know there is a break beforehand, but it just seems to pointless to go that far for the last pre-season game. Maybe it's just me.

Will this be the first time in the club's famous history that we get a pre-season win at Casey?

2 minutes ago, Big Kev said:

So does mine.

Cool

1 minute ago, praha said:

How stupid to have any team travel interstate on the eve of the actual season.

The final week of the pre-season should be the clubs from WA, SA, QLD and NSW play their cross-town rivals, while Vic teams play each other.

I know there is a break beforehand, but it just seems to pointless to go that far for the last pre-season game. Maybe it's just me.

Something to do with Etihad being unavailable that last weekend due to concerts.

11 minutes ago, old dee said:

DD my calendar says the Carlton game is at Casey Fields???

Ah you are probably correct, I was only going on memory having read it last night!

It's good that there will be some very challenging matches in there against the Doggies and West Coast.  The trip to Subi isn't a huge deal when you factor in the weeks break before the season kicks off and it will be good to have another crack at Carlton before the season proper.

20 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

It's good that there will be some very challenging matches in there against the Doggies and West Coast.  The trip to Subi isn't a huge deal when you factor in the weeks break before the season kicks off and it will be good to have another crack at Carlton before the season proper.

Correct I always struggle with people complaining about travel to WA.

The WA teams have to do it every other week.

When the WA sides have good teams they win a lot irrespective of the travel and when they have not so good sides they lose.

If we are good enough we will win.

It is more all about the quality of the team not the travel IMO.

4 hours ago, JAG007 said:

Good opportunity to see progress, as we couldn't beat any of those teams this year.

we beat the dogs in a practice match this year

shows how much the results matter in these games. just want to see game plan, cohesion, mega fit players and some young fellas cracking in

4 hours ago, old dee said:

Correct I always struggle with people complaining about travel to WA.

The WA teams have to do it every other week.

When the WA sides have good teams they win a lot irrespective of the travel and when they have not so good sides they lose.

If we are good enough we will win.

It is more all about the quality of the team not the travel IMO.

And I'll be able to see my beloved Demons twice in Perfect next season.

no complaints here.

We are playing Carlton at Casey, excellent.

Last year the Dogs played all their youngsters and we played an almost first 22.

They were up for the first half and then we ran away with it in the second half.

happy not to visit Craigieburn again . Would be a nice ground with a few more trees but it was a sunbowl last year.

What is Casey like on a warm day ... shade wise

(Mind you Whitten Oval would probably be a little desolate on a hot day.)

cheers

Does anyone know what day the round 1 vs st Kilda match is...a lot of sites have saturday at 4.35 and some have sunday at 3.20..

52 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Last year the Dogs played all their youngsters and we played an almost first 22.

They were up for the first half and then we ran away with it in the second half.

happy not to visit Craigieburn again . Would be a nice ground with a few more trees but it was a sunbowl last year.

What is Casey like on a warm day ... shade wise

(Mind you Whitten Oval would probably be a little desolate on a hot day.)

cheers

It's not good. It's usually windy so if there's a southerly breeze that will help, but if it's a Northerly it will be very warm.

I'd like to see us:

Rest 5 of our best 10 in the first game ie. Gawn, Hogan, Jones, Tyson, Jetta

Rest a different 5 or so of our best 10 in the 2nd game ie. McDonald, Watts, Viney, Vince, Lewis

Then despite the travel I'd be keen to fly the full squad over and have a solid hit out against the Eagles. Plenty of time to recover between then and round 1.

Being a yarraville local I'm really looking forward to a nice 15 min stroll to the local footy ground to watch my beloved dees play out in the west , might make a bit of a family event with the mrs being a bulldogs supporter (more vocal recently btw) , and my little young kids being a bit conflicted atm on whether they barrack for the dees or the dogs, it's the dees at the moment cos they like the theme song ? . A local community opportunity and suburban footy feel with my club that I rarely get to see in this modern professional football world of AFL...made my day ?

8 hours ago, old dee said:

Correct I always struggle with people complaining about travel to WA.

The WA teams have to do it every other week.

When the WA sides have good teams they win a lot irrespective of the travel and when they have not so good sides they lose.

If we are good enough we will win.

It is more all about the quality of the team not the travel IMO.

Old Dee, the difference being that when the WA or any other interstate team returns home after a trip, 9 times out of 10 they are playing a team that is travelling interstate. For us, 9 times out of 10 we are playing a Victorian team after an interstate trip.

2 hours ago, Clint D said:

Does anyone know what day the round 1 vs st Kilda match is...a lot of sites have saturday at 4.35 and some have sunday at 3.20..

It's 4:35pm Saturday.

A good mix of games there.  The travel in the final game is not exactly ideal, but as others have said, interstate teams do it every fortnight so we really can't complain.

I'm not too fussed about the WA game.  Most teams aim to give their 'regular' players 2 out of 3 preseason games.  So plenty of opportunity for our older new recruits, previously suspended players and those on the edge of best 22 to show their wares.  I would think the team going to WA would be made up of these guys plus last years draftees eg Weideman, Hulett etc. 

This year we had a lot to prove so had to win all 3 games.  I'm sure we will want to win all 3 next year but it won't be so critical so I don't expect to see our best 22 together too often. 

There will be about 12 players vying for the last 6 to 8 spots in the best 22 for round 1 - so they have a huge incentive to play their best in the preseason.  WA will be a great game for those guys.

49 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

 

This year we had a lot to prove so had to win all 3 games.  I'm sure we will want to win all 3 next year but it won't be so critical so I don't expect to see our best 22 together too often.

Gotta check out the depth and their ability to play roles.

Change it up but aim to win.

The big question is...

Are these games on Tele?