2 hours ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I had us firmly in the eight at the start of the year.

Gawn out is going to be super challenging to overcome. Add to that suspensions to Hogan and Lewis, and injuries to Vince, Hibberd and some others, and my optimism is starting to wane.

We need to win every game in which we have a sniff (eg, last week), because it's getting harder each week given our list of quality  players who are out. Even top 4 teams struggle when their best players are out.

 

Bulldog circa 2016. Believe!

9 minutes ago, Ted Fidge said:

I've lost a toe nail AND had a hairline fracture of the jaw. (Not at the same time.)

I can assure you that the toe nail is by far the more painful and debilitating injury.

Roll on round 16.

PS. Bernie should play. Once the toe nail is off and the swelling goes down, you're good as gold.

I think it might be "Weekend without Bernie"

According to Kim Hagdorn, Fremantle will beat us and go on to win the next two games as well. 

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

Yep...

4 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

YEP, MINE'S ALL CAPS TOO.

Oh, just had caps lock on...soz!

 

well it would seem that vince is another out.

wowee, injuries and suspension are starting to test depth a mere three rounds in.

IN: spencer, frost

OUT: gawn, vince

B: Jetta - T McDonald - Frost
HB: Hunt - O McDonald - Melksham
C: Stretch - Jones - Salem
HF: Petracca - Weideman - Kent
F: Watts - Smith - Garlett
Foll: Spencer - Oliver - Viney
I/c: Tyson - Hannan - Neal-Bullen - Harmes

i can't see how pedersen can come in with zero exposed form at any level (mind you, didn't stop hannan), and we're better off persevering with the weed than dropping him back to vfl level given that what he adds in terms of structural set-up is vital for our side.

watts has made the forward / second ruck his - it gets him involved in the play, gets his hands on the ball, and keeps him around the contest.

Edited April 11, 20178 yr by DemonAndrew

3 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

4 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

Yep...

Oh good i thought it was just me

11 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

Everything is more powerful with bolded text

7 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

well it would seem that vince is another out.

Source?

9 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

I like it!  It helps my ageing eyes, I suspect it will be even more significant post match on Saturday, and moreso again on Sunday morning.

1 hour ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

While the latter may one day turn out be right. There is no way that we saw his best in either of the first to rounds. So until it is proven otherwise, I'll assume his talent will eventually come through. 

I hope you are right AW because right now in his third season he looks like a support player when injuries arise.

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

According to Kim Hagdorn, Fremantle will beat us and go on to win the next two games as well. 

Freo can have the kiss of death from the Foghorn!

Spencil was a revelation in the JLT and is not just a make do replacement for Gawny. I hope he is thinking along the lines Max did last year. 

So business as usual for our rucking arrangement other than is it possible the penny dropped for Watts last week? I certainly hope so as he gave us extra drive and contest at the stoppages. I am unconvinced we suddenly have no depth with Hogan, Lewis, Hibbert, Frost, Brayshaw, Bugg, Pedo, Wagner all sitting in the wings. 

After last week Weeds is a dilemma, he had little impact but our forward line worked (apart from accuracy which has to be an anomaly) so do we change the structure? My guess is at this stage unless Frost is ready we stick with him.  I thought Smith was ok for first time in and he should be given another chance. Hannan showed signs as well. The question for both and the coaches is are they really up to the step up or just finding their feet? I suspect the coaches think the latter. 

So i expect no change other than Spencil. 

The team ( and Spencil) will have something to prove as well. 

3 hours ago, binman said:

Source?

re vince, if had surgery on his toe then it's pretty unlikely he'll get up for this weekend i would presume.

3 hours ago, DemonAndrew said:

well it would seem that vince is another out.

wowee, injuries and suspension are starting to test depth a mere three rounds in.

IN: spencer, frost

OUT: gawn, vince

B: Jetta - T McDonald - Frost
HB: Hunt - O McDonald - Melksham
C: Stretch - Jones - Salem
HF: Petracca - Weideman - Kent
F: Watts - Smith - Garlett
Foll: Spencer - Oliver - Viney
I/c: Tyson - Hannan - Harmes

i can't see how pedersen can come in with zero exposed form at any level (mind you, didn't stop hannan), and we're better off persevering with the weed than dropping him back to vfl level given that what he adds in terms of structural set-up is vital for our side.

watts has made the forward / second ruck his - it gets him involved in the play, gets his hands on the ball, and keeps him around the contest.

Have you decided to drop ANB or just play with one short on the interchange (as we were last week after Gawn went down)?

Will be happy with any win this week, no matter how we get it or how much we win by. The Dockers were great last week and we will be missing so many guns.

A 1 point win in the sloppiest game of the season would be just fine.  We just have to win.

2 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Will be happy with any win this week, no matter how we get it or how much we win by. The Dockers were great last week and we will be missing so many guns.

A 1 point win in the sloppiest game of the season would be just fine.  We just have to win.

So you expect us to play like we did against Carlton Pa?

5 minutes ago, old dee said:

So you expect us to play like we did against Carlton Pa?

No, I expect us to kick a high score this week and win by 40-50 points.  Their outside run is a danger, but we have them well and truly covered for contested footy, and its not like we dont have our damaging outside run  anyway.

But a win is a win, and every one of them counts toward making the finals.  So if it is an 'ugly win' I wont be complaining.  

1 minute ago, Petraccattack said:

No, I expect us to kick a high score this week and win by 40-50 points.  Their outside run is a danger, but we have them well and truly covered for contested footy, and its not like we dont have our damaging outside run  anyway.

But a win is a win, and every one of them counts toward making the finals.  So if it is an 'ugly win' I wont be complaining.  

Me either I would rather look like we did against Carlton and win than look good for most of last week and lose.

 

15 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Will be happy with any win this week, no matter how we get it or how much we win by. The Dockers were great last week and we will be missing so many guns.

A 1 point win in the sloppiest game of the season would be just fine.  We just have to win.

A week ago the Dockers were total pox.

It'll be interesting to see if they can continue their form against the Dogs, which really relied on that outside run, or whether it was simply a one off performance. I think we'll be too strong around the ball for them even without Max.

Edited April 11, 20178 yr by Luther

1 hour ago, DemonAndrew said:

re vince, if had surgery on his toe then it's pretty unlikely he'll get up for this weekend i would presume.

He's every chance to get up. The injury is mostly bruising. The "surgery" to remove the toe nail is something a GP can do.

Not saying he's a definite starter but by no means rule him out.

5 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I'm accessing DL on my phone, is anyone else's text all in bold? 

Stop your dam whining Ethan and man up.

2 hours ago, Robbie57 said:

After last week Weeds is a dilemma, he had little impact but our forward line worked (apart from accuracy which has to be an anomaly) so do we change the structure?

Agree with the sentiment, but on the other hand, 3 of our main forwards had little impact on the game, or the scoreboard. Hannan, Weideman and Smith is perhaps one too many developing forwards in the same team, especially without Hogan there to steady the ship. 

48 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Stop your dam whining Ethan and man up.

I have a phobia of bold lettering.