A week ago Neale Daniher addressed the Melbourne team ahead of their game v Collingwood saying, "in a week's time you won't remember a thing I said". They went out and recorded a famous victory over Collingwood but now, a week later, let's remind ourselves and hope that they go out and do it again ...

 

Every week feels bigger than the last and it will continue to do so while there is genuine top four positions on offer.

Big game up for grabs. A win will see us move to 5th. Carn Dees.

"What are you gonna do?" Almost feel like it could be a motto we work off for the rest of the year. 

When the game is up for grabs, what are you gonna do? 

Petracca answered it, he put in a coming of age performance. Watts answered it, he nailed the pressure goal(s) when the spotlight was on him. OMac answered it, he shook off early errors to play one his best games for the club (which I admit I didn't recognise the first time I watched it). 

But that was last week, what will they do this week?

This match is going to mark one team as contenders, and one as a pretenders.

I'm sick of us not being feared. We win this and people stop marking us down as a team they should beat, and start treating us as a team that should be feared!

Omen time:

I went to a great game of VAFA footy at Brighton Beach Oval where top side Old Brighton Grammar beat Ajax in a close hard fought high quality contest yesterday.

After the game, the Old Brighton players who wear red and blue sang their club song, "It's a Grand Old Flag" which I was tempted to join in even though I support the losing team.

Then, just as I was leaving, I noticed our own Jayden Hunt throwing around a frisbee. After making sure Jeremy Howe's dog wasn't anywhere nearby, I wished him well for today's  game. 

I wasn't confident before that but now ...  the omens are too strong.

I think the fact we're coming off 6 says with no changes suggests coaching staff is backing the group in. Fairly confident.

Big game - I'll be there in spirit but as I'm heading off to the colonies in Asia I'll be on a flight for the entire game. I will however, fire up the ipad as soon as I land in KL hoping to read of another famous victory.

Fifth spot is up for grabs with a win, what an amazing position that would be considering how close the competition is this sesson. I'm not an emotional person but seeing us in fifth at this point in the season, I think I'd cry.

Demons by 73 points. 

Got my 2yo girls to mind this arvo. Let's see if they have the attention span to commit to four quarters of footy.

Now there's an idea....

Personally I can wear a loss today - mind, it'll be a great reality check for where we are, and as always all I want us is to continue to be competitive week in and week out. I presume the FD have pencilled in WC and Swans (as no gawn) as must wins more so than this one. This would be a bit of cream.

 these days are quite different. 

If we play good football for the 4 quarters then to lose our opponent must play the same.

If we play our best we should win. 

3 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Got my 2yo girls to mind this arvo. Let's see if they have the attention span to commit to four quarters of footy.

Now there's an idea....

Shove them outside with bags full of chips and several cans of fizzy - they'll be fine and you can enjoy the footy in peace. 

I think we look a much more settled and inform side than the doggies. I think it'll be a close game. 

Dees by 7 points 

Jordan Lewis best on ground 

I'm surprised no one is mentioning their early morning urge to vomit heftily...tis a big game and all that jazz.

I have woken up as keen as I ever was in my own modest but passionate playing days, It's a great thing to see the belief grow in our boys, If we play anywhere near 4 quarters we will be hard to beat. Go Dees 

The Bulldogs will be a hard slog. But there will be significat rewards on offer. We seriously are in top four contention.

I have a very strange 'gameday' feeling this morning.  Calm and quietly confident that we will put in a good 'four quarter' performance, and be sitting in 5th spot on the ladder at the end of the round. Uncharted waters, but we are building, and will take a lot out of confidence out of last week.

The form line chasing three on the trot is poor. Everything points to a two or three goal loss. 

A win could be season-defining a kickstart to something special. The Dogs will hit us with everything. 

Hope runs eternal.

5 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

I have a very strange 'gameday' feeling this morning.  Calm and quietly confident that we will put in a good 'four quarter' performance, and be sitting in 5th spot on the ladder at the end of the round. Uncharted waters, but we are building, and will take a lot out of confidence out of last week.

I know I am a pessimist, but Dogs have probably their best side in this week, with Libba back to help Wallis, Bont, Hunter, Dahlhaus etc in the middle and coming off a loss and I think without Max and Jesse, we might be in for our biggest loss of the year.

Again I hope the boys prove me wrong, but I have less confidence today, than in any game so far this year.

No free to air today? I'm surprised. AFL contracts getting in the way again. It's all a big business.

Fingers crossed but not confident 

What horseshit.  Only game on today, it is at 3:20, and it is not free to air on 7. And it is at that dungheap Ethiad.

Reckon we might find it hard to back up last weeks effort. To win our third on the trot against the Doggies at Etihad might be a bridge too far atm.

 

Dogs to win.

Go dees though.

 

To the players.

Bring the same intensity as the Adelaide game and the determination of the Collingwood match with the desire to be recognised as a hard working and consistent team. Every one to contribute when needed. To maintain the structures and patterns that have been established. To support teammates  and play your role.

Now is the time to begin to reap the rewards of effort. It will not be given to you it must be earned,but it is visible and attainable.

Prove the doubters wrong by playing your best today, all day. Your best is better than all others.

Dogs play Etihad better than anyone. I reckon it'll be a tough game. The boys have to be 100% on. They were rusty last week due to the bye but came back strong. I predict a very solid hit out and a 5 goal win ?