I think we will learn a lot this week. Lever going down last saturday was a big hit, but it should just test more of the list. 

Prepare for 4 Quarters of pressure football and get the job done. 

This is what the last 4 years have been all about. 

Time to execute on the big stage...

The test for Goodwin ... and the team is how we respond to Lever?

Typically a good team and coach will just have the next soldier in line and they play the role, but perhaps Goodwin might 'restructure' and change it up a bit perhaps...

... will be good to see.

If i was Goodwin, all i'd be doing this week is reminding the group that this was the team that prevented us from playing finals last year.

We did nothing about it last year, what are they going to do about it come Monday?

5 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

If i was Goodwin, all i'd be doing this week is reminding the group that this was the team that prevented us from playing finals last year.

We did nothing about it last year, what are they going to do about it come Monday?

I don't think Goodwin will need to remind any of them, Gawn and Viney have been public in the media about how that loss still burns.

With that said, emotion will only get the boys only so far,... Goodwin is better off focusing the team on doing the same thing that they have been doing for the last 6 weeks. All the players know what happened in round 23, and they can't get hung up on that going into the game. That could go pear shaped very fast.

8 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

If i was Goodwin, all i'd be doing this week is reminding the group that this was the team that prevented us from playing finals last year.

We did nothing about it last year, what are they going to do about it come Monday?

That’s my thoughts basically. 

Soldiers will go down sporadically, the TEAM must stay focused. We haven’t had a chance like this since 1964.

3 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

That’s my thoughts basically. 

Soldiers will go down sporadically, the TEAM must stay focused. We haven’t had a chance like this since 1964.

Guess that’s why we’re not a coach. 

I’d focus on next contest, team structure and game plan. 

BTW I reckon we had every chance in 1990 

14 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

That’s my thoughts basically. 

Soldiers will go down sporadically, the TEAM must stay focused. We haven’t had a chance like this since 1964.

The term one soldier down another steps up is a little bit misleading...

When a General (a structural player) goes down it makes life a little more difficult.

 

10 minutes ago, radar said:

Guess that’s why we’re not a coach. 

I’d focus on next contest, team structure and game plan. 

BTW I reckon we had every chance in 1990 

1990 was a good side, but we still lacked a lot up forward. If Bennet was held we had a quiet day

This year we have a gun CHF and FF

Just now, rjay said:

The term one soldier down another steps up is a little bit misleading...

When a General (a structural player) goes down it makes life a little more difficult.

 

I don’t consider Lever to be Structural. He is a great sweeper. We will miss him, but his role can be managed

33 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

If i was Goodwin, all i'd be doing this week is reminding the group that this was the team that prevented us from playing finals last year.

We did nothing about it last year, what are they going to do about it come Monday?

Disagree, the team that prevented us from playing finals was us!! I want to see Goodwin focus on replicating what we did to the Crows in the first quarter, complete midfield domination, organised defending, hard  spread and clinical finishing.

Go Dees!

16 minutes ago, radar said:

Guess that’s why we’re not a coach. 

I’d focus on next contest, team structure and game plan. 

BTW I reckon we had every chance in 1990 

1990 is the year that haunts me too Radar...way more than 88 or 2000. 1990 was anybodies and we beat arguably the best of the group 2 weeks in a row in Hawthorn. Losing Lyon ( concussed at training FFS! ) before the WC game at waverley hurt us. is that 28 years ago...goodness how time flies when you follow the dees.  Theres  precious few seasons in my frikn lifetime I can remember where Ive felt we're genuine contenders. Im hoping that Levers loss doesnt mean the end of that vibe in 18. We're gonna find out soon enough. 

It won't be Levers injury that stops the momentum.
It'll be if we get more.

And I felt like we were contenders during the 2nd and 3rd qrs of the 2002 Semi Final against Adelaide.
A fleeting feeling that turned out to be.

8 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

I felt like we were contenders during the 2nd and 3rd qrs of the 2002 Semi Final against Adelaide.
A fleeting feeling it turned out to be.

but boy...we were good for those 2 quarters weren't we lol  what was it...6 goals down at one stage to 5 goals  up just before 3 qtr time? 

In all honesty though, he’s pretty good. 

If Goodwin and the FD's game plan and team structure are correct, then no amount of encouragement will be of any effect.

Another player will step up to fill the role of sweeper, spoiler and launcher. The remainder of the backs will maintain their roles and the team should perform as before.

 

 

 

37 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

1990 is the year that haunts me too Radar...way more than 88 or 2000. 1990 was anybodies and we beat arguably the best of the group 2 weeks in a row in Hawthorn. Losing Lyon ( concussed at training FFS! ) before the WC game at waverley hurt us. is that 28 years ago...goodness how time flies when you follow the dees.  Theres  precious few seasons in my frikn lifetime I can remember where Ive felt we're genuine contenders. Im hoping that Levers loss doesnt mean the end of that vibe in 18. We're gonna find out soon enough. 

There was more to 1990 than that. Our real curse was Waverley. We didn't play it well.

I think our tactics guru Craig Jennings may have a lot to say about the Pie matchups in the absence of Lever. I have a feeling his fingerprints are all over our recent success - and that is not to denigrate Goodies contribution 

Good enough that I don't care where our team plays, Optus, Adelaide, Geelong, Gabba, these used to be abattoirs for us. We still get beaten, but at least it's not because of the wallpaper in the change rooms. 

There was a big improvement when comparing the WB game with earlier against the Hawks. 

The Bulldogs only play one way and that is manic pack pressure up the middle.  At quarter time we completely changed set-ups to force them wide and to contests.  They didn't know what to do and kept coughing it up.  And we then switched to the corridor quickly on the counter to open them up time and time again.  Beveridge didn't change, and they only kicked 4 for the rest of the match. 

In the Hawthorn game we simply didn't switch for the whole game and kept playing back into the opposition hands. 

It would appear the lesson from Clarko has been learned, a sign of a good coach.

 

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

That’s my thoughts basically. 

Soldiers will go down sporadically, the TEAM must stay focused. We haven’t had a chance like this since 1964.

 

How Good is Goodwin?

Solid, young AFL coach with much still to learn, has done very little wrong in his playing career, assistant coaching roles and the start to his senior career. Calm, collective and thoughtful with a solid consistent message infront of the media. Developing nicely and has the potential to be a superstar if given time to develop into the role. 

However, started at the wrong club for a first time coach - many MFC supporters are impatient and doubt he gets the time to develop compared to him joining a bigger club. Immediate results will make or break him once Jackson leaves. 

Has something in common with Mark Neeld. 

They've both coached Melbourne in 33 games.

1 hour ago, DaveyDee said:

However, started at the wrong club for a first time coach - many MFC supporters are impatient and doubt he gets the time to develop compared to him joining a bigger club. Immediate results will make or break him once Jackson leaves. 

At least they’ve stuck with the club throughout hey Whoooooooo?

1 hour ago, DaveyDee said:

How Good is Goodwin?

Solid, young AFL coach with much still to learn, has done very little wrong in his playing career, assistant coaching roles and the start to his senior career. Calm, collective and thoughtful with a solid consistent message infront of the media. Developing nicely and has the potential to be a superstar if given time to develop into the role. 

However, started at the wrong club for a first time coach - many MFC supporters are impatient and doubt he gets the time to develop compared to him joining a bigger club. Immediate results will make or break him once Jackson leaves. 

I note that your posts regularly include criticism of MFC supporters, usually with generalisations.  It is getting tiresome. 

I for one, would appreciate it if you cease criticising us.  Fine if you have something specific about a post but these generalisations are disrespectful to those of us that have patiently supported the Dees all our lives. 

Considering the amount of key injuries we had last year i think Goodwin is none to think outside the box to get the job done.