GAMEDAY - Round 22

[Drunkn167 5,093]

Wonder how Kent goes today, for our sake hope he kicks 3+

[Demon Dynasty 15,649]

16 minutes ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

It’s happened all year especially vs top 8 sides, we smash teams in the clearances but we have players starting off the back of the square. I don’t get it

And our players on the wing last week were so slow they couldn't get to the contest before their opponents.  So basically we were ok inside but smacked once it got out.

Slow in the wings and running a player off the back who mostly doesn't impact either (ANB last week).  All amounts to giving up your advantage in the middle and handing it to the opp on the outside once it escapes with a quick clearance out of congestion to their advantage.

Goody had persisted with this all year.  Seems to work ok against lessors lights but the better clubs (and even the lowly Saints) worked out how to exploit it months ago.  What's the definition of insanity again!??

[Gator 16,893]

20 minutes ago, Flemo56 said:

I've lost my positive about our Dee's but fairdinkum why call out others when we are no better? We didn't beat any of them or the Aints either, yet you bag THEM for being rubbish, sorry but i find it amusing until WE CAN beat them and become relevant.  

Of course, man.  It goes without saying we're rubbish too.  This is obvious and not needing to be stated.  When you can't beat rubbish teams it's pretty obvious you're rubbish too.

But when you're younger than every other top 8 team, when you're the no.1 contested team in the AFL, when you're the no.2 ground-ball get team, when you're the no.2 centre clearance team, when you're the no.1 goal assist team, and when you're the highest scoring team you have ENORMOUS upside.

It's kinda the point...

[layzie 29,094]

6 hours ago, —coach— said:

Well here we are once again folks, destiny in our hands, hostile territory, pressure turned up to a million. This could very well be the making of this team, or it could be just another moment when we fold like we have done so many times before.

If we’re looking for omens, wifey and I palmed off the little ones to my parents for the weekend and we went out to see the new mission impossible last night (ripping good fun by the way). On the way out I spied one of those skill testers. This was the skill tester of oversized variety with a mega claw and giant stuffed animals in it. Fancying myself as pretty skillfull, I dropped my $2 into the machine which bought just once chance! Sent the claw into action, positioned it over the toy I was after (yes I’m a fully grown man going after a giant stuffed toy like it was a powertool, what of it!), hit the button while the wife was trying to give directions (which I was successfully ignoring), and bam the claw wrapped its mechanical force around a giant Skye dog from Paw Patrol and dropped it neatly into the chute! It was clinical, it was a result against the odds, it was a rare display of high level skill from yours truely.

If we think of myself as the team today and my kids elation when they see their new toy as the members, then that is all the omens I need, to know that today we win, and win handsomely.

GO DEMONS, DAMN THOSE DRUG TAKING HEATHENS TO THE FIRES OF HELL AND RISE, RISE RISE TO MEET THE GLORY OF FINALS FOOTBALL THE TEAM OF THE RED AND THE BLUE!!!

We need you.

[Diamond_Jim 11,897]

17 minutes ago, pikeout said:

The middle game is never  on FTA there. Plenty of venues that have the footy. Where are you?

Thanks I'll catch up with the replay. Not exactly party central where I am.

[layzie 29,094]

Being a late game today I’ve been acting like there’s plenty of time till the bounce. Just looked at the time and there is an hour to go. Bloody hell, was hoping for a bit more Sunday before we have to walk the plank. 

Should I try to sneak in a quick walk in this delightful sun? Or wait for quarter to 6 to have a likely downtrodden dusk stroll? 

[Smokey 4,138]

A small part of me is believing for some reason today.

We need to start breathing fire from the first bounce. We need to hurt them physically and mentally with a huge 1st quarter. 

We’ve done it before. Please boys, get it done. 

[Deeoldfart 7,788]

No late changes to either side

Final Interchanges:
Melbourne:  Spargo,  Brayshaw,  Weideman,  Fritsch

WC:  Ryan,  Sheed,  Venables,  Cole
 

[Redleg 37,853]

3 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

No late changes to either side

Final Interchanges:
Melbourne:  Spargo,  Brayshaw,  Weideman,  Fritsch

WC:  Ryan,  Sheed,  Venables,  Cole
 

Would be a nice time for the Weid to play a big game for us.

[Flemo56 383]

27 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Of course, man.  It goes without saying we're rubbish too.  This is obvious and not needing to be stated.  When you can't beat rubbish teams it's pretty obvious you're rubbish too.

But when you're younger than every other top 8 team, when you're the no.1 contested team in the AFL, when you're the no.2 ground-ball get team, when you're the no.2 centre clearance team, when you're the no.1 goal assist team, and when you're the highest scoring team you have ENORMOUS upside.

It's kinda the point...

I certainly hope so PD. I learnt very early not to give ammo to the opposition in any form, it nearly always backfires and makes the hurt even more so.

[Gator 16,893]

8 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Would be a nice time for the Weid to play a big game for us.

He just needs to play his role, which is compete in the air, don't get out-marked, bring the ball to ground, and present to the ball carrier.  

And hopefully make the most of a few opportunities.

[SaberFang 7,141]

32 minutes ago, Smokey said:

We need to start breathing fire from the first bounce. We need to hurt them physically and mentally with a huge 1st quarter. 

I've had a sick feeling in my gut all day today, when I was oddly calm and confident before a lot of other recent games like Adelaide in Adelaide. That seems like an eternity ago now.

I'm predicting we'll blow it yet again today, and the exact same strategic deficiencies will be exploited by Simpson all day long. Goodwin will stubbornly refuse to make obvious structural changes and we'll never lead at any stage of the match. We will dominate hitouts but Eagles players will reap the benefits (again due to structural issues) and we will finish with at least +15 inside 50s but fail to convert into scoring.

Despite the fact they're missing their 3 best players, their structures will hold up better and their experience with the ground will prove a huge advantage. The umpires will clearly have a directive to reward WC with every free kick imaginable and look the other way with us, to ensure the top 8 remains undecided until the final match of 2018. So all things considered, Eagles by plenty. 4+ goals.

A few key facts:

Quote

4. The Dees have lost on 17 of their past 18 trips to Perth and are yet to play at Optus Stadium, where the Eagles boast nine wins from 11 matches.

5. West Coast has won the most quarters in the competition (55) but Melbourne (54) is only just behind, despite notching three fewer wins than the Eagles this season.

If that second point doesn't make MFC supporters sick, nothing will.

I know we caused a huge upset last year but that final goal by T-Mac was one in a million. Replay that final minute a dozen times and we probably lose every time. We buckle under the slightest hint of pressure and the implications of losing today and needing to win next week will result in something of a self-fulfilling prophecy (where we lose both games and blow the whole season).

Funnily enough, I'd rate our chances of winning both these matches far higher if they were occurring mid-season. But the context of our entire season hanging onto these two matches will change the way players approach the game, and sadly I don't think we have the mental fortitude to overcome these demons.

Prove me wrong Melbourne, just once. Prove me wrong.

Edited August 19, 2018 by SaberFang

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

I guess the way i see it now is that we had 4 chances in 2 years to make the finals. Weve blown the first 2. 3rd time lucky coming up now......thats more chances than a lot of teams get. Lets go Dees......no time better than the present.

.......can feel  a stiff scotch coming on.

[Sir Why You Little 34,628]

2 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

I guess the way i see it now is that we had 4 chances in 2 years to make the finals. Weve blown the first 2. 3rd time lucky coming up now......thats more chances than a lot of teams get. Lets go Dees......no time better than the present.

.......can feel  a stiff scotch coming on.

 

[KLV 1,664]

1 hour ago, Soidee said:

After last week walking from the MCG I thought of supporters from Eagles, Swans, Hawks, Geelong.  Wow they have had so much enjoyment over many years in finals.  I ask why not us, I am a passionate and paid up supporter of the Dees and renew membership every year.  They say the competition is meant to give all a chance, but here we go, Sydney make the finals again, same with Hawthorn and Eagles, Geelongs soft draw will allow them too.  

Their supporters now sitting back waiting to buy finals tickets...but alas dees supporters do not have that luxury.

life sucks been a dees supporter.  

How true that is, don’t they get sick of it?

 

[Gator 16,893]

Do Freo have one last game in them next week in Perth ?  Can they redeem themselves after yesterday's horrible loss ?

If we win our final two games, which I think we can, we'll be top 4 if Freo beat Collingwood at home.

Unlikely, but not impossible.

[Gator 16,893]

2 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

 

Get the ice out of there...

[Dirts 429]

41 minutes ago, layzie said:

Being a late game today I’ve been acting like there’s plenty of time till the bounce. Just looked at the time and there is an hour to go. Bloody hell, was hoping for a bit more Sunday before we have to walk the plank. 

Should I try to sneak in a quick walk in this delightful sun? Or wait for quarter to 6 to have a likely downtrodden dusk stroll? 

Warm here !

[praha 10,294]

Will have a firm eye on Jones today.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

2 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Get the ice out of there...

....its pretty hot in Asia.....think he probably needs it!

[leucopogon 1,468]

Any other Landers sitting in block 333?

[Nasher 33,131]

53 minutes ago, Drunkn167 said:

Wonder how Kent goes today, for our sake hope he kicks 3+

Definitely an intrigue. It must be apparent to him (and others in his position) that time is running out. Some would be motivated by that and others would put too much pressure on themselves. Let’s see which type Kent is.

[dees189227 10,875]

Just hope weids can do something good today

[SFebes 4,692]

Great Bartel and BT commentating. They live sticking the knives in when down.

[John Demonic 4,839]

2 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Definitely an intrigue. It must be apparent to him (and others in his position) that time is running out. Some would be motivated by that and others would put too much pressure on themselves. Let’s see which type Kent is.

I don't recall Kent being dropped for awhile, seems to have only been omitted because of injury? Has shown x factor prior to injury.

Edited August 19, 2018 by johndemonic