Our midfield can match/beat theirs, our backline can definitely beat their forward line, it’s down to two things for me:

Firstly will our midfield and forward line actually work together to put the ball inside 50 in the way the both lines are expecting it?

What will our attitude be? This is our first game in front of home fans for 18 months, if that isn’t enough motivation for our players to want to play, tackle, run etc then I don’t know what could possibly be. 

My concerns are that for one we have gone in with two old warriors (Jones and Jetta) that won’t be able to keep up with their respective opponents and provide enough. I also am just so worried that our players are going to come out sluggish and not ready for a fight (we have seen it before). 

13 hours ago, dl4e said:

Correct. More than a big question mark over Jetta as well. We have about 6 players in the side that really are not up to afl standard. Our forward line is a joke. I would pefer to see Hore, Zanker and scott acroos hf than those three. Lets hope McDonald can prove me wrong. Jackson is not ready for FF in any way even on a part time basis. He should do a lot of rucking, especially in second half as that sems to be his strength. Fritch is going to have to play well.

Jones , Jetta, Tomlinson, Spargo, ANB and TMAC. Give me a break.

Great minds think a like

12 hours ago, Redleg said:

That was my first thought. 

Agree but our big recruit is injured so unless we want to play first year kids who have not played a full game of any meaningful footy for 18 months let a lone an AFL debut in a full length game as their first up what do you do. We actually should not be seeing much change for where we are at. The improvement should come from

Second and third preseasons into LJ, River, Koz, Jordon, Sparrow

Another year of May and Lever on the park together.

Changes in our game and execution via Yze and Choco. 

Last of all a return to full length quarters and the inclusion of reduced rotations which I believe suits us better than most and minimises some of our flaws in pace and giving up runs of goals.

I wish we had a second winger and worry we are a touch tall down back against their forwardline (wonder if we will see a late change). I also wish that kids would push passed Jetta and Jones to give us more pace but they need to deserve to be there and we need to be confident they can play the long game.  

This team should win today.  

 

Edited March 19, 20214 yr by big_red_fire_engine

11 hours ago, DubDee said:

Take a look at the Freo forward line. 

May and Lever should dominate in the air at the back. Even if we don’t convert well, we should win this comfortably

Good comment under normal circumstances But...

Where I live its currently blowing a gale and will be a windy game. This could negate the clear advantage we have in reading the ball in the air that Lever and May have. This is a real concern as I see these two saving/winning the game as key contributors under normal conditions.

It won't be the forard line

9 hours ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Surely it only counts as a game if you get subbed in?

That would be common sense, so no, it’s a game regardless. You would think that is a no brainer.

Majak

brother in law, north tragic was sceptical

when I suggested that he would play a few games.  His opinion if we need Majak we are in lots of trouble

 

2 hours ago, Pates said:

Our midfield can match/beat theirs, our backline can definitely beat their forward line, it’s down to two things for me:

Firstly will our midfield and forward line actually work together to put the ball inside 50 in the way the both lines are expecting it?

What will our attitude be? This is our first game in front of home fans for 18 months, if that isn’t enough motivation for our players to want to play, tackle, run etc then I don’t know what could possibly be. 

My concerns are that for one we have gone in with two old warriors (Jones and Jetta) that won’t be able to keep up with their respective opponents and provide enough. I also am just so worried that our players are going to come out sluggish and not ready for a fight (we have seen it before). 

Agree with this, particularly with Jones n Jetta, they will look painfully slow with this quicker game we are witnessing.

Both defences will dominate the forwards, to me the game is won by whoever can convert their opportunities from turnovers across the backline, something that hasn’t ended at all well for us against fast teams. I think for pace these 2 teams will be pretty even.

Watching the games so far, it’s about fast starts followed by quality execution.  We have to make use of any territory dominance and not allow turnover slingshots.  Late in quarters steady heads and leadership might be what wins the day.  Guys like Jones and Jetta might start on the bench during the first 5 minutes of madness each quarter then come on to a more tempo style game.

this year two words will prevail; persistence and execution.  Not contest and scrap like previous ones.  Hope we are ready for it...

Our half forward line makes me worry.

I aso think Hunt is better up fwd.

 

One game won't make a season but we all put a huge emphasis on round one.

Home game, redemption from last outing, Clarry's 100th, a superior backline and a refreshed Max should see us home by four goals!

Edited March 19, 20214 yr by dee-tox

1 hour ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

This team should win today.  

 

I am not so confident.

We are weak up forward and will need Trac and Max to help there.

We also have 2 slow players at the end of their careers, in a game that is now speed based. Hopefully Bowey and Laurie come on to  fix that.

I am however really excited for my boy JJ and hope this is the start of a long career with us. I am also keen to see my other project player  HP return to the side. I think he is much better than most think.

Go Dees. I will be there with my 4 year old grandson, who shares a first name with HP, at his first real footy match and am excited for him to hopefully see a Dees win.

Edited March 19, 20214 yr by Redleg

It's 10:00am and already quite warm here in the city. Fitness will be the telling factor. I expect Max to completely blow up the first game in Meek. 

The likes of Salem and Oliver will feel the early pinch having not playing a game for 3 weeks.

Heat will play a big part today.

Any last minute changes, anyone know?      I'll be looking at a certain player, because i think he has a little bit of mean. If i say something after he'll have done ok.

Wish i could be there you lucky b's.

Selection is pretty much as expected. I'd prefer Chandler to Sparrow but that's small beer. I don't rate Baker.

We have gone for seasoned experience to run out the full 120 minutes on a warm day. Speed doesn't help much when you're bent over panting hand on hips in the last 5 minutes of every quarter.

27 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

One game won't make a season but we all put a huge emphasis on round one.

Home game, redemption from last outing, Clarry's 100th, a superior backline and a refreshed Max should see us home by four goals!

One game does not make a season you are correct however after the end of last year a loss will be a continuation of that season. And as you say we have lots of things going for us, to lose would set a standard that supporters will see as “what’s changed”. The coach will start the season in the worst possible way if we lose. Quite rightly I think it is time for the Dees to move into the eight and I don’t mean the after the last game. At this point in our development we should be able to be a fixture inside the top eight this season anything less imo is a failure by our club at a number of levels and we all know who will get it in the neck first.  

21 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I am not so confident.

We are weak up forward and will need Trac and Max to help there.

We also have 2 slow players at the end of their careers, in a game that is now speed based. Hopefully Bowey and Laurie come on to  fix that.

I am however really excited for my boy JJ and hope this is the start of a long career with us. I am also keen to see my other project player  HP return to the side. I think he is much better than most think.

Go Dees. I will be there with my grandson, who shares a first name with HP, at his first real footy match and am excited for him to hopefully see a Dees win.

I hope so too, to start your grandson off with a win would be the best result I can think of for a future supporter. 

I'm convinced no-one here has any idea about footy. People are getting so reactionary on the positions the players are listed on the field even though that's not even where they'll play? you people confuse me!

also, good to see that ANB is playing. it seems the coaching staff agree with me on that one. 

 

9 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

I'm convinced no-one here has any idea about footy. People are getting so reactionary on the positions the players are listed on the field even though that's not even where they'll play? you people confuse me!

also, good to see that ANB is playing. it seems the coaching staff agree with me on that one. 

 

Are you convinced or are you confused, D? 

Because I'm convinced you're confused.

26 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

I'm convinced no-one here has any idea about footy.

You'll fit right in if that's the case.

Good blend of experience and youth. 
I was thinking about our end-to-end lines i.e from FB to FF, as it’s our ability to connect (and defend) along these lines that we’ve been working on, and if we can get right will see us rise. 
Expect Maxy will play forward a lot, roaming up when balls in our defence, with our smalls setting up around and working off him, and the contested space around him. 
Feeling confident that we’ve got the approach, age, speed/endurance, and motivation to win today, and as players return evolve into a powerful unit as the season progresses.

as I was called recently in regard to my MFC thoughts I’m “bravely optimistic “.

Dees by 5+ goals

Go Demons.
 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

It's 10:00am and already quite warm here in the city. Fitness will be the telling factor. I expect Max to completely blow up the first game in Meek. 

The likes of Salem and Oliver will feel the early pinch having not playing a game for 3 weeks.

Heat will play a big part today.

It will be warm for footy, and Salem and Clarrie will need to come up with some 4-quarter magic against Freo, with Tracca on the receiving end. Fritta's new central leads must be effective and the exclusion of Petty is very unlucky as a likely swing forward under our current limitations. Can see us losing in the confusion; can see us performing unexpectedly well, if the good fairy can sit on our shoulders. Thus, possibly 50/50 positive/negative and this is uncomfortable in a season where an opening statement of victory is required.

 

Edited March 20, 20214 yr by Deemania since 56

44 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Are you convinced or are you confused, D? 

Because I'm convinced you're confused.

I think I'm the only person that understands that the teams listed are not the way they actually line up. Or do I need to take a photo of the starting line up at todays game and prove (again) how wrong everyone is.

I expected by now that people would know this? People are having a heart attack over a line up that isn't even the lineup. Bizarre mindset to have. 
 

2 hours ago, Demon17 said:

Good comment under normal circumstances But...

Where I live its currently blowing a gale and will be a windy game. This could negate the clear advantage we have in reading the ball in the air that Lever and May have. This is a real concern as I see these two saving/winning the game as key contributors under normal conditions.

It won't be the forard line

Where do you live not even a breeze here.

46 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Are you convinced or are you confused, D? 

Because I'm convinced you're confused.

Me too - not terribly comfortable with the selections, regardless of the team sheet fantasies.

Expect to see a serious  injury for each team in the last quarter with the sub activated. What a joke!