1 hour ago, Radar Detector said:

I wish there was an “I hope so” emoji

Or fingers crossed ?? 

1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Ho hum.  Just another footy weekend and our usual victory !!!

Last time I saw this was back in the 70's on the Bulldogs banner when they were flying and we were so so. We duly smashed them.

This is my general assessment of what I think of tonight's game and I hope I'm wrong.

First time this year I saw signs last week that a few of our players looked tired and flat. I actually don't think it's the physical aspect, but more mental. Mental in terms of sustaining the momentum we have. Players from successfull clubs have been on record to say that it's very difficult in maintaining that mental grind from week to week. Considering this is all new territory for the Demons, I think we'll drop our guard in the next few weeks.

Teams will now hunt us physically and Sydney are a great side in not only being physical at the contest but grinding games out mentally.

Unfortunately I think tonight will be our first loss of the year and to be honest it's probably not a bad thing to just reset a little. I'd rather a loss tonight then Carlton or Adelaide in the next two weeks.

I hope I'm wrong.

Edited May 7, 20213 yr by dazzledavey36

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Like they ran out of steam last week beating the Cats, who smashed the Tigers last night?

YES, they've now also beaten Geelong and Richmond.

16 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Low confidence today. This is going to be a big game. We looked exhausted last week, but I suppose we also only played about 25 minutes of proper pressure footy, so maybe that was our rest. 
A loss is inevitable at some point. Tonight could be the night. 
 

I worry about having both ends of the ground not fully settled yet with injuries and new key players coming in. And without Viney our midfield is very susceptible to losing clearances. It’s going to be a bloody good win if we can pull it off. 

Jaded, thats what happens when you get up at 3 am to play a game in Hobart at 1pm. Yes I know north did also but these scenarios seem to affect us.

46 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

Sydney are inconsistent but when they play well, they are hard to stop.

I suspect they'll be up for this one and it's going to be a tough task.

I'm hoping for four points any way we can get them.

 

Yes, for some reason l am more worried about this match than any of the others this season. We have a history of being rolled by the Swans when they are supposedly in poor form. Today they sit in the eight, so that just makes it worse. I do not however think they are going to have a stand out season - just beat us as per usual.

Let’s hope not!

We have become the hunted rather than a hunter, and every other team will be trying to unpick our winning formula.  It will happen at some stage when we are one or two percent off our game, but I doubt that will be today.  The midfield battle will be pivotal, but I think the Max / Dogga combination, plus Tracc and Clarrie, and Langers on the wing, will give us the edge. If we win in the middle, I’m backing at least a couple of our ‘hard to match up on’ forwards to get off the leash, leading to another 100+ points score, and our miserly ‘team’ defence to keep them to 70 or 80 points.  Pre-match jitters have already kicked in for me, but so far this season this has been a positive omen.  Dees by 4 or 5 goals, but any way we can come away with the 4 points works!

Edited May 8, 20213 yr by Deeoldfart
Typo

I'm moderately confident about this one. Perhaps last week was the close win we needed to have. Make no mistake we'll need to be fully switched on tonight though. I'll be making the most of the day by visiting a new micro brewery down the far end of Victoria St whilst sampling some Vietnamese delicacies enroute to the G so maybe duck for lunch and swan for dinner. 

19 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

First time this year I saw signs last week that a few of our players looked tired and flat. I actually don't think it's the physical aspect, but more mental. Mental in terms of sustaining the momentum we have. Players from successfull clubs have been on record to say that it's very difficult in maintaining that mental grind from week to week. 

Yep, must be very hard to stay switched on and be “up” every single week. It’s new territory for the playing group and a majority of us supporters.

I’m finding it a little taxing myself, and am now starting to think more about when our first loss will come rather than keep riding the wave of momentum.

I don’t think the Swan’s backline will be able to contain our talls 

I love reading Gameday when 

we are unbeaten and on top of the ladder,   happens  every other day !

we should win but Sydney will be up for this game,  Come into the game with the intensity that was missing first half last week, we will run over them by a number of goals. play catch up and it will be a very tight game.

 

We often start slow.   Go Dees

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Like they ran out of steam last week beating the Cats, who smashed the Tigers last night?

The Swans had 4 scoring shots to Geelong’s 8 in the last Q last week. The Cats lost that game more than the Swans won it. 

and the swans were smashed by GC the week prior

i reckon we physically strength and fitness wise have them covered 

A little bit nervous about this one.

37 minutes ago, loges said:

YES, they've now also beaten Geelong and Richmond.

So have we.

Assuming Harmes will be given a specific run-with role.. Can't see how he got a game ahead of mids like Sparrow based on last week's VFL match.. 

I was really underwhelmed with some of his play last week. 

We'll find out tonight. If we bring the heat from quarter 1, we've got this mob covered. Anything less and I can see a loss. 

Extremely confident, 38 point win. 

Swans are good. But not as good as us. Dees by 6 goals.

Can’t believe the market on this one. $1.34 to  $3.40. Think it will be much closer than that. Have the betting agencies just got some chimp in a back room bashing out random numbers?

I am just loving the fact that I can switch on TV or Kayo each week, and know that the Dees are in the game, and their footy is watchable. Love it, love it, love it. My Dad was born in South Melbourne so I have a soft spot for them. 

Sydney are a very good young side, whose kicking, marking and tackling skills are possibly the best in the game. Their best footy is brilliant to watch - so clean. They are no easy beats, but because of their youth are struggling to run out quarters and games. They will match us in the midfield, and Buddy is Buddy. 

Close game - Dees by 20.

20 to 25 point win.

39 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Can’t believe the market on this one. $1.34 to  $3.40. Think it will be much closer than that. Have the betting agencies just got some chimp in a back room bashing out random numbers?

Bookies' odds shorten or lengthen depending on the amount of money being bet.

If we're so short, it means that the majority of punters' money has been for Melbourne.

Let's hope they are all good judges!

3 hours ago, Radar Detector said:

I wish there was an “I hope so” emoji

I've tipped the Dees every round so far. Haven't been wrong yet. We'll lose a game this year but i don't think it will be tonight

I feel like this our best chance to get one over Sydney at the G despite the injuries and the spectre of Franklin looming large.

Hopefully we took a good look at how they dismantled the Tigers at the G and have a plan for it

1 hour ago, JimmyGadson said:

Assuming Harmes will be given a specific run-with role.. Can't see how he got a game ahead of mids like Sparrow based on last week's VFL match.. 

I was really underwhelmed with some of his play last week. 

We'll find out tonight. If we bring the heat from quarter 1, we've got this mob covered. Anything less and I can see a loss. 

Me too. I will be watching Harmes with great interest.