The good thing about this is there is more than one

 

Spargod

Positive Lingers

Salo

Lever

May

Petracca

Oliver

Tmac

4 hours ago, Vagg said:

I agree about Langers' importance to us.  But, I would like to see Tommy Mac move to the other wing (where he trained through the Summer), and bring Jackson into the side.  Just think that would help solve our "problem" of too many talls in the forward line, while using Tommy's massive tank to try and replicate Langer's work on the wing.  Thoughts?

Save the print .

Ridiculous  our best big Forward by far and  he's now a wingman!!!

There's a very good reason he's at CHF and that is his best position for our team by far.

on the opposite wing Gus is providing a very good package of skills including great defensive backup and tough interception at times.

If you think  about this wing has not been a weakness snd if you place a good competitive footballer there you will generally revive a good/ great result.

We don't have to rob Tommy to pay Angus. 

How long did Tommy actually train on the wing in pre season any way He started there but it's got him fit for better things like great forward  line footy which oppositions are  finding it hard to match up with him each week. And he plays the G so well !!! 

 

 

TMac on a wing was, and is, a good idea. If not for his sterling performances kicking goals he would have been played there. In any event Brayshaw is now learning the craft and has become an effective interceptor and support for the backs. Langdon is in a class of his own as a wingman - runs up and down and helps out from front to back.

As for the "one player syndrome", it is real when the one player is a Martin who can win grand finals by his own efforts. In any other situation, it is a myth because there is no such thing as an un-replaceable player, even one as good as Max or Oliver (or Fyfe, Dangerfield). A strong team will have multiple paths to victory and should not be too focused on any one.

 

 

7 hours ago, hemingway said:

We have the example of the importance of one player to both a team and their success rate. 

We accept that to win flags you need a champion team over a team of champions. However, you cannot under estimate the importance of one player. 

Currently, his name is Dusty. 

But when you think back, it has always been so. 

It was often said during the Demons great days, “no Barassi, no Melbourne”. And the facts are that Melbourne was often vulnerable when RDB was not playing. Arguably we missed out winning the flag in 63 when Ron was suspended for hitting Roger Dean just before the finals. Ron provided the leadership, the spark that inspired others. Norm Smith knew this and it was the reason he was always so tough on him and would provoke an angry and aggressive response from Ron on the field. 

There are plenty of examples. 

Hawthorn without Hudson, Geelong without Ablett Snr, South without Skilton,  the Tigers without Hart or Stewart.  The Blues without Jezza. The list goes on and on. 

Is it the Demons without Oliver or  Gawn or Petracca or May?

At times the absence of one key player can make a difference to winning games. 

Whatever the answer, it is the reason we need to remain circumspect about the ultimate success this season. 

We need a full fit list to push for glory. 

In my view, the key player to our fortunes is probably Max. For his leadership and influence on the ground. 

As a current AFL player said to me recently, if you put Max in the Bulldogs team, they would be unstoppable. 

Anyway, let’s keep our fingers crossed in regard to our very best whether it be Gawn, Clarry , Petracca, May etc. 

 

I agree with the thoughts here, and for this reason i have already suggested that we see how Jacko can go by himself for the full minutes this week and we bring in Jones for another stint.

6 hours ago, Vagg said:

I agree about Langers' importance to us.  But, I would like to see Tommy Mac move to the other wing (where he trained through the Summer), and bring Jackson into the side.  Just think that would help solve our "problem" of too many talls in the forward line, while using Tommy's massive tank to try and replicate Langer's work on the wing.  Thoughts?

The problem with that is that TMac is currently our most dangerous/ effective forward 

I would be loathe to move him from that area

Steven May ?

5 hours ago, radar said:

Wouldn’t underestimate Spargo. 
- adds so much more than “simply Spargo”. 
- forward pressure/tackling/ frees up other more elite players, capacity to snap a goal

 

"No Spargo, No Melbourne" ?

Edited May 20, 20213 yr by Graeme Yeats' Mullet

We're winning on the back of structure and a willingness to gut run to cut off exits. That requires some smarts but zero skill.

Sure, there would be a tipping point, where we're digging too deeply into the list for replacements but there's no reason to believe that we can't win without a particular individual.

If I had to pick a most important player, it would have to be a gut runner because you could argue that they are the standard setters on field. Langdon is our best at that.

The only game this year that I felt we wouldn't have won without an individual was against Sydney where Clarry's last quarter was instrumental in getting us over the line.

9 hours ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

Langdon is the player i could see us struggling most to replace structurally....there is no player on our list with similar attributes.

He was the player that I first came to initially as he has changed the way we play by bringing his run and carry to the team. It has singlehandedly allowed us to become the team we are, and interestingly I think the other beneficiary has been Hunt. It has allowed Hunt to use his speed as before there wasn’t anyone else that could keep up with him. 

Oliver would be the other one I’d be curious to see how we went if we missed him for a week or two. I think a lot of his good work goes under the Demonland radar, but the coaches as one of the most valuable players almost every week. Thankfully we survived with him having a quiet night vs Giants. 

1 hour ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

"No Spargo, No Melbourne" ?

Haha, misread the context of the title :)

Others more critical but 9-0 from improved Spargo as well

10 hours ago, hemingway said:

We have the example of the importance of one player to both a team and their success rate. 

We accept that to win flags you need a champion team over a team of champions. However, you cannot under estimate the importance of one player. 

Currently, his name is Dusty. 

But when you think back, it has always been so. 

It was often said during the Demons great days, “no Barassi, no Melbourne”. And the facts are that Melbourne was often vulnerable when RDB was not playing. Arguably we missed out winning the flag in 63 when Ron was suspended for hitting Roger Dean just before the finals. Ron provided the leadership, the spark that inspired others. Norm Smith knew this and it was the reason he was always so tough on him and would provoke an angry and aggressive response from Ron on the field. 

There are plenty of examples. 

Hawthorn without Hudson, Geelong without Ablett Snr, South without Skilton,  the Tigers without Hart or Stewart.  The Blues without Jezza. The list goes on and on. 

Is it the Demons without Oliver or  Gawn or Petracca or May?

At times the absence of one key player can make a difference to winning games. 

Whatever the answer, it is the reason we need to remain circumspect about the ultimate success this season. 

We need a full fit list to push for glory. 

In my view, the key player to our fortunes is probably Max. For his leadership and influence on the ground. 

As a current AFL player said to me recently, if you put Max in the Bulldogs team, they would be unstoppable. 

Anyway, let’s keep our fingers crossed in regard to our very best whether it be Gawn, Clarry , Petracca, May etc. 

 

Great post mate.

In order of importance, it's Oliver, Lever and then potentially Max IMO. We did show in 2017 though that minus Max we're less predictable.

Petracca's spark and brilliance is difficult to replace though.

I would just die if Ed Langdon got injured. 

Wingers are absolutely critical to modern football. 
Melbourne's gameplan revolves around numbers at every contest.
Wingers get to every contest.
Langdon is the best winger in the competition.

QED.

24 minutes ago, A F said:

Great post mate.

In order of importance, it's Oliver, Lever and then potentially Max IMO. We did show in 2017 though that minus Max we're less predictable.

Petracca's spark and brilliance is difficult to replace though.

Thanks Adam.

The feedback of posters reflect that we have depth and a nucleus of “stars.” It is difficult to identify one player as making the difference. We would miss any one of our top guns but from a leadership viewpoint I go back to Max. He has become the figurehead for this team. He may not be a Barassi or Martin but as well as on field ruck dominance he provides cool and mature leadership. If you think of the team without him, it would be a boat without an anchor.  

At some stage this year our depth will be tested when we are required to field a team without one or more of our stars.  It will be a test to see who can step up and fill the shoes of those that fall in battle. 

Edited May 20, 20213 yr by hemingway

In regard to my last comment about those that fall in battle, there is no doubt that teams are going to increasingly target our key players both fairly and unfairly. Get ready for some pretty physical stuff as opponents test us out. 

Fortunately, we have some tough nuts and others who will stand up for themselves and their team mates. We are no longer soft. However, we will need to be tough to withstand the punishment that is coming. 

And I forgot Langdon. His spread and the outlet he provides is irreplaceable. 

I think losing any of our top 12 or 15 will make it tough this year. I reckon people forget that Richmond had a dream 18 months with no injuries. This coincided with their 2017 flag year. The constantly injured Bulldogs managed to win 2016 on system, but that's much rarer.

22 hours ago, Mr Steve said:

That one player is often someone the opposition forgets about. For me that player wears number 15. 

Hopgood?