2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Uncontested possessions was the stat for me. We smashed Richmond in this earlier in the year and crows were all over us here on Saturday

I hadn’t noticed that stat, but Crows were +55 uncontested. Against Richmond we were a massive +80. Again, the ability to apply pressure and work to stop easy marks had been a feature of our wins, and it’s absence a feature of our loss. 
 

While I think Dogs are clear favourites based on recent form, our system up until Saturday had been the match winner, not midfield depth or key forwards. 
 

I’m quietly confident the Dees will come out like we have against other top teams and make a game of it. If we don’t get it right though, Dogs will destroy us. 

Edited May 24, 20213 yr by Wylie

I think we're going to play frustratingly well but come up short, I say frustrating because we will look back and say if we'd put in the same performance vs Adelaide then we would have had zero problems.

Our pressure has dropped way off and we're fumbling the ball in all parts of the ground. Both are a recipe for disaster against the dogs. If we get within 5 goals I'll be surprised. 

4 hours ago, Mr Steve said:

Think Goodwin has already said that Salem will play. Melbourne will win easy. 

Salem is our QB key. Should not rush Viney back if not 100%, I reckon Sparrow should be a shoe in for his tackling intent at the contest and Half Forward.

I want Bulldog blood.

Carn Dees.

4 hours ago, bingers said:

Viney won't play. 

Salem - 50/50.

If neither play, I can't see us winning, especially at Doglands.

 

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Where have you heard Salem is 50/50?

I'd like to second this question.

The Bulldogs are nowhere near as good as people seem to think they are. honestly i think they're flat track bullies a little bit. 

really looking forward to seeing how we test them out. i am backing us in to get over the line

4 hours ago, Wylie said:

Looking at the stats during the game on Saturday, the Dees were going okay in most areas, but the big thing for me was Adelaide’s high disposal efficiency (75% to 70%), and the Dees high turnovers (78 to 70). 
 

Our pressure impacts opposition disposal efficiency. It wasn’t there on Sat. However, if we get it right, the Dogs will be properly tested. The Dogs started bombing long under sustained Richmond pressure and they lost composure. 

If pressure is high, and we don’t turn over the ball as much, I think we can win. Selection this week should be focussed on the ability to exert sustained pressure.

Agree. We bring the pressure, and we can beat anyone. I think we prefer Marvel as you can close them down more easily. put Harmes or Brayshaw on Macrae but just go head to head otherwise. Our rucks are stronger and our defensive pressure can be elite, better than Richmonds who beat them a month ago. Its going to be a great contest. Hopefully our tall forwards can click together, which we cant seem to do yet.

If at the MCG I would be more confident.

Salem is critical.

A fit Viney would be handy to nullify Libba.

The Tiges made the Dogs look ordinary by upping the pressure on their ball carriers. We can do the same. Bont, McCrae, Daniel, etc will need to earn their possies.

7 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

Agree. We bring the pressure, and we can beat anyone. I think we prefer Marvel as you can close them down more easily. put Harmes or Brayshaw on Macrae but just go head to head otherwise. Our rucks are stronger and our defensive pressure can be elite, better than Richmonds who beat them a month ago. Its going to be a great contest. Hopefully our tall forwards can click together, which we cant seem to do yet.

Agree that Tigers pressure brought Dogs demise!

Harmes on Macrae

Hibberd on Bont

Spargo or ANB on Daniels

Hoping Salem is fit

 

9 hours ago, Pates said:

I think we're going to play frustratingly well but come up short, I say frustrating because we will look back and say if we'd put in the same performance vs Adelaide then we would have had zero problems.

If we play well and lose I won't be too concerned.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

If we play well and lose I won't be too concerned.

I would be - it effectively means that we can't beat them in a final - this is as close to a final you can get during the season proper

It's the classic 8 point game, both teams have a chance to grab top spot and a clear break on the next in line 

We have to stop thinking near enough is good enough - why bother if we can't actually win a premiership. I for one am sick of making up the numbers 

Time to make a very big statement - are you good enough or not ? we get the answer this Friday night 

22 minutes ago, Sydee said:

I would be - it effectively means that we can't beat them in a final - this is as close to a final you can get during the season proper

It's the classic 8 point game, both teams have a chance to grab top spot and a clear break on the next in line 

We have to stop thinking near enough is good enough - why bother if we can't actually win a premiership. I for one am sick of making up the numbers 

Time to make a very big statement - are you good enough or not ? we get the answer this Friday night 

What if we lose on Friday then beat them at the G later in the year? Premierships aren't won in May, as long as we play well and prove we can go with them I won't be too concerned about the result. Of course a win is always preferable but a loss won't necessarily mean it's time to start jumping off the Westgate.

15 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

If Viney and Salem play we will win on Friday night. It will be tough and hard but I feel better going into this game than last week. 20 point win to the Dees. 
Viney will take away a good amount of Libba’s influence.

This is going to be a cracker.

I agree. The dogs basically would have gotten more out of a intra club match last Saturday night.

The Saints are the worst team in it. not the type of game you want before a huge clash! Half their mids won't get that much of a free run at it and will actually have to run two ways this week!

7 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

What if we lose on Friday then beat them at the G later in the year? Premierships aren't won in May, as long as we play well and prove we can go with them I won't be too concerned about the result. Of course a win is always preferable but a loss won't necessarily mean it's time to start jumping off the Westgate.

No premierships are not won in May. They can however be lost during the season by dropping games that very good teams would win.

If we don't finish top 4 and preferably with a home final it will be very very difficult. There are some good teams sitting below us that are more than capable of taking our spot in a matter of weeks

Few people actually believe this team can continue to perform at a high level and really challenge for a premiership - there is a reason for that - we will see what this team is really made of soon enough

I will not be jumping off anything if they loose to the dogs (unless its a thumping) but if they do, then loose to Brisbane I would lay money on them dropping the Collingwood game - if we head down that track our good start will count for little 

9 minutes ago, Sydee said:

No premierships are not won in May. They can however be lost during the season by dropping games that very good teams would win.

If we don't finish top 4 and preferably with a home final it will be very very difficult. There are some good teams sitting below us that are more than capable of taking our spot in a matter of weeks

Few people actually believe this team can continue to perform at a high level and really challenge for a premiership - there is a reason for that - we will see what this team is really made of soon enough

I will not be jumping off anything if they loose to the dogs (unless its a thumping) but if they do, then loose to Brisbane I would lay money on them dropping the Collingwood game - if we head down that track our good start will count for little 

If we lose to Collingwood I'll give up hope. I'll keep the faith for the moment though.

17 minutes ago, Sydee said:

I will not be jumping off anything if they loose to the dogs (unless its a thumping) but if they do, then loose to Brisbane I would lay money on them dropping the Collingwood game - if we head down that track our good start will count for little 

Yes we must be tight!!!

soz, couldn’t resist. ?

12 hours ago, CYB said:

Said to a few that the Crows played a very high risk game style. Couple that with high DE is why they were able to look so smooth and transition the ball well and at the end of the day how they got over the line. Can they do that week in / week out? I highly doubt it. They will get a reality check this week against the Tigers. 
 

Never mind Richmond.
It should be us dishing out the reality checks.

1 hour ago, Fork 'em said:

Never mind Richmond.
It should be us dishing out the reality checks.

I meant that more in the sense that they won’t be able to sustain the same level of performance rather than saying the Tigers will give them a serve. 
 

Nevertheless I agree with the sentiment 

Great timing to play this one.

Boys would have got a wake up call, and Dogs ran around witches hats with little pressure. 

If we bring the pressure and kick straight we'll be in this up to our eyeballs.

Fingers crossed for a fit Salem inclusion, Viney would be a bonus but unlikely i think. 

15 hours ago, praha said:

They also kicked 12 goals from turnovers.

A very misleading stat. Because it is easy to assume turnovers as result from an error from us.

Still a horrible number but.

 

Edited May 25, 20213 yr by binman

This is a pretty defining week for the MFC i think, in my time watching footy when we have been a good side, we've lacked the ruthless edge to stamp ourselves as the best side and own that tag. 

when we win this weekend it's going to be an incredibly significant win in the history of the MFC 

16 hours ago, Redleg said:

English looking likely according to media.

Thats to our advantage - no woof woof woof.....(sorry again)

14 hours ago, Dwight Schrute said:

The Bulldogs are nowhere near as good as people seem to think they are. honestly i think they're flat track bullies a little bit. 

really looking forward to seeing how we test them out. i am backing us in to get over the line

Hahaha. 

What a ridiculously stupid comment. 

4 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Hahaha. 

What a ridiculously stupid comment. 

to be clear, that doesn't mean i don't think they're good, but they're getting talked up as unbeatable. they've had one seriously good win and that's it. 

to be fair, so have we. but i think beating the Tigers at the G on Anzac day eve is more significant than beating a very inconsistent Port Adelaide 

Think it would be a mistake to rush Viney in for such a tough game against probably the quickest ball movers in the comp, even if he’s injury free. After missing weeks with a foot injury, have to assume he’s been unable to do much running at training during his injury time.