GRAND FINAL: Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

[dazzledavey36 54,951]

11 minutes ago, rufus said:

Can we go hard tag on both? Use someone from outside the square like Brayshaw to follow Bont? I think we are going to have to do something a little different to the norm to handle these guys...so many damaging players in the middle.

I think I'm mindful being too defensive as a unit. 

We've got to back our system in as well and think we'll potentially see Harmes and Viney put attention into Bont.

I would like to see GWS style attack on Bont like they did on the 2019 elimination final.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

29 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Really think we need to change tactic with this.

William Drew put s hard tag on Libbs last night and limited his influence. This allowed Bont to get off the leash and impact and kick 2 goals.

Same exact scenario when they beat us. Bont was given far too many opportunities and we didn't put much pressure on him.

I'd easily put the hard tag on Bontempelli. 

I tend to agree.

We need to stop their run, winning the clearances only helps us if we can lock the ball in our F50.

If they can run like they did last night we are in trouble.

[Thehardtackler 785]

We need to play Jayden Hunt as well as Bowey.

Edited September 12, 2021 by Thehardtackler

[Deestar9 1,635]

I think in most big games we have elected to tag a player that might not be the obvious one. First time we played bulldogs it was Libba (master stroke)

Against the Lions ..Zorko..season average 7.8 goal assists..against us ..none. ANB spent a large chunk of the night on Zac Tuhoy as did Brayshaw on I.Smith …both very good ball movers and Zuhoy especially had minimal influence.  I have full faith we will try & negate the player/s we need too & we have so many players that are capable of doing that.

[loges 6,767]

No good wrist slashing about who our opponent is, Premierships are not meant to be easy, sure it will be a hard game, just go out and get it done.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

Our system is better than their system.

Two thing will stop us. Injury to key personnel or inaccuracy.

(I would imagine their supporters are saying the same thing)

[Smokey 4,389]

3 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Our system is better than their system.

Two thing will stop us. Injury to key personnel or inaccuracy.

(I would imagine their supporters are saying the same thing)

Lot of people here suddenly nervous because the dogs had a good win against a team of witches hats last night. 
 

Fully agree our system (and personnel) are superior. If we arrive and perform in a similar fashion to Friday night, we’ll be celebrating by 3/4 time 

[Coobs 174]

Flying into Perth from Adelaide Wednesday week, have we heard any potential of open training sessions yet?

[Demon17 5,188]

15 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Our system is better than their system.

Two thing will stop us. Injury to key personnel or inaccuracy.

(I would imagine their supporters are saying the same thing)

In our case  its true for us though.

The tactical decision to start Willem Drew on the bench last night (the stopper Johnno Brown calls the Koroit Flier was mind-boggling. He came on after Libba had ammassed 5 possies in 10 minutes.

Our coaching team will be on top of all of this and we don't need to worry about strategy brain fades like that

. Players just need to '"..be us.."  again and the result will take care of itself.

[Garbo 1,538]

3 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Viney to Libba, Harmes to Bont and he has to hit his legs every chance possible. 

I’d love to see Petracca goto Bont, Oliver to Macrae and Viney to Libba. None in a defensive roll just straight head to head backing them self vs each other. If we could win that game over. Dogs win that then they are looking up at a sea of red and blue to kick into. We can always go more defensive but they can’t 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Garbo

[Coobs 174]

If the coaching team wants any ideas I guess they can come to this thread for every and any strategy idea In existence no matter how insane over the next 2 weeks

[Lucifers Hero 39,868]

2 hours ago, old dee said:

Now it is probably due to age and decaying brain cells but I don't understand this comment LH. Why would the MFC have to move? 

Richardson said it was a possibility, before the PFs. 

I'm guessing it is the better and the AFL 'preferred' resort.  Bulldogs have been travelling etc.  Also Bulldogs have another week quarantine whereas we are free today.

As I said Bulldogs should go to the resort that Geelong is at.  They come out of quarantine today so don't need it any longer.  I don't see any point disrupting one of the GF teams ie us.  

Now that the results are known things may have changed. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Lucifer's Hero

[In Harmes Way 7,792]

6 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Richardson said it was a possibility, before the PFs. 

I'm guessing it is the better and the AFL 'preferred' resort.  Bulldogs have been travelling etc.  Also Bulldogs have another week quarantine whereas we are free today.

As I said Bulldogs should go to the resort that Geelong is at.  They come out of quarantine today so don't need it any longer.  I don't see any point disrupting one of the GF teams ie us.  

Now that the results are known things may have changed. 

The Bulldogs quarantined in Perth for a week before playing in Adelaide. I’m not sure why they can’t just keep staying in the same place.

No reason why we should move.

[old dee 23,792]

24 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Richardson said it was a possibility, before the PFs. 

I'm guessing it is the better and the AFL 'preferred' resort.  Bulldogs have been travelling etc.  Also Bulldogs have another week quarantine whereas we are free today.

As I said Bulldogs should go to the resort that Geelong is at.  They come out of quarantine today so don't need it any longer.  I don't see any point disrupting one of the GF teams ie us.  

Now that the results are known things may have changed. 

Ok but it makes little sense to me. We should be playing at our home ground tell them to go hop.

[Mr Steve 3,820]

29 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

The Bulldogs quarantined in Perth for a week before playing in Adelaide. I’m not sure why they can’t just keep staying in the same place.

No reason why we should move.

Luke Beveridge has been playing this us against them line for a few weeks now.  Let them have it and play it in reverse. 

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,799]

Please can we have the same umps we had on Friday!

[D4Life 2,475]

9 hours ago, Pates said:

We didn’t tag Bont last time, he murdered us. I wouldn’t say no to first bounce Trac goes next to him but either way there needs to be a plan. 

The big thing they did which every team who beat us did was not allow our defenders the chance to mark. They are very good at the fall of the ball in the forward line. 

We will be favourites but I see it as line ball. Dogs have their bite back. 

We didn’t tag Daniels either.

Viney in form to Libba  limits Bont.

We didn’t unveil anything extra in that game.

We will definitely be much better, was at end of our ordinary performances.

[Sir Why You Little 37,046]

12 hours ago, frankie_d said:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-fringe-players-set-to-explore-options-20210911-p58qst.html?btis

A virus ran through the cats 2 days before the game. Does that change how we assess our win?

Gary Rohan wasn’t mentioned in that list of sick players, what’s his excuse?

he was nailed to the wing in the first half. 
his halftime tracker is incredible 

[Smokey 4,389]

15 minutes ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

Please can we have the same umps we had on Friday!

And the same commentators please

[Sir Why You Little 37,046]

1 hour ago, COVID Dan said:

I tend to agree.

We need to stop their run, winning the clearances only helps us if we can lock the ball in our F50.

If they can run like they did last night we are in trouble.

This is a Grand Final. The WHOLE TEAM needs to put clamps on the opposition. 
 

moment by moment 

contest by contest

[Adam The God 30,265]

4 hours ago, rufus said:

They are a brilliantly coached side and they will have plans to take away our strengths. Beveridge is not too stubborn and will put multiple players in negative roles to take away any of our advantages. I hope we are not too stubborn and are prepared to look at multiple shut down roles.

They are going to hack, knock and scrap the ball forward in every contest to get it in there before we have had time to setup. If they get it in quickly we are going to get pulverised as we can't match them at ground level in their forward half.

The game will be decided by one thing: The amount of pressure we apply to them at the absolute inside of the contest. If we can restrict their ability even hack it forward, we will have a decent chance. Our mids are going to need to be better than they have been all year (and they have been great) and in fairness that is what it should take to win a flag.

I firmly believe to win we will need to keep the Dogs to <65 points. With the level of pressure they applied last night it is going to be hard for us to score more than 9 or 10 goals. We are going to need to make it an arm wrestle and hopefully be the ones who bob up at the right minute.

Our weakness at defensive 50 ground level has become a bit of a Demonland myth.

Neutralise Weightman and Bontempelli and it goes a long way to getting it done. Often we have Langdon, Gus, our other mids and even Kozzy and ANB pushing up to neutralise defensive ground balls.

Whereas, conversely, limit Daniels influence at the other end and we could get them in offensive ground balls.

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

12 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

mixed feelings for me. . I said a few weeks ago the dogs just have an u unusual leg up with umpires. a plus 70 in frees for during the home and away season then +8 then +9 in the first 2 finals. the last winning by 1 point. I think they are lucky to get this far. yes they played well tonight but normally the gate is shut. they can count themselves very lucky. let justice prevail and do them fairly and properly.

We need to make an assault on the airwaves over the last week before the final to ensure the frees inbalance is covered in the media. 

[old dee 23,792]

1 minute ago, longsuffering said:

We need to make an assault on the airwaves over the last week before the final to ensure the frees inbalance is covered in the media. 

What you should be talking about is the dogs ability to constantly throw the ball and get away with it. 

[Deemania since 56 6,651]

14 hours ago, CYB said:

Stat wise it was very even that second game. If memory serves me right we got murdered by the umps and d50 stoppages and inaccuracy in front.
 

update: 11 - 25 free kick count.

2-10 last Quarter.

 

It was 'charity day' and the umpires donated heavily to the Dogs' major needs at both ends of the ground whenever needed. 

[Longsufferingnomore 1,631]

1 minute ago, old dee said:

What you should be talking about is the dogs ability to constantly throw the ball and get away with it. 

Agree OD. I just want to plant a small seed in the ump's minds.