GRAND FINAL: Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

[BDA 22,743]

Reading in the HUN this morning that some epidemiologists from Melb Uni and Deakin support allowing small outdoor gatherings on grand final day. I really hope Dan listens to them 

Edited September 14, 2021 by BDA

[Fritta and Turner 4,403]

One thing I can tell you is that there is zero MFC/DOGs apparel and hardly any AFL available in FNQ.  Went to Rebel, 3 Tigers jumpers, 1 Lions, 1 Port and 5 x footy shorts - thats it.

Lucky I have my member scarf - not sure what to do with it in this weather.

[Dirts 429]

I am finding that the AFL Website has put numerous articles on about Bulldogs; Dunkley, Smith, their recruitment guy and yet nothing on us. Next will be a story on breeds of dogs, featuring Bulldogs.

Not overly phased as it seems the usual AFL beat up of the bulldogs, just hope the headline next Saturday night is simply; Dogs in the dog house and Demon's Delirious. 

[Watson11 2,240]

44 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

It’s unbelievable how good they think Bailey Smith is. He’s literally hasn’t had someone play on him for the last 2 weeks. I have seen him play some awful footy this year, especially against the Hawks late in the season. I’m actually not worried about him at all.

I agree.  He has good skills but is a front runner usually found out in finals. I found some footage from R11 which is pretty typical. Leading up to the photo,  Smith started right next to Tracc on the centre square when Oliver kicked long to a contest. Tracc got to the contest and kicked the goal. Look at Smith. Smith was more interested in a meaningless stat than defending.  Even if Smith got it, our setup behind the ball would have held it up.

 

 

[dazzledavey36 54,861]

5 minutes ago, Dirts said:

I am finding that the AFL Website has put numerous articles on about Bulldogs; Dunkley, Smith, their recruitment guy and yet nothing on us. Next will be a story on breeds of dogs, featuring Bulldogs.

Not overly phased as it seems the usual AFL beat up of the bulldogs, just hope the headline next Saturday night is simply; Dogs in the dog house and Demon's Delirious. 

Good.

Make it all about them. Keep it low key for us.

Was interesting seeing the footage of the doggies celebrating and carrying on after their win in the change rooms, whereas we kept it low key and went back to the hotel room with dinner and a few quite beers.

You'd think it was the doggies who hadn't been in a grand final for 21 years...

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

10 minutes ago, Dirts said:

I am finding that the AFL Website has put numerous articles on about Bulldogs; Dunkley, Smith, their recruitment guy and yet nothing on us. Next will be a story on breeds of dogs, featuring Bulldogs.

Happy for this to continue and hopefully it filters through to the Doggies' bathwater.

[Deemania since 56 6,634]

13 hours ago, qarocks said:

in the two matches this year Dees won center clearances while dogs won stoppage. it is likely we would win center clearances again in the GF.

We have no guarantee that we will get over the umpire advantage exercised in Doggie clearance statistics; and yet, one would hope that the GF is such an auspicious game that they (the umps) wouldn't dare ... otherwise, the game is ours by some margin that should - in the course of ability and the long-awaited even playing field -  display a continuing Demon lead in scoring and clearances.

The big one, boys; let's do it for Ron and Jonesy!

 

[qarocks 107]

i re-watched the last Q of the R19 game. Dogs got to the ball first in stoppages quite frequently, with little pressure from dees players. they quickly got the ball to the outside.

there is no chance this happens as easily/often in the GF, the pressure on the ball and outside players will be immense.

pressure, locking the ball inside 50 and accuracy are the key areas to winning (which is probably obvious).

[Pates 9,660]

13 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Happy for this to continue and hopefully it filters through to the Doggies' bathwater.

It was interesting seeing the doggies all down some pints after the game last week to get to the GF, I’m not sure if we did the same (someone can maybe she’d light on this) but it kind of looked like they were already celebrating as if they’d won it. I’m hoping they’re getting their heads nice and big, our boys sound focused and I’m happy with that. 

Just on a different topic, I’m not sure if people mentioned it in the game thread last week but it was really interesting to see the cats players lining up disconnected, while we linked arm in arm. I wasn’t sure if it was a choice by the cats leaders or whether it just happened but it definitely looked like our players were with each other while the cats looked like how they lost, as individuals. 

[dazzledavey36 54,861]

7 minutes ago, Pates said:

It was interesting seeing the doggies all down some pints after the game last week to get to the GF, I’m not sure if we did the same (someone can maybe she’d light on this) but it kind of looked like they were already celebrating as if they’d won it. I’m hoping they’re getting their heads nice and big, our boys sound focused and I’m happy with that. 

Just on a different topic, I’m not sure if people mentioned it in the game thread last week but it was really interesting to see the cats players lining up disconnected, while we linked arm in arm. I wasn’t sure if it was a choice by the cats leaders or whether it just happened but it definitely looked like our players were with each other while the cats looked like how they lost, as individuals. 

We went back to the hotel and had dinner with a few quite beers.

[qarocks 107]

9 minutes ago, Pates said:

It was interesting seeing the doggies all down some pints after the game last week to get to the GF, I’m not sure if we did the same (someone can maybe she’d light on this) but it kind of looked like they were already celebrating as if they’d won it. I’m hoping they’re getting their heads nice and big, our boys sound focused and I’m happy with that. 

Just on a different topic, I’m not sure if people mentioned it in the game thread last week but it was really interesting to see the cats players lining up disconnected, while we linked arm in arm. I wasn’t sure if it was a choice by the cats leaders or whether it just happened but it definitely looked like our players were with each other while the cats looked like how they lost, as individuals. 

even my unfamiliar with AFL family members watching the PF could tell how close the team was, they would run through walls for each other and played with incredible passion. 18PF was irrelevant. I dont think any other team can match this. Their will and pressure can outlast the dogs.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,118]

46 minutes ago, Dirts said:

I am finding that the AFL Website has put numerous articles on about Bulldogs; Dunkley, Smith, their recruitment guy and yet nothing on us. Next will be a story on breeds of dogs, featuring Bulldogs.

Not overly phased as it seems the usual AFL beat up of the bulldogs, just hope the headline next Saturday night is simply; Dogs in the dog house and Demon's Delirious. 

I'm thinking the media has squeezed the various Dees angles dry for the moment and the circus has moved to the Dogs.

Dunkley(?) made a bit of having half the team know the experience of the lead-up and game, from 2016, and being able to impart it to the other half, as a help and an (implied) advantage. Apart from Beveridge probably not being too happy with Dunkley's 'share', I'm not sure the same affected the 2016 Dogs or helped the 2016 Swans!

And I'm confident our coaching team will see, address and use that. Moreover, to the extent such experience is useful, our coaching team has enough of it, in contexts of actual success, to go around. Plus, as this year clearly indicates, they have the ability to instill their messages very effectively.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

It's September and the grand final is coming up. And the mighty magnificent DEMONS are in it!! This is something to celebrate and enjoy in and of itself.

September football, with Melbourne. GO DEMONS!!!!

[Cassiew 1,903]

12 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

 

Has anyone noticed how cocky the Dogs fans are on social media. They really believe this is all over and done with. I hope it rubs off on their players. The reasons they think they’ll win 1. We have not played as many games as them in the last month and they will be fitter??? 2. This is how they won in 2016! 3. Bailey Smith already has the Norm Smith.
 

 

 

I think I saw that post. The guy who responded is a mate of mine. I think he handled it well

Edited September 15, 2021 by Cassiew

[leave it to deever 17,511]

On 9/14/2021 at 10:55 AM, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Gotta like them odds...

Its funny that so many wrote the dogs off.

The spent a lot of time on top of the ladder.

They have an awesome midfield and some very good tall fwds.

The reality was they had a slump at the end of the h and a. But they are a top team that gets a leg up by being favored more than any club by the umps.

 

[binman 42,896]

binman's 11 point week one plan to prepare for the 2021 Grand Final:

1. Watch our round 19 game against the dogs
2. Watch some random quarters from various game through the season
3. Listen to various radio spots 
4. Watch various TV shows
5. Watch any and all video the club's puts up on its website
6. Read Demonland
7. Post on Demonland
8. Wonder where Dr d and osilik have got to
9. Try to avoid my head exploding as result of listening to too much David King (i mean David, please, stop flip flopping and making random assessments based on whatever snippet of data your mate at Champion Data feeds you) 
10. Watch the fits game against the dogs on Saturday night (to mirror the club's practice march routine - a good solid hit out a week before the GF. I will try and forget the result of that game to maximize verisimilitude )
11. Watch Clarry win the Brownlow 

[Jaded No More 68,902]

6 minutes ago, binman said:

Wonder where Dr d and osilik have got to

Solid question. 

I presume they’re preparing their posts with “I told you so” in case we lose the grand final. 

[Its Time for Another 4,208]

I joined Demonology in about 2006 using the monicur It's Time and came across here in Feb 2008 using it. It's pretty self explanatory why I chose It's Time because even before Singo coined the phrase for Gough's tilt in '72 it was well and truly Time for another Dees flag and has been ever since. 

Soooooo come about 9.50pm on Saturday 25 September 2021 I am of course truly hoping It's Time will become a redundant name and I'm going to need a new one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and hopefully delivered in the happy spirit we are living in at present and not any less salubrious suggestions. 

Thanks in anticipation.

It's Time for now but hopefully not much longer. 

[Adam The God 30,220]

RE Bailey Smith, he's all offence and no defence. Very much like most of their midfield (minus Libba).

I like @Dwight Schrute's match up of Harmes to Smith. He'll negate his offensive influence and then exploit him going the other way.

I think the North Smith will likely come from an unusual source. We shall see.

[binman 42,896]

4 minutes ago, It's Time said:

I joined Demonology in about 2006 using the monicur It's Time and came across here in Feb 2008 using it. It's pretty self explanatory why I chose It's Time because even before Singo coined the phrase for Gough's tilt in '72 it was well and truly Time for another Dees flag and has been ever since. 

Soooooo come about 9.50pm on Saturday 25 September 2021 I am of course truly hoping It's Time will become a redundant name and I'm going to need a new one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and hopefully delivered in the happy spirit we are living in at present and not any less salubrious suggestions. 

Thanks in anticipation.

It's Time for now but hopefully not much longer. 

Easy.

It's time...for a dynasty 

[Its Time for Another 4,208]

12 minutes ago, binman said:

Easy.

It's time...for a dynasty 

Like it.  Dynasty Begun  Dynasty Commenced  

Not tempting MFCSS fate a bit @binman @Demonland 

Maybe just   2021  got a simplicity to it like 186 but obviously with much sweeter connotations. 

Edited September 15, 2021 by It's Time

[Ted Lasso 19,506]

13 minutes ago, A F said:

RE Bailey Smith, he's all offence and no defence. Very much like most of their midfield (minus Libba).

I like @Dwight Schrute's match up of Harmes to Smith. He'll negate his offensive influence and then exploit him going the other way.

I think the North Smith will likely come from an unusual source. We shall see.

My Norm smith tip is Tom McDonald, i think all the defensive focus will be on Brown, Fritsch and Kozzie, Tmac will get a lesser match up and i see him kicking 2-3 and having 20 odd touches and a bunch of marks and providing a great link for us. 

 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

Only fair that the Dogs get all the pre GF media attention when we'll be getting the following six months worth of it. 

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

Cant start dreaming about dynasties until we win the first one. 

[Spud 288]

19 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

...and Chris Grant for them.

1994 Semi Final:

G. Lyon - 18 disposals, 10 goals 4 behinds

C. Grant - 6 disposals, 2 goals 1 behind

I wish I believed in omens...

Chris Grant was stretchered off after running into Neitz - Perfect bump. Was sitting in the bulldogs members section behind the goals at the bottom of the Ponsford stand when it happened. My brother -in law (pies supporter BTW) warned me he was about to start a riot but stated he felt compelled to yell it, stood up yelled "Get up you weak  (choose your own high level profanity,) Grant".

Expecting to then have people turn at us to start a blue, the funny thing was there was no response from dogs supporters just looks and nods of "yep you're right" from them and all these Melbourne heads that had until then appeared invisible, bobbed up all over the place yelling the same thing and even a few bulldogs supporters then yelled it.  Such a strange moment you don't forget it......

When I saw the two presenters I thought of Grant being ironed out on the day Gary kicked 10 and thought it can't be a bad omen!