GRAND FINAL: Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I would have been confident with any other opponent, but it’s a genuine 50/50 against the doggies. It’s a pity Brisbane couldn’t finish them off last week.

In saying that, it’s a big match up with star players everywhere, even the neutrals are excited for this one. Can’t wait.

[Lucifers Hero 40,360]

A few weeks ago Richardson said that if the bulldogs made the GF we might need to move out of the Joondalup resort for them.  He mentioned our players were really happy there. 

At the time I thought the bulldogs should go to the resort where the loser of Dees vs Cats PF had been.

It would be a shame if we had to move and be disrupted, even in a small way, what our team was used to.

[rpfc 28,774]

Of course we got the hardest match up with the best midfield, with the best FF in the game.

It’s a Grand Final FCS! 

They have the deeper midfield but we have a better defensive set up. We are not a one man band in defence like Port but we are susceptible to incisive kicking and that is what the Dogs are great at.

We bring our pressure and convert - we win. 

But flags are earned - and 2021 will be thoroughly earned whoever wins.

[Lucifers Hero 40,360]

I reckon Petty should play on Schache to stop him blocking Lever as he did Allir Allir at every i50 contest.  Just keep Schache (or whoever they use to block) out of the way.

[rufus 1,162]

20 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Agree mostly with this , except their backline cannot be taken lightly.  Keath probably replaces Gardner.  Cordy is a big bodied defender.  Wood and Williams are hard and skilled.  Dale and Daniel are excellent players who setup the play.  Duryea just gets it done.  

I reckon that if both teams apply the kind of pressure they did this weekend, the tall forwards/tall defenders won't be that much of a deciding factor (with the exception of Naughton who's ability to win marking contests from non-advantage kicks if spectacular). It's going to come down to goals kicked by mids and how well the medium/small defenders from both teams can stop those scrappy goals materialising. Dogs defensive strength is their medium/smaller guys so we need to make them feel a contest all night long.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

5 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I reckon Petty should play on Schache to stop him blocking Lever as he did Allir Allir at every i50 contest.  Just keep Schache (or whoever they use to block) out of the way.

Block the blocker. Sounds silly but I know exactly what you mean, Schache was very important.

Also, we can’t let Naughton fly for marks like he did last night. He had a free run at it waaay too many times. Hopefully May is 100% fit in a fortnight’s time.

[buck_nekkid 6,046]

And whist the panic is high here, I wonder who the doggies fans are worried about?

the 5 all Australians?

the rising star?

kozzie?

We can do this, if we stick to our method and bring the pressure.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

So glad Viney is back.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

12 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

I would have been confident with any other opponent, but it’s a genuine 50/50 against the doggies. It’s a pity Brisbane couldn’t finish them off last week.

In saying that, it’s a big match up with star players everywhere, even the neutrals are excited for this one. Can’t wait.

Port biggest pretenders ever.

[Lucifers Hero 40,360]

I have a lot of time for Jack Niall but I think this article is bizarre:  why-may-should-thank-hocking-if-he-plays-in-the-grand-final .  Sure the bye helps May but it helps the whole bulldogs team a lot lot more as they have virtually circumnavigated the country and in quarantine for 3 weeks.  The extra week is an enormous advantage to all 23 of them.

Not Niall's most balanced article.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

Port wilted under expectation and pressure, its just a week earlier than most anticipated. Dogs pressure and attack were immense. The two worthy teams will fight it out for the cup. Our best trumps theirs but we will need to be on. They have taken a long road I suggest a fierce start and jump them and they fall away. The longer they lead or are in it the more they will believe. I cant see either team not being at top intensity, the game will come down to who takes their chances and who wins the tactical battle. 

[rpfc 28,774]

I much prefer this structure of the bye before the GF.

The Dogs have earned the week off.

And we should have the GF with two teams gearing up for it and as healthy as they can be.

The pre-finals bye is just a cash grab for a Thursday night final you can only do in that first week. It should go and and I hope the clubs gang up on the AFL to get rid of it.

[DemonOX 8,800]

It’s going to be a cracker of a GF. 

Both teams play a similar style and if we bring the heat for 4 quarters (and accurate goal kicking) we will win. 

I am less nervous about the GF than I was about the prelim. 

BRING THE HEAT DEES and the result will follow. 

GO U MIGHTY DEES. 

[jumbo returns 6,741]

10 hours ago, bing181 said:

Would have preferred Port myself. Dogs' on-ball/midfield bats very deep.

Agree - they're v good!

[Half forward flank 1,022]

We have a game on our hands But, how Smith was allowed to run forward with no one checking him was some of the worst coaching I have seen in a while. The previous week in an interview Smith told all the footy world that was what he was told to do. Petty to Schauche, leave the rest to our brains trust. We have the talent and desire. Port were much worse than Geelong. 

[jumbo returns 6,741]

18 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Port biggest pretenders ever.

Cats? Same, methinks....

[Hellish Inferno 992]

Simple strategy to win really

Solid defence, limiting the Dogs to a low score. If we nullify their forward line all we need to do is kick a goal or two more every quarter, or have a burst of goals to put them away. Don't mind if it's a low scoring game

I have more faith in our defence than they would in theirs

But the solid defence must come from all parts of the ground, not just the backline

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

29 minutes ago, rpfc said:

with the best FF in the game.

I didn’t know McKay played for the dogs? If you’re talking about Naughton then he’s no where near it. Fritsch has kicked 7 more than him and played 1 less game.

[Lucifers Hero 40,360]

2 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Cats? Same, methinks....

At least the cats could legitimately claim key absentees, (Stewart, Parfitt, Connor), injured players (Henderson, Touhy etc) and no bye.  Port had a fully fit list and fully rested.  Inexplicable and I suspect for their fans unforgiveable.

[Nicko 1,382]

26 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

So glad Viney is back.

He’s built for finals - he’ll play one hell of a GF I reckon 

[dee-tox 4,835]

Facing the Dogs wasn't the preferred scenario.

They are a very well coached team with an exceptional midfield. Compared to Port it is was chalk and cheese. Compared to us it will be much, much closer.

Beveridge has this us against the world thing going and it is a frickin powerful force. 

I honestly think we can do it.  But Mark my words it will be close. Those that think otherwise are naive and perhaps stupid.

 

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by dee-tox

[jumbo returns 6,741]

3 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Facing the Dogs wasn't the preferred scenario.

They are a very well coached team with an exceptional midfield. Compared to Port it is was chalk and cheese. Compared to us it ill be much, much closer.

Beveridge has this us against the world thing going and it is a frickin powerful force. 

I honestly think we can do it.  But Mark my words it will be close. Those that think otherwise are naive and perhaps stupid.

 

 

Very Northey-esque

[dazzledavey36 55,318]

This will be one of the great grand finals we'll see. Star factor on show from both clubs.

Here's my analysis on the dogs from watching game from start to finish.

I thought it was one of the most softest performances I've seen from an AFL club in a long time. Seeing the likes of Rozer, Motlop, Fantasia, Amon and Dursmma shirk or pull out of contests was unbelievable first hand. They just failed to apply any pressure throughout the game and dogs was just able to waltz through traffic with such ease.

[censored] poor effort by Port, and it gives me great confidence that Melbourne won't allow this to happen.

Midfield 

Doggies won the game last night through sheer midfield dominance. Like completely slaughtered them. They were +30 in contested possession, +7 in stoppage clearance and +6 in general clearances. Port rely so much on Boak and Wines that it became too overwhelming for them when you're coming up against Bontempelli, Libratore, McRea, Smith, Treloar, Hunter etc. 

After Bosk and Wines, there's a considerable drop in midfield depth for Port. Again, Doggies are coming up against Gawn, Jackson, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Harmes, Langdon, Brayshaw and Sparrow. 

To me this is where I think the game will be won. Last time the doggies beat us, they didn't have Treloar or Dunkley.  So they definitely bat a bit deeper then us, but we're better defensively. 

Defence 

Their defence is interesting. They've got some good honest defenders in Wood, Cordy and Gardiner as key talls with Keath to come back in as well. They're not stars,  but they get the job done and are good honest players.

They don't worry me. What worries me is Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel. Their run and carry along with their elite kicking is exactly what sets them up off half back and create scoring opportunities. They put themselves in a position where they're able to receive and execute length and metres gain.

The stark contrast with both games this year was we were able to negate their influence first time around and put enormous amount of forward pressure on both players. They weren't able to provide the metres gain like usually would and this played an important part in us winning. 

Second time around Daniel and Dale were just given too much freedom to do what they did. Daniel especially was dominant, and Dale was able to piece through our defensive wall as well.

Last night Daniel had 7 rebound 50s and Dale had 8. That's far too much space and freedom that Port gave them and it worked in the doggies favour.

The difference again? Both Daniel and Dale combined for a total of 5 rebound 50s when we beat them earlier.

Stop these two and it'll go a long way to us winning.

Forward

Ports defence is a shambles. To give you a reason why, they had a guy by the name of Trent McKenzie playing on Naughton. Same guy that was picked up as a delisted free agent. Naughton got completely hold of McKenzie last night. Naugjton had a total of 9 marks in which 6 were contested.

He simply does get that luxury against Steven May.

They had Schache play a defensive role on Alir Alir and played it really well. He was able to not only curtail his influence, but also engage in the one on one contests. Look for them to do the exact same on Lever.

Rivers takes Weightman which is a given.

Hibberd could take Hannan who has been inconsistent this year except his past 4 games where he's played a good role up forward.

With Martin back in, expect English to play more minutes up forward. Petty will obviously get the job and needs to watch him in the air because he can be quite dangerous when he gets a good run and job at it. 

If May can negate Naughton, and we stop the likes of Weightman and Bailey Smith who is good up forward, then I think it'll play another element to us winning this game.

In summary, expect this game to go down to the wire. They do scare me to some degree, but I also back our system against theirs.

The only concern for me is the fitness of Steven May. If there was a guy that you want putting all his heart and body on the line for the biggest game of the year it's Steven May. 

If by unfortunate circumstances he doesn't get up, does Tmac go down back? Does Smith come back in?

All intriguing questions. 

[Pates 9,660]

2 minutes ago, one_demon said:

They've been getting better and better through the finals.  I'm hoping the two week break will halt their momentum.

Could see it going either way, the bye could be perfect timing for them to allow some players to get a much needed rest. Personally I would rather the GF be next weekend, this waiting around is excruciating!

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,778]

Their hands were very clean, this is our kryptonite. Need to bring massive pressure and take that effectiveness away