POSTGAME: GRAND FINAL vs Western Bulldogs

[Engorged Onion 9,255]

20 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

And with our reputation of choking when the pressure's applied they all thought they could be the ones to do it. 
This year we need to put that reputation to rest once and for all.

Erm... already done methinks...

Unless of course you think respect is only earned after 2 consecutive premierships?

 

But I can imagine luminaries of the game such as L.Piconne, A Carazzo, B Stanton and T.Richards are turning in their proverbial existential football graves that 'pressure' doesn't mean Melbourne choke anymore.

We've all moved on from that story, surely?

Edited January 11, 2022 by Engorged Onion

[Fork 'em 6,507]

4 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Erm... already done methinks...

Unless of course you think respect is only earned after 2 consecutive premierships?

Not till later in the year did we dish out some floggings.
They all thought they could come back if they kept up the pressure.
We need to stamp our authority on the competition and when they look at the scoreboard and see they're 5goals down they think they're forked.
Not, "If we keep up the pressure they'll choke."

[leave it to deever 15,317]

11 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

Not till later in the year did we dish out some floggings.
They all thought they could come back if they kept up the pressure.
We need to stamp our authority on the competition and when they look at the scoreboard and see they're 5goals down they think they're forked.
Not, "If we keep up the pressure they'll choke."

We changed our forward structure considerably around the Queens Birthday round. After some fine tuning even with Tmacs dip in form it really started to fire up.

I dont think its unreasonable to expect it to keep improving and this year we will see some even  bigger scores by us.

Edited January 11, 2022 by leave it to deever

[mauriesy 6,787]

We might be the hunted. But a lot of teams will be "quaking in their boots" when they come up against us.

[layzie 28,690]

23 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Had a little break down Apollo Bay over xmas/New years, the old ducks in the front were giving it to me, I remembered they were Cats nuffies... Geeez I had a fun 20 mins before they "had to go.."

Love it! Was in Anglesea myself over new years it really felt good to strut around in a Dees tee in a location other than Melb but still recognisable! 

[58er 5,607]

20 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

We changed our forward structure considerably around the Queens Birthday round. After some fine tuning even with Tmacs dip in form it really started to fire up.

I dont think its unreasonable to expect it to keep improving and this year we will see some even  bigger scores by us.

The forward  line was finally bonded together when BBB came back for his second stint and we never looked back after a couple of weeks working at patterns and coordination and also kicking the ball high to BBB when he was mostly isolated with only one opponent or shorter opponents. 

[leave it to deever 15,317]

3 hours ago, 58er said:

The forward  line was finally bonded together when BBB came back for his second stint and we never looked back after a couple of weeks working at patterns and coordination and also kicking the ball high to BBB when he was mostly isolated with only one opponent or shorter opponents. 

Still cant fathom Norf letting Bbb go. I hope he has a great pre season and plays a full season. He still has several seasons left in him and if he topped the h and a goal tally for 3 years in a low team he could do much more with us.

Edited January 12, 2022 by leave it to deever

[John Crow Batty 8,252]

5 hours ago, 58er said:

The forward  line was finally bonded together when BBB came back for his second stint and we never looked back after a couple of weeks working at patterns and coordination and also kicking the ball high to BBB when he was mostly isolated with only one opponent or shorter opponents. 

Having Gawn drift forward when Jackson is rucking has also been a weapon. Hugely advantages Brown as well as letting Fritsch find acres of space. Also compensated for Tmac’s indifferent form.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

On 12/31/2021 at 10:05 PM, Spirit of '87 said:

I wasn’t too sure about that comment by BT - wasn’t it the Bulldogs who were drowning? - in Melbourne goals? 

(Coupla days off line and I'm only up to page 100 in my emojing but I'll quote as I go!😁)

From BT, I did however like (including for its slight, unsurprising mangle, but not for the fact he interrupted someone to say it) 'I tell you, JB, the crowd level noise here is eee-lectric!'

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

On 1/1/2022 at 12:02 AM, Chook said:

Happy New Year (didn't time it quite right but I'll live!)

Reckon you timed it exactly right, Chook. In the relaxed, measured voicing we've all been able to apply since the catharsis of 25/9, it would have taken you 7 seconds to say, 'Happy New Year (didn't time it quite right but I'll live!)'. Or for Melbourne to kick the first two goals of 2022...

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

On 1/2/2022 at 6:32 PM, 4_Kent_Watts said:

 I'm sorry to disappoint all who love the Bang Bang Bang thing but he stole it from an NBA Commentator. I do love the moment tho and how it related to the game at the time but Brayshaws best moment on tv was stolen from another commentator. 

If there was any 'stealing' going on (and I reckon it's possible, subconsciously if nothing else) it would have been the initial 'Bang!' (thanks @4_Kent_Watts and @BrisbaneDemon) after Oliver's goal. I think Brayshaw is good enough to have instantly mentally rewound the preceding 40 seconds and come up with the triple-treat repeat.

Edited January 13, 2022 by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

[58er 5,607]

1 hour ago, John Crow Batty said:

Having Gawn drift forward when Jackson is rucking has also been a weapon. Hugely advantages Brown as well as letting Fritsch find acres of space. Also compensated for Tmac’s indifferent form.

Totally correct JCB   Gawny became the hunted and all our forwards benefited from his prescience. Even when They swapped Jacko developed a presence with more goals due to his all round footy skills. Our totals each match were a revelation especially in the Finals.

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

On 1/7/2022 at 8:45 AM, WalkingCivilWar said:

Same here! Still can’t bloody believe it. I reckon I could pinch myself ‘til I’m black and blue all over and it still won’t fully register that WE WON THE PREMIERSHIP!!! 

I'd like to think you'd bypass the black and go from the initial red to the final blue...

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

On 1/11/2022 at 10:06 AM, leave it to deever said:

64 days to go folks.

You also have dibs, then, on '57 days to go folks', deever 😀

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 3,818]

7 hours ago, 58er said:

The forward  line was finally bonded together when BBB came back for his second stint and we never looked back after a couple of weeks working at patterns and coordination and also kicking the ball high to BBB when he was mostly isolated with only one opponent or shorter opponents. 

I'm not sure even that's a requirement now that he's hit (and will hopefully be keeping) form. His arms are so long and he manages to get the hands at the end of them right at the apex of the ball's arrival.

[Dante 2,562]

6 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Still cant fathom Norf letting Bbb go. I hope he has a great pre season and plays a full season. He still has several seasons left in him and if he topped the h and a goal tally for 3 years in a low team he could do much more with us.

Norf are rebuilding and I don't think that BBB was in their calculations for the rebuild I think they wanted to get a player that was coming in to his prime when they were through the rebuild, not finished at the same time as it was completed.

I must confess I wasn't a big fan of his and thought he threw our forward line out when he first started playing with us, as it turns out I was wrong. When he was initially dropped, I quietly said to myself, told you so. Yes well....

[leave it to deever 15,317]

44 minutes ago, Dante said:

Norf are rebuilding and I don't think that BBB was in their calculations for the rebuild I think they wanted to get a player that was coming in to his prime when they were through the rebuild, not finished at the same time as it was completed.

I must confess I wasn't a big fan of his and thought he threw our forward line out when he first started playing with us, as it turns out I was wrong. When he was initially dropped, I quietly said to myself, told you so. Yes well....

Thanks for the post Dante. Your honesty is refreshing. The thing I like about Bbb at present is he seems to have added another dimension to his game. He has always been a lead into space forward but this year seems to have come into his own as a player taking pack Mark's or contesting and getting the ball to ground for our many crumbles. 

But even as his old self at Norf, to kick that many goals and be discarded after one poor season was just wrong imho. But thanks norf.

Edited January 13, 2022 by leave it to deever

[leave it to deever 15,317]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

s year seems to have come into his own as a player taking pack Mark's or contesting and getting the ball to ground for our many crumbles. 

Mmmmm....crumble

[4_Kent_Watts 846]

On 1/12/2022 at 11:02 AM, mauriesy said:

We might be the hunted. But a lot of teams will be "quaking in their boots" when they come up against us.

For Too Many Years did I hear from Mates to the Boss, I hope we play the Dees twice this year. Can't think of One team that'll have those thoughts this year. 

[Fanatique Demon 2,386]

On 1/12/2022 at 5:30 AM, layzie said:

Love it! Was in Anglesea myself over new years it really felt good to strut around in a Dees tee in a location other than Melb but still recognisable! 

It must be great to get the nod, wink, impromptu chat with strangers when wearing Demons gear. I have worn a Demons hat, scarf or jumper virtually every day since the Premiership. Whether here in France or in southern Spain (where I spent seven weeks in the sun) no one knows what it’s about. I envy you locals!

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 5,794]

On 1/10/2022 at 2:40 PM, Demonised said:

Watching the GF so many times, I'm now appreciating some of the more overlooked moments, like this one attached. It's a little hard to see, but I think that Oliver basically flies along horizontally over the top of fallen and flailing Bulldogs, grabs the ball and handballs it mid-air in a breathtaking display of skill and focus. Amazing ninja level stuff.

I was on that wing 10 rows back from fence it was commando type stuff from Clarry.

[Nicko 1,222]

On 1/13/2022 at 10:28 PM, Fanatique Demon said:

It must be great to get the nod, wink, impromptu chat with strangers when wearing Demons gear. I have worn a Demons hat, scarf or jumper virtually every day since the Premiership. Whether here in France or in southern Spain (where I spent seven weeks in the sun) no one knows what it’s about. I envy you locals!

At dinner tonight up in Airlie beach in far north qld with my two daughters…..and there was another Dees family!!
The dad was wearing his premiership cap… my 12 year old daughter was in her “give ‘em hell” tshirt and I had my premiership face mask….he walked passed us and yelled go Dees!!!

Loved it 😍 ❤️💙

who would’ve thought that would ever happen in FNQ?!?

[Redleg 37,556]

30 minutes ago, Nicko said:

At dinner tonight up in Airlie beach in far north qld with my two daughters…..and there was another Dees family!!
The dad was wearing his premiership cap… my 12 year old daughter was in her “give ‘em hell” tshirt and I had my premiership face mask….he walked passed us and yelled go Dees!!!

Loved it 😍 ❤️💙

who would’ve thought that would ever happen in FNQ?!?

Or anywhere for that matter.

[leave it to deever 15,317]

I wonder If Trac surprised himself with our first goal. Off one step that was an incredibly powerful kick. It's no like it just made it either. Man that bloke has powerful legs. Which brings me to Sparrow.  His goal was not too dissimilar. Given his age, I wonder if we have another CP on our hands.

Tom Sparrow's efforts seem to stand out more every time I watch the replay. Such poise and presence for a young fella in a granny. When he didnt blaze away in that first minute of the last and pass to Bbb, was a moment when this kid became a permanent part of this team in my mind. To think he will continue to get even stronger gives us a very tough midfield.

[leave it to deever 15,317]

Grand final replay will be a ripper in round one. Not a fan of timeslot for young families sake but cant wait to watch it. I guess dogs have more to play for...revenge etc. But we have the task of winning a cup at the Mcg so we will need to channel our granny efforts again. Kudos for the afl for this concept. It will also be good to see some Nt games again.