What They Are Saying at Western Oval

[picket fence 18,078]

Changed to EATABILITY

There WCW Hope that clarifies things😂

[Ollie fan 3,647]

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

Ok he is a goodish coach, BUT Ill tell you why... If he was EXCEPTIONAL he would have gone Back to Back or at least 2 in 3 to 4 years. Leigh Mathews did it , Hardwick did it and our very own Norm Smith did it as well! The doggies coach tinkered too much and injuries occur... but you must have solid reinforcements. The Doggies although good in 2016 had absolutely everything go right for them including having the boot polish at the right level of shine and the meat pies at exactly the right temperature for comfortable fast eatability

Can’t agree with this. The reason he didn’t win back to back premierships has exactly for the reason you spelled out in your last sentence. In other words, they weren’t a particularly great team, there were teams that were better equipped that year – e.g. Sydney – and he coached them to win the GF despite that. He didn’t have the fire power to go back to back. 

[picket fence 18,078]

8 minutes ago, Ollie fan said:

Can’t agree with this. The reason he didn’t win back to back premierships has exactly for the reason you spelled out in your last sentence. In other words, they weren’t a particularly great team, there were teams that were better equipped that year – e.g. Sydney – and he coached them to win the GF despite that. He didn’t have the fire power to go back to back. 

A very Flukey win then!??

Edited March 13, 2022 by picket fence

[leave it to deever 17,598]

18 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Not a lot of posting happening, maybe more as the game gets closer.  There is a bit of talk about not going to the game, arriving after the flag is unfurled or retreating to the bar so they don't see it.  And a it of reflection on the GF result.

Overall they have been fairly tame.  Some selections from bf and 'woof':

• I want to see a more defensively-minded midfield. Someone tag Petracca or Oliver for the whole game. I don’t care who.

• Q: What bay is our cheersquad in? I bought a couple tickets in M3 but I think that might be with the Dees’ fans…. ?? A:  I think you are smack bang in the middle of the Melbourne cheer squad
• We had and still have multiple deficiencies/weaknesses in our team especially in our key position roles, had to travel to 4 states, had to win 3 finals in a row to get to the GF, had a third of our team sh*t the bed in the GF from the start of the first quarter, yet we were still up by 3 goals at one point in the third quarter.   Another year of development and fixing key weaknesses goes a long way. We are still the second best team in it even with these apparent faults.

• How about we stop discussing how we have little chance against this "juggernaut" and start discussing tactics to actually win.  The pessimism is ridiculous.
• I don't blame the tactics\coaching instructions so much as the players' over zealous reaction to those instructions. The road to ruin is always paved with good intentions.  Moving forward we need to back ourselves to adjust to the opportunities that Melbourne's defence will give us on the ground rather than focus too much on the ones that we think they will prior to the match.
• I'm pretty fatigued still from last year, and watching on tv again with all the pitfalls that brings does not excite me. Also don't like the idea of getting done by Melbourne first up.
• I'm excited for round 2. I just want round 1 to be over.
• Some trepidation. And the fact that we STILL don't have a ruckman continues to concern me.  But I'll probably have the lid off at first bounce.
• I'm looking forward to having a different game to dwell/celebrate over. *!*!*!*! that GF memory off.
• Let us make a Round 1 statement and rain on Melbourne's parade.
• Yeah, I reckon our blokes hate those Demons flogs. Would love to see us start some biff next Wednesday.
• Besides Libba who do you expect to take it up to Melb from a physical stand point?  I can't think of many as we have a quite a few 'nice boys' in our team... and not many with any mongrel.
• Would love Libba to lead the way and the nice boys to drop the halo and take a stand. Nothing stupid or over the line but I want to let those flogs to know we’re coming for them.

I think my favourites the last few looking for some mongrel from their palers.  It wasn't that long ago that we were the ones that played nice bruise-free footy.  Now we have Salem, May, Viney, Picket, Spargo etc who know how to hurt without hurting themselves or getting reported.  WB were soft in the GF,  May, Salem and Viney knocked the stuffing out of a few key players in the first 10 minutes.  They may tinker with their game plan but I don't think they are going to find 'mongrel' overnight.  Its not in their DNA.

And Gus did his fair bit of bruising in the gf as well as copping a fair bit.

[leave it to deever 17,598]

16 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Agree with both posts.

Libba's a pest and not in a good way, Hunter is a Selwood-level ducker (some will say Spargo is the same but whatever) and I reckon Beveridge has known for years that English is too soft to be a good ruckman as he gets bullied around far too easily.

Otherwise, I think the Dogs get physicality right. Macrae, Dunkley, Bont, Daniel, Smith, Naughton - these are players who don't shy away from contact but don't go out of their way to be [censored] about it (unlike Libba).

Bont should have got a week for his head bump on Oliver in the gf. But hey let's not rub out any big names.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

They are too busy singing that song they sang after they won the premiership.

[whatwhat say what 23,661]

all gone very meta with their bigfooty game preview now referencing this thread (hello footscray fans visiting us!)

amazed that their supporters aren't banging on about eurodisco as much as the players

[Lucifers Hero 40,578]

19 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

all gone very meta with their bigfooty game preview now referencing this thread (hello footscray fans visiting us!)

amazed that their supporters aren't banging on about eurodisco as much as the players

They seem to not know that we give each opponent the honour of a 'What They Are Saying at...' thread.

 

As an aside, it seems Melbourne Victory have adopted 'Freed from Desire':  From January 2022, 'Freed from Desire' was chosen via a fan poll as the post-match victory song of Melbourne Victory FC; the song will be played over AAMI Park's loudspeakers after every Melbourne Victory home win.  Wikipedia

Time for Bulldog players to let the angst go.  Its been a football song in Europe for some years.  I bet those teams aren't gnashing teeth that the Bulldogs adopted it for the finals.  For all we (or they) know our players could be following the European football teams rather than the Bulldogs...

...Are Melbourne Victory playing Wednesday night?  It would be quite funny if they won, turned their loudspeakers up really loud and 'Freed From Desire' could be heard at the G🙃

[Demon17 5,231]

2 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

Can’t agree with this. The reason he didn’t win back to back premierships has exactly for the reason you spelled out in your last sentence. In other words, they weren’t a particularly great team, there were teams that were better equipped that year – e.g. Sydney – and he coached them to win the GF despite that. He didn’t have the fire power to go back to back. 

Agree with this Of.  and as for 2021, they didn't have a Premiership-standard defence and they still don't in 2022.

Unlike Dees, Cats(with Stewart), Tigers with their system and personnel and Lions led by a fit Harris Andrews.

Last time a losing GF team played in the GF next year was 10 years ago.

[pitmaster 3,589]

It's important to make a statement, not only to the Bullies but to the competition. Get the season off to a flying start.

But it's no certainty. The GF aside, we split the honours last year with us losing the second contest due to failing to take advantage of our opportunities.

The two we won on the other hand saw us start fast and take them by the collar early. A solid win here would be some way towards establishing a psychological advantage over a team that is pretty good at believing its own hype, so there's plenty to gain beyond the four points if we get it done.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,460]

5 minutes ago, RigidMiddleDigit said:

It's important to make a statement, not only to the Bullies but to the competition. Get the season off to a flying start.

But it's no certainty. The GF aside, we split the honours last year with us losing the second contest due to failing to take advantage of our opportunities.

The two we won on the other hand saw us start fast and take them by the collar early. A solid win here would be some way towards establishing a psychological advantage over a team that is pretty good at believing its own hype, so there's plenty to gain beyond the four points if we get it done.

They still don't like the pressure/hard ball just like last year against the Tigers, against us in the first game, the GF. Win the post clearance contested possession and keep their small forwards accountable and we win I think.

[MT64 1,144]

8 hours ago, picket fence said:

A very Flukey win then!??

Lack of strong umpiring helped a lot. Throw it to me, throw it to me.

[Jaded No More 68,976]

Hello to all the Dogs fans. 
Welcome. Please don’t feel special we make these threads for every game. 
Enjoy your stay. 
 

Petracca says hi 

[Ted Lasso 19,568]

It'll be really interesting to see how the Dogs go this year, that turnaround in such a big game has got to leave some scars. i could see them falling away slightly for a year or two to be honest, still playing finals but maybe not the dominant team they were in 2021 

 

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

6 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

all gone very meta with their bigfooty game preview now referencing this thread (hello footscray fans visiting us!)

amazed that their supporters aren't banging on about eurodisco as much as the players

At Liverpool FC right now:

"Lads, I've 'eard there's this Ozzy football cloob that's tekken our song. The Booldogs. Can you believe that, eh? Booldogs, an' they're not even British."

"But cap. It's not our song. Every fooken sports cloob in the fooken wairld sings that song."

"Well, yass, that's true. Ah suppose so. But let's --- oh, what the hell. They can fooken 'ave it. It's a daft song anyway. Now 'oos coomin' down the poob?"

Aye." Aye." Aye." Aye." Aye." Aye." Aye." "Aye."

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

8 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Bont should have got a week for his head bump on Oliver in the gf. But hey let's not rub out any big names.

By sheer coincidence you have just articulated the exact words of Gil McLachlan when appointing the match review officer to his job.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

On 3/13/2022 at 6:55 PM, Dr. Gonzo said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they come out with a point to prove but we have a real chance to destroy them psychologically and I hope we take it

Why worry. It’s a long season and that GF will mess around with them at big games. Geelong had the wood over hawthorn- except when it mattered