TEAMS: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[RyanD 290]

Sorry, didn't know where to post this.

 

Coming from Brisbane tomorrow. Will I need a jumper tomorrow night? Keep in mind where I live lol. 

[Chook 15,022]

1 minute ago, RyanD said:

Sorry, didn't know where to post this.

 

Coming from Brisbane tomorrow. Will I need a jumper tomorrow night? Keep in mind where I live lol. 

Supposed to be 26 degrees. So yes!

The biggest variable is whether we're going to win or not. We are, so you'll be clapping heaps, which will warm you up. Long sleeves, with a blankie just in case is my go-to. I have a practical jacket too, which I wear everywhere more for the pockets than the warmth. So if you've got one of them then it'll probably do the job if the dogs get on top.

[DubDee 26,117]

2 minutes ago, RyanD said:

Sorry, didn't know where to post this.

 

Coming from Brisbane tomorrow. Will I need a jumper tomorrow night? Keep in mind where I live lol. 

Temp won’t drop below 20 and will be muggy so you should be right. 

[Jaded No More 68,974]

49 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Not sure if anyone noticed but watching the Charlie Spargo interview they had the backline group in a huddle where Steven May was obviously giving a speech.

Angus Braydhaw was part of that back line group.

Gus plays defensive wing and often pushes back so that could be why. They maybe were going thru a set play where Gus pushes back if the Dogs are attacking the Langdon wing and looking to switch. 
I wouldn’t read heaps into it. I still don’t think we mess with the wings. It’s more likely JJ plays the seventh defensive role or perhaps we have decided to change it up this year and push harder with the mids. Maybe we want to always have more defensive mids to help take the heat off Trac and Clarry and rely less on the back 6. 
I don’t think we will do the exact same things we did last year. It’ll be too predictable.

 

[DubDee 26,117]

Not good news for Tomlinson. Petty will be back for round 2-3 and Tomlinson is behind him and Smith it seems. He looks fit to me so I don’t think that is a consideration especially playing key back. Smith is more versatile and as the dogs really only have naughton as a tall threat, there is no need for tommo.

i Feel for him

[Jaded No More 68,974]

1 minute ago, DubDee said:

Not good news for Tomlinson. Petty will be back for round 2-3 and Tomlinson is behind him and Smith it seems. He looks fit to me so I don’t think that is a consideration especially playing key back. Smith is more versatile and as the dogs really only have naughton as a tall threat, there is no need for tommo.

i Feel for him

I don’t actually think Tommo has a match up here. 
Who would he even play on? The Dogs are going in with one genuine tall in Naughton who is a terrible matchup for Tommo. Way too athletic. That leaves him playing on a resting ruck, which to me is a waste of defensive position when the Dogs are much more likely to get goals from their medium and small forwards and when we know Gawn can sit in the hole anyway.
We also know that they can and have killed us at ground level, so going smaller and more athletic makes sense. Smith is a good match up for Sache. Far better than Tommo. 
My bigger worry is that Hunt and Smith are a bit of a “hit and miss” when it comes to ball use so it’s a lot of hands in mouth stuff watching them together. 
We win this game in the middle. It’s how we beat them in the Grand Final. Take care of the midfield and we win. Simple. They can’t handle our forwards and if we get on top thru the clearances our backline can cover their forwards. 
 

[Turner 1,516]

2 hours ago, The Stigga said:

While Smith wasn't a creator last week he went really hard at the contest and played his role as asked, hence his inclusion.

as soon as the carlton game finished i said to dad, and posted in the post game thread smith was in our top 4 or 5 on the ground, generally looked hungry in the tackle and combative in the air and i said tomlinson looked like he was protecting his knee when turning or slowing down just a little bit too

1 hour ago, Macca said:

We played 7 players through the backline last year with Brayshaw periodically floating back to help out

So 3 are out (Hibberd, Petty & Rivers) replaced with Joel Smith (Petty's role) & Hunt probably covers for Rivers on Langdon's side of the ground (Hunt & Langdon work well together)

i rkn this is one of the biggest myths in footy, why? because they look similar? they both wear long sleeves? hunt repeatedly gets run down (strange situation to find yourself in when you're the quickest bloke on the park supposedly) and doesn't necessarily improve langdons game any more than anyone else does, if anything he's more likely to hinder it by taking kicks off him and being a poorer distributer or simply skipping him altogether with his 60m roosts to contest

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I think we're underestimating the loss of River's and Petty.

River's for me has that speed and power in being able to play on the likes of Weightman, Hannan and Johanisson.

you're wrong dazzle, no one needs to play on hannan 

52 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Hmm so Brayshaw to defence and Jordon to the wing. Seems like they have Jordon earmarked for a wing position so will be interesting how it plays out, not sure I like tinkering so much when we already have 3 premiership defenders missing and Brayshaw was crucial on the wing in two games against the Dogs last year.

isn't this the entire reason why we are tinkering? obviously if we had our best players available then we wouldn't but we dont therefore we must change something so we still have the best side we can out there and clearly jordon is a stronger candidate than turner, dsmith or HBBaker 

[RyanD 290]

33 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Temp won’t drop below 20 and will be muggy so you should be right. 

 

33 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Temp won’t drop below 20 and will be muggy so you should be right. 

So which is it? hahaha

[Left Foot Snap 2,454]

38 minutes ago, RyanD said:

Sorry, didn't know where to post this.

 

Coming from Brisbane tomorrow. Will I need a jumper tomorrow night? Keep in mind where I live lol. 

Mate, we are too and taking every bit of warm stuff we own. Having said that the forecast is only a min of 28 degrees or so. We were worried about rain and then saw expect fall was a few mm. We are set up to layer for any outcome! Have a good flight.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

2 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

It's 6.30 Wadda but I'm going for an early arrival because I foresee ****ups with the ticketing set up!

Ok thanks Uncle. Yes that app business it going to cause headaches for sure. I couldn't sign in to mine when i gave it a try. Why use a gate ticket made from paper? That would never work.

I might come down at 3pm to get over Westgate as well. Its such a mess there.

....and im so glad weve pushed in in front of Carlton and Richmond for the first game. Eggzellent.

Edited March 15, 2022 by Wadda We Sing

[Macca 17,033]

2 hours ago, Turner said:

 

i rkn this is one of the biggest myths in footy, why? because they look similar? they both wear long sleeves? hunt repeatedly gets run down (strange situation to find yourself in when you're the quickest bloke on the park supposedly) and doesn't necessarily improve langdons game any more than anyone else does, if anything he's more likely to hinder it by taking kicks off him and being a poorer distributer or simply skipping him altogether with his 60m roosts to contest

 

I'm not sure Hunt & Langdon working together gets talked about all too often

Hunt had his best season last year but often gets remembered for past deeds.  But judge him on his improved footy as he could improve again

He's a dasher with a few flaws.  And as we saw in the finals, long kicks into the forward line to a 1 on 1 wasn't such a bad ploy.  Hunt can provide those types of kicks as he gets it a bit

Up until round 21 last year his spot wasn't under the question ... gets injured though and couldn't get back in because Bowey excelled.  That's footy

As a role player, he's unique because of his pace, dash and straight-ahead style.  A point of difference that is often needed

Edited March 15, 2022 by Macca

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

6.35.

With a 70,000+ crowd it could take a while to get in especially as this is the first time most will have used digital entry and/or haven't checked their mfc app to see if they are (correctly) set up.

And they will be checking the vax certificates.

So allow lots of time.

Ok Thanks LH. Its quite early then. Do we know what time the gates actually open?

Yes i was thinking just that as i tried the app for the first time. Spot on.

Think ill get there quite early try to avoid the predicted Kaos.

[Beetle 4,673]

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Hunt and Joel Smith in the same baseline looks way too shaky for me.

 

 

*and yes I’m aware it’s “bass”. 

Edited March 15, 2022 by Beetle

[adonski 12,429]

37 minutes ago, Beetle said:

 

 

*and yes I’m aware it’s “bass”. 

Can I make a song request please.....

[John Crow Batty 8,879]

Much talk and had wringing about our defence. I would not be surprised if Tmac get a run down back and Smith up forward if it’s not working. Still our best defenders May, Lever and Salem are all still there.

[Grapeviney 9,800]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Can I make a song request please.....

Freed from Desire? 

[rpfc 28,779]

5 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Much talk and had wringing about our defence. I would not be surprised if Tmac get a run down back and Smith up forward if it’s not working. Still our best defenders May, Lever and Salem are all still there.

Not in round 1.

[mo64 5,881]

6 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Much talk and had wringing about our defence. I would not be surprised if Tmac get a run down back and Smith up forward if it’s not working. Still our best defenders May, Lever and Salem are all still there.

I would be shocked if that happened. Goody never considered playing Tmac down back when Tomlinson got injured. 

If our backs are under the pump it will be due to our mids getting beaten. But some supporters will put the blame on the usual scapegoats in Hunt and Smith.

[Lucifers Hero 40,362]

6 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

Freed from Desire? 

LOL.  I wanted to 'Like' this 10 times!'

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

13 hours ago, wizardinoz said:

Tomlinson very stiff.

Seemed like the obvious replacement for Petty.

That said, I reckon this club knows what it’s doing now.

 

[Dido 79]

12 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

In all probability, Smith would have a premiership medallion had he not been injured during the finals

Agreed! Smith was impressive in the finals till injured. Not many at his hight can run along side Charlie Cameron. I think he is worth round 1 selection.

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,229]

Looking at the dogs forward options in detail I can see why we went with Smith.

May to Naughton. Lever to Schache. Smith to Hannan.

The rest are all smalls and resting mids. English will also go down there at times but then we can send Gawn or Jacko down to mind him.

Martin will also rest down there but I would probably rather him be having shots at goal given his kicking....

[Red and Blue realist 2,058]

10 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

I don’t actually think Tommo has a match up here. 
Who would he even play on? The Dogs are going in with one genuine tall in Naughton who is a terrible matchup for Tommo. Way too athletic. That leaves him playing on a resting ruck, which to me is a waste of defensive position when the Dogs are much more likely to get goals from their medium and small forwards and when we know Gawn can sit in the hole anyway.
We also know that they can and have killed us at ground level, so going smaller and more athletic makes sense. Smith is a good match up for Sache. Far better than Tommo. 

I agree this is why I think they went with Smith, he can also fly much better to compete with Naughton in the air if he gets on a role, and we know May is smart enough to stay down if required. On May, he'll also be fit this game as well, no hammy (touch wood) issues so I expect his output to be greater than in the granny. 

[binman 43,762]

15 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Seemed like the obvious replacement for Petty.

That said, I reckon this club knows what it’s doing now.

 

Smith is a better like for like replacement for petty than Tomlinson, which I suspect is why he is the team.

Tomlinson is a one on one, lock down defender who takes opposition bigs. An did a great job in that role before getting injured.

Petty played differently. More zoning off to impact aerial contests. More big leaps into packs and smashing the ball away . More intercept marking. More flexibility in terms of opponent and more rolling off one forward and picking up another (often waxing with lever).

All of the above freed May up to play the role Tomlinson played before injury - the lock down defender taking the opposition key forward.

And playing thatt role may often plays deep and is usually (but not always) the goalkeeper/last man - a role may is perfectly suited for with his calmness, leadership  ability to read the play and his booming left foot.

Smith takes the Petty role because he has the athleticism and skill set to do it. Thomo doesn't. 

May does, and thomo could play may's role, but they obviously prefer may to be the true full back.

I think unfortunately for tomo he is now coverage for a may injury.

[Deemania since 56 6,717]

13 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I'm honestly very surprised at this.

We've lost three defenders (Petty, Rivers, Hibberd) and replaced them with two defenders (Smith and Hunt) and a midfielder (Jordon).

To maintain the same system as 2021, we have to take a midfielder and rotate them through the minutes we'd otherwise be giving Hibberd/Rivers in the backline.

2020-21 showed us that Harmes is a forward half midfielder, not a half back flanker. 2021 showed us that Brayshaw is a vital part of our team on a wing. And I'm not aware of Jordon playing in the backline over the pre-season (please correct me if I'm wrong).

It may be the case that Tomlinson isn't fit enough and that we don't have any other good enough defenders to bring in, but all the messaging coming out of the club was that Tomlinson was good to go so I'm not sure it's that.

It can't be the Dogs' short forward line - they're running the same forward line as the GF in which we had the extra defender.

Still, Jordon played every game last year, Hunt would have kept his spot if he hadn't been injured, and Smith's pre-season has deserved selection, so their inclusions all make sense. We will just see how we go with this many changes to our back line.

All seems fair, on reflection. However, I'd still like to see Smith play some minutes in our forward line, the closer to goal, the better.