POSTGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,994]

1 hour ago, GCDee said:

30-17 and they still can't get within 4 goals. 

Good luck for the season dogs you might need to up the payments to the umps or practise the ducking a bit more.

I think the umpires got good odds on backing a bunch of chokers to getup against us.

Several of those decisions that cost us goals against were abominable 😡.

Edited March 16, 2022 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Demon Disciple 12,464]

6 minutes ago, spalding said:

[censored] we’re good

what parallel universe am I living in 

The only one that matters 😁

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

Clearly Bulldogs rattled by us. Whining about the silly song and now Bevo going psycho chicken on a reporter who barracks for us. He should concentrate on whoever is leaking info rather than vituperating on the messenger. 

Edited March 16, 2022 by John Crow Batty

[Guest]

While we associate the 2021 GF as emblematic of our 2021, the truth is that wins like tonight are more indicative of how we played.

While the Dogs did get a run on, the win itself came about from progressive strangulation and consistent effort. There was less straight penetration into the 50 but more turnover generated through midfield pressure. 

Like @Nasher, I was pretty calm about that 2nd quarter run. This is easily the most psychologically mature Melbourne team I've seen and I was certain they would recognize the need to change the pace of the game (and stack our midfield with Clarry, Viney, Tracc and Harmes to ensure the stoppage smashing would stop).

Positives for mine were Joel Smith playing a surprisingly composed game. A good run with injury has been a must, but I've always worried about his football smarts and ability to choose correct body positioning and leading option. However, I felt no such worries tonight. He looked great and gives himself every chance to keep his spot.

Tracc being a positive goes without saying. It might be too late for this year, but the Dogs need to find a way to stick tackles on our big bodied midfielders like Tracc. For mine, it was a key reason why they lost as badly as they did last year (I recall Clarry getting a kick into the forward line with three blokes hanging off him). The Dogs have plenty of silk but until they find someone who can keep physical heat on our mids, they will struggle against us.

Lever out was an issue for mine. I said in the match day thread that you could tell that we missed him, but I wasn't necessarily talking about his intercept marking. Along with Maysie, he directs traffic down there. Not having his voice early in the match might have been disconcerting for our backs, but thankfully they got their act together. Losing Salo didn't help either on this front. 

Dogga (who now eerily resembles Adam Hyde from Peking Duk for mine) played more the role he did during 2021. In the granny, he was the game breaker. Tonight he played the role that he played most of 2021: 20% in the ruck, 80% half forward flank. He might not have seemed to have had as pronounced an impact, but his clutch in the 3rd and 4th was invaluable.

Anyway, 1 and 0 is a great start to the year. Let's keep the momentum up over the next two weeks as those games are eminently winnable.

 

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,994]

1 hour ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

So have we beaten anyone yet? 🤔

Still yet to be seen how we'll go against the reigning premiers!

[Deeoldfart 8,135]

A strong and even work ethic across the ground, a few more stars, and real belief in an excellent game plan, made the difference tonight. Outstanding win given our undermanned defence!  Keep it up Dees, it’s a very long season.  Love ya!

[BDA 23,027]

Maybe Bevo is grumpy because he realised tonight the doggies aren't a top 4 team. Outside of their poxy run of 8 goals, ump assisted, they were awful. Delivery to their forwards was terrible all night. Ball use in general was poor

They have a rolls royce midfield that will hurt most teams but they won;t win a flag imo

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 4,084]

The dogs made a lot of mistakes and had costly turnovers

[binman 44,661]

8 minutes ago, Satan said:

The bevo story will oobeo bigger than our win

Yep.

Which will be fine by goody.

The story should be that they lost another game to us after being 3 plus goals up.

Forget round 17 last year - they are our bunnies.

Their system will smash plenty of teams. But is hopeless against us.

That's the story.

But won't be. 

I said last year that there is a limit to how effective the whole us against the world palaver Beveridge loves so much actually is.

Does he think he can use it to fuel a whole season?

 

[Ethan Tremblay 31,261]

52 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Good on Williams, Bell and Ablett Jnr, they’re in good company. 

[binman 44,661]

Anyone still think the blues practice match held any meaning?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The funniest thing is Beveridge saying Tom Morris has a “conflict of interest” by being a Melbourne supporter after he used his platform on the club’s official podcast to get inside information for his stories.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

[monoccular 17,678]

A few quick observations.
 

Well done given the very makeshift defence.  
Tracc is an absolute beast and clearly hates (the thought of) losing. 
Umpiring just awful and one sided, once again. 

One time when we were 3+ goals down we would have dropped heads and lost badly - this mature well lead, very fit  and superbly coached team left me only mildly concerned and again a 40 point turnaround was not unexpected. 

[Mr Steve 3,820]

12 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Still yet to be seen how we'll go against the reigning premiers!

Played them a few weeks back in an inter-club match, did ok.

[BDA 23,027]

9 minutes ago, BDA said:

Maybe Bevo is grumpy because he realised tonight the doggies aren't a top 4 team. Outside of their poxy run of 8 goals, ump assisted, they were awful. Delivery to their forwards was terrible all night. Ball use in general was poor

They have a rolls royce midfield that will hurt most teams but they won;t win a flag imo

@Lord Nev 

I’ve activated all the ignore options I can against but for some reason your facepalms still show up on all my posts. You are spoiling what is otherwise a very enjoyable past time for me posting on this site

I’ll talk to the mods to see if there’s anything I can do to ignore you 100%. I want nothing to do with you

[Bates Mate 4,511]

From 3 min 15 

Bevo disgrace

 

You're an embarrassment': Luke Beveridge's extraordinary post-match presser
https://www.afl.com.au/video/719980

 

 

[MrFreeze 2,044]

When we're spoiling in our back 50 and rebounding we are unstoppable 

Imo it is our biggest indicator that the game is on our terms and was 100% confident we would win after we got that going late in the 2nd

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,994]

I thought I saw Bowey limping off as he went towards the bench in the last quarter?

Did anyone else see that, know what's happened?

Really hope it was just all in my head. 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Hopeful Demon 1,518]

That was the definition of a gutsy win. I was thrilled with the way in which we were able to stop the bulldogs' momentum in the second quarter. It reminded me of how mature we've become as a club. 

Once again Petracca showed that he loves playing in big games. His goal late in the last quarter was an absolute beauty. ANB has really impressed me over the past 12 months. He's become one of the first few players picked every week.

Edited March 16, 2022 by Hopeful Demon

[dees189227 12,453]

People are ringing up SEN saying how low the crowd was. I never thought we'd get 80k. 

I swear it looked bigger. Have no idea where you'd fit another 42000 in. 

Different reasons why people didn't go. 

Lets just celebrate the fact footys back & it was a good game

[Dr. Gonzo 24,457]

46 minutes ago, Seraph said:

One of the worst press conferences I've seen.

Insulating a journalist for reporting facts, and questioning him because it came from a leak.

A horrible look.

What an [censored] how is it the journos fault? Perhaps figure out who is leaking inside your club mate

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,994]

Thought Brayshaw's efforts dropping back in defence were really good again tonight.  He's become a really good reader of the play and state of the game like that.

[dees189227 12,453]

2 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I thought I saw Bowey limping off as he went towards the bench in the last quarter?

Did anyone else see that, know what's happened?

Really hope it was just all in my head. 

He courageously backed back into a pack in defence & it looked liked he got a knock in the back. He took himself off. I'm hoping he'd be ok

[gs77 4,532]

3 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I thought I saw Bowey limping off as he went towards the bench in the last quarter?

Did anyone else see that, know what's happened?

Really hope I was just all in my head. 

He copped a bit of a knee to the lower back/side/kidney region in a marking contest. Didn't look too bad so shouldn't be anything to worry about.