1 hour ago, Colm said:

Yup. Is it wrong that I enjoyed it so much?!

I enjoyed it that he is so rattled and clearly doesn't understand what a leg up it gives us that he is so publicly displaying it

Be interesting to see how the rest of the competition reacts. I predict it will bring out the worse sort of class warfare from the Pies, Dons, PA, Cats and Freo. There is an underlying resentment in some that we are back as a powerhouse. 

I hope not but I fear it will be so....

Edited March 16, 20223 yr by Dees2014

4 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

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.

Agree. It's almost become a signature move

Our system holds up, even with 5 premiership defenders out , and a very advantageous free kick count to the dogs.

Petracca  is becoming, if not already the best player in the game.

Edited March 16, 20223 yr by DeeZee

7 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

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.

Brayshaw was huge tonight 

9 minutes ago, Dees2014 said:

I enjoyed it that he is so rattled and clearly doesn't understand what a leg up it gives us that he is so publicly displaying it

Be interesting to see how the rest of the competition reacts. I predict it will being out the worse sort of class warfare from the Pies, Dons, PA, Cats and Freo. There is an underlying resentment in some that we are back as a powerhouse. 

I hope not but I fear it will be so....

That Presser has nothing to do with the MFC

Beveridge has dug his own hole. Someone at Footscray is leaking info 

47 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

Yeah it's the first time I've really noticed that their midfield really is a bit bland.

Bailey Smith is still young and will be a good player but my god he is horrific by foot. Was amazed how many times he just butchered simple kicks.

Josh Dunkley had 29 disposals but only 260m gained. Gets a bit of the ball but simple doesn't hurt you.

Adam Treloar isn't the player he once was. Has lost his burst and power due to hammys. 

I thought Macrea was good for them tonight but has some crucial turnovers throughout the game.

12 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

That Presser has nothing to do with the MFC

Beveridge has dug his own hole. Someone at Footscray is leaking info 

I disagree, Beveridge, although he played for the Dees, has mostly had a terse  relationship with us, I think because we usually "best" him and his Bulldogs. I bet he would not have reacted this way to a Carlton, Essendon or Geelong.

Edited March 16, 20223 yr by Dees2014

28 minutes ago, Bates Mate said:

From 3 min 15 

Bevo disgrace

 

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

 

 

I think I've got an insight to why Bevo was so upset here.

Not only does the football cover up logos on his shirt but his right hand collar covers up the pal pedigree logo.

He could pop his collar (which would suit him being the fence post he is) but both collars also have pal pedigree logos on them which would disappear when he pops it.

He could end up in an endless infinity loop of trying to make sure everyone can see his pal logos before starting.

Maybe someone needs to have a quiet word to him about getting a cushion to sit on at pressers and maybe a bag of dog food he can put on the desk to nibble on between questions.

 

47 minutes ago, binman said:

Anyone still think the blues practice match held any meaning?

Yep.  It meant we needed the practice!

 

Having the players get a bit of a sting from loosing, but not counting for premiership points was probably a good reminder and preparation as well.

Very good win with the backline being well below its best especially after Salem went off early. Smith was very good and Tomlinson did a fine job. We applied good pressure and were very cool in the last quarter. The only thing that concerned me was the centre clearances. 

Umpiring was dreadful. 

Was stoked with the win. System held up well considering the missing players and absolutely appauling umpiring decisions that cost us 2-3 direct goals. Perhaps the 8 50s wasn’t enough in the praccy. 
 

We did well in the back half but our composure  with the ball was a bit scrappy but with a few more games I think our rebound 50s will really torch some of our opponents.

Bedford did ok but am still at a loss as to how our smaller forwards are not getting the ball enough and hurting them when it hits the deck. They look like they are trying to play as lead up forwards and not positioning to crumb. I dunno but it just bugs me when I see how balanced the Lions forwards are with this.

 

The big thing tonight was our team defence standing up despite outs.

Only really dominated in the first quarter but we were inaccurate. 

Weird thing is you look at half the team and they were quiet-ish but we have become very difficult to play against.

Within the forward line we moved the ball so well. Would have loved BBB to kick six rather than 3:3 and Fritta to kick four and not 2:2. 

27 shots on goal to 16 is a significant difference.

1 hour ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

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

Underselling him I reckon, CBF. Next to May, he was clearly our best defender. Just made himself a certainty for next week, and if he stays fit, likely the season. 

6 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Yep.  It meant we needed the practice!

 

Having the players get a bit of a sting from loosing, but not counting for premiership points was probably a good reminder and preparation as well.

A sting from losing?

Yeah, nah.

38 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 was just trying to get into Bevo's head. I think it may have worked.

 

Too late to do a debrief. Go Dees 

1 hour ago, binman said:

Anyone still think the blues practice match held any meaning?

Yeah

Taught them not to back chat umpire. 
Didn’t cough up a 50 all game

Just now, radar said:

Yeah

Taught them not to back chat umpire. 
Didn’t cough up a 50 all game

Yep, fair call.

The deflection from Bevo continues.
The facts are his team got destroyed in a grand final after being 3 goals up halfway thru the third quarter. They went away and did absolutely nothing to rectify their weaknesses and just got done again against a team missing 5 of their starting 7 defenders. 
He is clearly unhappy and it’s showing. His outburst was pathetic. I would be so embarrassed if Goody did that. Instead this just makes me laugh. Tom should have played Freed from Desire as Bevo stormed off. 

Great game. Love seeing McDonald down back think he's a better defender than forward. Bedford showed a bit. Trac and Clarry will tie for the brownlow. Benny Brown was huge and Brayshaw proved me wrong he can play back alright. Looking the goods.

I love that we won being a bit sloppy on the back of some confident ball movement, Petracca, Brown, and the pluckiest backline this side of the Thames!

But the real story for me is the Dogs - they are not what we all thought. They do have too many front runners and I can see how Macrae and Hunter fighting over the cheapies out the back can become tiresome. They need Smith to become a bull now to help Bont or they won’t beat us or BL or the best teams.

No Hibberd, Petty, Rivers, Lever, Salem (for most of the game) and the backline still functioned well. 

Convert some more of those misses and we're set. 

Great foundation to build on for the rest of the season. 

And Joel Smith, I doff my cap to you sir. Thought he played a ripper.  

Go Dees!! 

6 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Tom should have played Freed from Desire as Bevo stormed off. 

He should make it his ring tone.

And get someone to call him whenever he is near Beveridge 

35 minutes ago, Dees2014 said:

I disagree, Beveridge, although he played for the Dees, has mostly had a terse  relationship with us, I think because we usually "best" him and his Bulldogs. I bet he would not have reacted this way to a Carlton, Essendon or Geelong.

But it has nothing to do with the MFC

Who leaked the info to Morris?

That is the real story 

 

Joel Smith had the best game of his career. Really looked the part tonight.

Surprised there hasn't been much chat about Ed Langdon in this thread, thought he was immense tonight, a lot of our best attacking play went through him. Definitely in my votes.

Petracca ... what more is there to say? He's become an incredible player.

Thought Oliver was a little quiet, then looked at the stats and saw he had 32 touches. Shows how much I expect from him.

Ben Brown is a genuine shot at the Coleman this year, provided he stays fit. God it's nice having a proper full forward for once!

And with defences worrying about Brown and Fritsch, Luke Jackson is going to start really tearing games apart this year. Only flashes tonight, but you can see it coming.

Hope Salem's injury isn't too serious. Fingers crossed.