15 hours ago, Pates said:

Just a word on the crowd numbers, I’m willing to give passes for a while given we’re creeping back from covid and I understand picking certain games to go to. But next week we NEED the support, it this game was in Perth it would be just about a sell out with with crowd absolutely going bonkers for Freo. Our players, for all the incredible work they have put in over the last 18 months deserve to have our fans turn out for this crucial match and make some noise. I have to work and will only get there for the second half, but I want to stands to be packed and loud. Is that asking too much of our fan base?

It is not too much to ask at all Pates. I was literally the only one out of my Melbourne friends who got down to Marvel on Saturday. Was actually kind of shocked when I realised in the group messenger chat with them that they were all saddling up for an arvo/evening of viewing on Kayo... like it was an interstate match. I know a lot of people have home memberships (myself included, bought a ticket this week) but I just don't get that some people wouldn't want to see this great team play in Melbourne whenever they can. 

Get on down this week, it's probably going to be the best build up to a Melb v Freo game on this ground. 

 

10 starts so far this season for 10 wins.... top of the ladder 2 games clear with a healthy %

I am not complaining, just sitting back and enjoying it.

Some on here complain that we are not playing well and are out of form. I would agree except that I believe that most are comparing our form to the football we played in the last quarter and a half of the grand final. 

I have been watching footy for more than 50 years and that was the cleanest, most dominant football I have seen a side play....EVER. Impossible to play at that level over a sustained period.

This season we have been playing our game with the confidence that it will bring the results that we want. Good structures and systems all over the ground with defence and pressure on the ball in all areas of the ground. Made possible by player discipline to their roles and top class fitness.

This game against North showcased exactly the way we play. We controlled the game and had the ability to lift when required and run out the game. I love the way we play to our strengths and have other teams reacting to our game style. They are looking for ways to minimise the damage we can do and therefore their game suffers from not being able to score. It will be interesting to see when a side decides to really attack us and play open footy. I still think we will prevail as we build every thing on our defence and we have shown that, no matter the players back there, our structures and system works and is very difficult to break down.

A few observations from the North game

- Oliver?? What more can you say about him? He is the best I have seen in the red and blue and by the end of his footy will be right up there a the best the league ha ever seen. A sensational game.

- Spargo had a very good game with sticking tackles and delivering to team mates

- I watched out transition footy very closely in this game and it really is excellent. We move in anticipation of a teammate winning the contest and when the contest is won we have players in position and running hard.

- Forwards seem to be a bit dysfunctional, but what is new? With North pinned back in their defensive 50 for long periods, they really had crowds of player filling that space which made it hard for clean connection. I can imagine that the coaching panel will be trying a few things to over come this.

next week, Freo at the G.

 

Sorry if this has already been mentioned by someone else, but I missed Steve's post game presser but just came across it on FB, he said something which all Dees fans should find comforting. 

When asked if he was happy with the score they kept North to he said he wasn't happy, because they were able to generate more scores than they should have per inside 50. 

Whether you are worried that we aren't in form or happy to bank the points, it is very clear the boys aren't complacent. 

Steve is less than 10 minutes off the ground and is already mentioning areas for improvement after a 47 point win, I dare say the boys have the right attitude this year. 

It has been said that teams do not win premierships in May, June.July or August.

10/10 with a high % means that there is time to improve and iron out all the kinks before September.

Let's be patient.

GO GOODY GO DEES

 

On 5/21/2022 at 7:20 PM, one_demon said:

We're probably creeping in on a loss in the next few weeks

If we continue our inaccuracy at goal I tend to agree. We need to kick through the middle else freo will punish us for it

9 hours ago, loges said:

Being interstate at the moment, the floating fixture makes it harder than I plan weekends to come down and see games. Booking accommodation etc 

This is an issue for me in nnsw

the goddamn endless rain is stuffing flights too 

3 hours ago, layzie said:

It is not too much to ask at all Pates. I was literally the only one out of my Melbourne friends who got down to Marvel on Saturday. Was actually kind of shocked when I realised in the group messenger chat with them that they were all saddling up for an arvo/evening of viewing on Kayo... like it was an interstate match. I know a lot of people have home memberships (myself included, bought a ticket this week) but I just don't get that some people wouldn't want to see this great team play in Melbourne whenever they can. 

Get on down this week, it's probably going to be the best build up to a Melb v Freo game on this ground. 

 

It was an epic night to be in

that game

then the election result 

Kane Cornes. Channel 9. He loves being a critic sometimes, well mostly. But his comment was 

“ the Dees are very good but they don’t blow you away.  They keep you in the game but can flick a switch and score quickly.  The Lions would be capable of getting them”.    
 

I think we dominate but aren’t ruthless enough.  Maybe that’s what Cornes was referring to.
  I’m still looking for retribution from all the years of hidings from the Kangas and Eagles and Hawks and Tigers and Bombers and Cats etc.  Perhaps I’m still scarred. I want us to really demoralize teams now we are the king in the jungle. 
I want us to really put some hurt on the opposition and nail out A game for the whole 4 quarters.  

25 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Kane Cornes. Channel 9. He loves being a critic sometimes, well mostly. But his comment was 

“ the Dees are very good but they don’t blow you away.  They keep you in the game but can flick a switch and score quickly.  The Lions would be capable of getting them”.    
 

I think we dominate but aren’t ruthless enough.  Maybe that’s what Cornes was referring to.
  I’m still looking for retribution from all the years of hidings from the Kangas and Eagles and Hawks and Tigers and Bombers and Cats etc.  Perhaps I’m still scarred. I want us to really demoralize teams now we are the king in the jungle. 
I want us to really put some hurt on the opposition and nail out A game for the whole 4 quarters.  

brisbane have had scores in excess of 72 points (12 goals) six times outta ten, including two losses

we've had more than that scored against us once in ten

Edited May 23, 20223 yr by whatwhat say what

47 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

I think we dominate but aren’t ruthless enough.

I disagree, but it's an interesting discussion. I feel that what we're doing, the way we grind teams down and suffocate them, is just as ruthless as winning every game by 10 goals.

18 hours ago, bing181 said:

I disagree, but it's an interesting discussion. I feel that what we're doing, the way we grind teams down and suffocate them, is just as ruthless as winning every game by 10 goals.

I think what many people miss, and by people I mean [censored] knuckles in the media paid to analyse footy, is that our approach is different.

It is not about ruthlessness, for ruthlessness sake.

Old school footy rules has a team as dominant as the dees crushing a team from the first second to the last, like a dominant boxer not once slowing up on a hapless opponent.

Through that lens, we establish an early lead and the lead grows in a linear, even upward trajectory for the whole game.

But that is not how we play - against any team.

Stretching the boxing analogy, we certainly look to dominate early and establish a lead. Land a few early blows that rock opponents and put them on the back foot.

We then absorb their pressure, take their best shot. Not quite rope a dope, because they don't land that many blows, but the ones they do we absorb.

We respond to how they want to play the game.

If they want to attack, we repel. We are comfortable with the ball being in our defensive zone for long stretches.

If they want to play a high possession game and chip it around their back half, like the Roos and Port did, then we are happy to accommodate that approach too. Hard to score from deep inside their own 50.

if they want to go wide and try to stretch us, like the saints did, no probs, bring it on.

If they want to flood our forward line and bring multiple extras to the stoppage, like the bombers and GWS did, no dramas.

If they want to attack through the corridor and go fast like the hawks (sometimes) tried - then be our guest, attack away.

They throw their best punches. And inevitably tire.

And we they tire we take over.

It is a dance, with two participants.

The gears we supposedly have that you hear people talk about is really about this dance.

What i don't like about the idea of gears is that implies we are in cruise mode and then just flick some imaginary switch when we want/need to. Which apart from being a wrong characterisation of how we play, is disrespectful to our opponent and totally contrary to goody's philosophy. 

Like a dance, our game is all about tempo, rhythm (as in the rhythm of the game) and responding to what the opposition bring to the table.  

The goal is to win. Not win by some arbitrary margin - but win.

Our approach maximises our chances of wining. Trying to win by the biggest possible margin doesn't as by definition trying to do so involves taking risks and risks create opportunities for the opposition to score.

The key reason why Brisbane were beaten by the hawks was their inability, or choice, not to control and slow the tempo in the last quarter, and instead keep their foot to the floor and continue to take risks. 

The margin doesn't determine how good a win it was for us.

Sticking to team rules, discipline, attitude, behaviors, how well we respond to the opposition's approach - how well we parried -  and how effectively we got the game on our terms, to look like how we like it to look, are the key determinants.

 

Edited May 24, 20223 yr by binman

9 hours ago, bing181 said:

I disagree, but it's an interesting discussion. I feel that what we're doing, the way we grind teams down and suffocate them, is just as ruthless as winning every game by 10 goals.

I'd rather be disciplined than ruthless 

Although i'd love to see us kick through the corridor and take more risk occasionally - but it's not our style right now 

Feels to me like some are trying to explain our 161.7%, to next best (Lions) on 143% (ignoring that we are also unbeaten), as somehow contrary to this team’s ‘actual’ ability. I don’t get it. Footy is defence as much as attack. When it comes to finals, defence even more so. Points and percentage should tell them everything they need to know. Media will media, and doubters will doubt, but it’s become a pitifully weak contention that the Dees are somehow underperforming. 

Quote not edit

Edited May 23, 20223 yr by binman

We are one of the only teams I've seen that can lead by a relatively small margin (3-4 goals) and be in no danger of losing whatsoever 

Edited May 24, 20223 yr by sisso

44 minutes ago, Webber said:

Feels to me like some are trying to explain our 161.7%, to next best (Lions) on 143% (ignoring that we are also unbeaten), as somehow contrary to this team’s ‘actual’ ability. I don’t get it. Footy is defence as much as attack. When it comes to finals, defence even more so. Points and percentage should tell them everything they need to know. Media will media, and doubters will doubt, but it’s become a pitifully weak contention that the Dees are somehow underperforming. 

Paul Roos prime performance metrics were percentage and points against. When he took over at the end of our dreadful 2013, our percentage was 54.1% and our average points against was 122. By 2016, this had improved to 102% and 88. Now it's 161.7% and 58.

With a 10-0 record, it's hard to see how we are "underperforming". We are doing exactly what we need to be doing.

Imagine what they would be saying if we could kick straight.... "peaked too early".

 

Our forwards (as a collective) will need to play better against the better opposition that we are going to be up against in the next block of 4 games

On Saturday there were instances of some forwards playing from behind or not creating enough separation to present as targets

A good example was when Petracca was bursting forward with no Demon to kick it too ... he hesitated and then got tackled from behind.  Opportunity lost

Another time Brown got caught out playing from behind and then ended up giving a free kick away.  But Brown usually gets to the front position. 

There were probably at least another 6 standout examples and each time we gave up an opportunity to score.  Various forwards were involved.  As previously stated, more so as a collective.  74 inside 50's resulting in 14.16 is inefficient in my view

I'd like to believe that we just had a bit of an off day up forward but we probably should have slotted at least 20 goals against North.  And the connection between our mids & forwards needs to be first rate against the good teams

By contrast, our defence and all over team defence was excellent once again.  North didn't take on the corridor which played into our hands, but that's their problem

 

Most footy pundits think we don't blow teams away or score a lot.

But I also think most footy pundits don't appreciate that our percentage is 161%, with only one other club in the comp within 35% of us.

And I also think most footy pundits don't appreciate that we've scored the third most points of all clubs. 

On 5/22/2022 at 11:15 AM, von said:

There were periods when we had long runs of forward half possession where they had 13, 14, 15 players in our forward 50. They played us very close and very hard. I liked their endeavour. They gave  away a lot more free kicks than we’re paid but they can’t pay them all. We were being tackled before we took possession in the contest more often than not.  We are never going to look fluent going forward when there is that little room in our forward line, when our talks are competing with multiple players in the air etc. Goodwin was pleased with the amount of time we controlled the game and played a forward half game which we’ve been trying to get going all season. It’s one of the stats that are down from last year. So that’s a positive amongst the scrap that the game was.

against better teams and teams that try and win with their game the field opens up they get caught on the rebound and our forward line has room for our forwards to operate.  Our system is designed to win hard games of football with something on the line. Where a team needs to kick a winning score. North and west coast were not trying to do that. So it looked a bit [censored].
 

 

Pretty much agree with what you said there, they knew they wouldn't win so the played us hard and close. BBB was harassed when he went near the ball and just couldn't get in to the game. They were very physical on the night.

I went to the game and sat near the goals and because it's such a [censored] ground, I couldn't see beyond the middle, after the game I  thought we were pretty ordinary but after watching the replay I thought we were OK,.

We do seem to play a better brand of football when we play against a good side, they are trying to win whereas North were just trying to limit the damage, they have quite a few physical players.  

I've followed the Dees for many years, around 70 and I don't think I've ever seen a player as good as Clayton, he is just relentless, he just fights for 100% of the game to get the ball, I loved Robbie but they are different types and played a totally different game.

We are the Boa constrictor, we suffocate teams until there is no breath left.

In some ways I'd find playing against that worse than being wiped off the park and put out of your misery. 

34 minutes ago, layzie said:

We are the Boa constrictor, we suffocate teams until there is no breath left.

In some ways I'd find playing against that worse than being wiped off the park and put out of your misery. 

Quite poetic, Layzie!

Goodwin has subtly fed that narrative every chance he gets in press conf:  "We don't look to play perfect football, we wear teams down and know opportunities will open up".  Delivered in his casual and calm style. 

That message is now in the heads of other coaches most of whom know that even their very best probably isn't good enough.

That the team deliver on Goodwin's 'promise' creates the same doubt with opp players.

Mind-games don't need to wait for September!

Edited May 25, 20223 yr by Lucifers Hero

On 5/23/2022 at 9:46 AM, dazzledavey36 said:

I take all things into account with people having lives and footy not being a priority. Certainly thrilled to do the 4 and 1/2 drive just to watch the lads having a free weekend of having no footy commitments.

I also understand  from @old dee point of view earlier on that it does get harder as you get older in life in getting to games with the difficulty of ticketing and general stuff.

Still think the whole stadium excuse is a bit of a cop out.

We're not going to be a superior top 4 side forever. Might as well make the most of it now and enjoy the ride while we can.

Old Dee is soft, just kidding. I’m as old as anyone on this site and I drove to the ground, parked in the car park in Spencer street, cost $20 and you are a five minute walk from the gate. 
I hate Marvel and knew it would be a crap game but went anyway. Even took my partner and she knows nothing about football, one of the things we have in common.
Sometimes we have to put ourselves out to show the boys we care. 

My word I thought Bombers fans were bad. They have nothing on north fans. Every time that there wasn’t a decision that went any other way then their, all booing and carrying on. The amount of abusing and whinging I heard all day was really pathetic. Considering how bad their team is, you’d think they’d be more humble

8 hours ago, Dante said:

I hate Marvel and knew it would be a crap game but went anyway. Even took my partner and she knows nothing about football, one of the things we have in common.
Sometimes we have to put ourselves out to show the boys we care. 

…and it doesn’t go unnoticed, either. How many times do you hear during interviews how much they appreciate the love from the fans. 
It does really matter to the boys.