PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Demonland 72,212]

The Demons take on the Western Bulldogs in the opening match of their 2023 Premiership Season where the Dees will be looking to make amends for their straight sets exit from the 2022 Finals Series.

This will contain any discussion relating to the next match including Changes, Ticketing & any other related discussion for the upcoming match.

Who comes in and who goes out from the lineup in the last Practice Match of the Preseason?

[Jaded No More 68,921]

Viney and Fritsch the obvious ins. 

The interesting thing for me is the forward setup if/when Fritsch is ready to return from his mystery injury.
Has to replace a tall for mine or we will be far too top heavy. While Fritsch isn’t “tall”, he plays like one and isn’t the best defensively. 

Edited March 4, 2023 by Jaded No More

[Diamond_Jim 12,590]

Dogs are a different team from that which we have played over the last few years.

With Lobb, Darcy and Liam Jones they now seem to have a lot more height around the ground.

They probably have a better forward line than we do and while our midfield shades theirs the Dogs aren't shabby in that regard

It will be a solid test

[rpfc 28,438]

15 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Viney and Fritsch the obvious ins. 

The interesting thing for me is the forward setup if/when Fritsch is ready to return from his mystery injury.
Has to replace a tall for mine or we will be far too top heavy. While Fritsch isn’t “tall”, he plays like one and isn’t the best defensively. 

Yes, I would agree. Fitting Gawn/Grundy, Fritsch, TMac, and Brown isn’t tenable in my view.

[dazzledavey36 54,946]

Dogs looked good today. 

Their defence has dramatically improved with the inclusion of Jones.

[Dee Zephyr 19,267]

Would love it if we could get 60,000 there. We managed 58,000 on a Wednesday night last year.

[Lampers 563]

Watching the Dogs’ game today, they were running with all of Lobb, Ugle-Hagan, Naughton and Darcy in their forward line at times and at least three of them all the time.

That will stretch May, Petty and Lever.

Will there need to be another tallish defender brought in like D.Turner or J.Smith (if fit, but I believe he’s been training as a forward)? Tomlinson to come in despite his horrid form against St.Kilda? Hibberd to use his experience and strength to play taller? Will we see more of Gawn or Grundy dropping into the backline, maybe giving Brown a reprieve as a forward if Fritsch is also right to go?

[58er 6,447]

6 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Would love it if we could get 60,000 there. We managed 58,000 on a Wednesday night last year.

Yes 50,000/60,000 plus as this  is a real need for such a game. If we could get 20,000 Dogs fans we should break last years record. I think both teams are potentially 25% better and a real blockbuster with edge re Lachie Real Desire and two very good modern Footy teams aiming for the top with a rivalry developing as a strong lure for the punters. 

[Jaded No More 68,921]

22 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Dogs looked good today. 

Their defence has dramatically improved with the inclusion of Jones.

Let’s not forget who their opposition was.

I am not taking anything away from them, they are a strong side with a great midfield. But North are a disaster. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

Buses on the entire Sunbury line that weekend might stymie the opposition attendance numbers. 

Considering they have only had an intra club hit out and a practice match against North I wonder if they could be a little underdone for this game. 

[DeeSpencer 25,713]

If everyone pulls up well then the selection questions will be;

1. Hibberd vs McVee for the back pocket spot. With the Dogs having 4 talls I think Hibbo comes right in to the frame

2. Who comes out if Viney and Fritsch are right to go. Laurie is one spot. 

I understand people will want to go smaller without Ben Brown but I doubt we will do that. Nor do I think JVR comes in unless he was truly excellent in the VFL.

It comes down to Harmes v Chandler and I don’t have a strong opinion one way or another on that. My guess is Chandler in with Harmes as sub

[radar 1,865]

May Petty Rivers

Bowey Lever Brayshaw

Hunter Oliver Langdon

FRITCSH Brown Pickett

ANB McDonald Spargo

Gawn Petracca VINEY

 

I/c Grundy Harmes Sparrow Chandler Sub Jordan

Not sure who of the remaining - McVee, Howes, Laurie, Turner, Woey, Schache, JVR come in if VINEY or FRITSCH aren’t ready. 
BTW - where’s Melkshem?

Edited March 4, 2023 by radar

[layzie 33,812]

We are ready.

[kev martin 9,894]

27 minutes ago, radar said:

BTW - where’s Melkshem?

Melky was still in the rehab group when I saw them train about 10 days ago. Looking like he may be close to getting back to normal training.

[DeeSpencer 25,713]

33 minutes ago, radar said:

 

I/c Grundy Harmes Sparrow Chandler Sub Jordan

You’re short a defender 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,221]

1 minute ago, DeeSpencer said:

You’re short a defender 

McVee for Chandler

[dl4e 5,851]

A real test 1st up. Their potential forward line worries me so we will have to win in midfield and that won't be easy. I would keep rotating Gawn and Grundy down forward as that may make them throw one of their forwards like Darcy down back.

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

If they are going to use Ugle-Hagan, Naughton, Darcy and Lobb in the forward line then Disco has to come in for the unlucky McVee.

My round 1 side

B: Lever, May, Bowey

HB: Brayshaw, Petty, Rivers

C: Hunter, Oliver, Langdon

HF: Petracca, McDonald, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: D.Turner, Grundy, Harmes, Sparow

SUB: Chandler

EMERG: McVee, van Rooyen, Woewodin

 

[whatwhat say what 22,770]

i'd be amazed if there's more than 50,000 there - isn't our average regular season crowd vs the footscray about 30k?

they don't travel to the g and we're both traditionally smaller supporter bases

[picket fence 17,170]

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Dogs looked good today. 

Their defence has dramatically improved with the inclusion of Jones.

We will SLAUGHTER THEM DAZ

JONES was playing little league last few years

UNGLE BUNGLE still flakey

Have FAITH😇

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,850]

5 hours ago, picket fence said:

We will SLAUGHTER THEM DAZ

JONES was playing little league last few years

UNGLE BUNGLE still flakey

Have FAITH😇

Couldn't agree more Mr Fence.

Lobb - his name alone is idiomatic of the way he plays his footy. 

Jones - one of the best C graders going around

JUH - might be a good, consistent player . . . one day

Naughton and Darcy are Jack Dyer "good ordinary" - let's face it.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,177]

McVee has been excellent but Bowey and Rivers are round 1 locks and I think we need Hibberds mature body and ability to play on a tall to combat the Dogs forward line. I doubt it will happen but with Gawn and Grundy showing good forward 50 work and a clear want on our inside 50 defensive work for close down the ball carrier if Fritsch is fit it should be for Brown out not Chandler or a mid. Either way I suggest this will be a typical Dees v Dogs game where it will be won or lost in the middle.  

[Lucifers Hero 39,819]

12 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Dogs are a different team from that which we have played over the last few years.

With Lobb, Darcy and Liam Jones they now seem to have a lot more height around the ground.

They probably have a better forward line than we do and while our midfield shades theirs the Dogs aren't shabby in that regard

It will be a solid test

Not so sure about their midfield these days.  They lost Dunkley and Hunter but no one of note has replaced them. They have Smith, a perennially injured Treloar, Bontempelli, McCrae and Liberatore to cover the midfield and the wings.  And English as their ruckman now without their 'back up', Dunkley.

I don't see that group being anywhere near as damaging as they have in the past and certainly not against our elite mid/wing/ruck brigade.

Even adding Williams and McClean who give them some depth, put quite simply their midfield is no longer elite, imv.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Lucifers Hero

[buck_nekkid 5,865]

I think we need to watch out for Dunkley, Hunter and Martin…. Oh wait…

i didn’t see them play the Roos, but assume it was a regulation hit out.  Starring Mr Blobby, ungle bungle, son of a [censored], vaccine dodger, and Oscar Baker.

i think they will be looking at us and sweating.  With our midfield and strong running to outnumber, we should be quite a challenge.  If we get first use and stop them marking, should be a nice Melbourne evening….

[Jaded No More 68,921]

Surely if we should worry about them playing 4 talls up forward they’ll need to worry about us doing the same and playing two genuine ruckman against their one. 
I doubt we bring an extra tall down back to combat their forward setup. IMO we play Gawn or Grundy behind the ball if need be as I’m sure Lobb will need to do a fair bit of rucking to help English combat these two. English can’t compete all day against them both and Dogs entire game plan revolves around clearance dominance so they won’t want to concede too many ruck contests.

I have no doubt we can beat them if we are at our best.