PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[dazzledavey36 52,734]

Really hope Osker Baker lines up on a wing.

Watching Langdon and Hunter completely blow him up in the first quarter will be sweet to watch as endurance was never a strength of his.

[Willmoy1947 3,957]

Dogs can either stack their forward line with talls and hope they kick enough goals, or their mouth from the west goes to their backline to nullify our height.

Or both.

[buck_nekkid 5,818]

5 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Reviewing the goals from yesterday, I there were a few errors made on the stats sheet.

Max was credited with three goals in the first half yesterday yet I swear I only saw him kick two. One in the first quarter from the goal square and another in the second from a strong mark.

I also recall Spargo kicking three for the match yet he's only credited with two.

Think max got the one where Chandler was pushed into the post.

[Ollie fan 3,055]

4 hours ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

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.  

100% my thinking too. BBB helped us win a premiership, but these days he is an absolute liability as soon as the ball is on the ground.

[Fritta and Turner 4,181]

I'm going

[DubDee 24,338]

JVR in for Ben Brown, with two huge rucks we need more mobility 

Fritsch and Viney in for Harmes/Chandler/McVee depending how the balance looks. Bowey plays

[DubDee 24,338]

16 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

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

absolutely should top last year. Sat night is the best night for families and with work etc. Hopefully we get 70K

[monoccular 17,314]

15 hours ago, radar said:

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?

 

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

You’re short a defender 

 

14 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

McVee for Chandler

I would stick my neck out and say McVee for Harmes, and maybe sub Disco

[Demon17 5,048]

5 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Not so sure about their midfield these days.  They lost Dunkley and Hunter but no one of note has replaced them.

Good call re Dunkley.

Dogs 2022 Best and Fairest won by 20 votes from second.  Must have an impact on midfield quality that we seem to be ignoring.

 

[mo64 5,480]

25 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Good call re Dunkley.

Dogs 2022 Best and Fairest won by 20 votes from second.  Must have an impact on midfield quality that we seem to be ignoring.

 

I think you'll find that Bont and Macrae will play more inside midfield time in Dunkley's absence. Bont was forced to play forward at times, and Macrae was played as an outside mid. These 2 alongside Libba and Trelaor, and I think that they can cover for Dunkley.

 

[Sir Why You Little 36,611]

3 minutes ago, mo64 said:

I think you'll find that Bont and Macrae will play more inside midfield time in Dunkley's absence. Bont was forced to play forward at times, and Macrae was played as an outside mid. These 2 alongside Libba and Trelaor, and I think that they can cover for Dunkley.

 

They will get tired….

[Lucifers Hero 38,973]

14 minutes ago, mo64 said:

I think you'll find that Bont and Macrae will play more inside midfield time in Dunkley's absence. Bont was forced to play forward at times, and Macrae was played as an outside mid. These 2 alongside Libba and Trelaor, and I think that they can cover for Dunkley.

They haven't added anyone to cover Dunkley's class or Hunters footy IQ.

So you are correct they will spread the workload but overall will be lesser for the losses.

[The Jackson FIX 2,682]

I think Dogs are flying under the radar a bit still.  That frwd line is going to crucify a side this year.  
 

Just need to keep the pressure up on them through the guts and force shallow entries - you wouldn’t want to see Lever and May deep with Petty regularly trying to cover Naughton,  Lobb, English, Ugle, Darcy.

[chook fowler 19,248]

I believe Weightman won’t play. A significant out for them.

[ANG13 1,984]

5 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

They haven't added anyone to cover Dunkley's class or Hunters footy IQ.

So you are correct they will spread the workload but overall will be lesser for the losses.

To be fair Lucifer they didn’t get many games out of Hunter last year, so there not losing much from him off last years team. But Dunkley’s loss is a big hole from last year. 
 

I personally think the Bulldogs have a strong list and won’t be surprised if they finish top four. 

[AzzKikA 2,371]

22 hours ago, radar said:

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?

Saw Melky at my office the other day, calf still giving him grief and was still "a few away"

[AzzKikA 2,371]

8 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

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. 

Absolutely perfect analysis 👍🏼

[Gawndy the Great 9,009]

It’s going to be a real cracker. Both 2nd rucks resting up forward… which coach is going to flinch first and move them back.

The 4 forward talls is unlikely for the Dogs as they’ll likely get slaughtered on any ground ball and rebound 50s esp with out ball users.  

[picket fence 16,655]

10 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Really hope Osker Baker lines up on a wing.

Watching Langdon and Hunter completely blow him up in the first quarter will be sweet to watch as endurance was never a strength of his.

If Oscar Baker plays we will know the Dishlickers are TANKING!!

[Sir Why You Little 36,611]

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

If Oscar Baker plays we will know the Dishlickers are TANKING!!

‘E was a cruel man, But fair…”

[Diamond_Jim 12,356]

The AFL is not reading the room.

It's all about last minute ticket sales these days whereas they are trying to lock fans into pre-booking

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/fashionably-late-festivals-sweat-post-pandemic-trend-of-last-minute-tickets-20230303-p5cp39.html

[Garbo 1,454]

There is a reason no one plays 4 talls, if you don’t mark it the ball will just come straight out, they will be severely lacking ground ball and tackling pressure up fwd if they go in like that. I’ll enjoy if they try play with that setup and watching it blow up in there face

[John Demonic 5,500]

Thinking of all the ways the opposition can beat us is already a little anxiety inducing and stressful 2 weeks out. And another 28 or so weeks of this!

Edited March 5, 2023 by John Demonic

[AzzKikA 2,371]

Underestimate the dogs at your peril. Don't be fooled by their losses or ins, they are still a quality side that will tear anyone apart that doesn't respect them.

[layzie 32,797]

Their midfield group was out of this world with those guys in it, even with them gone I still see them as a unit to be not taken lightly.