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PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Maybe we should look at it like this. If we can win this game without 4 of our starting 22 it proves we can do anything.

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    Would be a great hurdle to jump but still, never want to start behind the 8 Ball. 

    32 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

    Maybe we should look at it like this. If we can win this game without 4 of our starting 22 it proves we can do anything.

    That's how Max would write about it in the sequel to his Captain's Diary, for sure!

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    RE: Steven May possibly missing, prompts a possible screaming headline for the Hun on Monday if the dees get up.

    " May-Less Dees defence take care of Bevo's four talls - new Drawing Board ordered at kennel"

    • Haha 1
    5 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

    Me too. It can't just be a simple "someone stepped on his foot". You don't miss that much footy from a bruise.

    Must be something more sinister. A hot spot they are trying hard to manage or a hairline fracture. 

    Viney sounds like some bruising/swelling maybe a low grade PCL?

     

    yet he #31 was running and kicking at training - so presumably just considered 'underdone"

    4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Glad we're not taking the risk. 

    Season is a marathon, not a race.

    Perhaps you mean a marathon not a sprint?  (Both are races) .  🤔

    3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I'd be incredibly shocked and bewildered if Joel Smith was his replacement considering he's had zero pre season and zero match fitness.

    For me it's either Daniel Turner steps up or they move McDonald back and bring in JVR/Schache as replacement.

    Smith has hardly trained and surely could not even be considered.  Underdone and could well breakdown mid game.  Disco time, and or Shack

    Edited by monoccular

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    McVee & Laurie to debut

     

    Edited by adonski

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    1 minute ago, adonski said:

    McVee & Laurie to debut

    McVee would surprise very few, Laurie though a little bit more of a surprise.  Hunter and Grundy confirmed starters also which we all knew.  Good luck to them all.

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    Good luck to the young fellas, what a thrill it must be. 

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    Great to see some new blood in the side best of luck to Judd and Bill!

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    3 hours ago, Demonland said:

    May as well keep the Bulldogs guessing

    We don't seem to do that We always seem to telegraph our selections to our opponents.

    Laurie is a huge surprise!
    Either as a sub or we’re replacing Fritsch with a smaller option considered how tall our forward line is already.
    Good on him!

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    10 minutes ago, Vipercrunch said:

    McVee would surprise very few, Laurie though a little bit more of a surprise.  Hunter and Grundy confirmed starters also which we all knew.  Good luck to them all.

    Very exciting times for them. Agree with your views. You can't have enough elite users of the ball and although some here have decried Laurie's ball use he was selected primarily on the basis of his kicking skills.

     

    I wish them both well.

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    Very very surprised on Laurie as I don't think he got time in Practise #1 (happy to be corrected) and in Practise #2 he had 6 touches for ~60m gained (inc. a very important knock-on) in 56% gametime. Woewodin had 5 touches for ~90m gained in 21% gametime.... 

    That said, Laurie had a good finish to last year in the VFL. Hope he's fit enough to play at the level. 

    Who would've thought McVee and Laurie before JVR???? 

    If Taj isn't playing and we assume for a moment that May is, who is the final change from the team that took on Richmond? JJ? Can't be Schache as they will have told us as part of this video. D Turner?

    image.png.bf1c694727381fcc2e471bd5ae159405.png

     

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    I'm expecting the same team that demolished Richmond. Will Woewodin be sub or will they use Schache or Disco?

    Really surprised by Laurie. I’m guessing with Viney out they might just play Kosi and Trac purely through the midfield, and with Fritta out it will make way for both Chandler and Laurie to play forward. 
    I would be surprised if Laurie is the sub. Hate to see a debut done that way, although tactical sub now means he is probably a certainty to get a run. 

    Edited by Jaded No More

    3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Makes you wonder why JVR was not played at senior level in the practice games given the Fritsch concerns. (one quarter I think he got against the Saints)  Same could be said of Schache

    I’d say probably because we already have three talls there with Brown, TMac and the resting Ruck.

     

    13 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

    I'm expecting the same team that demolished Richmond. Will Woewodin be sub or will they use Schache or Disco?

    Wouldnt think it would be Woey or Schache as they would have been part of the announcement. Disco potentially...

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    What a fantastic video!  Culture and spirit at the club is great

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    Congrats to the debutants.

    Given that we’ve got no inclusions and have probably lost an additional best 22 player from the Richmond game, it was inevitable that 2 of McVee, Laurie and Woey would retain their spot.

    I thought Laurie was unsuccessful in his audition, but at least he’s had a taste and might be better prepared for the AFL tempo.

    4 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

    MFCSS kicking in here. If we’re missing those 4 well struggle to win this opening match. Viney and Salem less of an impact, but Fritsch and May are big losses.

    Nothing to do with MFCSS, if you take out 3 or 4 of your best players you're just not the same team. So yes, we could easily lose this - through no fault of our own.

    Disagree on the rest. We would never have won the premiership without Viney and Salem, they both play key roles that no-one else can cover. 

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    No Viney opens up more midfield time for Kosi, ANB and maybe even Chandler so it makes sense that we have an opening forward especially without Fritta. 

    I am much more concerned about covering May than the other 3 outs, because the only options are Tomlinson and Turner. One is not in good form and the other is an infant. 

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    • Author

    “Sources have already suggested to me that May’s injury might be a little bit worse than a niggle,” Healy said.

    “We’ll see how that plays out over the ensuing weeks, but there’s no question they’ll take a cautious approach to selection with a 31-year-old with a calf strain.

    “That’s what’s been suggested to me, that’s the history of calf issues with older blokes.

    “You’re not going to take a risk with him, I’d be staggered if he’s playing if he’s not training this week.

    “Then it’s a question of what the scans tell you, it could be one week or two or three.”

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