OPPOSITION WATCH: What they're saying in Footscray

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

Fairly late with this thread as there was little of interest to show.  Incredible lack of passion and enthusiasm for their team, a new season or the game.  Not even after May's likely out did they get very excited.

If that is any guide, not expecting many WBD fans at the game.

From WOOF Forum.  Game thread caption is Melbourne, The Reality Check!

• Will be a huge test against the Dees. I read about Grundy & Gawn and I guess I'm not surprised they got a few goals in a pre-season match.  I'm still not shaking in my boots about Grundy up forward... I think we'll match them and our forward firepower will win us the day.
• They worked so hard to gut run and outnumber the Tigers on the weekend. They created overlap and had multiple options moving the ball forward for large parts of the game. At times it was a training drill.  Richmond aren't slouches the Dees look good and are going to be a challenge.
• Hunter isn’t the best anything in the AFL anymore my man. Unless he’s had the best pre season ever or access to a Delorean he’s probably the player I’m 19th or 20th most worried about.
• Oliver, Petracca, Fritsch, Gawn - limiting their influence goes a long way to banking the four points.
• We generally play the MCG fairly well. Having Naughton/Marra hit up the wings will be important at different stages, but the bigger ground should help us isolate the talls in the forward 50.

From Bigfooty:  Game thread caption is Hyped up Dees v the land of the giants.

• The major worry here is as always the midfield battle, If we win in the trenches given we now have a vastly superior forward line to theirs and one that can actually now stretch their defence it will come down to how much we can limit their opportunities going forward and if we have learnt to stop teams getting massive run on's against us.
• The last side to go into most H&A games with 4 tall forwards were the Crows when they made the granny.
• Dees look pretty settled and ready to fire.
• Hunter will provide them with some pretty major scouting reports on us I'd say.
• Massive for the Dees will be a fit Tom McDonald who was a key role-player in 2021.
• English and Lobb going up against G&G is a massive problem for us. Whilst we did it easy in the praccy game we were still out-tapped by Goldstein and Xerri. Bad signs. 
• We’re looking pretty switched on too, so I see it being a hard fought close contest and wouldn’t surprise if either team win by a small margin.  Hoping it’s us, but would settle (reluctantly) for a narrow loss. Won’t be able to stomach a similar result to the same match last year. Confident that won’t happen though.
• Lobb and Marra both gave Petty a bath in games last year. Will be interesting if that repeats or if Marra or Darcy can take full advantage of getting someone like Trent Rivers if Lever isn’t more accountable.
• May is one of the best full backs, Lever is pretty good but I think Liam Jones will be better.  Long way from best wing combo Hunter is past his best.  Agree best ruck combo.  Pickett is inconsistent and long way behind Papley.  Agree Fristch in top 3.
• We may be lacking quality smalls but Naughton and Marra are quick on the deck, they can make May and Lever look like dinosaurs. Just need to get the ball to ground and we will be fine.
• My real worry is the the Dees out run us late in quarters.
• Fritsch gives me nightmares
  • He is the only one in their forward line that worries me
  • He'll score 3 goals in 5mins and you will be like wtf just happened…Sucks so bad.
• I watched the Demons play the Tigers in the practice match. Their ball movement was incredibly slick; they were humming like a well-oiled machine. They didn't even seem to have any of the normal early-season rust. That's what scares me more than any of their individual players.
• On pure talent Melb, even with all their outs are still ahead of us.
• Gawn, Oliver & petracca is still better than anything we have in midfield.  That's where the game will be decided.

My Favourite:

• Good to see on this Bulldogs thread that some sensible comments can be made about Melbourne, unlike the sh*tshow mega threads over on their threads. Kudos fellow Bulldogs. 
  • OMG!!  At least our threads have passion and good analysis and we don't abuse our opps!   I didn't print the nastier comments.

Dees by three goals!

[layzie 29,758]

Bring it on baby! Gonna need their best bark

[Robbie57 1,996]

29 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Fritsch gives me nightmares

• He is the only one in their forward line that worries me
• He'll score 3 goals in 5mins and you will be like wtf just happened…Sucks so bad

Someone is still scarred...

[buck_nekkid 5,553]

Forward line?  Naughton is good, Ungle Bungle unproven, Darcy is wet behind the ears and Lobb is a go-missing off cut from Freo.  Get it to ground they say?  With those talls? This forward line looks top heavy and no weightman is their biggest forward line issue, will lose 4 goals from no getting rubbish free kicks.

[Lefty 357]

It will be interesting to hear what they have say after the carnage announcements yesterday.

[Smokey 4,146]

Oh how I have missed these threads 😍

[Jaded No More 59,110]

Their biggest strength for the last decade has been their midfield. It is what they have based their entire game plan on.

So while they have improved both ends of the ground in the off season, their midfield has gone backwards, having lost Dunkley and Hunter. 

Will be interesting to see how that changes their game style. Bont will have to play a lot more midfield minutes now, and they will need Treloar to stay healthy. Otherwise it's fairly slim pickings in terms of pure class. McRae and Libba are accumulators, but they don't hurt you like the other two do. 

 

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

39 minutes ago, Lefty said:

It will be interesting to hear what they have say after the carnage announcements yesterday.

That is just it - they didn't say much at all about our outs.  Their enthusiasm barely went up a notch on the richter scale!

I'll check in again tomorrow and see what they are saying and update the comments.

[Little Goffy 12,770]

Damn, there's some true mental scarring about run-ons and Fritsch there.

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

4 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Damn, there's some true mental scarring about run-ons and Fritsch there.

This is why according to one poster:  "...just in the last two seasons; 21 goals in 9 games against us, but 17 in the last 5!",   six of which were in a GF

[Jaded No More 59,110]

5 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

This is why according to one poster:  "...just in the last two seasons; 21 goals in 9 games against us, but 17 in the last 5!",   six of which were in a GF

And yet most commentators don't rate him. He is a gun!

[Deebauched 1,219]

The Dees players that concern the doggies the most arent even  playing on Saturday.

With May going down i think Bulldogs might kick 90 points +  without our Fritisch its going to be hard.

Edited March 16, 2023 by Deebauched

[WalkingCivilWar 33,315]

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

The last side to go into most H&A games with 4 tall forwards were the Crows when they made the granny.

Bit of a stretch, no?

#PoorDelusionalBastard

Thanks Luci. Fave thread every week. 

[binman 39,083]

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Fairly late with this thread as there was little of interest to show.  Incredible lack of passion and enthusiasm for their team, a new season or the game.  Not even after May's likely out did they get very excited.

If that is any guide, not expecting many WBD fans at the game.

From WOOF Forum.  Game thread caption is Melbourne, The Reality Check!

• Will be a huge test against the Dees. I read about Grundy & Gawn and I guess I'm not surprised they got a few goals in a pre-season match.  I'm still not shaking in my boots about Grundy up forward... I think we'll match them and our forward firepower will win us the day.
• They worked so hard to gut run and outnumber the Tigers on the weekend. They created overlap and had multiple options moving the ball forward for large parts of the game. At times it was a training drill.  Richmond aren't slouches the Dees look good and are going to be a challenge.
• Hunter isn’t the best anything in the AFL anymore my man. Unless he’s had the best pre season ever or access to a Delorean he’s probably the player I’m 19th or 20th most worried about.
• Oliver, Petracca, Fritsch, Gawn - limiting their influence goes a long way to banking the four points.
• We generally play the MCG fairly well. Having Naughton/Marra hit up the wings will be important at different stages, but the bigger ground should help us isolate the talls in the forward 50.

From Bigfooty:  Game thread caption is Hyped up Dees v the land of the giants.

• The major worry here is as always the midfield battle, If we win in the trenches given we now have a vastly superior forward line to theirs and one that can actually now stretch their defence it will come down to how much we can limit their opportunities going forward and if we have learnt to stop teams getting massive run on's against us.
• The last side to go into most H&A games with 4 tall forwards were the Crows when they made the granny.
• Dees look pretty settled and ready to fire.
• Hunter will provide them with some pretty major scouting reports on us I'd say.
• Massive for the Dees will be a fit Tom McDonald who was a key role-player in 2021.
• English and Lobb going up against G&G is a massive problem for us. Whilst we did it easy in the praccy game we were still out-tapped by Goldstein and Xerri. Bad signs. 
• We’re looking pretty switched on too, so I see it being a hard fought close contest and wouldn’t surprise if either team win by a small margin.  Hoping it’s us, but would settle (reluctantly) for a narrow loss. Won’t be able to stomach a similar result to the same match last year. Confident that won’t happen though.
• Lobb and Marra both gave Petty a bath in games last year. Will be interesting if that repeats or if Marra or Darcy can take full advantage of getting someone like Trent Rivers if Lever isn’t more accountable.
• May is one of the best full backs, Lever is pretty good but I think Liam Jones will be better.  Long way from best wing combo Hunter is past his best.  Agree best ruck combo.  Pickett is inconsistent and long way behind Papley.  Agree Fristch in top 3.
• We may be lacking quality smalls but Naughton and Marra are quick on the deck, they can make May and Lever look like dinosaurs. Just need to get the ball to ground and we will be fine.
• My real worry is the the Dees out run us late in quarters.
• Fritsch gives me nightmares
  • He is the only one in their forward line that worries me
  • He'll score 3 goals in 5mins and you will be like wtf just happened…Sucks so bad.
• I watched the Demons play the Tigers in the practice match. Their ball movement was incredibly slick; they were humming like a well-oiled machine. They didn't even seem to have any of the normal early-season rust. That's what scares me more than any of their individual players.
• On pure talent Melb, even with all their outs are still ahead of us.
• Gawn, Oliver & petracca is still better than anything we have in midfield.  That's where the game will be decided.

My Favourite:

• Good to see on this Bulldogs thread that some sensible comments can be made about Melbourne, unlike the sh*tshow mega threads over on their threads. Kudos fellow Bulldogs. 
  • OMG!!  At least our threads have passion and good analysis and we don't abuse our opps!   I didn't print the nastier comments.

Dees by three goals!

Pretty considered comments really.

I thought this was as an excellent summary of our game plan in a nutshell:

• 'They worked so hard to gut run and outnumber the Tigers on the weekend. They created overlap and had multiple options moving the ball forward for large parts of the game.' 

And this comment was also perceptive:

•  watched the Demons play the Tigers in the practice match. Their ball movement was incredibly slick; they were humming like a well-oiled machine. They didn't even seem to have any of the normal early-season rust. That's what scares me more than any of their individual players

[Bitter but optimistic 21,556]

18 minutes ago, binman said:

Pretty considered comments really.

I thought this was as an excellent summary of our game plan in a nutshell:

• 'They worked so hard to gut run and outnumber the Tigers on the weekend. They created overlap and had multiple options moving the ball forward for large parts of the game.' 

And this comment was also perceptive:

•  watched the Demons play the Tigers in the practice match. Their ball movement was incredibly slick; they were humming like a well-oiled machine. They didn't even seem to have any of the normal early-season rust. That's what scares me more than any of their individual players

I watched the game against Richmond and actually thought we were too good for pre season - it liked abut round six form.

I'll be an interested watcher of the tigers tonight to try and get a gauge on our form.

[Ted Lasso 17,123]

we're going to belt them... 

Dees by 59 

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,007]

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

This is why according to one poster:  "...just in the last two seasons; 21 goals in 9 games against us, but 17 in the last 5!",   six of which were in a GF

He was clutch when it counted.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,007]

Lets see if this so called tried and tested "Manhattan" Forward Line Works.

If it doesn't and were missing the best defender in the game, plus another 3 out of our best top 10, well then they are well and truely screwed.

[layzie 29,758]

Can we just win every single clearance, lock the ball in the 50 and shield our backline all game? Would that be too much of a tall order?

[Deemania since 56 6,237]

4 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

That is just it - they didn't say much at all about our outs.  Their enthusiasm barely went up a notch on the richter scale!

I'll check in again tomorrow and see what they are saying and update the comments.

It is really interesting about 'carnage' and our bad luck with the slow recoveries from 3-player injuries. It is, however, a great chance for us (not including other clubs in this) to assess with some realism the quality and truth of our acquired depth of players for the 2023 season. Selection and placements will need to be flexible; we actually have some genuinely multi-skilled practitioners within the lists at the moment so it is hoped that they can shine on Saturday night.

[Ted Lasso 17,123]

6 hours ago, Robbie57 said:

Someone is still scarred...

Wait til he sees what that bloke in the number 5 is going to do to them Saturday night. 

[fr_ap 2,178]

2 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I watched the game against Richmond and actually thought we were too good for pre season - it liked abut round six form.

I'll be an interested watcher of the tigers tonight to try and get a gauge on our form.

Not much has been said about Richmond - they werent much chop.

Always difficult to tell what's one team being good and another bad - but I counted several goals that came directly from poor Richmond kicks under no pressure (Dusty in particular - they need to keep him close to goal now)

[Jaded No More 59,110]

4 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

Not much has been said about Richmond - they werent much chop.

Always difficult to tell what's one team being good and another bad - but I counted several goals that came directly from poor Richmond kicks under no pressure (Dusty in particular - they need to keep him close to goal now)

I mean the Dog's only pre-season form was beating North, so how much can you take from that?

Richmond will certainly finish higher on the ladder than North. I am confident we all agree on that one. 

[Katrina Dee Fan 2,483]

On 3/16/2023 at 8:12 AM, Lucifers Hero said:

 

• Good to see on this Bulldogs thread that some sensible comments can be made about Melbourne, unlike the sh*tshow mega threads over on their threads. Kudos fellow Bulldogs. 
  • OMG!!  At least our threads have passion and good analysis and we don't abuse our opps!   I didn't print the nastier comments.

 

This.  I have a lot of respect for Doggies fans, they're not abusive and always respectful of their opposition.  I wish all supporters can be like Doggies fans.

[DeelightfulPlay 2,268]

4 minutes ago, Katrina Dee Fan said:

This.  I have a lot of respect for Doggies fans, they're not abusive and always respectful of their opposition.  I wish all supporters can be like Doggies fans.

I'd like to think we're respectful supporters to others in person, since we let all the bat-sh!ttery out on Demonland 🤣