PODCAST: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Demonland 48,944]

Join George, Binman and I LIVE on Monday 20th March at 8.30pm for our analysis of the massive Round 1 thumping of the Bulldogs.

If you have a question or comment about the win over the Bulldogs or our upcoming Friday night blockbuster against the Lions then please leave your comment below and we will read it out on the podcast.

[Demonland 48,944]

Your questions and comments have been a big part of our show and going forward we want to make it the crux of our show.

Please leave your questions or comments about the Bulldogs win or the upcoming match against the Lions below and we will definitely read them out and attempt to answer them.

 

[adonski 6,998]

Can McVee, Salem, Rivers, Bowey (and Brayshaw should they not elect to move him into the midfield) co-exist in the same backline?

[Deeoldfart 6,950]

It was an outstanding win vs the Bulldogs, and in hindsight, made even sweeter by the absence of 4 of our best players.  In Goodies post match presser he said that all 4 are likely to be available for our encounter with the Lions.  Assuming they all prove their fitness, who comes in, and who goes out, and why?
Match fitness will obviously be an important determining factor, and imo, it would be foolhardy to bring in more than one or two ‘underdone’ players for the Brisbane game.

[Bigfoot 45]

Thoughts on Tommy Macs game.

13 Disposals 4 Marks and missed a very gettable goal with no pressure right at the end. I didn't notice him much on the night and haven't watched the replay and cause I wasn't paying close attention to him on the night I can't talk to any work he did off the ball. Not suggesting he be dropped off one performance but interested to hear your thoughts.

[raDeelaide 179]

How did you guys see our midfield rotations working?

I thought we chopped and changed a bit too much in the first half and never seemed settled.

With about 10 mins to go in the 2nd until the end we were well on top. Did you notice any changes to kickstart our domination in the middle? 

[Lefty 282]

Loving the poddy guys. Lifting the bar every week. 

Just wanted to get your opinion on our use of the tactical sub in particular using Melky. I think most of us suspected a James Jordon type who could cover a number of roles across the field if we had an injury. I don’t think any of us expected Melky and I reckon he was used perfectly. What you guys reckon? Do you think he will become a professional sub or will we mix it up?

[Redjacket 608]

We got our first (okay 3rd) but really 1st good look at the Gawn/Grundy combination under intense match conditions. How do you think it panned out?

[Red and Bluebeard 1,864]

Great to see this back guys. Without wanting to whinge too much, how can Kozzy's hit be graded as high impact when Buddy's is graded as medium impact? We know that the MRO is inconsistent, but this seems ludicrous.

[Deeminion 278]

Voice is still hoarse from Saturday night from screaming at the umps all night. 

2 questions if I may;

1. Thoughts on Bulldogs crowd booing Hunter and then later our crowd booing Baker. 

2. Interested to get @binman‘s take on some of the other matches. He predicted some bigger scores/more free flowing scores. We saw that in the Cats/Magpies match. Those two are our main competition so interested to hear your thoughts on them. Also Port and no doubt we’ll get your thoughts on Brissy in the Match Preview. 

[DutchDemons 838]

I’m mostly curious about how Salem fits back into the side. Who would you take out to accommodate him?

[pewpewpew 634]

There was a lot of fear pregame on Demonland about the prospect of coming up against the 4 talls in the Bulldogs forward line especially with May sidelined. Nobody was expecting Tomlinson to get the nod. Many of Demonland, including the panel on this podcast, had penciled in Disco Turner as the next cab off the rack. I thought Tommo did an excellent job? Feel for him as it’s a LIFO situation upon May’s return. 

[mandeelorian 68]

I found this fantastic website as a result of the podcast and now I'm addicted. I've been just a passive observer reading the website and learning a lot about the tactics of the game from the many posters and you fellas on the podcast. I used to just yell kick the bloody thing but now I know there is more to it than that so thank you Demonland. I still do yell Kick the Bleeping thing but now it's just to vent and release my frustrations. My psychologist says its healthy in moderation. Little does she know that I scream it all bloody game.

Anyway my question:--

How do you think the debutants fared on the weekend? Laurie, McVee and you can include Chandler in there too.

 

[jshc__ 47]

8 hours ago, Bigfoot said:

Thoughts on Tommy Macs game.

13 Disposals 4 Marks and missed a very gettable goal with no pressure right at the end. I didn't notice him much on the night and haven't watched the replay and cause I wasn't paying close attention to him on the night I can't talk to any work he did off the ball. Not suggesting he be dropped off one performance but interested to hear your thoughts.

Would love to hear this discussed on the pod (as I am sure it will) as I thought TMac was excellent in his role despite the unflattering stat line. Particularly in the first half when our ball movement was slower he seemed to bob up all over the ground with important contests and marks. 

Many on here saw the impact of his absence last year and I thought Saturday night illustrated that further. To me his role is not so much to mark and goal inside 50, but to give us a target and contest moving the ball from D50. His inside 50 work is even less important given the potency of Gawn and Grundy as marking targets. 

I would also like to shout Tom Captain Jack Sparrow. Another who didn't have a great stat line but is a smart user and tackler. Even better is his kicking for goal.

The dogs must be sick of him slotting goals from the 50 arc

Edited March 19 by jshc__

[layzie 20,975]

Is this one of the most complete games that Max has ever had? He did his thing in the ruck, was a presence up forward making the most of his opportunites and managed to drop back deep often to take a Dogs tall and help out an undermanned backline especially in the second quarter when they were getting on top in the clearances.

We've seen a heap of great games from Max but as far as overall value this one has to be up there. 

[Singa 82]

Where have all the Ben Brown haters gone?

It’s remarkable how much better he and the team look with TMac in the side as well as giving him some space and delivering to him better. 

[Supreme_Demon 1,983]

 

I stand corrected on Adam Tomlinson. I will admit I found his selection in the side perplexing. But he proved all us doubters wrong and played a good game, besides 2 smothered kicks. What are the podcasters thoughts on Adam Tomlinson's game? Who will he match up against from the Lions?

Next question, how would you rate the games of both Judd McVee and Bailey Laurie against the Bulldogs?

 

I thought Judd McVee was excellent and did some great things besides being caught with the ball in the backline trying to break a Bulldogs tackle. Most of his possesions were effective and I thought his little baulk past a Bulldogs player was clever too.

 

As for Bailey Laurie, I know he did at least two or three good things. His first handball was classy and he also did a well placed kick into the forwardline to Kade Chandler in the 3rd Quarter. However, besides that I didn't really notice him and thought that Jake Melksham had more impact (kicking a goal) and coming on as the "super sub" in the 4th Quarter. Nevertheless, the senior AFL experience was good for Bailey Laurie.

Edited March 20 by Supreme_Demon

[binman 28,326]

41 minutes ago, Singa said:

Where have all the Ben Brown haters gone?

It’s remarkable how much better he and the team look with TMac in the side as well as giving him some space and delivering to him better. 

Snap. Was literally just thinking the same thing in reference to the q about tmac's relatively quiet game stats wise.

Just compare bb ladt year when he had to cover all the donkey work and up and down the ground running tmac does.

BB doesn't kick 4 goals without tmac in the side.

[Demonland 48,944]

21 minutes ago, binman said:

Snap. Was literally just thinking the same thing in reference to the q about tmac's relatively quiet game stats wise.

Just compare bb ladt year when he had to cover all the donkey work and up and down the ground running tmac does.

BB doesn't kick 4 goals without tmac in the side.

[ElDiablo14 1,271]

48 minutes ago, binman said:

Snap. Was literally just thinking the same thing in reference to the q about tmac's relatively quiet game stats wise.

Just compare bb ladt year when he had to cover all the donkey work and up and down the ground running tmac does.

BB doesn't kick 4 goals without tmac in the side.

Binman, I do share the sentiment re Tmac. However, isn't this something JVR could provide? And you get a younger body , faster and more athletic.... And increased forward pressure; that kid loves to chase the ball carrier.

Edited March 20 by ElDiablo14

[binman 28,326]

18 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Binman, I do share the sentiment re Tmac. However, isn't this something JVR could provide? And you get a younger body , faster and more athletic....

I refuse to answer on the grounds i might be memed.

Will answer tonight

Spoiler alert - the short answer is no.

[DeelightfulPlay 1,435]

How do you rate Clarry's efforts in that game compared to what we're accustomed to in previous games / seasons?  He had 33 disposals which is course on the par for him, but seemed a bit quiet (in my uneducated view).  Is this maybe reflecting a slight change in role due to the changes to the midfield this year (eg resting all our mids more as others like Sparrow play more minutes, Viney being out this round, and that Clarry was tried for a little bit rotating up half back in the preseason)?

To add a spin on some of the other questions about the debuts - are we just spoiled by McVee's class acts and Chandler's goal and 2nd and 3rd efforts, and that's why Laurie seems a bit nothing?  (Of course Chandler has technically already debuted)

[OhMyDees 800]

Loved both Nibbler and Spargo’s game on the weekend. These two were pivotal in their own ways during our premiership season but had far less impact in 2022.

While Brown and Pickett deserve huge plaudits for their efforts, when our small pressure forwards are firing like they were against the doggies this is a huge barometer of whether we get the W. 

Edited March 20 by OhMyDees

[Royal Demon 43]

33 minutes ago, OhMyDees said:

Loved both Nibbler and Spargo’s game on the weekend. 

While Brown and Pickett deserve huge plaudits for their efforts, when our small pressure forwards are firing like they were against the doggies this is a huge barometer of whether we get the W. 

So too Kozzy's game. The bump, the report and the suspension aside I thought Kozzy played one of his best all round games for the club this week. 19 possies and 4 goals he was electric through the middle of the ground and so dangerous up forward. And he's only getting started. We have to throw the piggy bank at him. Give him whatever he wants. If he wants to move to Adelaide then get him a personal trainer and train over zoom or move the club over there. Joking but we simply cannot lose him.

[Dees_In_October 2,345]

Seems to be a bit of divided opinion about Harmes's game. Thoughts on his output and role? I feel like he's often a slow starter (in games and in seasons), but with pressure on spots...

Also don't forget to mention the epic re-signing announcement for the women's team - I know you won't miss it, but there's so much to discuss, so just making triple sure. That was some intense solidarity in the face of some (relatively speaking) big bucks.