Race caller, the commentator, calling our game on Foxtel. We won by 6 furlongs apparently. 

Really can’t take too much yet out of where we sit in the league but there are insights that Goodwin and the new bloke McQ have altered our play, and there are some seeming positional wins that we desperately needed.

How we play

We seem to be trying to quickly pivot and switch (sometimes corridor) when we get a turnover which isn’t new, what is new is that there some hands and then a rule/desire to kick to someone forward side of wing. This means a few things; less kicks ‘over the head to space’ as we do less chain handball over 40m, it also allows Fritsch, BB and JVR to lead at the footy on quick movements as that player that has it forward wide of wing stops props and lets the forward execute in space. 

We also preferred to avoid the long bomb if we could, which coupled with the above meant shorter kicks and the most marks we have had in years.

The focus on movement from the backline is a Neil Balme for me because we know we can win stoppages, we know we can up the pressure up forward, what we haven’t done well really ever in Goodys reign is transition the ball from end to end, preferring to limit how often it gets down there.

FINALLY, we are taking this backline out for a test drive and seeing what it can withstand so that we can move it quickly, deliberately into the space of some smart forwards.

 

Positionally, Hore looks fine and so does Howes, so we MUST KEEP SALEM IN THE GUTS!

5 hours ago, binman said:

Indeed.

Tracc was far and away the best player IMO. 

13 score involvements is nuts.

A much improved effort .Gawn, Oliver the best two on the ground.

10 minutes ago, SPC said:

Race caller, the commentator, calling our game on Foxtel. We won by 6 furlongs apparently. 

He did an outstanding job in my opinion, far better than the bias of aJohnson etc.

4 hours ago, Abyssal said:

In time when Petracca and Oliver start to decline, McVee will be rated our best player.

Guy McKenna Mk11

I like it!

I thought the Bulldogs were good today. I've read some of the above posts which malign them, but had they kicked straight at the start of the last quarter ---Melbourne was simply a better side today. Don't write of the Dogs just yet....

6 hours ago, adonski said:

A moment needs to be taken, to try and comprehend playing Laurie and Spargo ahead of Billings last week

Why?

And why immediately after such a stirring victory?

2 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Why?

And why immediately after such a stirring victory?

Surprised you still log in here WCW

1 minute ago, adonski said:

Surprised you still log in here WCW

So am I 

5 hours ago, Ouch! said:

Salem good, not great. Sparrow was very good v Carlton a couple of weeks back, and having Petracca, Viney and Clarry performing, gives him some time, needs to lift though.

JVR competed in the ruck even though undersized. So much more competitive  than Schache.

If he wasn't before, Schache really is a break glass option going forward. 

1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Possibly two visits to a grand final in seven years has something to do with it.

yeah fair call. but i’d argue some luck is involved.

he has never finished in the top 4. never picks a settled team and often loses good players. eg Treloar and Stringer

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Lever's disposal has never been one of his strengths. Kicks the ball in a rainbow trajectory

I'm surprised we don't have a player running by for the handball.

Isaac Newton explained why that happens, a few years back. 🫠

50 minutes ago, Surfer Dee said:

Credit where it's due, this was a good coaching performance.

I agree, but if you’re looking for people to give Goodwin any credit you’ve come to wrong site

3 hours ago, Skuit said:

A glorious afternoon at the MCG by all accounts. I think our president should come out and encourage more of our fans to come along and make some noise. 

I thought that our crowd was disappointingly quiet for most of the game.  Plenty to be excited about.  Come on, folks, yell a bit.

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Lever's disposal has never been one of his strengths. Kicks the ball in a rainbow trajectory

I'm surprised we don't have a player running by for the handball.

 

37 minutes ago, bush demon said:

What about spotting up Big Maxie v Geelong a couple of years ago. Possibly won us the premiership with that kick.

Lever's memorable kick, rather like Harmes' most memorable kick ever, in 2021.

Great day to be at the G, 30oC a bit warm , 44,000 in the stands mainly ours, reasonable crowd noise hard and tough in the first half. It was a relatively stress free game to watch we took everything that the Dogs threw at us and didn’t buckle. I said to my wife and daughter at half time let’s see just how fit we are in these hot conditions and we weren’t disappointed the longer the game went the better we looked. Team work was excellent and as mentioned by earlier posters TMac, BBB , Salo and Marty Hore were all rock solid, our stars Max, Tracc, Clayton,JV, Steve, Rick, Jack Billings and ANB all starred and they were all supported by our young brigade lead by Riv, Kozzie, Chin plus our relative new boys all pitching in together. Very satisfying win….!!!

5 hours ago, binman said:

Give me a spell.

I didn't name names.

And I wasnt rude and I didn't take any pot shots.

Unless you call the truth a pot shot.

And frankly I'm heartily sick of posters spewing vitriol against my club after a loss.

And then going silent after an impressive win.

If you are gonna call out the club - repeatedly- after a loss then show some spine and put your hand up you might have got it wrong.

It's the opposite of fair weather supporters.

No problems at all with this Binman. You keep calling it as you see it and doing what you're doing. You offer a lot and if anyone is in the position to do this it's you.

What I do have an issue with and I'm completely done with are the people whose sole ambition is to come on here as the 'positive' person and go straight to calling out the naysayers, almost as if they are stepping on others to promote what a positive person they are. When we win most of us are happy about just that, the win. For these people, they are glad that people were proved wrong and they can get on their high horse. I don't care for it and have blocked anyone who does it.

4 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

That’s funny, I went to edit my post and say exactly that but then, well truth be known the add break was finishing and I had to get of the toilet….😆😆

Brutal curry?

24 minutes ago, DubDee said:

often loses good players. eg Treloar and Stringer

After starting at GWS, Treloar went from Collingwood to the Bulldogs and is still there.

What a game from Clarry. After I thought he wasn’t fit last week he destroyed it today. Rapt and hope this is a start of a great new journey for him.

Billings was extraordinary. A few Saints mates said he could play and he showed it today.

Was hoping BBB and TMac could etch out one more year and this was a great start.

Great game, go Dees.

45 minutes ago, jayceebee31 said:

He did an outstanding job in my opinion, far better than the bias of aJohnson etc.

Nearly best on ground! The focus of the game was great to listen to. Much less dribble.

1 hour ago, Antioch said:

There was a wonderful moment late in the last quarter where Clarrie ran to the bench after a magnificent goal assist effort. The Demons crowd stood and clapped and cheered him for that and other obvious reasons. Showing him love and respect. Kayo did not show this scene at all. Disgraceful editing. Doesn’t suit their narrative.

They didn’t show it live, but did show it after the game. Possibly during the Max and Clarrie interview.

4 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

After starting at GWS, Treloar went from Collingwood to the Bulldogs and is still there.

I could say maybe he meant Schache,  but let's go with Dunkley. 🙄

5 hours ago, Bates Mate said:

Kozzy is 0 from 60 in his career. Needs to retire the moty attempts. His attempts usually mean there are no crumbers and the ball exits our 50 most times

Just in case no one had noticed , but oppositions generally poo themselves when the ball goes within  ten metres of him.

1 hour ago, SPC said:

Race caller, the commentator, calling our game on Foxtel. We won by 6 furlongs apparently. 

He’s probably still looking for correct weight.

1 minute ago, Willmoy1947 said:

Just in case no one had noticed , but oppositions generally poo themselves when the ball goes within  ten metres of him.

.....and with good reason.  He has freakish skills that make him so important to our side. Yes, he probably tries too often for MOTY, but he bounces up quicker than anyone else I have seen, so remains a ground ball threat in these contests. He is an amazing talent, still years away from his peak. Happy for him to just do his thing, except suspensions!