POSTGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Lexinator 1,715]

Great win. Slowly grinded the dogs down. Clear and conscious effort for most of the game to lower the eyes and change angles, was great to watch. Several examples of selfless footy on display e.g Oliver and Kozzy could of rightly gone for a goal late in the game but lowered eyes and delivered to someone closer to goal that resulted in goals kicked. Considering there were a lot of shoddy decisions go against us for most of the game to win by 45 was a great effort, reckon umpires gave them 3 or 4 goals. 

[Moonshadow 17,677]

24 minutes 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.

Again, enjoy the win rather than focusing on negatives.

Life is too short and fortunes can change quickly when it's still only round 1 (or 2 for us)

What did you think of Billings' game? I thought his positioning and kicking were excellent. Fantastic pressure acts as well. What a great start in red n blue for him

[deegirl 1,578]

50 minutes ago, layzie said:

So great to see Clarry go straight to Goody and give him a massive hug.

From where I was sitting there looked to be a kiss thrown in too 😂

[binman 43,746]

1 minute ago, Gorgoroth said:

I was coming on here to write something similar, he shows good skills, goes at the ball and the man and has elite speed. Once this kid gets 10 games under his belt he will go up a few notches, another pre season, a tank and some size and we have a real weapon in the making.

And he's got something you can't coach or develop - raw speed.

[roy11 3,893]

Also it’s a nice nostalgic feeling to kick a bunch of late unanswered goals against the dogs 

[sue 9,140]

I got the impression Fox didn't focus in on the cheer squad with their Gus helmets.   If so, why?  Yes, I'm probably paranoid.....

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

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

WHile i 100% agree with you, i am going to go out on a limb and say from a leadship POV i like what Goody did by rewarding players who displayed the values teh club wants.

Did the players take their opportunities, well taht is debatable, do I think they will make it, again debatable, but i do think it was good leadership.

[Moonshadow 17,677]

How much did the addition of BBB straighten up our forward line?!!! Meant JVR wasn't the defender's focus. Created contests for our smalls in the forward line, Chin, Kossie and Nibbler. And that sidestep, my lordie... stick him in the midfield!!!

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,877]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

The biggest take away for me was Bbbs performance.
Didn't kill it but a very good serviceable game nonetheless. Our best tall fwd.

He had sticky hands today thats for sure.  Everything he went near he cluncked clean as.

Has great forward smarts too.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

1 minute ago, Moonshadow said:

How much did the addition of BBB straighten up our forward line?!!! Meant JVR wasn't the defender's focus. Created contests for our smalls in the forward line, Chin, Kossie and Nibbler. And that sidestep, my lordie... stick him in the midfield!!!

I was happy to see him do well.

Its a big if, but if we can move teh ball fast and utilise his strengths, he may kick a few this year with the way the game is now played.

[Dee Zephyr 19,268]

Langdon might not stand out like his 21-22 seasons but I believe he’s started ok this year. He was clean today.
He’s still running more than everyone, he’s linking up well, just with less fanfare. He’s still very important to us. 

[binman 43,746]

52 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Who cares Binman, stay positive. 

I care Hemingway, but I take your point.

[Gorgoroth 13,016]

11 minutes ago, binman said:

And he's got something you can't coach or develop - raw speed.

And the desire to use it and use it through gut running, the chase down was great and will be highlighted but his long runs to make space to be an option used or not repeatedly is what caught my eye and even then, everything was done at pace.

He is tracking nicely.

[Rossmillan 589]

7 minutes ago, sue said:

I got the impression Fox didn't focus in on the cheer squad with their Gus helmets.   If so, why?  Yes, I'm probably paranoid.....

They did very early in the coverage show it and mentioned it.

[dees189227 12,398]

Can we gve some love to Marty Hore who retuned to the big stuff today and I thought performed well. 

Also well done to Ben Brown. The stats might say he didn't get it a lot but he led up beautifully and provided as target and a contest. I'm not sure it's because his knee may be pain free but he looked great.

I thought Tommy was pretty good down half back. 

Rapt for Billings. 

I hope Claytons getting to a good spot because he hasn't lost his football ability. At the 3/4 time huddle I saw him go over and hug Gawn, he smartly passed that ball off in the final term and when he came off he had a huge smile on his face and embraced Goody. 

Oh and kudos to Cahndler to. At one point in the final half Richards we trying to get to Gawn and bump or block him and Chandler was stopping him from doing so. 

Edited March 17 by dees189227

[DubDee 26,117]

7 minutes ago, sue said:

I got the impression Fox didn't focus in on the cheer squad with their Gus helmets.   If so, why?  Yes, I'm probably paranoid.....

pre game it was highlighted by Sarah Jones on Fox. pretty sure i saw @WalkingCivilWar holding up the banner. looked a touch warm!

[Tracca 853]

50 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think Harmes went hard on May, gave a bit of niggle and Maysy wasn't having a bar of it.  Seriously how stupid would Harmes have to be going May.

what qtr was this

[Adam The God 30,407]

Super impressed with our set up today. We let them have +1 at contest and sat really deep all day, and because our pressure around the ball (outside of the first 10 mins of the game) was excellent, they dump kicked it back to us most of the day. 

Now that's our DNA, but what we've undoubtedly changed is we looked to move the ball really quickly with great spread from contest through the likes of Billings, ANB, Langdon and others along the wings and half forwards. We also looked to repeatedly use the width of the ground and switched the ball, like I don't remember us ever doing. If we can do that every week, we will be very tough to beat. It helps having better kicks behind the ball in Howes, McVee and Salem.

Aside from one brain fade TMac worked really well as a defender, and unlike Tomlinson who is so slow to move the ball on, TMac goes straight away. Risk reward stuff. And that's what our current defensive system on slingshot/intercept is set up to do.

We also managed to score more than the Bulldogs from forward half intercepts, despite them having many more forward half intercepts.

As I note above, we sagged our defensive system right back and allowed them to run into our pressure and kick the ball back to us, then we'd slingshot. And today there were a number of times we were lightening quick on slingshot. The best I can recall. Looking forward to hearing how many points we scored from the back half @WheeloRatings. And how many inside 50s we had from the back half.

Some stand out performances from Clarry and Billings, and I thought TMac too, Max and Viney as well. Our ball use was superb for the most part too. A little rusty at times, but I can't recall the last time we've gone at 76% DE.

Now to do it against top 8 opposition.

Edited March 17 by Binmans PA
Trac very good too.

[Flemo56 409]

16 minutes ago, Chook said:

Caleb Windsor is one of the best talents I've seen come through in years. He's going to be an absolute star.

His rundown tackle was sublime. There’s some familiarities about this kid, just the way he moves. Caleb and Judd Mc are silky smooth with skill and time. ❤️💙

[Spargonicus 539]

Here’s a funny post-game comment from one of the Doggies’ forums:

“There comes a time when a great coach realises the team needs a fresh voice. Where beverage is delivering yet another year on the relationship between Confucius - Ancient Teacup making and the Art of the Quilt, other coaches are actually driving the game forward.”

[Bigfoot 296]

King Clarry. The standing ovation had me welling up.

[Bay Riffin 1,479]

30 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I was coming on here to write something similar, he shows good skills, goes at the ball and the man and has elite speed. Once this kid gets 10 games under his belt he will go up a few notches, another pre season, a tank and some size and we have a real weapon in the making.

yes his highlights were great, the run down tackle saving a probable goal, a couple very handy dish offs in close. 16 possies in 3/4 and used it well. Windsor, Howes and Billings certain to stay in. 

Edited March 17 by Bay Riffin

[Skrull 107]

welcome back to premiership heroes Tmac and benny brown .

so good to see clarrie tearing up the mcg once again .

the bullies are our bunnies .

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,484]

10 minutes ago, Spargonicus said:

Here’s a funny post-game comment from one of the Doggies’ forums:

“There comes a time when a great coach realises the team needs a fresh voice. Where beverage is delivering yet another year on the relationship between Confucius - Ancient Teacup making and the Art of the Quilt, other coaches are actually driving the game forward.”

I'll drink to that. 

[ElDiablo14 5,002]

1 hour 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.

That kid loves a physical contest, great to see!