1 hour ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I'm actually expecting us to win by 4-5 goals with the outs the Giants have.

They doubled the Pies score with the outs they have. And a decent chance Tom Green is back against us.

 We have the benefit of seeing them play, but do we have coaches smart enough to counter their method? And the players to execute? 

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Any idea If Bedford’s more likely to tag Clarry or Trac? One of these 2 might be having a tough day at the office to start the year.

Tagging an outside player like Daicos is a lot different to tagging some contested bulls like clarry trac and Viney, they will destroy him 

Just read the AFL app on the GWS v Collingwood game

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Callaghan, Taylor, Kelly, Whitfield, Ward, Daniels, Ash 
Collingwood: Perryman, Cameron, J.Daicos, N.Daicos, Crisp   

Apparently if your surname is Daicos, you’re automatically in the best players. Don’t be surprised if Nick gets a Brownlow vote.

GWS are going to be very good this year. Easily top 4. They didn’t have hogan, green and they lost ruckman Briggs in the first 10 mins.

Finn plays like Judd and they have Genuine A graders. 

However Briggs out makes a massive difference.

Gawn should have a field day. Our midfield needs to take this advantage. The MCG is a big ground and an inexperienced ruckman can get lost. 

A win over GWS and we are real contenders.

7 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

Just read the AFL app on the GWS v Collingwood game

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Callaghan, Taylor, Kelly, Whitfield, Ward, Daniels, Ash 
Collingwood: Perryman, Cameron, J.Daicos, N.Daicos, Crisp   

Apparently if your surname is Daicos, you’re automatically in the best players. Don’t be surprised if Nick gets a Brownlow vote.

3  J. Daicos

2.  N. Daicos

1.  P.  Daicos

 

 

Yes, GWS were fast in part because the Pies' laziness let them.  The Pies didn't chase with intent nor apply much pressure.

These stats tell the story:

• Tackles:  GWS 59.  Pies 39
• 1%:  GWS 43.  Pies 34

39 tackles is disgraceful!  59 tackles is about average but then GWS didn't need to tackle.  The lack of pressure from Coll made for GWS quick transition and open f50.

Lets not forget Carlton thrashed GWS the week before.  Yes a practice game but ...

No doubt we will have our work cut out for us this week but our around the ground defence/pressure will bring GWS back down to earth.  

Stop them in their tracks is the way to go and I reckon we have the players to do just that.

They ran the game out well but our fresh legs should help us slow them down.

Edited March 9Mar 9 by Lucifers Hero

With Briggs out Gawn should have an absolute field day giving our mids first use. I can see Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Rivers and co giving our forwards plenty of ball. Can our forwards capitalise and can our backs keep the ball in? I can see GWS getting a few transition goals but if we kick relatively straight this is a game we should win well. If they get on top around clearances that's where they will get us, they's no doubt they move the ball really well on the break. It'll be a good test of any game plan tweaks because if we turn it over in space we'll likely get torched on turnover. There's going to need to be times in the match where we'll need to maintain possession and slow the game down. I think we'll be trying hard to make it a forward half territory game. We really need to take our chances in front of goal. Go Dee's, let's start the season with a W.

 

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

With Briggs out Gawn should have an absolute field day giving our mids first use. I can see Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Rivers and co giving our forwards plenty of ball. Can our forwards capitalise and can our backs keep the ball in? I can see GWS getting a few transition goals but if we kick relatively straight this is a game we should win well. If they get on top around clearances that's where they will get us, they's no doubt they move the ball really well on the break. It'll be a good test of any game plan tweaks because if we turn it over in space we'll likely get torched on turnover. There's going to need to be times in the match where we'll need to maintain possession and slow the game down. I think we'll be trying hard to make it a forward half territory game. We really need to take our chances in front of goal. Go Dee's, let's start the season with a W.

I’m far more pessimistic. 
I don’t see us having the running power of these fit Giants. In fact, I’ll rephrase that as we probably do have the running power but having Gawn as our bail out kick means we are loathe to use it and link up with handball like the Giants do. 

We should match them through the middle and then it becomes super important we don’t kick it on Taylor’s head.

AJ, if we can get Taylor opposed to him and not JVR, would do a job in keeping Taylor accountable. 

10 hours ago, bing181 said:

They doubled the Pies score with the outs they have. And a decent chance Tom Green is back against us.

I'm still doubtful he had strapping still on this weekend.

Edited March 9Mar 9 by At the break of Gawn

28 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I'm still doubtful he had strapping still on this weekend.

And he was limping on the telecast pre-game. 

7 minutes ago, Stu said:

And he was limping on the telecast pre-game. 

Mind games I'm thinking from Kingsley. Doesn't want to give up selection news yet, but knows both Green and Hogan won't play.

47 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

I’m far more pessimistic. 
I don’t see us having the running power of these fit Giants. In fact, I’ll rephrase that as we probably do have the running power but having Gawn as our bail out kick means we are loathe to use it and link up with handball like the Giants do. 

We should match them through the middle and then it becomes super important we don’t kick it on Taylor’s head.

AJ, if we can get Taylor opposed to him and not JVR, would do a job in keeping Taylor accountable. 

Thats fair enough, I’m pretty confident we’ve got the run and fitness to match them. If we don’t we could be in for a long season. Clubs like GWS are the benchmark for run.  I reckon we’re going to try very hard to lock the ball in our forward 80 which is why goal kicking is so important this week. Kick straight and I’m confident we win. 

14 hours ago, bing181 said:

Don't see how we win this. Maybe Pickett in would have been enough to tip the scales, but I just don't see that we have the speed to go with them - either speed in the legs or with ball movement.

There’s no doubt that without Pickett we are going to look slow against them. There’s also no doubt they are a talented side in contention this year. 

But Collingwood yesterday looked just as slow as I expect we will, and played one down on the field when N Daicos slowed to a walk, and yet generated similar scoring shots to 3QT and, on everyone’s favourite stat, the xScore margin at the end of the game was 2 points. Collingwood was also +21 in CPs, +4 in clearances and +1 in inside 50s. Tom Green makes a difference to these stats but they show you where GWS’s problems were.

Unlike Collingwood, we should be able to take advantage of them having a weak ruck, plus we play at home not away (and hopefully not in the heat), plus we’re hopefully able to run the game out better than the Pies did, plus we get the benefit of an extra week to plan against what we just saw.

So whilst they’re favourites, I can see how we win. 

Giants foot speed and speed of ball movement is a concern. Must capitalise on silver service from Gawn and dominate clearance. We must also be extremely proactive in looking to score. Goodwin needs to change his mindset from the opposition scoring less than us to that of we will score more than the opposition. 
If giants pierce our zone easily or open us up then he need to lock down and go one on one and make it ugly quickly. We can’t let the giants get a run on. 
Looking forward to that walk from the station to the MCG (via the pub) nothing in the world beats it. Go Dees!!!!

I still remember how good we were for three quarters against GWS last year with no Trac, half fit Clarry, no Salem, Max returning from injury, Windsor looking tired and sore and Lever on one leg. They only beat us by two points as Hogan got on top of TMac for five minutes and they piled on the goals. We were 5 goals up at quarter time.

This is winnable, especially with a fit Trac, Clayton, Max and Lever. McVee being injured hurts us as he put a warm blanket on Toby Green last time and our record without Kozzie in the team is pretty woeful, Melksham, ANW and ANB were also important last time. But the additions of Langford, XL, Petty back and Sharp give me hope that we can hold our own. Also Max against no recognised ruckman must be exploited and could be the key. 

Dees by 5 goals.

Edited March 9Mar 9 by deejammin'

1 hour ago, Dannyz said:

I’m far more pessimistic. 
I don’t see us having the running power of these fit Giants. In fact, I’ll rephrase that as we probably do have the running power but having Gawn as our bail out kick means we are loathe to use it and link up with handball like the Giants do. 

We should match them through the middle and then it becomes super important we don’t kick it on Taylor’s head.

AJ, if we can get Taylor opposed to him and not JVR, would do a job in keeping Taylor accountable. 

I posted after the Freo game that our chipping around and changing angles in our d50 appeared to avoid the 'kick it to Max' tactic.  But we were slow and tentative with it. 

Part of the tentativeness is up field players not positioned to accept the ball then run and carry it.  I think that is why Windsor is down back.   I think we will get better at it and hopefully it will happen this week.  Otherwise we will be relying on our around the ground defence and pressure to stop the speedy GWS, something the Pies didn't do. 

 

 

As an aside reckon Sparrow could go wtih Finn Callaghan.  Even if Sparrow doesn't get a kick stopping him will go a way to stopping GWS or at least slowing them down. 

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Lucifers Hero

Who is the Giants back up ruckman anyway I have no idea…?

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Thats fair enough, I’m pretty confident we’ve got the run and fitness to match them. If we don’t we could be in for a long season. Clubs like GWS are the benchmark for run.  I reckon we’re going to try very hard to lock the ball in our forward 80 which is why goal kicking is so important this week. Kick straight and I’m confident we win. 

The issue with locking it inside the forward 80 is the game becomes a cluster and the forwards have no space to work in!

Edited March 10Mar 10 by Dannyz

Will be a pleasant surprise if we come away with a win.

Personally I'm more concerned as to how we build into the first six week block.

From a season viewpoint we need to come out 4-2 and at least 3-3.

It's such an overly long season that pre-bye form is not that indicative.

My greatest concern is that our bottom 4 and the next 4 at Casey need to push through. Next is the smalls to mediums in our back 6.

Anyway let's see what 2025 has to offer. Lifting that cup would be lovely.

PS: Hope Jefferson makes it

The last quarter GWS were playing beautiful free flowing footy. I think and one stage the had 8 handballs leading to a goal. The pies were not even close. They also have the best depth of any list imo. We are either gonna have to really silky or make them scrap to win. Otherwise Adam Kingsley will be a mastermind jock McHale medalist

13 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

The issue with locking it inside the forward 80 is the game becomes a cluster and the forwards have no space to work in!

Absolutely it does but allowing GWS out the back will likely kill us. If we get it into the forward half quickly enough I'm hoping there will be enough post goal ball ups to clear the congestion. It only takes one good kick from 80 metres out to set up a goal. 

A mixture of overrating how good GWS were and underselling how bad Pies were in here!

42 minutes ago, sisso said:

Who is the Giants back up ruckman anyway I have no idea…?

Keeffe will ruck with Gruzewski providing relief.