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BBB is in for a ripper season I think. Doesn't get outmarked, brings the ball to ground at worst and makes a contest. Plus has a bit of a run at players to force them out wide before they kick. Also knows how to do some nice taps if he can't mark it. And kicks goals! Weapon.

The absolute nerve that we can can come back after conseding 8 consecutive goals without 5 members from our premiership backline. Watch out 2022, here we come!

Bowey still hasn't played in a losing team

Best game I have seen from Joel Smith, thought he was good. Some poor finishing, but a good win with Tracc leading the way, quite a few cobwebs but overall a pleasing start to season with a depleted backline. Salem is a huge worry, can’t replace his class.

Odd feeling. I know it sounds cocky but I didn’t feel stressed or tense at any stage in that game, even in the second. This team will get it done. I just know they will.

Considering our backline issues, patchy kicking and terrible umpiring, this is a really good win! How good is winning in Round 1? Big year ahead!

I’m sorry , but the bulldogs are a club of absolute sooks. Whinging over a bloody song, and then calling Morris a gutter journo for reporting an out??? Love beating this mob.

Takeaways from tonight 1- we are a genuinely good team. We know how to win, we know how to swing momentum, we know how to kill opposition’s confidence. 2- umpiring putrid. Dogs in for another golden run with them in 2022 3- we are lucky the Bulldog’s forwardline is a dog’s breakfast outside of Naughton who is a gun. We will really hurt without Salem and Lever against the better forward teams (Brisbane, Geelong etc). 4- Benny Brown is in for a big year 5- our Goal kicking is still putrid 6- Petracca is next level 7- Freed from Desire is a terrible song

That was the proof the world needed that we are the hardest working team without the ball. Our system, and ability to stick to it, is elite.

Superb win in the circumstances go dees

It was so good being back there watching this team. Seriously, Dogs got a run on for about 15 minutes and managed to kick 8 somehow. I thought we managed to stem the tide about 15 minutes into the second quarter and managed a couple of goals to be well within striking distance at halftime. Trac’s two-way running was unbelievable from ground level, what a performance by him. T Mac in defence stood out big time, some great closing speed and big spoils, thought he very good. Above all, what a mature outfit we are witnessing. With all the reshuffling after Salo and Lever a late out that was a very impressive performance.

LOL Tom Morris broke him. Pipe down Chopper.

Why would you take Smith out? I’m a doubter but he was good tonight. If the 3 you mention are fit I’d leave Tomlinson as the sub

He did the Bont “I’ve just won the Norm Smith” celebration.

30-17 and they still can't get within 4 goals. Good luck for the season dogs you might need to up the payments to the umps or practise the ducking a bit more.

Brayshaw - was fantastic tonight

Salem was a big loss, but Bedford came on and showed plenty. Still hasn't sunk it that we are reigning premiers with the best [censored] player in the league. By a long shot. Weightman can go and take a long walk off a short pier.

Never in doubt.

Only a stubborn fool continues to knock Joel Smith. Some on this site were so negative, they’re finding it difficult to face up the fact he has turned into a very good, versatile defender that now gets a game in every AFL club.

Yup. Is it wrong that I enjoyed it so much?!

During the last quarter we were just so good at parrying their forward thrusts - smothers, defensive marks and spoils etc. Fantastic work rate. Pleasing to see Bedford start to get some of the ball late. Loving how good ball users spargs and particularly bowey are. Jackson is starting to look really imperious - could be an exciting year ahead for him. Hoping Salem not too bad, that's a huge loss on top of petty/lever/hibberd/rivers. Kudos to Smith on a promisingly solid outing, relief seeing thommo get through when originally being held back, and nice cameos from tmac down back too. Phew.

Same. Even when we were 22 points down. It's not cockiness. We finally have a team we can trust & believe in.

If you come at the king, you best not miss...

Just saw trenners at the ground in a dees scarf :)

In isolation for this one. Close contact. Can confirm the new premiership jumper is slim fit. I am not slim and as such it is not a great fit.

Wouldn't it be great if instead of Hells Bells before the song as the boys come out, they swapped it with Freed from Desire. Get in their faces.

Christian Petracca is a brute. next level this year. 💪❤️💙

We beat the dogs and the UMPS. Need to kick straighter and should have had 20 goals but still great start to the season.

Tremendous win, all things considered 5 backmen from the GF out and we still find a way ... too professional for them

amazing dominance given our backline problems Kick straight and we win this by 40/60 On the other hand to see the guys respond is magical

Smith still has a lot of scope for improvement. He has only ever played half a dozen games in a row. If he can play a full season, he will surprise a few on Demonland. He is one of the most athletic players in the competition and his skills are not as bad as is made out. (Here's hoping my views are the same at 10pm tonight!)

Seems like only yesterday I was watching Melbourne win the flag. Hang on it was and the day before that and the day before that "repeat 172 times"

Freed from Desire?

Thought Brayshaw's efforts dropping back in defence were really good again tonight. He's become a really good reader of the play and state of the game like that.

I'm not a Morris fan at all but he didn't back down...good for him.

One of the worst press conferences I've seen. Insulating a journalist for reporting facts, and questioning him because it came from a leak. A horrible look.

So this is what it feels to be a good team, beat maybe the 2nd best side while playing mediocre

At the airport for my flight down to Melb for the game tonight....2 hour delay on the flight. Glad I didn't book the afternoon flight 😬

*and yes I’m aware it’s “bass”.

I'm not sure Hunt & Langdon working together gets talked about all too often Hunt had his best season last year but often gets remembered for past deeds. But judge him on his improved footy as he could improve again He's a dasher with a few flaws. And as we saw in the finals, long kicks into the forward line to a 1 on 1 wasn't such a bad ploy. Hunt can provide those types of kicks as he gets it a bit Up until round 21 last year his spot wasn't under the question ... gets injured though and couldn't get back in because Bowey excelled. That's footy As a role player, he's unique because of his pace, dash and straight-ahead style. A point of difference that is often needed

Good to see TMAC taking some marks down back in the later parts of the game. Also good to see he still kicks flat punts into the back of players heads...

So have we beaten anyone yet? 🤔

Yep if we nailed more of those goals in the 1st quarter it would have made a massive difference

Looked a bit more settled in the last 10-15 minutes after an absolute debacle of an opening to that quarter. McDonald going back likely helped with that. With Salem out, that's five members of our GF defensive backline out. Need a lift from May after Naughton broke away convincingly that quarter. Petracca may just will us over the line though. He's in one of 'those' moods.

Take it in fellow Demons, we're about to raise the first flag in my lifetime. Amazing stuff. Can't believe it's true and so glad to be here for this moment. GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS!!!

Drove into Melbs to go into the office for the first time since August, rang my mate who I’m going with tonight, we just giggled like kindergarten kids for 5 mins before saying see you at the pub at 5 and that was it. What a day.

His and hers tattoos for the better half and I.

This is all bit strange. Surreal even. Footy on a Wensdy night .... and the main game of the round at that !!! Preceded , of course, by the grand 'unfurling" in front of a monster crowd. Plus it's been a long time since your poor old Uncle Bitter has sat his fat [censored] at the 'G. Despite a couple of outs, we should have the Bullies covered but I won't be punting the maid's wages because I reckon the dogs will come at us very hard. A good first up test. Dees by 19. PS. The maid's wages shall be squandered at taverns en route.

Everyone seems to have forgotten that Hunt had a good season & played 20 games before getting injured just before the finals. Would’ve been a premiership player if didn’t get injured