D4Life

Agree, seemed like BBB tackled to the ground, taken out of contest, and you then compare the Rivers mark minor bump out to Darling that gets paid! The terrible umpiring just made it an even better win!

Great to see Maggotts go! If Nicholls, umpire 22 and the other maggot with bright blonde hair would join him in retirement would be fantastic! Suggestion for finals each team should be able to nominate two umpires they don’t want! Dogs couldn’t find two, but would make for better umpiring in finals.

Home record 7-3 & 114% vs away 3-6 & 79%, so in region of 5 goals per game better at home. Assuming it’s a low scoring game due to rain, we’re probably giving away 3 goal disadvantage. Eagles form has dropped off, so will see if they put in last ditch stand after criticism from Simpson. If we bring top effort and pressure, we will win!

Yes, their form is ordinary, it’s just whether they lift after their bake from Simpson and being a big game re finals for them. If Demons bring our A grade effort, we win.

I’m not sure it’s ever easy to beat the Eagles in Perth. They are a 5 goal or more better team in Perth than playing away. Would be interesting to see their season broken into home and away results with respective %.

Weather seems like it will be exceptionally wet & windy, so result becomes a bit more of a lottery. But more Victorian like conditions, so hopefully that suits Demons, versus Eagles pinpoint passing dry weather style.

Seems a long long wait for GameDay when your waiting till the Monday!

Giants / Saints into Bombers & then Demons winning, would look fine re the Ladder! For all those Demons who say Melbourne are hopeless whenever we lose a game, I’m assuming that Geelong and the Swans are now similarly useless?

It would be good if Vardy plays, as a reminder of 2018 prelim. Demons should be up for this game: - lock in top 4 - part of run into finals building form - challenging game being in Perth - locked in for 7 days adding to challenge - hopefully mindset won’t slip marginally as has seemed to happen against poorer teams - stick it to Eagles Demons please kick straight!!

I reflect on trade targets and the draft and it’s amazing how much we underrate our own players and overate other teams players. Jack Martin in another thread is a perfect example. Some people wanted to pay him $750k by 4 years!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone goes Geelong had great gets in Cameron, Smith & Higgins, but they were very interested in Viney who many trash on this site, unfortunately! Our list management, trading and drafting has been very good to excellent of recent years: - 1st round trades - Lever & May - 2nd round trades - Brown, Langdon, Tomlinson, Hibberd & Melksham - 1st round draft - Jackson & Pickett - 2nd rounders - Fritsch, Spargo, Petty, Jordan, Rivers, - Bowey looks promising The list strategy from 2018 in filling our deficiencies: - brought in key backs to fill hole (Lever, May) Petty from 2018 prelim - 2019 brought in wings after 6/6/6 rule highlighted importance (Langdon, & Tomlinson, even though He went back) - Small forward with X factor Pickett - Tall (support for Max) with X factor Jackson - Big forward in BBB - Skill & disposal efficiency Spargo, Bowey, Pickett The more you look at it, the more you can only congratulate the list management and recruitment, a gold medal effort. Even on improving coaching getting Yze & Choco has been great. I heard some commentator or journo going Melbourne don’t have premiership star factor, obviously he can’t see the following across the field: Midfield: Gawn, Oliver, Trac (add Bont and you have AA midfield) Backs: May, Lever, Salem(carrying groin hasn’t helped since mid season) Forward: Fritsch (look at stats for goal kicking # 3 forwards) Pickett ( look at pressure stats and goals) We are going to go very close this year, fingers crossed, but regardless club has done a great job in building the playing list and coaches plus high performance team - IF we can find goal kicking solution for next 6-7 matches, we will be exceptionally hard to beat from here on in!

Absolute Gun with a capital G! Not sure his numbers last year but in a 17 game season he was probably on his way to another 400 in a normal season. We are lucky to have Petracca and Oliver together, both stars! Add Maxy, May, Lever, Salem before injury slowed him, and look forward to Pickett and Jackson, our future is bright!!

In effect best 8 players out vs strong Dogs team. Not surprising they won well.

Worked out very well, I think Marvel suits our playing style best of all grounds!

Miracles can happen!

Don’t bring logic into the argument!! Everyone knows Dogs are umps favourites! What’s more umpire 22 hates us!

They were allowed to throw the ball at will in 2016, Giants in PF and Swans in GF got killed by the umpires. Dogs definitely get favoured treatment, I couldn’t believe when one of their players got called for a double handed throw in the /2nd half, umpires normally never call a Dog throw! They should change name from Bulldogs to Throwdogs! Also very very rarely get done for holding the ball or incorrect disposal! 25-11 differential is almost like having an extra player, and the momentum the umpiring decisions kill, makes a big difference!

Malcolm Blight said during the week a 16-6, 15-7 is a great season, the 19-3 or better will continue to be rare as with draft, salary cap etc. comp is getting closer! So if you lose 5 it means you have to lose to someone, good or bad, seems that having beaten other teams in the 8 is more important. Look at Tigers, only year they didn’t win flag they had best home and away season, 18-4. Supposedly we’ve been loading, so hopefully we can be ready for our best again come finals! Can’t say I’m overly confident after last 6 games, but if we can finish top 4, we should be good to give it our best. Also lack of injuries should help. Fingers crossed the strategy works!!

Did you miss his last two goals!

I left out same three and brought in VDB rather than Weideman. Week after I’d give Rivers a rest week and possibly Salem or Langdon, both seemed a little flat, but hopefully no need as they might bounce back next week! Assuming we have been doing the loading, let’s hope we’re nearly finished it and come up ready to roll in the finals. We need to start finding some real form quickly as finals are just over a month away. Re Spargo and Pickett that pocket/half forward role they play just lends itself to some quiet games, look at stats across the league and you will see the variance across 3-4 weeks. Our best is up there with any team, but that’s what we have to bring. We’ve had a great run with injuries, so no excuse not to have a good final series.

There must be a so called physical/rest reason, but personally would much rather try build some momentum and maybe they get two in a row. Then after five mins give a break! Remembering the Jeff Farmer 9 in a half against the Pies, wouldn’t happen today as would be taken off the ground 8 times!

Since Viney has come back in has felt like see ball get ball has been happening again in the middle and around the ground. Just need to re adjust this factor. Personally I’d split Vineys time between mid & forward 50/50, as 4-5 tackles from him in the forward line would lift pressure in the forward half. He is improving each week and will be valuable in the finals.

Out: Jackson (rest) In: Melksham Out: Harmes. In: VDB Out: Jordan (rest) In: Sparrow Melksham helps the forward structure and inside 50 efficiency from ball use and goal kicking. Sparrow for Jordan, like for like but really just giving Jordan a rest. Harmes just seems out of sorts, VDB to add some mongrel. Demons a little passive, not flying flag last night.

Great game Bontempelli agreed. But disagree totally re Petracca, he is in the top 10 players in the league. If you can’t see it, that’s your loss!

Dogs stars and team had a good night. Umpires gave them an armchair ride! Demons relied on half a dozen players, carried a dozen players, looked a little flat, missed opportunities yet still got within 4 points in the last. We’re far from dead yet, but need to pick it up from here, give a few boys a rest, and a couple of others an opportunity!

My God the umpires love the Dogs. Lever virtually tackled round the head going for a mark - play on! Dogs get touched free kick. Dog just drop ball nothing! Frees 8-2 joke on a wet night