Bring-Back-Powell

Absolute non news story. A few hundred corporates, sponsors and fat cats allowed to watch a game with a glass of red behind a glass window from next weekend. I guess we'll all be able to go to the Geelong game at $1,000 a head.

I think it's an atrocious move by Goodwin to turn a goal kicking midfielder into a defender and I reckon the player himself would not be happy with the move. From the round 1 defensive line up - include Salem, retain Lockhart and release Harmes further up the field. Like others have mentioned, Hibberd's on thin ice. His disposals aren't counting for much any more, isn't a great defender and is past his 2017 peak as a league footballer. Jetta was rusty in round 1 but I hope he'll build into the season as he's clearly our best small defender. O Mac stays as we'll have talls in McKay, Casboult and McGovern to deal with.

I'm honestly thinking Goodwin's a seriously out of form coach at the moment, from a tactical point of view. Let's turn our best goal kicking midfielder (aside from Petracca who's yet to prove himself as a mid) into a half back flanker and watch the likes of Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw kick their 6 goals a year.

Any idea when real human fans are allowed in?

It's a fair point you make. Since 2018, we've been pathetic in the marquee blockbusters against Collingwood and Richmond and haven't done the events any justice. The last two Anzac eve games have been a complete yawn fest for the general viewer after an exciting 2017 game. The AFL has done their part in granting us the public holiday blockbusters but we haven't held our end of the bargain. And yes, we showed the world what a power house we could possible become in 2018. We outnumbered Hawthorn supporters in a final and well out numbered Geelong supporters!

We had a good strong key forward in J Hogan - sans the leadership. Just our luck another forward talent (post 1994) slipped through our fingers.

Nobody’s mentioned Hunt as a possibility. Kicked 3 goals the last time we played them including the winner from outside 50. Seems to have fallen away since about round 19 last year and aside from his debut year of 2016, he can’t put a full season together. A shame as he has much needed pace and a long kick for goal.

Even though he wants to play full time midfield I hope he still plays a percentage of the game up forward. We need all the fire power we can get in the forward line and it will allow Harmes and Brayshaw more time in the midfield.

Pretty grim but expected reading. I’m blown away by the Bulldogs. One of the very few clubs that isn’t reliant on the AFL. They were always the first club to be talked about re:mergers or going bust, and now they’re financially independent. Was this mainly due to winning a flag, Peter Gordon or a combo of both? I note that every side to win a flag since 2013 is financially viable. Can Bartlett and Pert weave their magic and get us through this?

I’d go back to the 2018 model with the addition of a healthy Viney who was excellent in round 1: Oliver Viney Harmes (head to head with gun oppo) Brayshaw (mostly mid, bit of wing) Petracca (20 mid / 80 forward)

Agreed. Harmes plays his best footy as a midfielder that goes to head with a gun opposition mid and can go down forward and pinch a goal. His goal kicking talents are wasted down back. Rewind to round 23 and week 1 finals of 2018. Polled near maximum Coaches votes in both games as a pure midfielder. He can return to midfield and either Petracca plays full time forward or Brayshaw gets dropped to Casey as he’s no good in any other position. Harmes has been moved back to cater for these two - the former a midfield experiment and the latter still living off his third place in the Brownlow.

And he go too. I guess he did kick our first goal of the season when nobody else had a clue around goals??

I thought he earned another game but was he warming the seat for Salem? Brown, Spargo and probably Bedford are the three certain omissions in my book.

Have to agree with you. We held their key forwards well but what's the point if their small forwards and midfielders are running amok. The same thing would happen against Collingwood. We'd probably hold Cox and Miocheck but let De Goey, Thomas, Stevenson and Hoskin-Elliott run amok. It was an extremely poor performance by the club, and as you pointed out, we let the opposition's midfield waltz around us which has been all too common under Goodwin since week 3 of the 2018 finals.

I thought most of our defence were outstanding in round 1. Lever, May and O Mac were tremendous in keeping the dangerous duo of Kennedy and Darling to just 1 goal. Who ever were on Ryan and Sheed were the players that got flogged.

Fritsch needs to work on his set shot kicking if he wants to go places in the league. Is a good snap shot and good on the run but his elementary set shots for goal leaves a lot to be desired. Had a poor round 1 with 0.2. Looking forward to a better showing vs Carlton.

100% agree. Turns a near certain loss into a possibility. Probably be the one year we escape a trip to Geelong seeing as though the marquee teams will be playing there as a once off.

They've clearly caved into Dangerfield who wants less games, shorter quarters and more money.

It's a balancing act with Bedford. Yes he could be part of the future, but wins are high stakes for Goodwin this year and he needs players that are going to contribute more than 2 kicks in a game of footy. If he's not ready, he's not ready. Mind you, who else do we have in the small forward depth chart beside Wagner and Bennell who you can't be relied upon? So he might keep his spot regardless. I can only assume Jetta - our premier small defender was on Liam Ryan - their premier small forward. Unfortunately Ryan kicked 3.3 and was in everything. Furthermore, Ah Chee who hasn't been able to cement a spot for years kicked 2. If he was on neither of those blokes, then I apologise.

The 3:30 Sunday time slot would have to be the fourth best time slot of the week outside of Thursday, Friday or Saturday night given it's the only other game on free to air. Not a bad result from a TV point of view with 3 out of 4 games on free to air.

I agree, one of the heavy weights will fall away and conversely one of the mediocre mid table sides will come from nowhere and finish top 4. It's just going to be one of those seasons.

Sorry, that's what I meant. Just didn't explain myself well. AFL, MCC and club members book online on a first in first served basis for each category. Under this scenario, non members won't be permitted to games which is unfortunate but fair. The way restrictions are quickly being wound back, I expect crowds in the second half of the season if the appropriate social distancing rules are in place and followed.

Escape a trip to Geelong. Nice.

What has happened to his kicking? Used to be an absolute strength of his. Might be his last year of regular footy if he doesn't recapture his 2017/2018 form.

Bedford might be one for the future, but we're playing for the here and now. We need 22 players that can make genuine contributions in order to get a win. If the selectors believe he'll make a meaningful contribution in round 2 then play him, but I have my doubts. I don't want to be like Gold Coast when they roll out half a dozen players each week that are nowhere near AFL standard.