Bring-Back-Powell

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.

Any other Saturday game aside from the channel 7 Saturday night game will be on Foxtel. If our game is the 4:30/5pm Saturday game, it will be on Foxtel.

Mark Stevens confirmed that Bennell won't play round 2 but may come-back in the early rounds. Spargo, Brown and Bedford can't be considered for selection. The first 2 were woeful while the latter had no impact as a rookie. Jetta was slaughtered by West Coast's small forwards but will be given an opportunity to make amends. Salem and Jones are obvious ins while Smith or Petty could be considered as a third key forward, with Weideman taking the #2 role replacing Brown.

And if I recall, it was 32 degrees in Perth last round. I'll excuse the lads if we have a last quarter fade-out.

We'll be bottom 2 again if this happens. Bookmark it. Two games in and nothing would have changed since last year. We were also inefficient in our two Marsh wins aside from good last quarters. I'm glad we haven't copped GWS in round 2. Need to get used to that winning feeling assuming we're good enough to beat Carlton.

I’m almost expecting fans to be allowed to late season home and away games on a first in best dressed basis, the way restrictions are being eased so rapidly. NRL want fans back July 1.