Adam The God

Most complete I'd think, but despite not having a genuine ruckman, Bulldogs is still deeper for mine. Essendon wouldn't be far away either. I'd very surprised if Luke doesn't bite the bullet this off season and go after a ruckman with more left in him than Stef Martin.

Thanks mate. Interesting we were still looking at inside mids then. I still believe we lack another clean bull. They don't have to be an A++er like Oliver, but if Oliver goes down, I think our midfield will too. He's been incredibly durable, but I hope we continue targeting the right inside mids.

If that were the case, how do you explain our negative differential? As the team who finishes top of the ladder, who plays a manic contested game style, you'd think we'd have to get to the ball first too, wouldn't you? The occasional game ruined due to umpiring, sure, it's a game adjudicated by humans, where there are many grey areas in the rules. But the Bulldogs differential is so out of whack with the rest of the competition, it needs a conversation. And because there currently isn't one, umpires may not be aware of it. Bring their attention to it and we might get a little more evenness in the free kick counts.

Thanks mate. What's Smith's ball use like and his pace? Would he have added a different dimension to our midfield?

His old man was a beautiful, fluid kick of the footy too.

I don't understand. So at 6 20ish during the sport segment, 7 West Media reported that there was an MFC injury sustained during training, but haven't named the player? What?

Unlikely, there's vision of him on the Insta from a few hours ago.

Is it a recovery from injury? Like a Jayden Hunt?

Sure, except he was the one banging on about Bontempelli's footy IQ. If you watch the replay, Bontempelli's the culprit in 3 of the first 4 Lions goals last night. No mention of this. Montagna implied that he's such a smart footballer that he placed himself defensive side of the stoppage after quarter time. Well, I'd be surprised if Luke hadn't asked him to be more accountable, because IMV Bontempelli is a defensive liability at times. I'd be angling most of my attacks through his man. I think that's what Fagan had identified as well. Bontempelli is probably the best player in the comp on the outside, but he's even been shaky at that this finals series. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying Bontempelli exemplifies the Bulldogs midfield. Brilliant, really damaging on the outside, but very little two way running.

The weather may reduce the amount of switching in this game. I think if it's wet, the difference between their ball use and our ball use draws us much closer together than would otherwise be the case. We saw in the wet against the Bulldogs, I believe, it was a significant advantage to the Bulldogs. It also takes away our intercept game, but conversely, if they go in with the same tall forward set up, we may be able to rebound quite heavily with inclement conditions.

Yep, spot on RE Montagna cutting him off. They lost that first quarter against us too. It was 2.3 to 2.1. So pretty rich to say "do you take the first half versus the second half". He's king of the muppets alright.

@Ethan Tremblay @McQueen @Pennant St Dee @Chook in Perth any of you in these pictures? 😀

So just caught up on FIRST CRACK from last night. David King is a deadset nufty. He talked about Geelong's tall forwardline and how it would trouble us, yet didn't talk about who Geelong played and their injury list. Staggering really.

Maybe. My Geelong supporting half of the family likes to tell me they have a bit of support over there from Polly Farmer days and they seemed to pack the stadium the other night. I know half the crowd were Freo or West Coast players, but still. :P

Polly Farmer. They've got a lot of support over there.

It was 19-28 btw, Daz, but close enough.

9+ free kicks for Bulldogs in hostile territory. They had all the tiggy touchwood ones go their way and some blatant ones missed against them. They're a danger this year simply because they get such a wonderful run from the umpires. I thought they'd be in trouble tonight given it was an away game, but they still smash it in frees. Astounding.

Sure, I'd love him at Melbourne, but he's not is he? I'd have taken Selwood and Dangerfield for years as well, but they're both arrogant nufties too.

He's an arrogant little [censored] who deliberately plays on the edge and riles up defenders.

How's the 3+ free kick differential in hostile territory for the Bulldogs? Insane. It's actually impacting the match.

Cameron and Hawkins, probably in that order, worry me the most. But if we play the game our way, then we're playing a forward half game and those two don't see a lot of it. As always, will be won in the midfield. Accuracy will also be a huge factor. Can we apply enough post clearance pressure and can we take our chances forward of centre? Do both of those and we win IMV.

If it's not Clarkson or Lyon, is it Buckley or Voss now? And funnily enough would Collingwood have preferred Lyon to Macrae had Ross not appeared to have been wedded to Carlton?

West Perth. They share a theme song with us, our colours and are the oldest WAFL club. So likely HBF Arena.

It hasn't been reported anywhere that Cerra wants to come to us...

And what about Gaff, mate? I'd still have him if he came cheaply.