Lucifers Hero

Listening to Gus and Gawny, Jack is in for a very big year. Unlike the last 4-5 years, his foot is in great shape, he has barely missed a training session and has become an elite runner. Scary!

Viney's demeanor is quite different to Libba's. Jack sounds and looks confident Libba much less so. Not sure if that is Libba's usual media demeanor or video editing. If the teams play like those leaders present my confidence of a win has gone up.

When asked about going to Freo he said: "No, probably not". Max followed up with: "Freo, a chance..." It was just a bit of banter so I don't read too much into it.

Viney: "Apparently there is going to be the biggest fireworks display going on at half-time as well, so it will be pretty spectacular.” That should be fun to witness from close range.

I've also tipped Fritsch for the Coleman mainly because we are a high scoring team so he and B. Brown will get a lot of opportunities. Also opp teams don't know how to defend Bailey, I discounted McKay because Charlie will be back and will take some opportunities from him and Carlton have said they aim to get more goals from midfielders, which suggests a change of game plan to not bomb it long to their talls. Naughton has a good chance as Bulldogs are a high scoring team, especially vs low sides and he doesn't have much competition until Bruce returns. Couldn't bring myself to tip a Geelong player.

They seem to not know that we give each opponent the honour of a 'What They Are Saying at...' thread. As an aside, it seems Melbourne Victory have adopted 'Freed from Desire': From January 2022, 'Freed from Desire' was chosen via a fan poll as the post-match victory song of Melbourne Victory FC; the song will be played over AAMI Park's loudspeakers after every Melbourne Victory home win. Wikipedia Time for Bulldog players to let the angst go. Its been a football song in Europe for some years. I bet those teams aren't gnashing teeth that the Bulldogs adopted it for the finals. For all we (or they) know our players could be following the European football teams rather than the Bulldogs... ...Are Melbourne Victory playing Wednesday night? It would be quite funny if they won, turned their loudspeakers up really loud and 'Freed From Desire' could be heard at the G🙃

I don't have an issue with Bevo giving that message to the club nor the message he gave players which I quoted in my first post. For the 3rd time: I was comparing approaches by the two coaches. Complex and ambiguous vs KIS. I'm out on this topic.

It was at their season launch, I haven't looked for the video but the launch discussion is here: how-we-want-to-be-seen-bulldogs-backing-the-bevolution The quote I posted a few posts back was verbatim from that article. To me it sounded like it would be their their theme.

1) So they can worry about their silly song instead? 2) His team are mostly kids who are into music, fun etc, not philosophy students. Not sure I've heard of coaches filling player minds with achievements of a host of well known 'leaders', simultaneously. The mantra most heard from coaches and players is "Keep It Simple'! But if it works for them, great. I just couldn't help notice the difference in coaching approaches.

Great info, thanks.. Are they just for the Bulldogs game or for all our home games (blockbusters excluded).

Messaging from the two coaches is interesting. Beveridge: has invoked Marxist heroes Che Guevara and Rosa Luxemburg, as well as Mahatma Gandhi and Indigenous humanitarian Shirley Coleen Smith, to help the club become a consistent force. Talk about being ambiguous... Goodwin: I don't know his motivational theme this year. But last year it was a simple: 'This is Me' which he and Gawn lived and breathed setting the example for the team. The team played with purpose and clarity of roles, system etc. If Goodwin chooses a new theme this year I would think it would be just as simple and relatable. As an aside, the AFL has adopted the theme 'This is Us' for 2022. They aren't using the soundtrack from The Greatest Showman like Goodwin did in their promos but to me it looks like a leaf out of Goodwin's book.

iirc you wanted a ticket rather than an 'upgrade, to be on the safe side. Maybe my comms weren't very clear..🤔 Hopefully, the above post can give you peace of mind and save you a few dollars for future very popular games.

Very unlikely to be sold out. GA members can sit in any unreserved area (which is likely to be in the upper seats). (Edit: for the GA unreserved areas not in the rafters see @FearTheBeard's post a few down from this one). GA members can upgrade and get a reserved seat via ticketek for a small fee $11 to $21 depending on area. This can be done via Ticketek website or the mfc app. Tip 1: Ticketek will ask for a membership barcode number(s) which can be found in the 'Ticket Details' section of your mfc app. Tip 2: Ticketek has a time limit before shutting you out so have all the info ready before starting.

And all the young/middle aged people who haven't read the instructions 🙂

Thanks, I photocopied the mobile phone screen showing the barcode. Really just for backup, in case something goes wrong at the gate.

Many Thanks. Just tried it again and it worked. Phew! The last part of your post is well beyond my phone technical capabilities... A silly question will a photocopy of the screen with the barcode work when scanned?

So true. I had a call last week from Alex Neal-Bullen to thank me for my years of membership and signing up again this year. Thrilled to receive the call. Just another way the club is making fans feel valued. Relevance to this thread is that during the chat I said something about the team singing 'Freed from Desire' might spur the Bulldogs. He said he couldn't even remember it as they sang so many songs. I'd say our players would be happy to see them sulk over a song. Easily wounded if they are still sulking.

Anyone else not seeing the barcode in the app? When I click on 'View Barcode' it goes to the next screen but it is blank. Trying not to panic...🥴

We didn't get top spot. But it is shaping up for an interesting finals. Finals: Lions vs Coll. Winner plays Demons in Prelim North vs Freo. Winner plays Crows in Prelim Prelim winners play off in GF Assuming Lions and Freo win both Dees and Crows will have a challenging Prelim. It is quite possible Freo beat Crows as they did a few weeks ago altho the Freo travel and Crows Home ground advantage + a week rest will be difficult to overcome.

I agree, they aren't a soft team but they played somewhat 'hands-off' in the GF. Our level of aggression was off the scale. It seems a few of their fans think they play 'nice' and are looking for some mongrel.

Other than Libba (and faux tough guy Daniels) they don't have anyone who shows much aggro. We have May, Salem, Viney, Spargo, Picket who tackle with intent and to inflict some damage.

Not a lot of posting happening, maybe more as the game gets closer. There is a bit of talk about not going to the game, arriving after the flag is unfurled or retreating to the bar so they don't see it. And a it of reflection on the GF result. Overall they have been fairly tame. Some selections from bf and 'woof': I want to see a more defensively-minded midfield. Someone tag Petracca or Oliver for the whole game. I don’t care who. Q: What bay is our cheersquad in? I bought a couple tickets in M3 but I think that might be with the Dees’ fans…. ?? A: I think you are smack bang in the middle of the Melbourne cheer squad We had and still have multiple deficiencies/weaknesses in our team especially in our key position roles, had to travel to 4 states, had to win 3 finals in a row to get to the GF, had a third of our team sh*t the bed in the GF from the start of the first quarter, yet we were still up by 3 goals at one point in the third quarter. Another year of development and fixing key weaknesses goes a long way. We are still the second best team in it even with these apparent faults. How about we stop discussing how we have little chance against this "juggernaut" and start discussing tactics to actually win. The pessimism is ridiculous. I don't blame the tactics\coaching instructions so much as the players' over zealous reaction to those instructions. The road to ruin is always paved with good intentions. Moving forward we need to back ourselves to adjust to the opportunities that Melbourne's defence will give us on the ground rather than focus too much on the ones that we think they will prior to the match. I'm pretty fatigued still from last year, and watching on tv again with all the pitfalls that brings does not excite me. Also don't like the idea of getting done by Melbourne first up. I'm excited for round 2. I just want round 1 to be over. Some trepidation. And the fact that we STILL don't have a ruckman continues to concern me. But I'll probably have the lid off at first bounce. I'm looking forward to having a different game to dwell/celebrate over. *!*!*!*! that GF memory off. Let us make a Round 1 statement and rain on Melbourne's parade. Yeah, I reckon our blokes hate those Demons flogs. Would love to see us start some biff next Wednesday. Besides Libba who do you expect to take it up to Melb from a physical stand point? I can't think of many as we have a quite a few 'nice boys' in our team... and not many with any mongrel. Would love Libba to lead the way and the nice boys to drop the halo and take a stand. Nothing stupid or over the line but I want to let those flogs to know we’re coming for them. I think my favourites the last few looking for some mongrel from their palers. It wasn't that long ago that we were the ones that played nice bruise-free footy. Now we have Salem, May, Viney, Picket, Spargo etc who know how to hurt without hurting themselves or getting reported. WB were soft in the GF, May, Salem and Viney knocked the stuffing out of a few key players in the first 10 minutes. They may tinker with their game plan but I don't think they are going to find 'mongrel' overnight. Its not in their DNA.

I wonder what Beveridge will change with their ball movement and defensive play. They were badly caught out on those in the GF so I am expecting some surprises. If there is any threat to us that is probably it. We will 'play our way' so will be relatively predictable to them for planning and tactics. Whereas changes in their style will make them less predictable to us. Nonetheless, it is hard to see how they can become an all-ground defensive team in one preseason as it isn't their natural game. And with a bit of luck any changes they have made aren't yet embedded and will come unstuck during the game. Under pressure they revert to what they know best. Demons by 21 points.

The latter!

That sure makes it confusing. I'm pretty sure this bit: You will no longer need to redeem a ticket via Ticketek refers to last year when covid rules applied to ticketing and venue access. As far as I can tell, a barcode (ie on an electronic ticket from Ticketek or MFC app for members) is needed to get into the MCG. No paper ticket or plastic member card entry will be allowed. Edit: Don't know what happens for 'tickets' sold at the gate or if walk-up are allowed.