Opinion Dees V Dogs - Sunday MCG 1.00 PM

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_Cerberus_ said:
If we can get past the Demons, Suns and Saints. We have a good shot at pushing close to a 8-0 start. Then we have a brutal 4 week stretch, our hardest of the year. Rather Demons have won the other night, they will be super hungry to prove a point.
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I’d say Round 17 to 22 is our toughest part of the draw. Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide away, Carlton, Melbourne (although at Marvel), Geelong in Geelong and Sydney in Sydney.

We have a pretty challenging draw in my opinion so it’s crucial we bank some early wins as you have mentioned.
 
The Inbetweener said:
I’d say Round 17 to 22 is our toughest part of the draw. Both Adelaide and Port Adelaide away, Carlton, Melbourne (although at Marvel), Geelong in Geelong and Sydney in Sydney.

We have a pretty challenging draw in my opinion so it’s crucial we bank some early wins as you have mentioned.
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I only rated it tough, as I predicted the Giants, Pies and Lions to be in the top four. And Swans to be pushing up there 5-8.

Cats, Crows, Demons, Blues fighting for the middle six spots. Though too early to speculate really. We have had tough or easy draws on paper come round one, that ended up being easy or hard instead. Which is what I like about the AFL these days, heaps of movement up and down with teams each year.
 

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Libbaaaa said:
I’m can’t see Tim trying the same tactics Grundy employed against Gawn. If anything Tim is the one who usually comes to a stops and let the opposing ruck initiate all contact.
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Can Lobb rough him up a bit?
 
Sydney V Melbourne - Round O

LESSONS/THOUGHTS
NEUTURING THE MELBOURNE MIDFIELD
Not only did Grundy beat Gawn, but the much-vaunted Melbourne Mid-field was ineffective. The transfer of Grundy's inner knowledge of Melbourne's clearance game may be the decisive factor in determining how this game was played.

No on had seen the Melbourne Mid-field beaten this badly for at least 5 years. There were few occasions that a Melbourne mid-fielder enjoyed a clearance with time and space. Petracca was hesitant, he fumbled the ball and was unable to find any groove. He stopped trying to break tackles or lines. Oliver was expectedly rusty. Only Viney was his usual self. And Gawn appeared lackluster.

Melbourne was docile in the center-square and in ball-up situations. And this is normally their greatest strength. And the situation only got worse as the game progressed. Sydney seemed to get better, tougher and quicker as the game opened up in the last quarter.

Warner looked scary quick; Roebuck and Heeney were very impressive.

Did the Melbourne mid-field just have a bad night? Was Grundy's inside knowledge their undoing? Is Sydney's mid-field now the best in the league? or is the Melbourne mid-field now passed its prime-not because of personnel but because of the evolution of the game and different counter measures?

NEUTURING MAY N LEVER
Early in the game May and Lever were well on the way to sharing 30 intercept marks between them. Effectively, shutting down the Swans ability to score except thru Papley and luck. And but for inaccurate kicking for goal Melbourne could have been 3-4 goals up.

Sydney, changed its angles coming into attack. They rarely kicked it long or deep into the forward 50 and chipped the ball around and tried to run thru lines. It was messy and it didn't immediately prove to be successful on the scoreboard, but it did mean May and Lever became increasingly irrelevant as the game was played around them. It seemed to sap energy and confidence from the Melbourne defense, so much so, that in the last quarter they all but raised the white flag.



MELBOURNE V BULLDOGS - Round 1
Melbourne will be at their best. They are playing at home, Unlike the round 0 Sydney game, this is a day game, conditions will be perfect.

The Melbourne Midfield will be determined to remind everyone they are the best in the business. Gawn will be smarting at the criticism coming at him for his efforts against Grundy. Kosi's back and Brown/MacDonald are certain to replace Shache.

Last year, Melbourne was a 3-4 goal better team than the Dogs. There is little significant change in their personnel over the summer. Perhaps a little more on our end in the defensive area with JOD, Khamis, and Coffield to help out Jones.

In itself this is not sufficient to make up the difference.

Perhaps, Harmes can also provide us with some inside knowledge on how to neuter their Mid-field.
It's possible our list has some more upside development with Jamarah, Naughton and English. Maybe.

THE DIFFERENCE
Dogs supporters will be hoping that an off-season of soul searching will have closed the gap.

There are new assistant and development coaches, a new head of football, a more aggressive game plan, a new fitness regime. The trading in of Harmes, Coffield and Brambles all appear astute decisions. As does the draft pick of Sanders. All 4 appear set to play round 1.

THE RESULT
Every-thing suggests the dogs are a better side than last year with much greater depth.
But how much better?

Round 1 2023 - Melbouurne 115 Bulldogs 65

There are too many unknowns to feel confident where either of the 2021 grand finalists are at. Both feature in finals but how high is anyone's guess. Melbourne has been more consistent in season during 2022 and 2023 but have lacked any resilience in finals. The dogs have coasted aimlessly for 2 years. But show signs they want to make 2024 count.

Prediction: Dogs by 1 point.
 
Last edited:
scratchie said:
Sydney V Melbourne - Round O

LESSONS/THOUGHTS
NEUTURING THE MELBOURNE MIDFIELD
Not only did Grundy beat Gawn, but the much-vaunted Melbourne Mid-field was ineffective. The transfer of Grundy's inner knowledge of Melbourne's clearance game may be the decisive factor in determining how this game was played.

No on had seen the Melbourne Mid-field beaten this badly for at least 5 years. There were few occasions that a Melbourne mid-fielder enjoyed a clearance with time and space. Petracca was hesitant, he fumbled the ball and was unable to find any groove. He stopped trying to break tackles or lines. Oliver was expectedly rusty. Only Viney was his usual self. And Gawn appeared lackluster.

Melbourne was docile in the center-square and in ball-up situations. And this is normally their greatest strength. And the situation only got worse as the game progressed. Sydney seemed to get better, tougher and quicker as the game opened up in the last quarter.

Warner looked scary quick; Roebuck and Heeney were very impressive.

Did the Melbourne mid-field just have a bad night? Was Grundy's inside knowledge their undoing? Is Sydney's mid-field now the best in the league? or is the Melbourne mid-field now passed its prime-not because of personnel but because of the evolution of the game and different counter measures?

NEUTURING MAY N LEVER
Early in the game May and Lever were well on the way to sharing 30 intercept marks between them. Effectively, shutting down the Swans ability to score except thru Papley and luck. And but for inaccurate kicking for goal Melbourne could have been 3-4 goals up.

Sydney, changed its angles coming into attack. They rarely kicked it long or deep into the forward 50 and chipped the ball around and tried to run thru lines. It was messy and it didn't immediately prove to be successful on the scoreboard, but it did mean May and Lever became increasingly irrelevant as the game was played around them. It seemed to sap energy and confidence from the Melbourne defense, so much so, that in the last quarter they all but raised the white flag.



MELBOURNE V BULLDOGS - Round 1
Melbourne will be at their best. They are playing at home, Unlike the round 0 Sydney game, this is a day game, conditions will be perfect.

The Melbourne Midfield will be determined to remind everyone they are the best in the business. Gawn will be smarting at the criticism coming at him for his efforts against Grundy. Kosi's back and Brown/MacDonald are certain to replace Shache.

Last year, Melbourne was a 3-4 goal better team than the Dogs. There is little significant change in their personnel over the summer. Perhaps a little more on our end in the defensive area with JOD, Khamis, and Coffield to help out Jones.

In itself this is not sufficient to make up the difference.

Perhaps, Harmes can also provide us with some inside knowledge on how to neuter their Mid-field.
It's possible our list has some more upside development with Jamarah, Naughton and English. Maybe.

THE DIFFERENCE
Dogs supporters will be hoping that an off-season of soul searching will have closed the gap.

There are new assistant and development coaches, a new head of football, a more aggressive game plan, a new fitness regime. The trading in of Harmes, Coffield and Brambles all appear astute decisions. As does the draft pick of Sanders. All 4 appear set to play round 1.

THE RESULT
Every-thing suggests the dogs are a better side than last year with much greater depth.
But how much better?

Round 1 2023 - Melbouurne 115 Bulldogs 65

There are too many unknowns to feel confident where either of the 2021 grand finalists are at. Both feature in finals but how high is anyone's guess. Melbourne has been more consistent in season during 2022 and 2023 but have lacked any resilience in finals. The dogs have coasted aimlessly for 2 years. But show signs they want to make 2024 count.

Prediction: Dogs by 1 point.
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nice analysis about combating melbournes defence

But how did they get on top in the midfield? Specifically what was sydney doing to stop melbourne?
 
stefoid said:
nice analysis about combating melbournes defence

But how did they get on top in the midfield? Specifically what was sydney doing to stop melbourne?
Click to expand...
I thought their tackling towards Petracca and Oliver was pretty good, probably one of the standout things for their performance. They didn’t let those two do their usual thing and break away from one tackle with their strength and get the ball forward, nearly always tackled those two with two players at least from the parts I watched.
 
Can Bramble play a shutdown role? We need someone on Pickett's backside.

From WOOF reports, Dale seems to be the best-23 player who's furthest from playing r1. Hamstring tightness.
 
scratchie said:
MELBOURNE V BULLDOGS - Round 1


THE RESULT
Every-thing suggests the dogs are a better side than last year with much greater depth.
But how much better?

Round 1 2023 - Melbouurne 115 Bulldogs 65

There are too many unknowns to feel confident where either of the 2021 grand finalists are at. Both feature in finals but how high is anyone's guess. Melbourne has been more consistent in season during 2022 and 2023 but have lacked any resilience in finals. The dogs have coasted aimlessly for 2 years. But show signs they want to make 2024 count.

Prediction: Dogs by 1 point.
Click to expand...
We’re also 5-5 after the bye over the last ten years so history doesn’t help us much
 

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Don’t mind it being brought forward 10 mins.

Dislike GA bays are not named until 24 hours prior - blind ticket lol
 
Doggy said:
Not great on JOD

NameInjuryReturn
Jack MacraeHamstringTest for Rd 1
James O'DonnellAnkleTBA
Bailey SmithKnee2025

Latest Update: March 11
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Weird sounded like he got through the game pretty well, no mention of Dale either so maybe just a shitty update
 
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