The mind games begin

[Adz]

THIS is the moment Brad Johnson convinced the Western Bulldogs he was ready to play in Round 1.

After being written off last week, the Dogs captain now looks set to play his 350th game against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...or-round-1-shock/story-e6frf9jf-1225844022733

 

[mattys123]

God damn I hope he plays, a 34 year old with a dodgy calf, YES PLEASE, 21 vs 22 from minute one, YES PLEASE.

Having said that, not for one minute do I actually believe he will play, they simply can't risk it for a 10 minute "bonus" you get out of milestone matches.

Play him please Rodney, PLEASE.

 

[JOELY]

Can't believe Hahn is playing. Thought he was a goner.

 

[unplugged]

Brad Johnson won't play this week. Surely not. We should come out saying the same thing about Rusling.

 

[Optimax]

Can't believe Hahn is playing. Thought he was a goner.

Lots of people have played with fractured cheeks/eye sockets.

I was surprised they considered ruling Hahn out

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

God damn I hope he plays, a 34 year old with a dodgy calf, YES PLEASE, 21 vs 22 from minute one, YES PLEASE.

Having said that, not for one minute do I actually believe he will play, they simply can't risk it for a 10 minute "bonus" you get out of milestone matches.

Play him please Rodney, PLEASE.

I was thinking the same thing.

Why risk him and Hahn? Surely the 'flag favourite' has more depth than to risk a thirty something player with a dodgy achilles and an ok tall with a fractured eye socket?

You'd think their performance in the NAB GF would show they don't need a half fit Johnson being risked in Round 1 against an opponent inferior to the one they played 2 weeks prior.

 

[popathon]

Eagleton seems to give us trouble so i can't say i'm upset that he's out.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Eagleton seems to give us trouble so i can't say i'm upset that he's out.

Totally this.

Eagleton causes us problems every time we play them. Almost more than any other dog on a consistent basis.

 

[cosmicr]

You'd think their performance in the NAB GF would show they don't need a half fit Johnson being risked in Round 1 against an opponent inferior to the one they played 2 weeks prior.

I rate you guys higher than st kilda, and I reckon the bulldogs do too.

I think this game is very very important to either team to establish themselves early in the season. Its psychological more than anything. Having brad johnson there for his 350th will give the dogs an edge(hopefully), and winning their first game against a quality opponent will boost them even further. Its very important.

To those wishing him for an injury.

 

[Invigoration]

Who wished him for an injury?

 

[TradeDraft]

I rate you guys higher than st kilda, and I reckon the bulldogs do too.

I think this game is very very important to either team to establish themselves early in the season. Its psychological more than anything. Having brad johnson there for his 350th will give the dogs an edge(hopefully), and winning their first game against a quality opponent will boost them even further. Its very important.

To those wishing him for an injury.

No One wants him Injured but with a Dodgy Calf and on the Hard Ethiad Stadium would it be wise.

The only Reason they would play them is for Brad's 350th Game and give the Side a Reason to win the game

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I rate you guys higher than st kilda, and I reckon the bulldogs do too.

I think this game is very very important to either team to establish themselves early in the season. Its psychological more than anything. Having brad johnson there for his 350th will give the dogs an edge(hopefully), and winning their first game against a quality opponent will boost them even further. Its very important.

To those wishing him for an injury.

Sorry brother, I don't midn the Doggies. And if (when) the Pies don't win the flag this year, the Dogs are my choice for who I'd like to see win it.

But if you guys need Brad Johnson's 350th to get an 'edge' on Collingwood. Then kiss your flag chances goodbye from now and start planning for next year.

Truly great sides don't need 'inspiration' to do what they're payed to do.

 

[DoggyStyle]

No One wants him Injured but with a Dodgy Calf and on the Hard Ethiad Stadium would it be wise.

The only Reason they would play them is for Brad's 350th Game and give the Side a Reason to win the game

Johno's 350th is not a true milestone game, breaking the club record was and 350th is just another small notch in the belt and not a reason for us to win the game.

The only reason we will win the game is because the winner gets four premiership points.

Any Collingwood supporters remember round 1 2005?

Brad Johnson, suprise inclusion, best on ground performance

 

[Optimax]

Johno's 350th is not a true milestone game, breaking the club record was and 350th is just another small notch in the belt and not a reason for us to win the game.

The only reason we will win the game is because the winner gets four premiership points.

Any Collingwood supporters remember round 1 2005?

Brad Johnson, suprise inclusion, best on ground performance

buckley comes back too early from a hamstring and leaves the ground after redoing before half time

Oh shit i see what you are getting at a captain returns back from injury early and re-injures himself? leaving his side a man down and over run

 

[Dammit]

Totally this.

Eagleton causes us problems every time we play them. Almost more than any other dog on a consistent basis.

You are a flog and your football knowledge is limited at best.

 

[TradeDraft]

You are a flog and your football knowledge is limited at best.

I agree and I doubt he is a Pies Fan

 

[daics_35]

You are a flog and your football knowledge is limited at best.

LOL, Its true Eaglton kills us everytime we play em.

 

[smiddaz123]

Totally this.

Eagleton causes us problems every time we play them. Almost more than any other dog on a consistent basis.

What the?

Do you actually watch us play the Dogs?

Eagleton has done little when we've played them generally.

Didn't you also say that Brad Johnson did bugger all against us last year? The guy who actually received Brownlow votes against us?

In fact, last year Eagleton tacked up 9 disposals in game one against us, then 16 in the next. For a guy who plays as outside as Eagleton does, and is as poor defensively, he has to rely on ball accumulation to be effective really. 25 touches over the course of two games is not tearing us up whatsoever.

I honestly don't know how closely you watch our games, but based on your opinions on opposition players, I'm guessing it isn't too closely.

 

[smiddaz123]

LOL, Its true Eaglton kills us everytime we play em.

9 touches, 0 goals, 0 behinds, 1 tackle.
16 touches, 1 goal, 0 behinds, 0 tackles.

Obviously stats aren't the be all and end all, but that speaks loudly enough about his performances against us last year.

I honestly cannot remember the guy performing well against us last year, and the stats really do back that up. Completely outside player who applies no defensive pressure. If he's not kicking goals and getting sub 20 touches, let alone 10, he's not killing anyone.

 

[Invigoration]

I can't remember Eagleton performing well against anyone last year, let alone us.

 

[smiddaz123]

I can't remember Eagleton performing well against anyone last year, let alone us.

That's because he's not a very good player. He's Ben Johnson with a better left boot, but even worse defensive skills.

I'd love for him to be playing against us.

 

[Pie eyed]

Maybe some are mistaking Eagleton for Geelong's Chapman?

 

[daics_35]

9 touches, 0 goals, 0 behinds, 1 tackle.
16 touches, 1 goal, 0 behinds, 0 tackles.

Obviously stats aren't the be all and end all, but that speaks loudly enough about his performances against us last year.

I honestly cannot remember the guy performing well against us last year, and the stats really do back that up. Completely outside player who applies no defensive pressure. If he's not kicking goals and getting sub 20 touches, let alone 10, he's not killing anyone.

Yer, i wouldnt say he kills us its a wrong word i used but he looks pretty dangerious when they play us. Its just that he has alot of pace and we tend to struggle with players like him.

 

[smiddaz123]

Yer, i wouldnt say he kills us its a wrong word i used but he looks pretty dangerious when they play us. Its just that he has alot of pace and we tend to struggle with players like him.

He's dangerous when he's running ahead of the play without an opponent and his team gives him the ball in acres of space.

He's not dangerous in the following situations....

- If the opposition has the ball.
- If he has an opponent within a couple of metres of him.
- If the ball is in dispute
- If he can't use his left side
- AFL

 

[HFF]

Meh, if he Johnno plays, he plays.

At the end of the day, you need to beat whoever is put out in front of you.

On Sunday, it will be 22 vs 22 and I will be expecting a win nonetheless, irrespective of ins and outs.