AFL Grand Final AFL 2021 GRAND FINAL - Demons v Dogs Sat September 25th 7:15pm EST / 5:15pm WST (Optus) Congratulations Demons! 🍾🏆 Match Highlights in OP

[Mofra]

Yeah but no other side has run a three tall forward setup against you in the finals.
Essendon: Wright and Francis.
Brisbane: Daniher with a touch of Fullarton
Port: Dixon and Marshall.

Melbourne: Brown, McDonald, Jackson

Heck of a call by Bevo especially since Gardiner has been so good

Port had Dixon, Marshall and Ladhams so are probably closer to Melbourne's set up than most teams.
When playing only two talls, I would have thought we value Gardner's better spoiling ability when compared to Cordy.

 

[LeverPuller]

Port had Dixon, Marshall and Ladhams so are probably closer to Melbourne's set up than most teams.
When playing only two talls, I would have thought we value Gardner's better spoiling ability when compared to Cordy.

Forgot Ladhams to be fair.

 

[Mofra]

Forgot Ladhams to be fair.

The issue is we did restrict supply so well to Port, our defence certainly won't have it anywhere near as easy against Melbourne. It's a real "roll the dice" scenario which we've probably had to do (embrace the risk) as we've played 3 elimination finals in a row and we did set ourselves for a big round 23 but just fell short too.

 

[LeverPuller]

The issue is we did restrict supply so well to Port, our defence certainly won't have it anywhere near as easy against Melbourne. It's a real "roll the dice" scenario which we've probably had to do (embrace the risk) as we've played 3 elimination finals in a row and we did set ourselves for a big round 23 but just fell short too.

Yeah it’s definitely a build into your strength (your midfield) move and rely on them to win the day. On the flip side if it doesn’t work and Melbourne’s mids get on top it could really hurt you too - we are the most efficient scoring team in the comp.

That said it may also give you the chance to break out of our forward press if the ball hits the deck due to the extra runners.

God HOW DO WE STILL HAVE 2 DAYS

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

The issue is we did restrict supply so well to Port, our defence certainly won't have it anywhere near as easy against Melbourne. It's a real "roll the dice" scenario which we've probably had to do (embrace the risk) as we've played 3 elimination finals in a row and we did set ourselves for a big round 23 but just fell short too.

On this I’ll be interested to see how Schache goes against Lever. He did well on Aliir but Port obviously put up no resistance in the midfield re: team defence. I think Bont will actually spend quite a bit of time forward.

 

[Zgope1]

I think it’s good for footy that for Melbourne to break their drought they have to beat the best team they’ll have played all year.

they haven’t faced a side this strong yet so it’ll be good to show how strong Melbourne have truly become.

They are a mighty team and should respond to the test. I’m predicting the game to swing on midfield momentum and will be won by the team that takes their chances

 

[Big Bryza]

Such a joke that Cometti isn't commentating the GF with Ch7

Yeah, lets drag Matty Boyd, Dale Morris and Bob Murphy out of retirement as well for the weekend.

 

[Big Bryza]

Yeah if he can break even with Gawn and Jackson at the centre bounce and compete with them around the ground it’ll give the Dogs a stronger chance.

Gawn had something like 50 more hit outs in the match that the Dogs won against the Dees earlier in the year.

The only way Gawn will decide the game is if he pushes forward and kicks a bag again.

 

[Big Bryza]

Yeah but no other side has run a three tall forward setup against you in the finals.
Essendon: Wright and Francis.
Brisbane: Daniher with a touch of Fullarton
Port: Dixon and Marshall.

Melbourne: Brown, McDonald, Jackson

Heck of a call by Bevo especially since Gardiner has been so good

Tom McDonald hasn't played the 2nd half of the season, has he?

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Gawn had something like 50 more hit outs in the match that the Dogs won against the Dees earlier in the year.

The only way Gawn will decide the game is if he pushes forward and kicks a bag again.

Yeah but that game was basically under water, it’s a lot easier to shark taps with a soggy football which doesn’t move very far. Would expect him to be far more aggressive in his ruck work this week. And it’s not just the tap, it’s also the ability he and Jackson have to provide extra numbers at the stoppage when the ball hits the ground, especially against a less mobile opponent.

 

[Zgope1]

Yeah but that game was basically under water, it’s a lot easier to shark taps with a soggy football which doesn’t move very far. Would expect him to be far more aggressive in his ruck work this week. And it’s not just the tap, it’s also the ability he and Jackson have to provide extra numbers at the stoppage when the ball hits the ground, especially against a less mobile opponent.

With the depth of quality imbalance of the midfields, Melbourne will have to hope to exploit their ruck advantage as much as possible. Only way to make up for being an inferior ground ball midfield

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

With the depth of quality imbalance of the midfields, Melbourne will have to hope to exploit their ruck advantage as much as possible. Only way to make up for being an inferior ground ball midfield

Lmfao yes that’s why we won contested possessions by +20 in both games against the Dogs and rated number 1 over the season for post-clearance CPs. And that was with an out of form/injured Jack Viney. There’s no imbalance in the midfield. The Dogs might get Treloar and Dunkley back but there’s only so many players you can play on ball at any given time.

 

[Zgope1]

Lmfao yes that’s why we won contested possessions by +20 in both games against the Dogs and rated number 1 over the season for post-clearance CPs. And that was with an out of form/injured Jack Viney. There’s no imbalance in the midfield.

You played an undermanned midfield. No Martin, no Treloar, no Dunkley. Just minor names. With Stef, Tim and the big 6 mids no one has come near the dogs midfield all year.

just so happens the dogs ground ball talent still outperformed the dees in that game because you can be sure it wasn’t the talls that pipped you

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

You played an undermanned midfield. No Martin, no Treloar, no Dunkley. Just minor names. With Stef, Tim and the big 6 mids no one has come near the dogs midfield all year.

just so happens the dogs ground ball talent still outperformed the dees in that game because you can be sure it wasn’t the talls that pipped you

Minor names like Bontempelli, Macrae, Libba, Smith and Hunter? Yeah okay.

 

[Zgope1]

Minor names like Bontempelli, Macrae, Libba, Smith and Hunter? Yeah okay.

Iirc Bont won the dogs the game second time round. With an inferior ruck division and less depth around him.

no need to be fragile.

most would agree

Bont Libba Macrae Dunks Treloar and Smith is the best collection of mids in the league.

Gawn’s impact is necessary for the ledger to be evened up. If you think he’s not critical to your success and you’d even be discussing beating the dogs mids without him then you’re embarrassing yourself

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Iirc Bont won the dogs the game second time round. With an inferior ruck division and less depth around him.

no need to be fragile.

most would agree

Bont Libba Macrae Dunks Treloar and Smith is the best collection of mids in the league.

Gawn’s impact is necessary for the ledger to be evened up. If you think he’s not critical to your success and you’d even be discussing beating the dogs mids without him then you’re embarrassing yourself

You are literally just talking to yourself here

 

[Zgope1]

You are literally just talking to yourself here

Oh boy. Doesn’t know what literally means and thinks the evenness of the midfields does not factor in Max Gawn’s impact.

double embarrassment

 

[randallbone]

Minor names like Bontempelli, Macrae, Libba, Smith and Hunter? Yeah okay.

Whatever the outcome, should be a great game. Dogs have done it the hard way to get there, and Demons did everyone a favour by beating Geelong! Not sure Max Gawn could play any better than he did that night. I have seen him miss them from 10-15m out and he was kicking them from everywhere that night! I think it will be a great battle.

The AFL persists with a night Grand Final that no one really wants. And as much as 'Up there Cazaly' is an AFL song, do they really have to roll Mike Brady out every year?

A West Australian line up should be good for pre-game and post game entertainment. Probably only one bright spot in the whole COVID saga is that local talent is used for these events! With a few excptions, better than the Internationals that have been given the Gig over the years (Meatloaf...p-yew).

Good luck to both Teams!

 

[Mofra]

On this I’ll be interested to see how Schache goes against Lever. He did well on Aliir but Port obviously put up no resistance in the midfield re: team defence. I think Bont will actually spend quite a bit of time forward.

I think we might go the round 19 route again. Lever is untaggable, the only chance you really have is to try and manipulate the match ups to get your best contested mark to go with him and hope like hell he can compete in the one on ones.

Hannan did an incredible job in round 19 to take May out and separate the two and Hannan might get the job again.
Schache is not a very good contested mark but has enormous endurance for a big man so I think he gets on his bike to create space for our forwardline. Our half forwards do that well too, notably Bailey Smith who pushes up to the contest to become an extra midfielder then runs back hard if there's a groundball near our forwardline.
I'm pretty sure for each goal he's kicked in the finals series he's been running with the flight of the ball at the time.

Dunkley might start forward then run with Oliver around the ground, and in our second rotation Dunkley can go into the middle with Bont resting high-forward.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I think we might go the round 19 route again. Lever is untaggable, the only chance you really have is to try and manipulate the match ups to get your best contested mark to go with him and hope like hell he can compete in the one on ones.

Hannan did an incredible job in round 19 to take May out and separate the two and Hannan might get the job again.
Schache is not a very good contested mark but has enormous endurance for a big man so I think he gets on his bike to create space for our forwardline. Our half forwards do that well too, notably Bailey Smith who pushes up to the contest to become an extra midfielder then runs back hard if there's a groundball near our forwardline.
I'm pretty sure for each goal he's kicked in the finals series he's been running with the flight of the ball at the time.

Dunkley might start forward then run with Oliver around the ground, and in our second rotation Dunkley can go into the middle with Bont resting high-forward.

Yeah every Smith goal has I think been from a contest on the wing or high half forward that’s suddenly turned into him being the closest player to goal and having a shot essentially unopposed, incredible running capacity. If he’s getting those opportunities it means we’ve been beaten at the contest. Will be a task for Langdon or one of our small defenders to stay mindful and pick him up in transition if that situation arises.

I imagine May will stay pretty close to goal with his hamstring and pick up the deepest man.

 

[cactuscall]

 

[Mofra]

I imagine May will stay pretty close to goal with his hamstring and pick up the deepest man.

Yep - ditto Keith. Odd that both of our best 'big' defenders, both traded in from other clubs, play a similar way and are managing the same injury.

 

[doggiesin08]

On this I’ll be interested to see how Schache goes against Lever. He did well on Aliir but Port obviously put up no resistance in the midfield re: team defence. I think Bont will actually spend quite a bit of time forward.

I think the opposite is just as likely. Bont will never start as one of the back 6 but regularly pushes back quite deep to impact the marking contest.

 

[wowlace]

I read that the GF was given to Perth only because WA government guaranteed there would be a crowd. If they get a couple of cases tomorrow and/or Friday (I assume if they had some today that news would already be out) then it will be very interesting what happens. WA legally can't play the game without a crowd but then what would happen if they got heaps of cases from it?

Should have just played it in Melbourne with fully vaxxed spectators.

 

[wowlace]

ITT : " I think the team that plays the best will win "