Preview Changes for the Mighty Dogs into the Grand Final

[Mojorisin]

but I don't trust him with ball in hand in critical moments.

He did well at the end pf the lions game to save our season.

 

[Zgope1]

I reckon Vandermeer and Cody are like the key to our forward pressure. They just bring so much bloody heat

I reckon Roarke or JJ miss out. Whoever it is they are so unlucky.

 

[Munnez]

really tough selections

both Roarke and Gardner had 3 or 4 of those moments where their lack of polish was shown up and could have been very costly, but Roarke can play a defensive role and is tough and Gardner has speed and height over Cordy, Bevo loves both of them so they'll play.

JJ will hold his spot, so it will be Cordy and VDM to make way,

can someone please teach VDM how to sell a dummy and side step, worst ever!

VDM chose the wrong way defenders alwayd think you are going in board
If he had of faked that way and went boundary he would have got past Lycett.
Credit to Lycett for not getting done cold.

 

[Munnez]

He did nothing on Langdon, people need to go back and look at the game.

Langdon didn't do anything either so that is a net win for us too not have him linking up.

 

[aabp1978]

Don't like Lever but you're OK with Keath?

Keath is fine (great guy in real life)..no issue with how and why he left. Lever’s exit was just a disgrace….

 

[dergert]

VDM and Cody would be great in the same forward line.

The weekly medical report said VDM got a knock and there was some hamstring awareness as a result. No structural damage.
Sounds like he plays.

Cordy in the squad offers much more flexibility for Keath.

Roarke gives us great defensive cover between the arcs.

Such a hard selection decision.

 

[maddog37]

People aren’t suggesting VDM wasn’t actually injured and we milked the sub rule are they??!! I’m shocked

 

[Munnez]

I’d be backing in JJ and Treloar to take down Brayshaw rather than tagging with roarke.

Langdon and Hunter can run each other ragged on the other wing.


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Think we need someone who plays a bit tighter than Hunter on Langdon. If Roarke stays in feel he will get first crack. Langdon is an important link up for the Dee's.
VDM to miss don't think we can trust his hammy to come up

 

[Munnez]

I am dead nervous for this game. Melbourne match up on us extremely well.

I wonder whether Schache has it in him to replicate his performance last night in the biggest game of all against the best opposition of all.

I'm hoping we may have witnessed a coming of age with Schache. Found his self belief in the heat of battle of a big final.
Lever to sag off and Schache to rip it to shreds because they don't pay him enough respect.
4 goals and runner up to Bont in the Norm

 

[rac]

I'm hoping we may have witnessed a coming of age with Schache. Found his self belief in the heat of battle of a big final.
Lever to sag off and Schache to rip it to shreds because they don't pay him enough respect.
4 goals and runner up to Bont in the Norm

schache playing well and strategically is key to naughton playing well i reckon. Helps fill the hole Bruce left. Need a big game from him to get a big game out of both and spill enough ball to ground for cody and co. to clean up.

 

[Dogsman16]

Just regarding a couple of tactics early on to implement in the granny.

Reckon we start with Martin - Macrae - Libba - Dunkley. Rourke and Hunter on the wings.

First couple of centre bounces are vital in that we prevent Gawn - Petracca - Oliver getting those centre clearance exits from the attacking side. Worst case scenario they win centre clearances but are extremely shallow entries into there forward 50 and that our defensive mid setup means we have additional support to win the ball on the ground (as long as our defenders bring it to ground). I obviously don't need to say how important it is for Stef Martin to somewhat control where big max directs his taps and to also assist winning ground ball.

If we can at least turn those centre bounces into repeat stoppages thats when we can push bailey smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

and bont (both stationed at half forward) as the extra numbers around the ball. They won't be directly opposed to natural mids so thats where we can get the advantage. Treloar doesn't need to be involved in this too much to begin with. His importance increases the longer it goes as the game starts to open up.

Naughton to play true CHF for a little while. See if May wants to exit defensive 50 much. Round 11 when we lost there was a nice play where he runs to CHB and no-one follows him, he then runs hard back into forward 50 and he splits May and Lever with the inside 50 mark. Could be another tactic to utilise. Although I wouldn't be shocked if Bev puts Naughton in the goal square to test May's mobility out from the very get go. Thats an interesting call to make regarding how Bev utilises that matchup.

Reckon Schache is a better matchup on Lever than he is Allir (and he did a great job on Allir). Obviously Lever an elite interceptor but doesn't have the offensive run and carry that Allir has. Schache isn't quick at all but neither is Lever so I expect him to play that behind positioning again. I was shocked at how many times he was targeted in the prelim. Certainly got a lot more ball kicked in his direction than Naughton and English.

Shit only 11 more days to go to think about matchups

 

[Jean Claude Vas Deferens]

I know I'm being a total floggish spelling nazi here.... but it's KEATH not keith. And it's GARDNER, not gardiner.

And with that off my chest it's ZAINE, not zane. And I want him in. I know I'm in the minority, I know he's got his critics (especially in here) but I'll be backing him in for sure.... he always seems to find another gear in the big games. Has played very well in Finals previously and that includes last week. Not a knock on Gardner and maybe all three play - it's a tall forward line with Brown, McDonald and Fritsch... throw in Jackson and big Maxy resting down there. Doubt it though with Woody more than capable, so the obvious scenario is either Zaine or Ryan make way for Keathy. Cordy's one of those soldiers Bevo talks about, and he's harder and more physical at the ball carrier than most. Yeah, he's a touch on the slow side, but if he gets you, you stay got. Has to play for mine.

 

[dergert]

I worry Schache won't be able to back up his game against Port.

What happens if Melbourne clamp down on Macrae?

 

[Dogsman16]

I worry Schache won't be able to back up his game against Port.

What happens if Melbourne clamp down on Macrae?

When has he ever been clamped down upon?

He's always had either Libba or Bont attracting the tag. Now we also have Smith in red hot form who could take more defensive attention also.

 

[dergert]

When has he ever been clamped down upon?

He's always had either Libba or Bont attracting the tag. Now we also have Smith in red hot form who could take more defensive attention also.

Exactly. Oppo teams don't pay him enough respect imo. Maybe Melbourne approach it differently and hit him hard as they did with Libba earlier in the year.

Curbing Macrae's influence would go a long way in stopping us.

 

[Dogsman16]

Exactly. Oppo teams don't pay him enough respect imo. Maybe Melbourne approach it differently and hit him hard as they did with Libba earlier in the year.

Curbing Macrae's influence would go a long way in stopping us.

It would be a fair role of the dice to play. Leaving libba and bont go free. Reckon they will just go back to Harmes on Libba.

 

[BrunswickDog]

The key last week against Port and Aliir, was that we kept targeting Schache all night. Most targeted forward.

Teams keep trying to go around lever, letting him float to wherever the ball is. But by targeting his opponent, it will keep him honest.

The demons will be prepared for the Aliir tactic, and the only way it works is if Schache is strong in the air and kicks straight. We also will need to keep targeting Schache in the 50.

The dogs used this tactic with Marra on lever in the last game, and Marra got lever on the lead a few times.

 

[weltschmerz]

If they manage to clamp down on both Smith and Macrae, that lets Libba, Bont, and Dunkley off the chain. They're all match winners.

 

[samass03]

I think Cody comes in, with 1 of VDM or JJ as the sub and I think they both suit that role really well.

Cordy vs Gardner is a tough one, both have been great I feel like the match committee favour Gardner?

I was blown away at our loss to Melbourne this year as to how important Brayshaw is as a defensive wing for the Dee’s. re watching the last two weeks games Roark does so much for us in a similar defensive wing role.

I’m so pumped for this game!!! Two great teams two great coaches! Two supporter bases who really deserve it!

 

[Dale4captain]

Out: Cordy, Vandemeer, Scott
In: Keath, Weightman

Sub: Vanders or Cordy depending on health

 

[Pep_x]

Is there a case for not bringing back Cody straight off the back of a concussion.
Players coming back from concussion seem to take a few games to get back up to speed so its a big ask to come straight into a Grand final. But on the other hand he is certainly in our best 22.
A couple of huge selection calls to be made next week.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

I know I'm being a total floggish spelling nazi here.... but it's KEATH not keith. And it's GARDNER, not gardiner.

And with that off my chest it's ZAINE, not zane. And I want him in. I know I'm in the minority, I know he's got his critics (especially in here) but I'll be backing him in for sure.... he always seems to find another gear in the big games. Has played very well in Finals previously and that includes last week. Not a knock on Gardner and maybe all three play - it's a tall forward line with Brown, McDonald and Fritsch... throw in Jackson and big Maxy resting down there. Doubt it though with Woody more than capable, so the obvious scenario is either Zaine or Ryan make way for Keathy. Cordy's one of those soldiers Bevo talks about, and he's harder and more physical at the ball carrier than most. Yeah, he's a touch on the slow side, but if he gets you, you stay got. Has to play for mine.

I’m inclined to go with Cordy as he has a streak of mongrel which will be needed when Melbourne try to impose themselves physically. I expect them to take the Charlie Sutton road of “shopping early to beat the rush” and we should be ready for that.

 

[the conch]

The extra week is really important for Martin. And he is the guy we really need to stand up on GF day. We need to halve the stoppage contest with Gawn.

It’s also an extra week for Keath, Weightman, the Bont, VDM and anyone else carrying injuries etc.

We are more banged up than Melbourne. We’ve played a lot of footy and travelled quite a bit so I suspect that the week off is a godsend. But who knows.

You could argue the week off kills our momentum. But the same applies to Melbourne who have won 7 in a row.

I would rather the week off than not. I’m loving it as a supporter. We can soak up the glory of being in the GF again.

Will be interesting to see how Melbourne go with two 14 day breaks. Unchartered territory. I suspect they will come out firing and we will need to be at our best to win.

Edit - If I was playing and fit, I would hate the extra week off. Would just be keen to get out there. Luckily for everyone on here I won’t be playing.

I reckon they might have been loading up the training pre finals ... and that's why they were losing the last three games.
Come finals they back off the load and hit peak fitness. This is what pro cyclists and runners etc, do.... to target events/ races
But you can only hit and sustain this peak fitness for a few weeks, before performance tapers off. Varies for individuals.
This is what worries me a bit.. against Port they were in the window, big time.
It's all about recovery atm, but they have to balance it with not dropping off the aerobic fitness.
Fitness coach decisions could be the difference. I have confidence in Bevo and team to listen, to know the players, to nail this as best as possible.

Simon Goodwin, on the other hand, has a history of addiction, gambling, going along with illegal supplement programs (Hird / Dank).

Coach Goodwin wins battles with demons

In a rehab clinic with drug addicts and sex addicts, Simon Goodwin had hit rock bottom. He was a dual AFL premiership player. A multiple All Australian. A tri...

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How he is still in footy at all .. and a senior leader role is pretty f'd up and does the game no credit imo. I'd much prefer just about anyone else coaching the demons. What happened at the Bombers is unforgiveable, and he had an active and complicit role in it.
"The ABC said there were text messages from Goodwin to Dank through last June and July, asking him for the "good gear" and the "good stuff"."
But it's obviously a "redemption story" and he's got a great team (including their fitness people) firing on all cylinders. Like the doggies they maxed it with the preliminary, but were they prepared to go as deep into a build up phase pre-finals? I reckon the Doggies can treat their fitness as a weapon, give them confidence. Melbourne are playing for the honour of winning a flag for the first time in ages. The psyche pressure is on them.

 

[Golden_6]

People aren’t suggesting VDM wasn’t actually injured and we milked the sub rule are they??!! I’m shocked

I saw him run to the bench late in the 3rd on TV and he was grabbing an area near his hamstring (turned out to be his glute) so at that point I though he had done something but he did jog to the bench without a limp.

The medical report lines up with that. VDM is a special case in terms of hamstring awareness given his horror history. You would never send someone like that back out there if they were experiencing any discomfort.

 

[Dazb86]

Is there a case for not bringing back Cody straight off the back of a concussion.
Players coming back from concussion seem to take a few games to get back up to speed so its a big ask to come straight into a Grand final. But on the other hand he is certainly in our best 22.
A couple of huge selection calls to be made next week.

I think it was probably line ball if he was even concussed. In any case it will be 3 weeks since he last played.