Round 21 changes: Footscray v Melbourne.

[Munnez]

VDM is like the current version of Hannan. Doesnt get the ball that much and when he does he flubs it half the time.

So it has to be the off ball stuff, which is essentially running to the right places at the right time? Surely that is the easiest thing to get any player to do that can cover the ground?

But apparently not

You would have to think that it somewhat the inferred pressure that he puts opposition exits under with his speed to close down space. Which leads to long kicks down the line which plays into LJ and Lobbsters hands.
And then be there for the bail out kick out of D50. Then put speed on the ball to get it forward

 

[Morris Major]

They're currently having a supporters forum with mulled wine and gourmet cheeses around the lodge fireplace up at Mt Hotham. However I understand most of the discussion is not footy-related but is about today's slight improvement in the stockmarket and the next Grammarian Old Boys dinner. Should be a great bash.

Old Grammarians*

 

[lachy]

Would have Freijah and Macrae would be definite ins if they were rested last week for the 5 Day break and come into the 23. Sanders not sure we would make 3 changes 2 is hard enough.

Baring injury or illness would think Daniel and Khamis for those 2, if Sanders comes in likely for Garcia given McNeils form and VDM never being dropped.

Whoever is dropped would be a tad unlucly

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[Libba39]

I'm strangely more nervous about this game than the swans. We are a bit of a bunny team for the Dees. They have a pretty fair side happening (apart from Petraca).

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[PurpJuice]

I'm strangely more nervous about this game than the swans. We are a bit of a bunny team for the Dees. They have a pretty fair side happening (apart from Petraca).

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Me too but their fwd line is their main weakness and our defence has been solid

 

[_Cerberus_]

I'm strangely more nervous about this game than the swans. We are a bit of a bunny team for the Dees. They have a pretty fair side happening (apart from Petraca).

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I'm not as much. All bogeys end eventually. We become another teams bogey, and they become ours. I think Melbourne are in for a bit of a drop off. Still a danger game of cause. But if our form the last three weeks was honest, we shouldn't be dropping this game at all. GWS in the final round is a bigger test in my opinion.

 

[Libba39]

I'm not as much. All bogeys end eventually. We become another teams bogey, and they become ours. I think Melbourne are in for a bit of a drop off. Still a danger game of cause. But if our form the last three weeks was honest, we shouldn't be dropping this game at all. GWS in the final round is a bigger test in my opinion.

Perhaps I'm also having flashbacks to 2004 which was, in a manner of speaking, a retro round against Melbourne. It was supposed to be a 50yr celebration of the 54 premiership but we were never in the game. I remember being so disappointed.

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[Lex22]

While he’s got a decent opposite side, Baker is a natural right-footer.

 

[dogwatch]

Perhaps I'm also having flashbacks to 2004 which was, in a manner of speaking, a retro round against Melbourne. It was supposed to be a 50yr celebration of the 54 premiership but we were never in the game. I remember being so disappointed.

On SM-A505YN using BigFooty.com mobile app

I remember that too. Wow, 20 years already!

 

[TheScriptorWL]

In: Sanders, Freijah
Out: Daniel, Coffield - CD - A leftover legend from our 2016 group, still a serviceable player, but he can't get games before our Youth at this point, His form isn't good enough to warrant it at all.

Begrudgingly and Regrettably Coffield makes his exit as well(He's been serviceable) However, the only thing he has over Khamis at the moment is how clean he is by foot and I don't think the discrepancy is bad enough to warrant dropping Buku and ruining that sweet reliable Lobb/Khamis combination.

Anyway, What do I know really! Just please beat them Dogs. In fact, Why don't we toy with them a little, give them a sniff of success until 15 minutes left in the third quarter...Then we pound them by 74...See how they like it.

 

[Oliver G]

The next month will tell us once and for all if we have actually changed for the better. This will be the third consecutive year we've gone into the final month of the season in 8th spot and the fourth consecutive year of being in a commanding position and not capitalising. In the last month of our previous 3 seasons, we've never gone better than 2-2 and never not had a loss to a team we would normally beat.

2023 - 8th On Ladder (2-2)
R21 vs. Richmond (55 point win)
R22 vs. Hawthorn (3 point loss)
R23 vs. West Coast (7 point loss)
R24 vs. Geelong (25 point win)

Finished 9th, 2 points out of the 8.

2022 - 8th On Ladder (2-2)
R20 vs. Geelong (28 point loss)
R21 vs. Fremantle (17 point loss)
R22 vs. GWS (5 point win)
R23 vs. Hawthorn (23 point win)
Finished 8th, 0.55% ahead of 9th.

2021 - 1st On Ladder (1-4)
R20 vs. Adelaide (49 point win)
R21 vs. Essendon (13 point loss)
R22 vs. Hawthorn (27 point loss)
R23 vs. Port Adelaide (2 point loss)
Finished 5th, missed the top 4 by 0.43%.

This week is arguably the biggest danger game of the 4, Melbourne is coming off a close loss and even though their season is all but done, they pose a serious threat with us not showing up in 3 of our last 4 matches against them. Win this and it sets us up for that home final we've all been craving and perhaps even top 4, but a loss would then put the pressure right back on us in having to win 2 out of the last 3 and the possibility of that all-too familiar coming down to the final match of the season.

Even though this is a 5 day break, this is the week we have to nail selection and get our best 23 out there. Maybe there was some logic in resting those 3 players do all 3 come in? Probably not, Freijah is the only certainty I'd imagine at this point.

 

[Dogs Rule]

We just have to win it. To keep powering on, end Melbourne and get this monkey off our back with them.

For years I was ambivalent about Melbourne, but not anymore. Gotta smash them.

 

[ScottyDogg]

We just have to win it. To keep powering on, end Melbourne and get this monkey off our back with them.

For years I was ambivalent about Melbourne, but not anymore. Gotta smash them.

I agree, if we smash them, I think it ends the hoodoo.

 

[Golden_6]

Baffles me why Melbourne continue with Petty at full forward. 6.14 from 16 games has to be the worst return for a key forward in the league.

 

[doggy_dog]

Baffles me why Melbourne continue with Petty at full forward. 6.14 from 16 games has to be the worst return for a key forward in the league.

Could have had 2x 1sts from Adelaide for him last year too, mad not to take that

 

[Testekill]

Baffles me why Melbourne continue with Petty at full forward. 6.14 from 16 games has to be the worst return for a key forward in the league.

Schache might be a bit soft but he's a natural forward, at the very least that return would have flipped and he'd be in the positives for goals. Instead Schache is playing defence in the VFL

 

[Testekill]

Could have had 2x 1sts from Adelaide for him last year too, mad not to take that

Especially when every neutral was saying to take that offer and run. They could have cashed out at his maximum value

 

[_Cerberus_]

Going to take a couple of days to get used to the name of this thread. I keep seeing the header and thinking "why am I on the VFL team page?"

 

[Royale]

Danger game.

 

[perro_loco]

Are the dogs training today and at what time? Work is darling boring and I can escape. Is it on now. Please let me know asap if anyone knows

 

[willofwest]

Just need to beat the aholes so I can finally give some sh1t back to a mate, who’s never let me forget the Grand final.

 

[bobs head soup]

Feel like Freijah and Sanders were strategically rested up for fresh legs here. Reckon there will be a couple who've had big years will be managed off the 5 day break.

Difficult to guess who, but Bramble, Williams and VDM have played every game this year and play hard running roles.

 

[bresker]

Baffles me why Melbourne continue with Petty at full forward. 6.14 from 16 games has to be the worst return for a key forward in the league.

I thought he was playing back....so apart from Lever & May, who is their other tall back? McDonald ?

 

[Next Waiting]

I'd be considering giving Timmy the week off and rucking Lobby against Gawn.

A bit of a one off but maybe we also need a sneak peak at what a reorganised ruck division looks like....if we ever had to.

Libba, Duryea and Treloar, being elder statesmen, might also be considered. They all worked pretty hard against the Swans and recovery time is compromised.

Playing the game out strongly from start to finish seems like an imperative to me.

 

[Dogsman16]

I'd be considering giving Timmy the week off and rucking Lobby against Gawn.

A bit of a one off but maybe we also need a sneak peak at what a reorganised ruck division looks like....if we ever had to.

Libba, Duryea and Treloar, being elder statesmen, might also be considered. They all worked pretty hard against the Swans and recovery time is compromised.

Playing the game out strongly from start to finish seems like an imperative to me.

We need to settle Lobb in that role for the remainer of the year.

Gawn not at his best at the moment and I feel the only way the dees win is if he dominates (which he has plenty of times against us already)