Geelong ( and the most crucial game of our season)

[1eyedog]

Okay we are 3/4 with a realistic chance of going 4/4 against the GC this weekend. The following week we play Geelong at Etihad. Geelong are clearly not the team they were, they have not won a contested footy count all year, were beaten by North, made to look like a VFL side against Adelaide and pushed by Richmond at home. Their losses have been more than abberations, many in the know think they are on a downward spiral. I still think write them off at your own peril.

I know we need to get past GC first, and this thread is premature, but if we do knock over GC, I think we have a very good chance of matching or even beating the cats the following Friday night at Etihad. We are playing good contested football at that venue and Geelong will be taking us very seriously. It's a big stage with an opportunity to claim a big scalp and go 5/4 and probably be an equal amount of games outside the 8 (or potentially in the 8 if other matches go our way). I think we played well against WC for three quarters, were good in Adelaide and against Collingwood and were obviously rewarded for sustaining the pressure yesterday. The Saints game is looking like an abberation.

So, in light of all these hypotheticals and I'm aware I'm getting excited, but if we beat Geelong where are we at and can we start to hope to play finals football this year?

[LostDoggy]

Since we play them coming off a 6 day break from Darwin not sure its so crucial.
I also have no doubt they are a better side than they are displaying right now.

[Rocco Jones]

Since we play them coming off a 6 day break from Darwin not sure its so crucial.
I also have no doubt they are a better side than they are displaying right now.

I agree Chops.

Consecutive 6 day breaks with Darwin in the middle is just an utter joke.

[LostDoggy]

If we can apply the same defensive pressure in the forward 50 and lock the ball in for long periods and force Geelong to have a higher percentage of handballs then we would have only 1/3rd of the effort to needed to knock them over , against North Thomas and Anthony were the only players determined to show some run and carry and became their most dangerous players they also had three goal assists between them, thats 6 goals from medium sized players with good foot speed pushing hard forward and making good decisions , Geelong have more than a few of those type of players , if we can shut down Hawkins and Pods then Geelong will adjust and push harder with numbers forward , Geelongs forte is locking the ball in their forward 50 and setting up at each contest to release players like Bartel , Motlop , Duncan , Christensen , we just have to be very clean in defense and hit targets on the edges of the corridor if we try to handball our way out of traffic Geelong will close up the space and lock it in , against North we just ground them to a pulp with the contested possessions and forced them to change the way they play if we can do the same to Geelong as well as lock down their power forwards and be clean from defense to break their efforts to press we could very well knock them over

Now just for some clarity Geelong had 45 clangers and they lost by 50 points

Against North we had 40 clangers and won by 18 points , point being we just have to be a bit cleaner to put sides away , against Geelong we can,t afford too many turnovers if the score is close

.

[Cyberdoggie]

I agree Chops.

Consecutive 6 day breaks with Darwin in the middle is just an utter joke.

Will be interesting how the coach manages his players.

Will he rest some of the stars at the risk of losing to GC? in what would be the worst loss of the year if we did.

I would suggest Boyd, Griffen and one or two others should come down with General Soreness for the GC game.

Maybe Dahlhaus could use a rest.

I would think Pearce may get a game, also Smith and Roberts.
Jones will probably come back as will Cooney.

[Flamethrower]

Don't overlook the Suns. They were poor in Canberra but before that they should have beaten Fremantle and Essendon at Metricon.

We are not good enough to rest players.

[Rocco Jones]

Will be interesting how the coach manages his players.

Will he rest some of the stars at the risk of losing to GC? in what would be the worst loss of the year if we did.

I would suggest Boyd, Griffen and one or two others should come down with General Soreness for the GC game.

Maybe Dahlhaus could use a rest.



Don't overlook the Suns. They were poor in Canberra but before that they should have beaten Fremantle and Essendon at Metricon.

We are not good enough to rest players.

I think we are not good enough to rest key players like Griff and Boydy. As I said in another thread, I would rest a few fringe players if they have niggles aren't feeling fresh etc but B-Mac seems to be doing that anyway.

As you have mentioned RT, GC have gone close up against sides better than us. The X-factor that is Darwin also probably suits an underdog. I think we should make sure the 4 points are in the bag. Even if we got hammered against the Cats we 4-5 going into games against Swans at the SCG (which probably will suit us more than any other ground!) then two games at home against Port and the Lions.

I know it's a few weeks down the track but I see the Swans game as a big one if we are to do a bit more than be competitive. That being said, I will be happy if we continue playing hard and developing even if we aren't a finals contender.

[LostDoggy]

Will be interesting how the General Mac manages the players.



Against North not all of our critical players did their full allotment of time on ground , some of them had only about 75% , I don,t know many rotations we made from the middle of the third quarter onwards but it must have been a quite a few

Up in Darwin I would expect much the same time on ground for the most critical players

We have nearly always had a quiet first quarter after a game in Darwin , could be a factor again against Geelong

.

[Throughandthrough]

Geez i hope we don't lose to the Suns........chicken/eggs etc

[AndrewP6]

To use an already overused cliche.... "One game at a time". I am not yet convinced that one good win translates into planning a couple of weeks ahead, or even looking as far as finals.

[Maddog37]

Sub Griff would be ideal if we are going ok against GC. He is our most important player.

Against Geelong I reckon the challenge will be to shut down Enright, Scarlett and Stevie J. No Morris hurts us re Stevie.

Lake should dominate Hawkins or Jpod so if Austin or Marko play well we could really upset their scoring ability.

[azabob]

I agree Chops.

Consecutive 6 day breaks with Darwin in the middle is just an utter joke.

RJ, yes it is a joke, but we also make a rod for our own backs. Why should the AFL compensate us further? It is our choice to play in Darwin.

[AndrewP6]

RJ, yes it is a joke, but we also make a rod for our own backs. Why should the AFL compensate us further? It is our choice to play in Darwin.

To make money because of the absurd deal we get at Etihad.

[azabob]

To make money because of the absurd deal we get at Etihad.

In all seriousness though we could continue to go in circles about this, why is our deal so bad? Because our supporters don't turn up to games.

[AndrewP6]

In all seriousness though we could continue to go in circles about this, why is our deal so bad? Because our supporters don't turn up to games.

We can pack the place out and still not make money.

[1eyedog]

We can pack the place out and still not make money.

But your talking about the situation now. If we were packing stadiums out in the first place there would be no need for the current stadium deal.

[azabob]

So, in light of all these hypotheticals and I'm aware I'm getting excited, but if we beat Geelong where are we at and can we start to hope to play finals football this year?

If we take our six day break out of it, would you prefer to play Geelong on the rebound or give them a chance to get back their form and then play them?

It is all about belief, hopefully the midfield have another great display on Saturday night and their confidence grows again.

[Bulldog Joe]

I would give us a great chance to beat Geelong if it was this week.

The fixture is absurd and really the Darwin game should have been scheduled the week before the bye, particularly with 6 teams getting a bye.

[1eyedog]

If we take our six day break out of it, would you prefer to play Geelong on the rebound or give them a chance to get back their form and then play them?

It is all about belief, hopefully the midfield have another great display on Saturday night and their confidence grows again.

It seems a no brainer that it is the former. I'd rather them on the rebound rather than in form, four points is four points.

[whythelongface]

Will be interesting how the coach manages his players.

Will he rest some of the stars at the risk of losing to GC? in what would be the worst loss of the year if we did.

I would suggest Boyd, Griffen and one or two others should come down with General Soreness for the GC game.

Maybe Dahlhaus could use a rest.

I would think Pearce may get a game, also Smith and Roberts.
Jones will probably come back as will Cooney.

Can't afford to rest Griff way too valuable and besides this is a game where he could pick max brownlow points. The way he is going he would have to be up near the leaders at present.

In regards to the OP we have a very realistic chance of beating geelong especially given our coach has a very good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their players. If we continue to win the clearances and improve our delivery into the forward line, as well as our forward line taking marks or bringing the ball to ground then yes we are a huge show.

[LostDoggy]

If this is a learning season why should we be mucking about with our form and toying with resting players? Surely if players are learning to play this new style together, we should play them together? Every game is an opportunity to keep drilling the understanding between the guys, why would we muck about with that chemistry just as it is starting to gel? We are a week-to-week proposition, we were not bad on the weekend but may well be horrendous next week.. can't take anything for granted.

This is a learning season.

[bornadog]

In all seriousness though we could continue to go in circles about this, why is our deal so bad? Because our supporters don't turn up to games.

or buy memberships:mad:

[LostDoggy]

No offence 1eyedog, but this thread needs any Matthew Lloyd interview posted up here. Pick anyone from his past 15yrs........"we're not looking past next week"......."we're not thinking about finals at this point"....."the Gold Coast game is a very important game for us"....."we need to concentrate on getting the 4 points next week".........zzzzzzz. God he was boring.
But it fits here, we aren't sitting in second place on the ladder. Let's get past the GC and then talk about Geelong. Hopefully this momentum keeps rolling and we can have this discussion next week.
Just my opinion though, don't let me stop you from buying finals tickets. I hope you are right.

[Eastdog]

No offence 1eyedog, but this thread needs any Matthew Lloyd interview posted up here. Pick anyone from his past 15yrs........"we're not looking past next week"......."we're not thinking about finals at this point"....."the Gold Coast game is a very important game for us"....."we need to concentrate on getting the 4 points next week".........zzzzzzz. God he was boring.
But it fits here, we aren't sitting in second place on the ladder. Let's get past the GC and then talk about Geelong. Hopefully this momentum keeps rolling and we can have this discussion next week.
Just my opinion though, don't let me stop you from buying finals tickets. I hope you are right.

That's the best approach. Just take each game as it comes and don't look too far ahead. Even if we were doing well the focus should be the game in that week and not 2 weeks. GC cannot be taken lightly and we need to be completely switched on from the get go.

[jeemak]

I would give us a great chance to beat Geelong if it was this week.

The fixture is absurd and really the Darwin game should have been scheduled the week before the bye, particularly with 6 teams getting a bye.

Geelong will be up for this coming game, no doubt, and their performance this week might be enough to roll them in to form for the following week against us.

The fixture is absurd, and I agree a game to the top end should be scheduled favourably for the two teams lucky enough to be taking the game there. For all of the AFL's jargon about expanding into new territories (and their constant rhetoric regarding indiginous inclusion within the broader game), they don't present much of an incentive for the teams that are willing to have a crack at it. For mine, it smacks of us being sent to do a task in order for us to earn our keep, just so other teams don't have to. A bit like what North and ourselves suffered this last weekend with mothers day.

I think we're going to be facing a team smarting over losing to the new kid on the block in Darwin, and we need to be extremely dilligent in executing the game plan that has started to become evident over recent weeks.

We'll be facing an extremely quick team, that has shown glimpses of competitiveness and skill over the first third of the season, so baring that in mind we need to take our best available team and challenge them to back up their solid winning performance for a consecutive week.

We might end up tired and drained for the following week, and if we have to rest the odd senior player who might be tired, or a younger one or two that is a bit sore for the game against Geelong the following week then so be it.

The competition is so even now that one win here, might be counter balanced by a loss we might not expect down the track very easily. Let's develop our players while we can, take care of them physically and mentallly, while attempting to win every week with the cattle we have.

It's cliched, sure, though the Geelong game shouldn't be on our radar right now.

[1eyedog]

No offence 1eyedog, but this thread needs any Matthew Lloyd interview posted up here. Pick anyone from his past 15yrs........"we're not looking past next week"......."we're not thinking about finals at this point"....."the Gold Coast game is a very important game for us"....."we need to concentrate on getting the 4 points next week".........zzzzzzz. God he was boring.
But it fits here, we aren't sitting in second place on the ladder. Let's get past the GC and then talk about Geelong. Hopefully this momentum keeps rolling and we can have this discussion next week. Just my opinion though, don't let me stop you from buying finals tickets. I hope you are right.

Stop depressing me with common sense and rationale!

[1eyedog]

Geelong will be up for this coming game, no doubt, and their performance this week might be enough to roll them in to form for the following week against us.

The fixture is absurd, and I agree a game to the top end should be scheduled favourably for the two teams lucky enough to be taking the game there. For all of the AFL's jargon about expanding into new territories (and their constant rhetoric regarding indiginous inclusion within the broader game), they don't present much of an incentive for the teams that are willing to have a crack at it. For mine, it smacks of us being sent to do a task in order for us to earn our keep, just so other teams don't have to. A bit like what North and ourselves suffered this last weekend with mothers day.

I think we're going to be facing a team smarting over losing to the new kid on the block in Darwin, and we need to be extremely dilligent in executing the game plan that has started to become evident over recent weeks.

We'll be facing an extremely quick team, that has shown glimpses of competitiveness and skill over the first third of the season, so baring that in mind we need to take our best available team and challenge them to back up their solid winning performance for a consecutive week.

We might end up tired and drained for the following week, and if we have to rest the odd senior player who might be tired, or a younger one or two that is a bit sore for the game against Geelong the following week then so be it.

The competition is so even now that one win here, might be counter balanced by a loss we might not expect down the track very easily. Let's develop our players while we can, take care of them physically and mentallly, while attempting to win every week with the cattle we have.

It's cliched, sure, though the Geelong game shouldn't be on our radar right now.

Another rational thinker, ye gods this forum is full of them. Okay I'll bookmark my thread for next week.

[Bulldog Joe]

While the one game at a time approach is valid, we still have the significant challenge of managing our players through successive 6 day breaks AND a trip to Darwin which makes the Geelong game more like a 5 day break.

We fell apart after that sort of travel schedule to Perth last year.

Players need to be rested.

All out for Gold Coast probably means we lose to both Geelong and Sydney and possibly lose badly.

[LostDoggy]

While the one game at a time approach is valid, we still have the significant challenge of managing our players through successive 6 day breaks AND a trip to Darwin which makes the Geelong game more like a 5 day break.

We fell apart after that sort of travel schedule to Perth last year.

Players need to be rested.

All out for Gold Coast probably means we lose to both Geelong and Sydney and possibly lose badly.

Yeah. But you have to take what is infront of you.
If the dogs tank the GC game and happen to loose. Then (hyperthetically) have two weeks of bad luck or just go down to Geelong / Syd in a well foughtout but dissapointing affar. Then we'd be wishing we had the GC game back. Too late then.
Win what is infront of you then worry about next week, next week.

[1eyedog]

What a bunch of pessimists! You've all been bulldog supporters for way too long :D

[Bulldog Joe]

Yeah. But you have to take what is infront of you.
If the dogs tank the GC game and happen to loose. Then (hyperthetically) have two weeks of bad luck or just go down to Geelong / Syd in a well foughtout but dissapointing affar. Then we'd be wishing we had the GC game back. Too late then.
Win what is infront of you then worry about next week, next week.

I am not suggesting we tank against Gold Coast.
We do however need to manage players through the season.
I would rest Minson this week and at least one of Boyd,Higgins, Gia or Griffen.

[Cyberdoggie]

What a bunch of pessimists! You've all been bulldog supporters for way too long :D

That is true :(

[choconmientay]

What a bunch of pessimists! You've all been bulldog supporters for way too long :D

I have not been a dogs supporter for too long but the way I see thing is different to you.

What are we really playing for at the moment? We are not really at the top of the table! The chance are that we will not make the 8 this year. Probably we are in the building/re-building phase. We need to teach young players to play together and learn from the senior players. We need to teach them to adapt to a system where we can win games consistently and maintain the momentum. Players needs to spend as much times together as they can.

For these reasons, we should just play our best team in Darwin. You could add some more rotations on match day and allowing "premium" players to have less game time to rest them. You could also play some new fringe players, young players to the team just for them to have some exposure to the modern game. This way we also add more depth to our squad.

Momentum means a lot in the modern game. If we keep our winning streak and keep the morale high, winning next game or the game after will sort itself out.

[1eyedog]

I have not been a dogs supporter for too long but the way I see thing is different to you.

What are we really playing for at the moment? We are not really at the top of the table! The chance are that we will not make the 8 this year. Probably we are in the building/re-building phase. We need to teach young players to play together and learn from the senior players. We need to teach them to adapt to a system where we can win games consistently and maintain the momentum. Players needs to spend as much times together as they can.

For these reasons, we should just play our best team in Darwin. You could add some more rotations on match day and allowing "premium" players to have less game time to rest them. You could also play some new fringe players, young players to the team just for them to have some exposure to the modern game. This way we also add more depth to our squad.

Momentum means a lot in the modern game. If we keep our winning streak and keep the morale high, winning next game or the game after will sort itself out.

Sorry it was a joke, hence the laugh. I see things the same way and am trying to inject a bit of 'what if' into the line of inquiry. If we beat Geelong watch opinions turn around.

[choconmientay]

Sorry it was a joke, hence the laugh. I see things the same way and am trying to inject a bit of 'what if' into the line of inquiry. If we beat Geelong watch opinions turn around.

Sorry, I misread the joke :)

[LostDoggy]

I am not suggesting we tank against Gold Coast.
We do however need to manage players through the season.
I would rest Minson this week and at least one of Boyd,Higgins, Gia or Griffen.

Tank was probably a bad word to use. I mean to go in light and expect a cakewalk win.

Choco is right though. Think of what the team needs to achieve this year and play to that. Melbourne has dug one of the deepest graves in AFL history where they have tattooed a loosing culture into their club and have dropped their next youngsters into it. The dogs need to keep sprinkling our next gen through this team and expose them to wins like last week. This week should also not be wasted as some of our youngsters would benifit with a trip away and getting a winning result.

[Bulldog Joe]

Tank was probably a bad word to use. I mean to go in light and expect a cakewalk win.

Choco is right though. Think of what the team needs to achieve this year and play to that. Melbourne has dug one of the deepest graves in AFL history where they have tattooed a loosing culture into their club and have dropped their next youngsters into it. The dogs need to keep sprinkling our next gen through this team and expose them to wins like last week. This week should also not be wasted as some of our youngsters would benifit with a trip away and getting a winning result.

I think it is a good week for the young players to take up the challenge.

We do need the intensity from the North game brought to this week. Cordy and Roughead need to step up as more than just support players as Wallis, Libba and Dahlhaus are doing.

[jeemak]

I think it is a good week for the young players to take up the challenge.

We do need the intensity from the North game brought to this week. Cordy and Roughead need to step up as more than just support players as Wallis, Libba and Dahlhaus are doing.

Add Grant to that list. As we win more and more of the ball and start to figure out how to use it well they'll all be presented with opportunities to show they can become reliable contributors.

[LostDoggy]

I think the 6-day break, combined with the travel, will mean we may fade off in the 4th against Geelong as we did against Collingwood. We also run the risk of doing what we did against GWS, by looking forward a week too far.

If we're going to beat Geelong, we need to smash them in the clearances, the contested ball, and we need to be at least 6-7 goals up at 3/4 time.

[LostDoggy]

GC = massive danger game.

[LostDoggy]

GC = massive danger game.

Thanks Marcov, everyone was tiptoeing around it. But now you have jinxed it. If they loose this weekend it'll be your falt.

[stefoid]

If I remember the eventual premiers were also shitcanned early last year for lackluster performances.

I think the cats players who have 3 premiership medalians are just pacing themselves for a long season. Why bust a nut early on when you need to be peaking in september?

They will start to turn it on around... now.

[Maddog37]

Swallow is out for GC I think.

[LostDoggy]

WE must take our best team and we must apply ourselves as rigorously as we did against North. Any sense of taking them lightly and we are history. It's going to be hard enough as it is, being a shorter week for us and being in Darwin.

If we get to a point where we are controlling the game, then we can rest key players for a little longer. But the mental state of the players will be everything on Saturday and if it's off just a little, because we don't take our best side, then we will deserve everything we get.

[1eyedog]

Swallow is out for GC I think.

He copped a corky on the weekend, I was hoping he'd miss.

[bornadog]

Swallow is out for GC I think.

He is out for 6 weeks.

[Sockeye Salmon]

He is out for 6 weeks.

That's one hell of a corkie

[bornadog]

That's one hell of a corkie

That would be a hell of a corkie, he has a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury.

[LostDoggy]

That's one hell of a corkie

Field Marshall Soreness (as opposed to the lower-ranked General Soreness).

[1eyedog]

That's one hell of a corkie

Ye Gods it is! Although I remember Griffen missing a month with one due to internal bleeding. I had a look at the paper following their GWS game - as I always do when we play them the following week - and it said injuries Swallow- corked thigh. This is clearly something much more sinister and misdiagnosed in the post-match injury report.

[w3design]

4 points is 4 points. It is better with them in the bank than in Never Land.
Have a look at what happened to Williamstown on the weekend by underestimating an opponent and resting key players...down the bl**dy loo!
By all means rest anyone who genuinely needs it, and give one or two kids a go [ one for Coons at least] if they have earned it.
But don't assume anyone in this comp. is a sure bet loser. On any given day everyone is beatable.

[LostDoggy]

Thanks Marcov, everyone was tiptoeing around it. But now you have jinxed it. If they loose this weekend it'll be your falt.

Ha ha my apologies HM, even for a dogs supporter I'm a masochist!

I fear the only loser here is the English language and that's not my fault...

[LostDoggy]

Field Marshall Soreness (as opposed to the lower-ranked General Soreness).

Champagne posting there.

[LostDoggy]

Ha ha my apologies HM, even for a dogs supporter I'm a masochist!

I fear the only loser here is the English language and that's not my fault...

As dogs supporters I think we must all like abuse in some frm or another?

Don't rag on me cause my iPad is playing up. It is also dropping "y" on me too.

[westbulldog]

last year Geelong were too old, too slow ...........and premiers. They have class on every line, to beat them with our developing team would be a remarkable feat.

[LostDoggy]

As dogs supporters I think we must all like abuse in some frm or another?

Don't rag on me cause my iPad is playing up. It is also dropping "y" on me too.

Sorry I couldn't resist, my iPhone and iPad comes up with weird predictive text as well.

[1eyedog]

last year Geelong were too old, too slow ...........and premiers. They have class on every line, to beat them with our developing team would be a remarkable feat.

We have enough quality on our list to be competitive against the Cats, but the application needs to match it.

[LostDoggy]

As dogs supporters I think we must all like abuse in some frm or another?

Don't rag on me cause my iPad is playing up. It is also dropping "y" on me too.

And 'o' as well by the looks of it.