The Moment: Rnd 1, 2023 vs Melbourne Demons

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

The moment, the best, most courageous moment that caught your eye in this evening's opening rnd march against Melbourne. Was it the moment that told you 'we've got this' or 'we lost this one right here'? Or was it the moment that you went 'wow....that is crazy courage'.

[GVGjr]

Bump.

[JanLorMill]

Last trade period when added another tall forward instead going for Grundy/competitive ruck and moving English forward.

[Mantis]

Bont missing the goal after Pickett got reported…. Momentum changed soon after.

[Dogs 24/7]

Bont missing the goal after Pickett got reported…. Momentum changed soon after.

You're not wrong. I don't understand why the big boy went so cold.

[Grantysghost]

Bonts miss for sure, and the complete lack of leadership that followed.

[angelopetraglia]

Bont miss was the turning point.

Kozzie running around with aggression. Then lays a savage late bump on Bailey Smith (he will get weeks for that). A positive was that our players actually flew the flag and let Kozzie know all about it. I liked it.

Bont then needed to kick the goal. It would have been massive. We could have shown some positive aggression. Bad miss for a left footer on a slight angle but on the right side for him. Then they kick the next from a Max Gawn free kick (such a soft free) that then results in a Ben Brown banana from the boundary.

Our momentum sucked dry. They get a goal from nothing. Then to top it off Kozzie gets a phantom free kick. Kicks a goal and then sticks right up all of our players. So not only is he smashing us physically he then sticks it right up us after kicking yet another goal in yet another avalanche of Melbourne goals against the Dogs.

Sliding doors. You never know. But it look liked a super pivotal moment from where I was sitting.

[jeemak]

Bont missing the goal after Pickett got reported…. Momentum changed soon after.

I got into trouble for suggesting that type of miss is the reason he can't be remembered as the most elite of elite Bulldogs, because they happen all too often.

Someone of his skill and stature just can't miss by that much and expect to be held in the highest esteem.

[JanLorMill]

I got into trouble for suggesting that type of miss is the reason he can't be remembered as the most elite of elite Bulldogs, because they happen all too often.

Someone of his skill and stature just can't miss by that much and expect to be held in the highest esteem.
I was equally upset when Naughton missed and he did it twice

[Grantysghost]

I got into trouble for suggesting that type of miss is the reason he can't be remembered as the most elite of elite Bulldogs, because they happen all too often.

Someone of his skill and stature just can't miss by that much and expect to be held in the highest esteem.

I heard recruiters speaking about English and their concern over him was a lack of competitiveness / he was too nice.
We have an inordinate amount of these types, Bont is greatest player ever but man his body language was a concern tonight.
Smith gets nigh on killed and we all went to water. Bah...!

I'm moving on from this game....

Now.

Now...

[Grantysghost]

I was equally upset when Naughton missed and he did it twice

That around the corner one was an abomination.

Now....

[angelopetraglia]

That around the corner one was an abomination.

Now....

Takes two monster grabs. Marks hardly anyone in the competition can take. If he can convert those they just put the fear of God into the opposition.

But feeble misses are just huge let offs. No killer blow. Just a nice mark for the highlight reel.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Take your pick or either Bont;s miss or both of Naughton's. Add in JUH's dropped mark. All momentum killers each and of themselves

[SonofScray]

Bont’s miss and the general lymconfused, lacklustre response to Pickett.
Marra and the dropped mark on the goal line.

Both struck me on the replay as real opportunities that went begging. Helped Melbourne create, or hold their distance on the scoreboard.

We might be back to being a team that can’t cover a 3 goal margin because we just don’t score enough easy goals.

[merantau]

Marra should have kicked 3 and the dropped mark makes it 4.
The Bont miss was was really bad and this is becoming a blot on his game. He needs to turn this around - and quick - lest he be remembered for it.

[1eyedog]

I got into trouble for suggesting that type of miss is the reason he can't be remembered as the most elite of elite Bulldogs, because they happen all too often.

Someone of his skill and stature just can't miss by that much and expect to be held in the highest esteem.

It's those moments that set them apart and can elevate a player from very good to great. I remember Bruce saying something while Chris Grant lined up for a tough goal in a high pressure situation. He said something like 'These are the ones that you are remembered for, Carey would kick it', regardless of the Carey fawning which he was always prone to he was right.

Grant kicked it btw.

Bont missed and Satdee night is history.

[Mantis]

It's those moments that set them apart and can elevate a player from very good to geat. I remember Bruce saying something while Chris Grant lined up for a tough goal in a high pressure situation. He said something like 'These are the ones that you are remembered for, Carey would kick it', regardless of the Carey fawning which he is always prone to he was right.

Grant kicked it btw.

That's factually incorrect... he missed it.

Rd 10, 1998 vs WC in Perth,

We kicked 8 goals to zip in the 1st qtr and they reversed that in the 2nd.. Grant had a kick from about 40-45m out just before 1/2 time to arrest the momentum and missed.

[1eyedog]

That's factually incorrect... he missed it.

Rd 10, 1998 vs WC in Perth,

We kicked 8 goals to zip in the 1st qtr and they reversed that in the 2nd.. Grant had a kick from about 40-45m out just before 1/2 time to arrest the momentum and missed.

Sounds like it's not the first time Bruce said that then because he definitely kicked it, but I may be getting it mixed up as I am old.

Regardless the point stands it was such a momentum shifting miss. I mean he nearly missed everything.

[bornadog]

Sounds like it's not the first time Bruce said that then because he definitely kicked it.

You and Mantis are both right.

1eyedog, you are recalling the 2000 Essendon match when Bruce was remembering what he said about Grant in 1998 as he was about to put the Dogs in front.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdNXJyq8TuE

[MrMahatma]

I got into trouble for suggesting that type of miss is the reason he can't be remembered as the most elite of elite Bulldogs, because they happen all too often.

Someone of his skill and stature just can't miss by that much and expect to be held in the highest esteem.

Yep, I've said the same and many disagree. He's missed big goals his whole career. Dating back to the Adelaide final in 2015. I think he missed 2 from the same spot.

I still reckon he's the best in the league, but it'd be undeniable if he could kick clutch goals consistently. (He got the one against WC in 2021 (?) that was huge. So I'm not saying he never kicks them, but whenever he's lining up I cover my eyes and he was always going to miss that one on Sat night left... it looked that way from the line he was walking in on).

It would also limit his ability to expect more from Naughton etc. If the captain can't get it done, how can he expect others to?

So yeah... Bont's miss was 100% the moment for mine.

[The Underdog]

Bont’s miss, but Pickett’s “free kick” against Libba was close behind.

[1eyedog]

You and Mantis are both right.

1eyedog, you are recalling the 2000 Essendon match when Bruce was remembering what he said about Grant in 1998 as he was about to put the Dogs in front.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdNXJyq8TuE

Thanks BAD that's the one I was thinking of.

[Bullies]

I heard recruiters speaking about English and their concern over him was a lack of competitiveness / he was too nice.
We have an inordinate amount of these types, Bont is greatest player ever but man his body language was a concern tonight.
Smith gets nigh on killed and we all went to water. Bah...!

I'm moving on from this game....

Now.

Now... As much as he wasn't everyones favourite we have no one who tackles and flies the flag like Cordy did. Don't underestimate his value in regards to pressure and hurting guys when laying tackles. Watch the Saints last quarter yesterday. he may not have got a lot of it but his pressure/tackling was first rate.

[bornadog]

I heard recruiters speaking about English and their concern over him was a lack of competitiveness / he was too nice.

Never have I seen him so angry when Kosi hit Smith. He and Macrae really got stuck in. Tim in background and Macrae (the quiet guy) right in there

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FroEaPHaQAEAf9d?format=jpg&name=small

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Marra should have kicked 3 and the dropped mark makes it 4.
The Bont miss was was really bad and this is becoming a blot on his game. He needs to turn this around - and quick - lest he be remembered for it.

The Bont missing on goal was momentum stifling. I think his ball movement in general was a huge letdown. As the skipper he sets the standard, and I would hope he is super critical of his disposal efficiency on the weekend and improves. If that's going to be the way he uses the ball more often than not, we're going to be in trouble, and hes' not the player I thought he is/was.

[derb]

The game turned when Bont missed that set shot.

Can't pin it all on that but they got a run on after that.

[Mantis]

Never have I seen him so angry when Kosi hit Smith. He and Macrae really got stuck in. Tim in background and Macrae (the quiet guy) right in there

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FroEaPHaQAEAf9d?format=jpg&name=small

The quiet guy getting flushed by a player who is 21cm shorter and 15kg lighter... nice of Jack to go over and fly the flag, but you'd hardly be shaking in your boots if he started a scuffle with you.

[bornadog]

The quiet guy getting flushed by a player who is 21cm shorter and 15kg lighter... nice of Jack to go over and fly the flag, but you'd hardly be shaking in your boots if he started a scuffle with you.

At least he did

[BornInDroopSt'54]

It was Bont alright.
He missed it before he lined up.
For some reason had zero faith and application, feeling pressure and seemed to just hope.
Set the tone.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

It was Bont alright.
He missed it before he lined up.
For some reason had zero faith and application, feeling pressure and seemed to just hope.
Set the tone.
FFS Bont get yourself a goal kicking routine and believe in it.

[MrMahatma]

The quiet guy getting flushed by a player who is 21cm shorter and 15kg lighter... nice of Jack to go over and fly the flag, but you'd hardly be shaking in your boots if he started a scuffle with you.

He should've gone the headbutt.

[derb]

The AFL all says Treloar was injured. I can't find anything about it?

[bulldogfan]

I don’t think he is injured