2019 Round 1: Western Bulldogs v Sydney Swans @ Marvel Stadium

[Hotpotato]

Watching that, I just felt I was at the 2016 Granny again.
Only a 5 point different result.
The same walkover for three quarters.

Pretty grumpy.

[stevoswan]

Our midfield is a worry and has to improve or we will be killed in inside 50's every week.

The top five mids from each side and their possessions:

Swans: JPK 22 Parker 22 Jones 24 Heeney 19 Mills 20 = 97

Dogs: McCrae 32 Bontempelli 29 Liberatore 28 Hunter 26 Wallis 26 = 131

Difference 34

Inside 50's: 47 - 68

Difference 21

Therein lies our problem....

[Foreign Legion]

Slight positives - I thought Reid was OK - a viable target who will get better. Could be argued he should have kicked 3 which is Ok considering how much he has missed. Papley battled well, Jones OK. Aliir got into it as the game went on.

[crackedactor]

Next week....COR for Melican, Ronke for maybe Clarke or Hayward?

Yes Clarke and Melican where woeful tonight. That first half of football was the worse standard I have seen in the past 10 years. Towards the end they were exhausted and many players did not look 100% fit. Why? I am not sure. Maybe they are trying different tactics this year? Slow start and then build?


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[Mel_C]

Why are they booing Allir?


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I was wondering the same thing at the game. It only happened the one time so maybe he was involved in an incident that I missed.

[Cosmic Wizard]

Clarke was truly terrible!

No vision, gave short handballs to teamates who were standing, truly cap!

Melican was shocking; totally beating continuously over the game. Why he was even pick is truly beyond me.

But our coaches need to be sacked.

Steve Johnston as a forward coach???? There were no players leading away from each in the last quarter.

When we got close, all the players just sat in the goal square and the ball was just bomb in long.

And Kirky as mid coach; the players don't spread after a throw up, and they don't have any speed.

Instead of pin point passes we of course just bomb it long and hope for a miracle.

Time for a clean out!

[dejavoodoo44]

Next week....COR for Melican, Ronke for maybe Clarke or Hayward?

Yes, definitely O'Riordan in for Melican: although Melican was unjustly persecuted by the umpires, at times. And the fact that we only laid six forward fifty tackles, for the entire match, means that Ronke should come in. That stat also suggests that we went too tall, so for me, Blakey should make way. Slightly unlucky, as he did a few good things and will be a future star, but it's rare for a key position player to play from day one.

[Snork]

I actually hope we stick with the same team, we have had so much turnover in terms of players, let them gel I say. We need to be patient, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I actually thought the game changed when Mills went on ball, we need our best players round the ball, Mills, Heeney, Parker. Was disappointed Florent and Dawson weren't up around the ball until the last quarter and a half. Patience Peeps, we are on the right track.

[MattW]

I was wondering the same thing at the game. It only happened the one time so maybe he was involved in an incident that I missed.

It's bloody awful to hear booing of African or Indigenous heritage players for any reason. Disgusting, in fact.

[mcs]

Well we made a game of it in the last quarter when the doggies hit the wall, but that will mask over a horrendous first half and a lot of warning signs that this season may prove to be a tough slog.

And sadly it looks like another season of nitpicking umpiring where so many technical 'frees' could just be let go and the game would benefit immensely.

I like the look of Blakey though - going to take time but he will be a good footballer. That moment in the 4th when he dropped the mark but followed up and then sent that beautiful kick into the middle showed there is a good footy mind too.

There were plenty worried about the balance of the side and we looked unbalanced. I struggle to see how Grundy will be part of our best 22, despite his decent late ruck efforts. And far too often our forward line had no small forwards at all

Disappointing we got so close but couldn't get the win, but should have been in a much better position with a better first half.

[MattW]

Clarke was truly terrible!

No vision, gave short handballs to teamates who were standing, truly cap!

Melican was shocking; totally beating continuously over the game. Why he was even pick is truly beyond me.

But our coaches need to be sacked.

Steve Johnston as a forward coach???? There were no players leading away from each in the last quarter.

When we got close, all the players just sat in the goal square and the ball was just bomb in long.

And Kirky as mid coach; the players don't spread after a throw up, and they don't have any speed.

Instead of pin point passes we of course just bomb it long and hope for a miracle.

Time for a clean out!

Clarke was poor. Didn't take responsibility to move the ball on; too many handballs. And yes, Melican too. Fit and in form, Melican is an important player, but he's off it at the moment. I think Thurlow should play at least until he finds his touch.

We need much more out of Florent and Hayward.

Positives: Aliir was great - one of our more imposing and skillful players. Blakey showed poise and excellent field kicking.

[neilfws]

Why are they booing Allir?

If it's what I saw on TV close to the end of the game, I think they were booing the umpire. Allir was involved in a contest where the Dogs fans thought a diving mark close to ground should have been paid, but wasn't.

[Wardy]

I didn’t even realise Florent was on the field - he didn’t do much. At least it wasn’t a thrashing.

[Meg]

If it's what I saw on TV close to the end of the game, I think they were booing the umpire. Allir was involved in a contest where the Dogs fans thought a diving mark close to ground should have been paid, but wasn't.

No, Dogs fans booed AA for large part of the match. Started after an early incident when he and a Dogs player were wrestling each other. AA was clearly holding by the end of the wrestling comp but didn’t get penalised. That set off the crowd.

The umps either didn’t see Aliir’s final hold or they reckoned both players were at fault. I did breathe a sigh of relief though when there was no whistle.

[MattW]

No, Dogs fans booed AA for large part of the match. Started after an early incident when he and a Dogs player were wrestling each other. AA was clearly holding by the end of the wrestling comp but didn’t get penalised. That set off the crowd.

The umps either didn’t see Aliir’s final hold or they reckoned both players were at fault. I did breathe a sigh of relief though when there was no whistle.

Yeah, they definitely booed Aliir for most of it; Buddy too to a lesser degree.