Now we're out, who would & wouldn't you like to see win the flag?

[Tiger Khosh]

So is there gonna be a GF sprint this year? Surely we've sent Jack "Flash" Graham over to represent the club if there is?#fasterthanmarkov 

Yeah but it’s just btw freo and eagles players.

[one-eyed]

The GF teams for those interested.


MELBOURNE

B: M.Hibberd, S.May, J.Lever

HB: T.Rivers, H.Petty, C.Salem

C: A.Brayshaw, C.Petracca, E.Langdon

HF: A.Neal-Bullen, T.McDonald, T.Sparrow

F: C.Spargo, B.Brown, B.Fritsch

FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Oliver, J.Viney

I/C: J.Harmes, L.Jackson, J.Bowey, K.Pickett


EMG: J.Melksham, J.Jordon, J.Hunt, K.Chandler

IN: Nil

OUT: J.Jordon (sub)


BULLDOGS

B: E.Wood, A.Keath, B.Williams

HB: C.Daniel, Z.Cordy, B.Dale

C: B.Smith, T.Liberatore, L.Hunter

HF: C.Weightman, A.Naughton, A.Treloar

F: J.Schache, T.English, M.Hannan

FOLL: S.Martin, J.Macrae, M.Bontempelli

I/C: J.Johannisen, J.Dunkley, T.Duryea, R.Smith

EMG: L.Vandermeer, E.Richards, A.Scott, R.Gardner


IN: A.Keath, C.Weightman

OUT: R.Gardner (omitted), A.Scott (sub), L.Vandermeer (omitted)

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-grand-final-teams-2021-full-teams-squads-melbourne-vs-western-bulldogs-injuries-dropped-ins-and-outs-benches/news-story/d5df81d35e9a91183a6c5cb952b2ac25

[camboon]

Why does it feel wrong, it is just channel 7 looking after themselves by making it a night GF IMO and takes away from the tradition
Turns it into a boy night out instead of a family day.
Members should get to vote in the AFL commission so there is a return to a “people’s game”

[mightytiges]

For mine, the only thing wrong with tonight's GF is there is no Tigers. I don't care if it's at 2.30am I just want us in it. Been spoiled in recent years and it feels a bit odd to still have footy going a month after our season has finished. I hope the boys are watching on tonight and go into preseason and 2022 with renewed energy and hunger.

As for who I want to win tonight - I'm split.

For Neale Daniher who has done so much on and courageously off (MND) field it would be great for him to see Melbourne get up while he is still on this Earth.

From a selfish RFC point of view (we're one flag ahead of the Dees) and because I grew up in Footscray/Seddon/Yarraville I would like to see the Dogs win it.

[Tigeritis™©®]

Pretty hot game. Great pressure do far.

[mightytiges]

Melbourne all over them. Dogs bottom 6 being shown up so far cracking under pressure and making basic mistakes. This could be over at half-time if this keeps up.

[Tigeritis™©®]

Great quarter by the dogs. This is a very entertaining game.

[mightytiges]

What a turnaround! Bontempelli just killed it that quarter although I would still have Daniels as the best Bulldog across the whole half. Dogs mids got on top which protected their dodgy defence and they were able to mostly keep the ball in their forward half. Just like 2017, Lever is taken out of the game if he has an opponent that makes him accountable.

The message for us under these SHocking rules, as much as we hate them and especially his stupid stand rule, is that swarming physical pressure and the old contested game is dead. It's a more open running game now built on pace and good footskills on the back of winning centre clearances. You need multiple skilled hard running ballwinners in the midfield. Both these sides have average forward lines compared to past Grand Finalists when you look at the names (Naughton arguably the exception). It's whoever dominates the midfield and makes the least bad turnover skill errors kicking into flooded forward lines wins. So it makes sense that the noises coming out of the Club is that we want to target midfielders in this upcoming draft.

[Tigeritis™©®]

Dees turn. Great game this.

[Andyy]

Savage 15m from Dees bloody hell.

Reminds me of us. The old 3rd quarter afterburner.

[lamington]

Man just seeing dees players just walk out of the middle is insane. Both midfields are absolutely stacked though.

[camboon]

Appalling effort by Footscray out of the centre

[Andyy]

Man just seeing dees players just walk out of the middle is insane. Both midfields are absolutely stacked though.

Both have great clearance mids but when that's serviced by rucks like Gawn & Jackson you can see the difference. Martin is cooked and English just isn't a 'big man's at all.

[mightytiges]

4 centre clearance goals to the Dees in about 10  minutes. That's a killer. Dogs' midfield set-up didn't protect the defensive side of the contest. Something we did regularly this year and we paid the same price. With SHocking's rules you are tactically very limited to change things up. So if the other team gets on a run with centre clearances you're a sitting duck. 

[mightytiges]

Another two centre clearance goals to start the last. 6 goals up is game over.