It does put us in an invidious position. We lose and we're seen as Melbourne's bitch.. win and it's ' early season form means nothing'.
I guess we just need to win?
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I assumed the AFL was just doing the opening game over two nights given the success and popularity of the draft, where we played our first half on the Wednesday, and the second half on the Friday after the traditional owners of the opening round Carlton and Richmond got to kick things off.
Personally I think this is great. We get to kick off the season in a blockbuster, and potentially ruin a party for a bunch of *!*!*!*!wits. You see deep down, and the reason why Melbourne want to play us at the G in round one, is because last year was a shit show of a season like the year before and everyone knows the premierships of both don't count. I mean they do statistically, but don't otherwise unless you're a Dees, Dogs, Tigers or Geelong fan.
Melbourne need this game to validate what they did this year. If we lose we lose, and they're vindicated. If we win, they're not and the narrative will brought in check. They have the replay on the big screen at the G tomorrow, good for them, but it shows how meaningless to them having won in WA actually is/ was during COVID times.
Now the dust has settled, the majority of people I talk to wax lyrical about our efforts to get where we did because of our schedule/ road to the GF. They also now understand how easy Melbourne had it with minimal quarantine and a game every ten days at the end of a tough year. Sure, they don't think we should have won or could have won, but they don't say it's because we weren't any good. Everyone knows how kissed on the dick Melbourne was this year.
So I say let's just *!*!*!*! their day when we get the chance to, and invalidate their already compromised flag.
Looking forward to getting back to the footy again to watch the Mighty Dogs. Yeah I do feel we probably should have got the Friday night slot and a bit disappointed to lose the Pies match first up but I reckon it’s not that bad playing someone different each year in Round 1. Lets make a statement.
Looking forward to catching up with fellow Bulldog people again at the home games near my reserve seat.
North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have retained the standalone Good Friday game for the 2022 season.