And here I was thinking that the curse was dead

[Mitcha]

Keath out has knocked me around a bit. So both bookends not there, our small clever pressure forward not there and the best player in the game going in underdone. Are we cursed? I thought winning the flag in 16 may have put an end to it but ever since then the injury gods and bloody covid have bent us over severely. All you ask for is a fair run at it but it hasn't been the case. If Melbourne don't win it this year they never will missing only Tomlinson from their best 22 and even though they have been forced into a change this week their team gets stronger as Smith was probably an out anyway. Every injury we cop is to a best 8-10 player. It's hard to take. I'm sure our boys will have a crack but it is now a bridge too far unfortunately.

[comrade]

It is kind of hilarious that the only injury Melbourne cops in prelim week is to Joel Smith, while we lose Keath and Cody along with Bont under a cloud. Smith would literally be last picked in that side!

But we’re not without a chance and weird things can happen on prelim night. If we’re close late, Port will **** themselves.

[Happy Days]

It is kind of hilarious that the only injury Melbourne cops in prelim week is to Joel Smith, while we lose Keath and Cody along with Bont under a cloud. Smith would literally be last picked in that side!

But we’re not without a chance and weird things can happen on prelim night. If we’re close late, Port will **** themselves.

That Smith injury isn't even real. Dees are just so in their head about this being a feel good triumph that they're making sure no one can get their feelings hurt under any circumstances; Smith can't rightfully get dropped after letting Cameron kick 5 goals from the 10 or so i50s the Lions got, he has to be injured and out for the season and don't we all feel so bad for him.

See also - the unbelievably washed Nathan Jones "beating the door down".

[jeemak]

That Smith injury isn't even real. Dees are just so in their head about this being a feel good triumph that they're making sure no one can get their feelings hurt under any circumstances; Smith can't rightfully get dropped after letting Cameron kick 5 goals from the 10 or so i50s the Lions got, he has to be injured and out for the season and don't we all feel so bad for him.

See also - the unbelievably washed Nathan Jones "beating the door down".

I can't wait for them to crumble.

[bornadog]

I am confident with our talented midfield, we will get over Port. Port may have talent up forward, but they don't kick a lot of goals and their backline is undersized.

I am predicting Naughton will have a day out, and Dunkley and Treloar will help share more of the midfield load taken on by Bont and Macrae. Libba needs to also have a big game.

I was more worried about the Essendon game, but Prelims are not easy, and after beating Brisbane at their fortress, I have regained my confidence.

Port have lost at Adelaide oval to us, Dees and Cats - Go Dogs!!!

All even at half time, then -

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Melbourne have had a dream run at it, but Port have had a legup this year almost so much that you’d have to consider an * if they win it all. It hasn’t been a level playing field at all.

The injuries certainly haven’t been balanced. How one side can lose their leading goal kicker, best defender, best small forward and have an injury cloud over their best player, while another club only loses their 22nd best player is just cruel.

[mjp]

The injuries certainly haven’t been balanced. How one side can lose their leading goal kicker, best defender, best small forward and have an injury cloud over their best player, while another club only loses their 22nd best player is just cruel.

Which will make victory all the SWEETER.

Can we beat Port 10 times without Alex Keath? Probs not. But we only have to beat them once.

This game will be over before half time and our lead will exceed 7-goals. Mark it down. With every (Dogs) player who goes down, the pressure on the Power builds. They have had a week off. Their opponents have flown from Tassie to Brisbane to Perth to Adelaide. They have had to travel around the corner to buy a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk (maybe). Their opponents look like they have key players dropping out of the side - they have (with the exception of a 19yo kid with potential who has yet to put together 3-good games in a row) a FULL SQUAD to choose from. They have NO EXCUSES. They JUST MISSED OUT last year. JUST. This is their time.

It's gonna get to them. They are gonna crack. Our players/staff have overcome a lot in the last few weeks - criticism in the media etc not the least of it...hell, there was a thread on here a few weeks ago asking for the coach to be sacked.

It's gonna be OK. We will win this game going away.

[Twodogs]

Which will make victory all the SWEETER.

Can we beat Port 10 times without Alex Keath? Probs not. But we only have to beat them once.

This game will be over before half time and our lead will exceed 7-goals. Mark it down. With every (Dogs) player who goes down, the pressure on the Power builds. They have had a week off. Their opponents have flown from Tassie to Brisbane to Perth to Adelaide. They have had to travel around the corner to buy a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk (maybe). Their opponents look like they have key players dropping out of the side - they have (with the exception of a 19yo kid with potential who has yet to put together 3-good games in a row) a FULL SQUAD to choose from. They have NO EXCUSES. They JUST MISSED OUT last year. JUST. This is their time.

It's gonna get to them. They are gonna crack. Our players/staff have overcome a lot in the last few weeks - criticism in the media etc not the least of it...hell, there was a thread on here a few weeks ago asking for the coach to be sacked.

It's gonna be OK. We will win this game going away.

It feels a bit like the 1998 prelim final but in reverse. We were desperately unlucky to lose the prelim final in 1997, we cruised into the prelim in 1998, we were overwhelming favourite to win the 1998 prelim because everything seemed to have fallen into place for us- the game was in our home state and Adelaide had to travel to Victoria, we were an inform team, our opponents had come from outside the top four (Adelaide had finished 5th like we did this year) and we were set to avenge the unlucky loss we'd had in the same game the year before. We had to win. It was the only thing that made any sense.

In a nice bit of symmetry we were 34 points down at half time and went on to lose by 68 points.

[mjp]

It was the only thing that made any sense.

In a nice bit of symmetry we were 34 points down at half time and went on to lose by 68 points.

I thought we were cooked that day...had just been looking and playing tired since we lost that R#22 game (and top spot) to North. Today we'll be fine.

[Mantis]

I thought we were cooked that day...had just been looking and playing tired since we lost that R#22 game (and top spot) to North. Today we'll be fine.

I thought we were still going to win at 1/2 time. IIRC we kicked the first 2 goals of the 3rd before Grant marked about 30m from goal directly in front. He handballed to Hudson running past, but we fluffed it and Adel held firm. They kicked the next and once we were done our heads dropped and Adel kicked away.

If Grant goes back and kicks the goal, and given he was just about the best player in the competition at the time he should’ve, then we carry all the momentum and who knows where it takes us.

Oh, the memories!

[Grantysghost]

I thought we were cooked that day...had just been looking and playing tired since we lost that R#22 game (and top spot) to North. Today we'll be fine.

Hadn't we only played one final after that v the Eagles and pounded them?
I remember being confident in a prelim for the first time ever. Wrong bet! Plus I think somehow the Crows lost in the first week from outside the top 4 and stayed in the finals. It was the old final 8 system.

Edit :another memory from that day was someone in the dogs cheer squad where I was sitting someone actually had a pole with a real dead crow on the end of it. No joke.

[Raw Toast]

Which will make victory all the SWEETER.

Can we beat Port 10 times without Alex Keath? Probs not. But we only have to beat them once.

This game will be over before half time and our lead will exceed 7-goals. Mark it down. With every (Dogs) player who goes down, the pressure on the Power builds. They have had a week off. Their opponents have flown from Tassie to Brisbane to Perth to Adelaide. They have had to travel around the corner to buy a loaf of bread and a bottle of milk (maybe). Their opponents look like they have key players dropping out of the side - they have (with the exception of a 19yo kid with potential who has yet to put together 3-good games in a row) a FULL SQUAD to choose from. They have NO EXCUSES. They JUST MISSED OUT last year. JUST. This is their time.

It's gonna get to them. They are gonna crack. Our players/staff have overcome a lot in the last few weeks - criticism in the media etc not the least of it...hell, there was a thread on here a few weeks ago asking for the coach to be sacked.

It's gonna be OK. We will win this game going away.

I would like to hail the prophetic MJP.

More seriously, I took great solace from this post, as I have from many other things that he's taken the time to write these past few season. I'm thankful for all the work he and so many others put into make Woof glorious.

And obviously it's thrilling that this superb prophetic vision was so accurate.

[The bulldog tragician]

I would like to hail the prophetic MJP.

More seriously, I took great solace from this post, as I have from many other things that he's taken the time to write these past few season. I'm thankful for all the work he and so many others put into make Woof glorious.

And obviously it's thrilling that this superb prophetic vision was so accurate.

It lifted my spirits too in the middle of the Alex Keath gloom I suddenly felt hope. Thanks mjp

[jeemak]

Melbourne won't even get over the line tonight.

A classic bed shitting is on the cards, and Port are in the gun for it.

[bulldogtragic]

We are a 1 in 3 Chance to be Premier as of 12 hours time.

Right now I’m not prepared to go even close to Jones Town final act. I’m going to enjoy this 2021 ride until the last second.