Round 1 - Western Bulldogs V North Melbourne - Sat 15/3/25 Marvel Stadium 7:35PM AEDT

[jazzadogs]

I was worried heading into this game without some of our more consistent performers however Dale, Richards and Kennedy really showed some class. We have a big four weeks coming up before Bont and co come back.

I loved our forward craft and inside delivery but it will get tested with better opponents coming up.

whilst I know it was the first game and really hot conditions, hopefully the blowing up in the final qtr was isolated because we were really out of legs and a better side would’ve capitalised.

I thought North blew up more than us, and our performance in the fourth quarter was actually a big tick for our fitness. The fourth quarter was the only time we won clearances for the night - that's huge.

[Danny Delre]

Was reasonably happy with the win. Missing a heap of quality. Seems we have decent depth on the list which is needed. I was sitting in front of the most obnoxious norf supporter. It was painful. They really are a different breed those nuffies.

[Rusty12]

Anyone know what page to start reading from to avoid the in-game dribble, and just read the post-game?

[mjp]

About page 15 mate.

The match day thread is an aquired taste...one I have never been able to get to like!!

[kruder]

Im still a little surprised about our ball movement there was a clear agenda to go through the middle at all cost at times, its significantly different to last few years of wide and slow. There was a kick from Williams and Dale early coming out of defence that absolutely spilt them open, I really liked what I saw with ball in hand last night and cant wait for when the band to get back together in the middle, look out.

How many times did their smalls get between our defenders and get an uncontested mark? it just shouldn't happen. That was the main worry for mine,( plus English holy moly)obviously we miss Jones badly he is so good at covering space but we will need an adjustment there no doubt.

Id love to get a win against the pies 2-0 with Adz and Jones back for round 3 would be a great position to be in.

Oh while I'm at it well done Vanders! His best game for the club by the length of the Flemington straight.

[mjp]

Disgusting form from our supporters in this forum, the negativity around a win in round 1 is insane. Down 5 best 22 players, including 2 reigning All Australian midfielders, leading goal kicker and best key defender and the response is as if we are a second rate team that would be lucky to finish above bottom 2? We beat a side that has gone ALL IN this season and absolutely needed to win that game, North traded their first round pick, brought in experience and had everything riding on this game, to win undermanned is an absolute feat and a half and it is disappointing to see so many negative responses when the same people likely called out season over after the loss against Freo in 2016. Poor

There's an old saying - what happens on the match-day thread, stays on the match-day thread...

People get emotional whilst the game is on - don't worry too much about it...

Wait till the cold light of day (well, unless you are a member of the English family 'cos it seems he's public enemy #1 today!) and everyone will be a bit more reasonable.

I'm with you - played well, good win.

[jeemak]

Just watched the mini and a few things stood out (albeit it's difficult to really get a good vibe of the game from a mini replay):

- Our start outside of clearances was excellent

- We were unlucky with the JOD free kick given to Larkey in the second for a hold which wasn't a hold, and then the goal from a mark to Darling after the Curtis non-holding the ball call. It really jazzed up North's vibe. And again in the third, the Lobb clear handling of the ball with Larkey awarded the mark before the siren (albeit Lobb should clear with a fist towards the boundary more often)

- Sanders whilst not having a great game in the first half taking his moments with sublime finishes in the second (detractors should do a few Footywire comparisons of his output vs. the likes of Libba, Jacko and Ryan Griffen at the same amount of games to see how he's tracking). I hope inside the club they're getting around him because they were both awesome, even if some fans aren't

- VDM obviously, but after a lack of material impact McNeil finishing with reliability. If these two guys can continue to dot the tees and cross the eyes we'll be better for it and closer to matching other elite teams in the most important areas of the ground

[Bornadog]

(albeit Lobb should clear with a fist towards the boundary more often)

Totally agree, he needs to use the fist more. I thought JOD did well on Larkey, with Larkey getting a couple through dubious frees. JOD also knows when to put his fist to the ball - so unlucky to be injured as I thought he played a pretty good game.

[Sedat]

Our fitness and conditioning guys have been smashed a little this pre-season, but they deserve kudos for not only getting Richards and Dale to the line, but having them so well prepared that they were the standout best 2 players on the ground.

[Uninformed]

Thought JOD did well. Tough opponent, but he marked and spoiled well. Seems to have a very good leap.