Back to the Colosseum
It’ll be the Dogs’ first trip to the Yarra Park precinct this season and even though it’s not the Club’s home ground, we know everyone loves playing there, and why wouldn’t you.
All this talk about Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium… stop it.
On top of that, it’s been a happy hunting ground for the Dogs in recent years, having won the past six at the ground and seven of the nine times in the Beveridge era.
That’s when we get a chance to play there.
Only 206 times have the Dogs graced the famous ground throughout history, the lowest of the Melbourne clubs. That’s 20 less than Sydney, 39 more than Fitzroy and only 163 times more than University, a team that existed between 1908-1914.
Anyway.
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JJ clocks the ton
Spare a thought for our video guys this week who had to shave down mountains of highlights for a Jason Johannisen greatest hits package ahead of his 100th game this weekend.
As Bob Murphy said here, it probably come as a bit of surprise to some that he was as close to the milestone as he is, but here we are and what a ride it’s been.
More than just a dasher, though, he’s become part of the very fabric of the Club and when we all get old and look back on this era, he’ll be one of the first faces (and hairstyles) we think of.
To top it off, he’ll also captain the club for the first time in the absence of Easton Wood and Marcus Bontempelli.
That’s a big day, but he’s had bigger. Here’s to many, many more.
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Charlie’s Ghost
So, how do we beat Melbourne this weekend? Fair to say they’ve got a hold of us somewhat the last couple of times. Maybe the secret sauce can be found in the past two weeks.
As it stands, the Dees lead the League in contested possessions, a fair way ahead of the Dogs in 14th spot.
Against the Cats, we won that battle 148-133. The first half against the Hawks? 66-64. We’ve erased from our memory what happened after that.
But that’s six excellent quarters with one thing in common. So… as Charlie Sutton once said… shop early, avoid the rush.
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Going, going, Gawn
Which leads us to the next thing. They’ve got good players, the Dees, but arguably none-better than outed Gilmore Girls enthusiast Max Gawn.
Named best-on during last weekend’s 54-point pantsing of the Dockers, he’s probably now moved into outright Brownlow favouritism and is doing it with easily the best beard in the game. It’s good to be Max Gawn at the moment.
You also won’t be surprised to know the Dees lead the AFL in hit-outs per game. The Dogs? 18th spot. But do you know what we do better than every team in the League? Sharking. Only Richmond is close. That’s right, we’re the number one side in the League for dining out on the opposition ruckman’s hitouts, and in no game will this be more important that this one.
And if we can win the battle in the middle, we’re on our way.
Gentleman, start your engines.
