ledzeppelin said:
I cannot see anyone beating Melbourne this season
How many games have you all got out to this year?
I've been to about 20 all up I think, including about 10 Newtown games
I've been to roughly 10 Dogs games this year. Only 2 of those were night games, unfortunately. I kinda miss them.
What's all this about Melbourne being the invincible team? I def. agree that they've had the hottest and most consistent form this year, but they CAN be beaten. They only beat the Bulldogs through a try in the 80th minute (which
could've been stopped but wasn't through craptacular defense). Minor Premierships are long forgotten once semi-finals hit.
Also, about the comment that this years Bulldogs backline being weak:
2004 (ie, premiership winning year)
1. Luke Patten
2. Hazem El Masri
3. Jamaal Lolesi
4. Willie Tonga
5. Matt Utai
6. Braith Anasta
7. Brent Sherwin
2006
1. Luke Patten
2. Hazem El Masri
3. Andrew Emelio
4. Willie Tonga
5. Matt Utai (who is currently suspended)
6. Daniel Holdsworth
7. Brent Sherwin
Daniel Holdsworth, for his limited time in 1st grade, is a better 5/8 than Anasta. Barring Sherwin who's on the cusp of hitting his best form in almost 2 years, the remaining members of the backline have been performing IMO equal to and in some cases better than 2004. Unfortunately, I think he reason they don't look to flash is injury/suspenision has seen them play only a handful of games as a unit...but from what I've been seeing lately, they seem to be getting their groove back. Time will tell but they're a real silent threat in the comp.
Should be a good game tonight. I only tipped Parra because Gasnier is out, but you can never tell with the Dragons.