All bark and no bite as Demons smash Bulldogs

Haha, bravo Lord Archie. ?

1960's triumph was born out of that muddy heist. Occasionally the working classes show a rare spark of passion that cannot be outmatched, and we found ourselves entangled in both the mud and Carringbush's gameplan. Bob Johnson couldn't get firm footing to be our forward pillar in the mire and Barassi couldn't shake the early days of tagging from Barry Harrison. It happens. Our educated boys soon learnt and repaid the drubbing with interest when we flogged Carringbush in worse conditions in 1960.

But that 1958 grand final stopped 6 premierships in a row 1955-1960 and very sadly allowed Carringbush to maintain their 4 in a row record. Not so well done!

Well, that’s what happens when you draft in a bunch of mercenaries, ill-discipline has always been an issue for us with those players not imbued with the Fuchsia spirit and the appropriate decorum that comes with representing the MCC on the field. Lewis is a cunning old rat and Bugg a bumptious upstart, but with proper coaching and mentoring the latter may change his ways – I rather suspect Lewis is a bit old in the tooth for change. I have proffered my services to Mr Goodwin to come and down and talk about the history of the Fuchsias this week to try and inspire Bugg with pride, I have prepared a stirring lecture about the heroics of the 1960 grand final when we dispatched Carringbush in the mud and kept them to 14 points by playing disciplined sensible football, but as yet my call has not been returned. His loss.

That's all true Gecko and I can still hope. But we've been poor the last month. Last year, we never had more than one bad performance in a row. I can understand our poor loss to the Swans last week because we had some key structural players out, but we had no excuses for an insipid, fumbly, dispirited performance this week against Melbourne. The one thing that gives supporters of all teams hope this year is that every team has been inconsistent and there is no standout team; especially with the injuries mounting for GWS.

Cheers Aransan, Geelong has been our bogey side recently - the only team we haven't overpowered at some point in the last 2 years, so I can understand Rick not respecting us. The same as I'd expect Pies supporters to have no respect for Geelong. But it's a narrow view. As for Geelong, I think they are a genuine threat this year (along with about 5 other sides), but deserve the same criticism as West Coast, i.e. Only reliably good on their home ground. But there biggest problem is over-reliance on two players - significantly more than any other contending teams' reliance on two individuals.

PD you've turned the lights off early down there. Your midfield hasn't clicked like it did last year but it still could, especially with Wallis and Libba finally back together and Bont surely still able to lift a gear. You haven't lost any important players since the GF (in fact, you may have similar availability, plus Wallis and Murphy) and there is no stand-out favourite for the flag this year. If you can quickly address your flagging rebounding, you can be back in the hunt.

I think you are right Dougie. The Dogs have looked small in their last couple of matches, kicking to contests always seemed to lead to an opposition mark. The Dogs were small last year too but the efforts of Tom Boyd and Cordy were important in the finals. The loss of Adams has been significant for you. No doubt the number of changes in your side had an effect yesterday and there will be some improvement. Rick's comments on the Dogs are starting to sound somewhat like Matty's comments on the Blues. I don't think the Cats will be contenders, particularly after the Eagles showed how to deal with Dangerwood.

I think you're right Pumping. We have completely lost all confidence.

No Swanny, I think we're done. Last year we were consistently good despite missing 6-8 of our best 22 most games; clearly the best home-and-away performance and then we all know what happened in finals. But this year is a different story. We've lost that manic pressure and have too many players treading water, out of form. Not gonna be a threat this year.

Jolly good show old chap! It would be good to see Melbourne string more than a couple of impressive wins together and be a genuine threat this year. Some chance with the return of Gawn and Hogan, but you can rely on sniper Lewis and cheap-shot, serial-pest Bugg missing more games before the season is done.

We were the best team in it last year Rick. You seem to have trouble accepting this - probably because your cats were the only team that beat us decisively last year. But then when the finals appeared, the best sides went up a gear and Geelong went the other way ... bundled out in humiliating fashion, done and dusted 20 minutes into the first quarter. But you're right that some of us are content with our flag. I am.

North will play Dogs back into form. Too early to write off the Dogs just yet.

Tally ho chaps what a smashing victory by the mighty MCC today at the Docklands mausoleum. My friend Geoffrey is a veterinarian and he remarked the Bulldogs looked like they needed a shot of pentobarbital. Haw. Marvellous demonstration of why success is wasted on the poor because like the Bulldogs, they're perfectly satisfied with returning to mediocrity and not maintaining that level of endeavour going forward. Looking ever forward to that glorious September home final as the members pack the stands to cheer the mighty Fuchsias onto our long awaited premiership in 2017. I assure you when we finally hold the trophy aloft we will have no diffuculty returning for more, like the glorious 60's again. The Hawthorn and Geelong eras will be utterly eclipsed in our wake. More brandy Thompson!

@#@$est premier in the history of the AFL. Worst part is: Most Dogs fans are content with their premiership last year; as are half the players I suspect. This is their downfall.