Outs: Paul Wheatley. Out with a hamstring most likely (heard it from the horses mouth)

Cale Morton. Give the kid a rest, I dont want him breaking down.

Daniel Bell. I think he just needs a week at Sandy to get him that confidence that he had last year.

Clint Batram. Just struggling at the moment and also a confidence booster is required

Ins: Lyndenn Dunn. I just wanna see this kid more and let him have an extended run in the seniors.

Simon Buckley. Surely he deserves a game after his form in the 2s lately. Also a good replacement for Wheats.

Matthew Whelan. He needs to be in the side, hopefully he is not injured though as reports suggest from the weekend. If he is keep Bell in the side.

Colin Sylvia. Only play him if he is really cherry ripe to go. He is not a superstar and he may never be but he can more than handy

Id like to see Matty Warnock get another few weeks and also Mark Jamar just to see how they go without being thrown up and down between the two sides.

Thoughts and opinions?

Out:

Wheatley (if injured)

Bell

In:

Whelan

Sylvia

PJ - stiff

Morton just had a week off

Agree Bartram and Bell need to go back to Sandy but injury to Wheatley and illness to Whelan might save one of them. Plus the fact Sylvia won't be ready.

My tip would be:

Out: Bartram, Wheatley (inj)

In: Buckley, PJ

After the Fremantle game it would be tough to drop anyone, especially after a weeks rest. I'd be inclined to give everyone a weeks grace and only make forced changes.

After the Fremantle game it would be tough to drop anyone, especially after a weeks rest. I'd be inclined to give everyone a weeks grace and only make forced changes.

I agree. Why should we make 4 changes to a team that finally came together for a win last match when previously getting belted would only see 2-3 changes? I don't think it would be productive to drop players for the sake of being dropped. Give the current team a chance to gel together.

I dont think we really have room for 3 ruckmen and I dont see any point in dropping Jamar after his game against Sandilands, what would that do for his confidence? I take back my omission on Morton as I completely forgot about the week off, which is I think he really needed. Speaking of confidence though how does a player like Buckley feel after playing very well in his last few Sandy games and still not getting a gig. I think Wheatley and one of Bell or Bartram will come out for Buckley and Sylvia (if fit). Lyndenn Dunn really has to take games at Sandy by the scruff of the neck by now.

Do we really need that many tall backman in the one side, there are 5. Frawley, Carroll, Rivers, Warnock and Garland. That is way to many, surely one has to go just for the sake of team balance. Otherwise play Carroll at Full Forward!

I dont think we really have room for 3 ruckmen

I think PJ should play at full forward.

I'm inclined to agree about Morton, though I wouldn't give him a week off. His form has been a bit patchy the last couple of weeks, and ok, he's a young guy, so you expect that. But I think a week or two at Sandy could be good for him, just to remind him that its a privilege, not a right, to play AFL football, no matter how high you were taken in the draft.

Do we really need that many tall backman in the one side, there are 5. Frawley, Carroll, Rivers, Warnock and Garland. That is way to many, surely one has to go just for the sake of team balance. Otherwise play Carroll at Full Forward!

Garland seems to play on a small at this point in his career (from what I saw against Fremantle and read regarding his games at Sandringham).

Bell or Bartram would be most at risk this week for Whelan if fit, barring injuries to other players. Would like to see PJ come back in but for who?

Hmmm...

I think Bartram is genuinely struggling to get back in the rythm. Remember that he has basically never player at Sandy - just been injured or in the 22. Some time to readjust, understand where he is at and start to build again would seem like a good idea.

There are a lot of tall defenders in the side at the moment, however none stands out as being the one to drop.

I think there is an argument for keeping the lot, given that most of them are quite mobile as well as tall.

If Wheately is injured it makes more sense.

There's a case for making sure we can really hammer in with fresh bodies in the ruck contest, given Adelaide's total of about 15 games experience in the ruck.

This is a game for White to play with maximum mobility around the ground, to wear out and confuse his ruckman opponent.

Given PJ's versatility as well, I think there's a shot at overwhelming the Adelaide ruck without sacrificing too much of the mobile contribution.

Brace yourselves for the next comment - I think Jamar should be our primary ruckman at the ball-ups.

so, tentatively, I've got

Bartram and Wheatley (inj) out.

PJ in.

Whelan, Buckley and Sylvia are the next options to come in, where available.

In - SHANE VALENTI

Melbourne Squad

Backs: Frawley, C.Garland, D.Bell

Half backs: C.Bartram, J.Rivers, C.Bruce

Centreline: B.Green, B.McLean, M.Bate

Half forwards: C. Morton, R.Robertson, B.Moloney

Forwards: A.Davey, B.Miller, A.Wonaeamirri

Followers: J.White, J.McDonald, N.Jones

Interchange from: J.Bode, S.Buckley, N.Carroll, M.Jamar, P.Johnson, S.Valenti, M.Warnock

In: Buckley, Bode, Valenti, P. Johnson

Out: Wheatley (calf)

Not a bad side. Hope Valenti gets a game.

Interchange from: N.Carroll, P.Johnson, S.Valenti, M.Warnock

Thats what i would hope... So pretty much

In: Valenti, Johnson

Out: Wheatley, Jamar.

Bit harsh to jamar who has been in good form but PJ is better.

Melbourne Squad

Backs: Frawley, C.Garland, D.Bell

Half backs: C.Bartram, J.Rivers, C.Bruce

Centreline: B.Green, B.McLean, M.Bate

Half forwards: C. Morton, R.Robertson, B.Moloney

Forwards: A.Davey, B.Miller, A.Wonaeamirri

Followers: J.White, J.McDonald, N.Jones

Interchange from: J.Bode, S.Buckley, N.Carroll, M.Jamar, P.Johnson, S.Valenti, M.Warnock

In: Buckley, Bode, Valenti, P. Johnson

Out: Wheatley (calf)

this tells me chopper will be dropped... i think i called it at the end of the last round... will try and dig up my post

warnock has been in good form...

final bench if i were coach would read P. Johnson, S. Valenti, M. Warnock, M. Jamar... however i think Buckley will get a game ahead of Jamar...

Bucks needs to get a game ! He deserves it!

Give Bartram or Bell a rest at sandy!

OUT- Wheats, Barts, Jamar

IN- Buckley, Valenti, Johnson

Jamar is hard done by but because he has been fantastic.

this tells me chopper will be dropped... i think i called it at the end of the last round... will try and dig up my post

warnock has been in good form...

final bench if i were coach would read P. Johnson, S. Valenti, M. Warnock, M. Jamar... however i think Buckley will get a game ahead of Jamar...

I think Chop chop mightn't get a game this week either. Can't think of an obvious matchup. Ken Mcgregor? is he playing.

I think it'll be Warnock, Valenti, Jamar and Buckley. PJ stiff.

Bucks needs to get a game ! He deserves it!

Give Bartram or Bell a rest at sandy!

OUT- Wheats, Barts, Jamar

IN- Buckley, Valenti, Johnson

Jamar is hard done by but because he has been fantastic.

Yeah, unlucky Jamar, you have been decent, but PJ is simply better

Would like to see both Valenti and Buckley get a game at the expense of either Bartram or Bell who have been pants

IN: PJ, Valenti, Buckley

OUT: Wheatley, Jamar, Bartram/Bell

In valenti, buckley,

out wheatly, carroll.

PJ is in our best 22, but jamar played a good game, PJ now needs to win his spot back. we look a little top heavy down back, especially against adelaide, so i think carol will make way, although it could be warnock.

we are however a little short up forward, so perhaps either PJ will come in and play forward, or carroll will stay and garland will swing forward. i suggested buckley in to add some pace to the mid espec with valenti in and wheatly out. might depend on matchups, and i believe we will make as few changes as possible after the win.

What happened to Whelan?

What happened to Whelan?

injured at sandy i thought?

Sandringham reports - from BBR

Matthew Whelan - started well in the last line of defence but went off (presumably injured) and wasn't seen after half time.

Bucks needs to get a game ! He deserves it!

Give Bartram or Bell a rest at sandy!

OUT- Wheats, Barts, Jamar

IN- Buckley, Valenti, Johnson

Jamar is hard done by but because he has been fantastic.

Bartram is picked in first 18 so will not be dropped

Jamar has played his best two games ever, been fantastic as you say but you still want him dropped.

Well I have always thought him to be hopeless but I would never drop him now.

He has the chance to prove us all wrong and I hope he does

Some interesting decisions:

PJ v Jamar

Warnock v Carroll

Buckley v Bode

...and Valenti to play, since he was promoted.

In valenti, buckley,

out wheatly, carroll.

PJ is in our best 22, but jamar played a good game, PJ now needs to win his spot back. we look a little top heavy down back, especially against adelaide, so i think carol will make way, although it could be warnock.

we are however a little short up forward, so perhaps either PJ will come in and play forward, or carroll will stay and garland will swing forward. i suggested buckley in to add some pace to the mid espec with valenti in and wheatly out. might depend on matchups, and i believe we will make as few changes as possible after the win.

I think you might just have nailed it.