Who do you think should replace Pettard in the forward line this weekend?

[Guest Graham Gaunt]

I'm shocked rather than suprised that Miller accounted for 1 in 6 here as a realistic equation. Have I missed something?

GG

[MadAsHell 4,088]

Good point and that brings me to something thats been bugging me for yonks

why did we keep Meeson and Newton on the list ?

Wouldn't it have been a wiser to move them on and get 2 more draft picks when we had the chance

Dylan Grimes and Alex Silvagni come to mind

This has been mentioned in other posts. The club had to re-draft them as they were contracted, we were just demotiing them to the rookie list. Only way we could have picked up someone else would have been if another club had of picked them up in the national draft, pre season draft or rookie draft before our picks.

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

We need two key position forwards. Paul Johnson and Garland. There are too many times when there is no option up forward. Then they muck around and we lose possesion. Johnson rotating in ruck with the big russian would be good.

collingwont is a good example with cloak and dawes. Strong CPF who can push the opposition out of the way and take a mark.

Go Dees

I support this - we have won this year against some weak opponents with a predominantly midfielder type offense (I dont count Bate and Dunne as KPP). Interesting discussion of beating the flood which calls for a big long target from Lethal at http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/93605/default.aspx If that target can also ruck then great. I saw some promise from Martin against Brisbane but not against the Roos. A lot of teams have a two ruck team (Blake Ottens, Leuenberg, Clarke, Cox, NN) and I dont understand the need to deny ourselves an extra tall particularly considering the risks if Jamar gets hurt or is off.

I am tempted by Hughes or Bail for Petterd but if Martin goes then PJ goes right in for mine.

[True Believer 1]

This has been mentioned in other posts. The club had to re-draft them as they were contracted, we were just demotiing them to the rookie list. Only way we could have picked up someone else would have been if another club had of picked them up in the national draft, pre season draft or rookie draft before our picks.

Pity we let Robbo go !!!...( yeah I'm ready for the backlash)

[jayceebee31 671]

I think either Garland or Hughes. Happy with either.

If Garland, then we can blood/play another young defender or such.

MELBOURNE

B: Bail, Warnock, Rivers

HB: Grimes, Frawley, Macdonald

C: Trengove, McKenzie, Sylvia

HF: Davey, Bate, Dunn

F: Garland, Green, Bennell

FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, McDonald

I/C: Martin, Jones, Bruce, Scully,

EMG: Bartram, Spencer, Hughes,

MELBOURNE

B: Cheney, Warnock, Rivers

HB: Bruce, Frawley, Macdonald

C: Trengove, McKenzie, Garland

HF: Davey, Miller, Bate,

F: Sylvia, Johnson, Green

FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, McDonald

I/C: Martin, Jones, Grimes, Scully,

EMG: Bartram, Spencer, Hughes,

Edited May 5, 2010 by jayceebee31

[PeterJames 46]

np point putting hughes as an emergency as he is a rookie so if they promote him they play him.

Has been the best forward for casey so far. Great as a lead up forward more than a stay at home goal kicker sa petterd was. So maybe play bate closer to goal and hughes up.

Watts is still a long way off playing i think, just going at casey. Maric is very patchy and not a marking target but i think will replace bennel soon enough. Aussie isnt fit enough yet.

Miller and Newton have been tried and failed..

[Wiseblood 24,636]

We can scratch Watts from the list. After hearing Bailey's comments from yesterday he is no chance.

I hate the idea of it but I have a feeling either Miller or Newton will come in to the side this weekend. They never give much but they always go back to them. Like that ex-girlfriend you can never seem to get rid of. Martin probably gets another run this weekend too. I'd love to see Danny Hughes promoted and, with the Petterd gone for the year, it might actually happen. I'm a bit of a Maric fan as well but I don't see it happening.

[dee-luded 2,958]

np point putting hughes as an emergency as he is a rookie so if they promote him they play him.

Has been the best forward for casey so far. Great as a lead up forward more than a stay at home goal kicker sa petterd was. So maybe play bate closer to goal and hughes up.

Watts is still a long way off playing i think, just going at casey. Maric is very patchy and not a marking target but i think will replace bennel soon enough. Aussie isnt fit enough yet.

Miller and Newton have been tried and failed..

I did it that way because I realized that after pumping him up I hadn't found a spot yet for him.

So, to show my allegiance, I put him in the emergencies as a way of displaying that he's still in my considerations as I rate him.

[dee-luded 2,958]

MELBOURNE

B: Cheney, Warnock, Rivers

HB: Bruce, Frawley, Macdonald

C: Trengove, McKenzie, Garland

HF: Davey, Miller, Bate,

F: Sylvia, Johnson, Green

FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, McDonald

I/C: Martin, Jones, Grimes, Scully,

EMG: Bartram, Spencer, Hughes,

G'day JCB31,,,, I put Bail in the side as I think we still lack run with our young players & Bail is an very good runner & carry, so decided to put him in @ this point over my other favourit, Cheney (love this kid). For the same reason I put Sylvia into the midfield as he's a disciplined runner who kicks long goals on the run.

I had Garland forward as a mobile marking target, IMO he's still a little underdone for the midfield running through lack of preseason.

[Adzman 2,085]

Interesting poll.

My heart says Watts- I want him in so he can start working on his craft.

My brain says PJ- Can be handy, and lessens the risk of Jamar burning out by round 15.

My gut says Hughes- he is more hungry than the aforementioned players, and it is the hunger up forward we need to kick a score.

Newton is done. Miller is on the cusp being left in the doghouse all season long (unless he kicks a monster bag and takes Bailey out for a steak lunch). Maric has all the hallmarks of an AFL bust...........god I hope he proves me wrong, i really do.

[Demons 32 235]

My gut says Hughes- he is more hungry than the aforementioned players, and it is the hunger up forward we need to kick a score.

Maric has all the hallmarks of an AFL bust...........god I hope he proves me wrong, i really do.

I agree with this, Hughes is the best in form, he is working hard, and has a mature body for AFL footy. It's time to unleash Danny Hughes!!

Totally with you on Maric, I truly do not understand the love on this forum for him... Has done nothing but a few ok kicks at AFL level, can't kick straight infront of goal which he is supposed to be awesome at and is about the physical size of a 13 year old girl.

[Robbie57 1,991]

Put aside all our pet hates etc, the reality is there are some good options available including Miller.

I think we wont go with 2 rucks against the scraggers so its Hughes or Miller or both?

Miller at least provides another option up back if Hall dominates Which must be on the selectors minds.

The answer is in these observations by Brad Gotch:

Paul Johnson -

Johnno was probably in the top two. He rucked and played forward, and did a really good job. As the game wore on, his ruck work really improved. We have to remember that he had an interrupted pre-season, but this week, his game got more condition to it. His ability to do the ruck work, and then win some possessions around the ground, and take a mark and go up forward and kick a goal as well, were excellent. He and Miller were the two standouts.

Brad Miller -

I had Miller start in the back line. He started on Ablett and did a great job on him - Ablett hardly had a touch. At half time, we were down by seven points - and we moved him to the forward line, and he kicked three goals two behinds in the second half. Millsy had a fantastic game. I rated him as excellent, because he did the job in the back, then he went forward, and he was really our match winner, and very versatile.

Danny Hughes -

Danny was really good again. He’s such a great target as a forward. He had about ten marks, and he would have been in the top six players. His work rate is extraordinary, and his marking ability is fantastic. He uses the ball well, and we’re really happy with his performances over the last few weeks. He kicked one long goal again, which was nice to see.

Miller is the safe option because he can play back as well freeing up someone to move up the ground.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Quick point here...

It's PETTERD!!!!!!!!!

How long is it going to take for people to figure out how to spell his name?

Oh and even Rivers' name is wrong.

You got Maric's right though, so kudos there.

[Felix 92]

Garland B)

[PeterJames 46]

Also a school of thought is that Martin should make way for PJ so that can leave either Miller or Hughes for Petterd

[Eth 4]

Also a school of thought is that Martin should make way for PJ so that can leave either Miller or Hughes for Petterd

IN: Johnson, Hughes, McKenzie

OUT: Martin, Petterd, ?

McKenzie has to come back.

[Deano74 156]

Brad Gotch's review of Danny Hughes game for Casey against the Gold coast sounds impressive.

Great Target, extrodinary workrate, marking ability is fantastic. He uses the ball well and hes been consistent.

So that should be good enough to bring him in and play similar role to what Ricky was.

He is showing all the attributes required to suceed, so now is the perfect time to let him have his chance.

[stueyspencer no12 73]

I think either Garland or Hughes. Happy with either.

If Garland, then we can blood/play another young defender or such.

MELBOURNE

B: Bail, Warnock, Rivers

HB: Grimes, Frawley, Macdonald

C: Trengove, McKenzie, Sylvia

HF: Davey, Bate, Dunn

F: Garland, Green, Bennell

FOLL: Jamar, Moloney, McDonald

I/C: Martin, Jones, Bruce, Scully,

EMG: Bartram, Spencer, Hughes,

Drop Bartram after his game against Boomer? Hell, you see some dumb things here!

[dee-luded 2,958]

Drop Bartram after his game against Boomer? Hell, you see some dumb things here!

Well, do you think McKenzie should come back in?

Rivers coming back last week into defence meant someone was moved from their backline duties, Bartram went onto Harvey & played in the middle for part of the game. We were beaten out of the middle & the midfield lacked creative run & use of the ball.

To my mind, Bail has the run, endurance & good disposal to play a creative role out of defence & through the middle of the ground. IF FIT? I went this time with Bail over Cheney because Bail has the ability to run through the middle or play wing as well as small defender.

The backline was top heavy, in my humble opinion, so I took the opportunity to put Garland forward as he can play a similar role style that Petterd did.

Now then, after you've tried to be insulting, how about You show us your full team in print so we can scrutinise your genius staus, SS-12.

[Dee Dee 1,046]

ROBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!

Woops...I forgot!